Sanderling Plan - Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

Pacific Coast, Southern Pacific Coast, U.S. Pacific Islands, Intermountain West, Northern
Plains/Prairie Potholes, Central Plains/Playa Lakes, Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes, Lower
Mississippi Valley/Western Gulf Coast, Southeastern Coastal Plains/Caribbean, and the Northern
Atlantic (to access Regional Plans, see the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan website). Joint
Venture Shorebird Implementation Plans are currently available for the Central Valley, Northern
Great Plains, Playa Lakes, Prairie Potholes, and Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes (also
available via the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan website).
Some examples of priorities (from the U.S. Regional Plans) that apply to the Sanderling
are listed below; however, Regional Plans should be consulted for complete lists. The subset
below is intended to highlight several recurring themes, as well as to provide a few examples of
regional specificity.
North Atlantic Region (Clark and Niles 2000). Conservation planning in this region requires
placing special attention on establishing and maintaining ecologically healthy populations of
Horseshoe Crabs in the mid-Atlantic region (through working with regulatory agencies,
researchers, and commissions), and investing in planning and simulations for oil spill response.
In addition it will be important to:
o Identify and manage sufficient foraging and roosting habitat (intertidal complexes and
impoundments) to maintain and enhance regional populations important in the region for
shorebird species with overlapping requirements: Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria
interpres), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus), Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), and White-rumped
Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis).
o Acquire land through partnerships to protect and manage habitat that benefits shorebirds
(including the Sanderling) as well as other coastal wildlife species.
Southeastern Coastal Plains–Caribbean Region (Hunter et al. 2000):
o Provide high-quality managed habitat to support the Sanderling through better
management of impounded wetlands;
o
Reduce and limit human disturbance of Sanderlings to tolerable levels using disturbance
management throughout the year.
WHSRN – Sanderling Conservation Plan, February 2010, v1.1 56