Study

Wintering shorebirds increase after kelp (Macrocystis) recovery

  • Published source details Bradley R.A. & Bradley D.W. (1993) Wintering shorebirds increase after kelp (Macrocystis) recovery. The Condor, 95, 372-376.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Restore or create kelp forests

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Restore or create kelp forests

    A before-and-after study between 1969-1973 and 1984-1986 on a rocky shoreline in southern California, USA (Bradley & Bradley 1993), found that shorebirds were significantly more numerous after kelp Macrocystis pyrifera forest restoration. Among nine species of shorebird analysed, the density of five (spotted sandpiper Actitus macularia, wandering tattler Heteroscelus incanus, whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, black turnstone Arenaria melanocephala and ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres) increased. Territorial species (spotted sandpiper, wandering tattler and whimbrel) were twice as abundant in the second census. Species that do not forage in algal windthrow, such as the black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola, remained stable over the two census periods. Complete counts of all shorebirds encountered along a 4 km census route were recorded year-round over the years of the two censuses.

     

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