Shorebird use of an exposed sandy beach in southern California

Abstract Frequent morning surveys of birds were conducted on 1 km of beach in southern California to investigate shorebird use of an exposed sandy beach. The overall mean abundance (98.6 individuals km −1 ), estimated biomass (9.6 kg km −1 ), and species richness (5.5 species km −1 ) of shorebirds observed were very high for a sandy beach in the temperate zone. Eight species, sanderling ( Calidris alba ), semipalmated plover ( Charadrius semipalmatus ), marbled godwit ( Limosa fedoa ), black-bellied plover ( Pluvialis squatarola ), western sandpiper ( Calidris mauri ), willet ( Catoptrophorus semipalmatus ), surfbird ( Aphriza virgata ), and whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus ), occurred in overall mean abundances >1 bird km −1 and accounted for 97% of the abundance and biomass of shorebirds. Sanderlings were the most abundant shorebird every year (64% of individuals and 35% of the biomass). Different species of abundant shorebirds exhibited distinct patterns of use of beach habitat, including fall, spring, and winter peaks in abundance. Temporal variation in shorebird use on seasonal and interannual scales was associated with migration patterns, and also with habitat availability and condition. Seasonal variation in monthly mean abundance and estimated biomass of shorebirds varied over more than an order of magnitude and followed a similar pattern in each year, reaching maxima in the fall or winter (161–280 individuals km −1 and 15.4–23.9 kg km −1 ) and minima in May or June (3–11 individuals km −1 and 0.8–2.2 kg km −1 ). A minor peak in shorebird abundance and biomass coinciding with spring migration was observed in April of most years. The number of species of shorebirds observed in individual surveys ranged from 0 to 11 species km −1 and was positively and significantly correlated with abundance. Monthly mean species richness and the total species observed monthly followed similar seasonal patterns, ranging from annual maxima of 7.4–9.1 and 12–17 species km −1 between August and October to minima of 0.8–2.1 and 2–8 species km −1 , respectively, during June. In contrast, species turnover was lowest (1.1–1.7) in October and November, and generally highest (2–4) during early summer (June). The amount of sandy intertidal habitat available to shorebirds on the transect was estimated using sand elevations and predicted tide heights. In the fall and winter, the abundance of shorebirds was significantly and positively correlated with tide height, possibly reflecting feeding opportunities and high tide refuge effects during the highest tides. In the spring when sand levels were low, the abundance of shorebirds was negatively correlated with tide height. Prey availability, beach condition and the local availability, and condition of alternative foraging habitats may influence those relationships. Interannual variations in shorebird use and beach condition were observed in the course of the study. During an El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event (1997–1998), the extent of sandy habitat was greatly reduced and intertidal habitat was mostly converted to rocky substrate. The overall abundance of shorebirds and the mean abundance of some common species (e.g. sanderling) were depressed, and an uncommon species (surfbird, A. virgata ) was unusually abundant during the ENSO event. In summary, the results suggest that sandy beaches are important habitat for many species of shorebirds, particularly in areas where alternative coastal foraging habitats, such as coastal wetlands, have become scarce. Understanding the dynamics of and threats to exposed sandy beaches may be increasingly important for shorebird conservation in many coastal regions.