Cape Cod National Seashore 2019 shorebird monitoring and management report

Whitmore, Jessica; Campbell, Carolyn

doi:10.36967/nrr-2287387

Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) manages the protection of federal and state listed beach-nesting shorebirds (piping plover [Charadrius melodus], least tern [Sternula antillarum], and American oystercatcher [Haematopus palliatus]), and various migrating shorebird species following procedures outlined in the 2018 Shorebird Management Plan/EA and associated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (NPS 2018). This report summarizes monitoring results from the 2019 field season. Piping plover, least tern, and American oystercatcher nesting and brood-rearing behaviors were monitored over 43 miles of coastline from Provincetown to Orleans, Massachusetts. Piping plover: • 88 breeding pairs were observed (third highest number of pairs since 2003) • 151 chicks fledged (highest number of fledged chicks since 2008); 63 pairs successfully fledged at least one chick • Park-wide average productivity = 1.72 chicks fledged/pair (USFWS Northeastern piping plover population annual recovery target rate is 1.5 chicks fledged/pair) • Depredation accounted for 60% of nest failures • Predominant nest predators were Eastern coyote and corvids (American crow and fish crow) • Predator exclosures were installed around a total of 70 nests. Exclosures improved nest success from a hatch rate of 14% for unexclosed to 89% for exclosed nests. Exclosures reduced predation rates from 54% for unexclosed nests to 4% for exclosed nests. Least tern: • Nine colonies were established from Eastham to Provincetown • 171 breeding pairs were observed (highest since 2012) • 39 chicks fledged • Average productivity = 0.23 chicks fledged/breeding pair • Depredation, mainly by coyote, was the principal cause of egg loss • Cause of chick loss is difficult to determine, but depredation by coyote was often suspected American oystercatcher: • One pair nested at Jeremy Point, Wellfleet • Two nests were laid, first hatched and the second was depredated • Productivity = 0 chicks fledged/breeding pair • Depredation by coyote was the main cause of egg loss • Cause of chick loss is unknown, but depredation by coyote was suspected Staging migrating shorebirds: • Large mixed-species flocks including those with up to approximately 2,500 individuals of the federally endangered roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) and the state-listed species of concern common tern (Sterna hirundo), were observed throughout the park mid-July through October • Large mixed flocks of up to 1,000 individuals including red knot, semipalmated sandpipers, piping plovers, black-bellied plovers, semipalmated plovers, sanderlings, and other shorebird species were observed throughout the park mid-July through October Human Disturbance • 121 pedestrian violations were documented (minimum easement), combination of individuals observed inside the symbolic fenced area and fresh pedestrian tracks from a recent violation. • 276 dogs off leash were documented from April through September (130 in the South District and 146 in the North District). Unleashed dogs were encountered most frequently at Lecount Hollow (31), Longnook (26), and Newcomb Hollow (25). • 257 pet violations, pets in designated “No Pet” areas, were documented. The majority of the incidents were physically observed or by observations of fresh pet tracks in “No Pet” areas. • At least 5 instances of vehicles driving in closed areas in areas of Coast Guard Truro, Race Point South and Race Point North, 2 of which drove past unfledged chicks. • 3 piping plover chick deaths can be attributed to human disturbance, 2 of which were noncompliance issues of a pet in a no pet area and a vehicle driving in closed area.

Cape Cod National Seashore 2019 shorebird monitoring and management report

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