CONSERVATION OF BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS

This project investigates habitat use and movements of Buff-breasted Sandpipers at three key migration sites located in Llanos of Colombia, Coastal Plain of Texas, and Victoria Island, Nunavut.

Partners will 1) equip 140 birds with GPS Argos tags to investigate habitat use and prioritize areas for conservation/protection in all three migration sites, 2) hold two workshops at each site to describe the project and later present results, 3) in Texas and Colombia, share information on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for grasslands, and 4) In the Llanos Region, hold two Good Governance workshops to build capacity and strengthen management of an existing WHSRN site.

They anticipate 5,000 ha and 61,000 ha of ranch lands in Colombia to have enhanced management and Good Governance, respectively.

In Texas, partners anticipate study results will lead to significant land protection through purchase / easements / incentives by private and federal entities interested in ensuring suitable lands for grassland shorebirds.

In Canada, they will engage with Indigenous people and biologists on Victoria Island in all phases of the study, enhancing capacity of these communities for future work.