HABITAT USE & MIGRATION ROUTES OF SHOREB

AQUASIS will document habitat use and migratory movements for neomigratory shorebirds that utilize the Banco dos Cajuais, a regionally important non-breeding site in northeast Brazil recognized by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN).

This information will be used to develop and implement habitat management strategies that will maximize the quality and quantity of habitat available for shorebirds.

Previous surveys have documented sizable portions of the global population of Red Knot and Short-billed Dowitcher utilizing the Banco dos Cajuais during the non-breeding period, thus this site provides critical habitat contributing to the long-term conservation efforts of these migratory species.

Partner objectives include (1) assessing local movements between key habitats used by Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, and Semipalmated Sandpiper at the Banco dos Cajuais.

These four shorebird species are of high conservation concern and are listed on the 'Road to Recovery' (Road to Recovery 2022).

Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, AQUASIS will be able to track the local movements of these shorebirds and quantify the amount of time spent in the available habitats at the site.

They will also track the northbound migration of shorebird species of high conservation concern at the Banco dos Cajuais using solar-powered satellite transmitters, targeting Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Ruddy Turnstone.

This new technology will help discern migratory pathways to inform offshore wind turbine placement to minimize risks to at-risk shorebird species.

They will also use these data to identify staging areas for northbound migration, and assess connectivity from the Banco dos Cajuais, all of which is largely unknown and critical to conserving these species.

Finally, results will be integrated with the existing community outreach efforts of AQUASIS in Icapu, the municipality where the Banco dos Cajuais is located. Through this project, partne