Census methodology and habitat use of long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus) in Saskatchewan [master's thesis]

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The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus') is currently listed as a species of 'Special Concern' by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada mainly due to historic declines as a result of over-hunting and habitat loss. Despite its listing, the curlew has received little scientific attention in Canada. My main objectives were to evaluate census methods and determine seasonal habitat use by curlews in southwestern Saskatchewan. In 1999 and 2000, point counts were made every 1600 m at 200 sampling points along various road networks. I compared the effectiveness of a traditional listening census technique with call response surveys for detecting curlews. I found that call response surveys are relatively ineffective at detecting birds in the field. During the surveys, all curlews observed were recorded and the habitat within the sampling points was classified as native prairie, tame pasture, stubble, fallow, tame hay, fall/winter crop or spring/summer crop. The census occurred during the pre-lay, incubation, and post-hatch periods, which enabled me to assess whether there was a shift in habitat use over the summer. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Foster–Willfong, J. M. (2003). Census methodology and habitat use of long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus) in Saskatchewan [master's thesis]. Regina (SK): University of Regina. 115 p.