Shorebirds in the Prairie Region of Canada have experienced long-term declines, including the threatened Lesser Yellowlegs, which has declined by 70% since 1970. Partners in our Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) Science Committee are working to ensure that target landscapes include much needed habitat for Lesser Yellowlegs and other shorebird species.

Lesser Yellowlegs breed in the boreal forest and use the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) as stopover habitat during migration. The PHJV includes two key regions relevant to this species: The Prairie Parklands (in which the northern extent of the PPR is found) and the Western Boreal Forest, where Lesser Yellowlegs raise their broods.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) recently submitted a report to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS; Environment and Climate Change Canada) evaluating how PHJV conservation efforts developed for waterfowl are supporting migrating Lesser Yellowlegs. This includes overlap between stopover habitat and DUC waterfowl priority conservation areas in the PPR, and whether there is a difference in use between protected and restored wetlands.

The report revealed positive results for Lesser Yellowlegs and other shorebirds:

  • PHJV waterfowl target landscapes contained 51.6% suitable habitat for migrating Lesser Yellowlegs, compared to 26.8% suitable habitat overall in Prairie Canada.
  • DUC wetland projects in Prairie Canada are used by many shorebirds. Lesser Yellowlegs were recorded at 47 of 131 monitored wetlands, and use was similar in natural (35%) and restored (45%) wetlands.
  • A 10 acre wetland restoration within one farmed field (per ½ mile x ½ mile quarter section) increased habitat suitability for migrating Lesser Yellowlegs by 4% within PHJV target landscapes.
  • DUC conservation actions for waterfowl within the PHJV benefit Lesser Yellowlegs as well as other priority shorebirds such as Greater Yellowlegs, Marbled Godwit, Upland Sandpiper, Willet, and Wilson’s Phalarope.

PHJV waterfowl target landscapes contain 51.6% suitable habitat for Lesser Yellowlegs – great news for migrating shorebirds. Graphic courtesy of DUC, used with permission.

The PHJV Science Committee has developed multiple models to inform conservation priorities in the PPR. This includes priority areas that reflect distribution models for priority bird species, whether that’s for waterfowl, grassland birds or shorebirds. This report shows that PHJV waterfowl target landscapes contain much of the region’s shorebird habitat, helping to ensure that conservation activities are as effective as possible. It also reveals how the work of key partners in government and NGOs not only help the PHJV meet our objectives, but also reinforce that our actions are truly supporting priority birds and habitats.

Please contact info@phjv.ca if you would like more information from this report.

 

Report by: Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Report Authors: Ash Melo, Rose Lacombe, James Paterson, PhD.

Banner image: carol5126 on iNaturalist, CC0