regarding Mountain Plover management in the revised Great Divide Resource Management Plan (RMP). Breeding strongholds for the mountain plover occur in small areas of Montana and eastern Colorado. It takes five or six days to complete set of three eggs. Nest: Site is on flat open ground. After the cold start to spring, this newly laid nest with a clutch of three eggs was an important find. Their preferred land areas contain clay loam soils, as the sandier soils are less reliable when sand can easily be blown around, covering nests, obscuring vision, and irritating eyes. About 85 percent of the population winters in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys in California. Micro-Habitat Characteristics of Mountain Plover Nest Sites REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Mountain plovers nest in sparsely vegetated habitats such as short-grass prairies, sage brush, and semi-desert but also will nest on fallow and recently plowed ground. Spring migration is apparently direct and non-stop. Limiting Factors Table 1 provides a summary of mountain plover habitat requirements. Mountain Plover habitat selection and nest survival in relation to weather variability and spatial attributes of black-tailed prairie dog disturbance Courtney J. Duchardt,1,*, Jeffrey L. Beck,1 , and David J. Augustine2 1 Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA Disturbed xeric grasslands with short, sparse vegetation provide breeding habitat for mountain plovers (Charadrius montanus) across the western Great Plains. Most birds winter in California in an area of high rates of human population growth. Chicks have been observed as early as June 8, with the latest date of an incubating bird on July 18 (Knowles and Knowles 1993). Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule to list the mountain plover as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.[3]. A Purple Sandpiper in the Rocky Mountains. Ranchers are also a key to the survival of this species, as well as Long-billed Curlew and other grassland birds. The first egg is laid on bare ground, and as the set Is finished and incubation advances the bird gradually makes a nest of dirt, pieces of hard grass, roots, etc. Mountain plovers only nest in areas with sparse vegetation or bare ground, such as prairie dog towns. Nesting on high, dry plains of western North America, this species is a companion of classic prairie wildlife like bison, pronghorn, and prairie dogs. Mountain Plovers nest only in areas with sparse vegetation or bare ground, such as prairie dog towns. Biologist Larry Snyder writes about the find and RMBO’s plover nest conservation program on the RMBO blog. Goguen, C. (2012). Both sexes are of the same size. The Mountain plover is a medium-sized ground bird. Courtney J Duchardt, Jeffrey L Beck, David J Augustine, Mountain Plover habitat selection and nest survival in relation to weather variability and spatial attributes of black-tailed prairie dog disturbance, The Condor, 10.1093/condor/duz059, (2020). Local population managers can best help the plovers by protecting the land and prairie dog colonies from human disturbances such as mining, and monitoring the size and health of suitable plover habitat in each region. It is also believed it is easier for them to spot insects to eat. This would result in a greater reproductive success for the female but there is a high energy cost on the female laying so many eggs and so it is more common for a female to lay only two clutches. We monitored Mountain Plover nests and chicks from April through July on private lands covering approximately 2100 km. I observed both birds almost continuously from 1-2 p.m. MDT. A significant percentage of the Mountain Plover's global population winters in the Chihuahuan Grasslands of Mexico. In Wyoming’s Thunder Basin National Grassland, imperiled mountain plovers choose nesting habitats on the edges of black-tailed prairie dog colonies, researchers found. of Mountain Plover nests as a function of the sex of the incubating adult, nest age, year, linear and quadratic time trends, and two weather covariates (maximum daily temperature and daily precipitation) during a six-year study (1995–2000). The North American Breeding Bird Survey shows declines of over 80 percent in Mountain Plover populations over the past few decades, and this species is included on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. 1 Article. It is misnamed, as it lives on level land. It often associates with livestock, which attract and stir up insects. Mountain plover populations should continue to be monitored and investigated so as to understand how to support their survival. More than half of egg clutches are lost to predation or accidental trampling. The rate of nest success to hatching of eggs was 0.37 (0.05 standard error). A nest made in a colder climate with less precipitation has a better chance of survival. Mountain Plovers make their nests and fledge their young on flat, bare ground. On the breeding grounds, Mountain Plover conservation depends on the protection of suitable nesting habitat and nest sites as well as prairie dog protection. The female Plover ultimately chooses the nest site, selecting one of the scrapes that was created by the male. This ground-nesting species exhibits an uncommon split-clutch mating system, in which each member of a pair simultaneously incubates a nest and uniparental care continues throughout brood-rearing. This type of incubation allows for a greater yield of chicks than a monogamous system in which both the male and female tend a single clutch together. The breeding season usually extends over the summer months and ends sometime around late July or early August. Agricultural fields provide ideal habitat for them, as long as their nests are not accidentally tilled. Mountain Plovers are known to nest in a protracted manner; nesting in Montana may extend from late May to late July (Johnsgard 1986, Knowles and Knowles 1993). It breeds in the high plains of North America from extreme southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan to northern New Mexico and the Texas panhandle, as well as an isolated site in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. As habitat on breeding and wintering grounds disappears, grassland species have become one of the fastest-declining suites of birds native to North America. Unlike most plovers, it is usually not found near bodies of water or even on wet soil; it prefers dry habitat with short grass (usually due to grazing) and bare ground. An unknown but possibly large fraction of females leave their first clutch to be incubated by the male and lay a second clutch, which they incubate. Plovers are important to the ecosystem at large because they are considered indicators of the health of their respective habitats. There are black feathers on the forecrown and a black stripe from each eye to the bill (the stripe is brown and may be indistinct in winter); otherwise the plumage is plain. She will lay up to four eggs over the course of a week. Their breeding season extends over the summer months and ends some time around late July or early August. They lay three eggs per clutch; the eggs are off-white with blackish spots. "Avian Conservation and Ecology" Vol. Often, they pick prairie dog towns for their nest sites. Knopf, Fritz L. (1997): A Closer Look: Mountain Plover. RMBO’s field crew discovered its first Mountain Plover nest of the season on May 8. the Mountain Plover and agricultural practices in 2003 plan to investigate Mountain Plover use of black-tailed prairie dog colonies as well (F. Knopf, pers. Our site uses cookies to collect anonymous information about your use of our website. Mountain plovers share habitat with prairie dogs at many core breeding sites, and with kangaroo rats on winter habitat in California. Eggs: … In appearance it is typical of Charadrius plovers, except that unlike most, it has no band across the breast. Density and Abundance of Mountain Plovers in Northeastern Montana. Once the chicks hatch, they can almost immediately run and feed themselves. In areas where the Mountain Plover does nest on prairie dog colonies, the size of the colony may be important. Most nest and chick predation is done primarily by mammals and reptilians. It often associates with livestock, which attract and stir up insects. The population of plovers in Wyoming is lower than that of other states, but Wyoming's population of mountain plovers and mostly intact expanses of grazed rangeland will probably become much more important in the coming years as urban and agricultural development continues in contiguous states. On 18 May 1995 I observed two adult Mountain Plovers 5 mi west and 1.25 mi north of Bushnell in southwest Kimball county. Mountain Plover Nest Survival We monitored the fate of 84 mountain plover nests (41 in 2011, 43 in 2012), of which 38 were located on recent burns and 46 were located on active prairie dog colonies. 2. in Lincoln County, Colorado. Minimum Population Size of Mountain Plovers Breeding in Wyoming. Fritz L. Knopf and M. B. Wunder Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020 Text last updated December 1, 2006 The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) is a medium-sized ground bird in the plover family (Charadriidae). Eurasian Wigeons in both Mountain View, California and Cañon City, Colorado. Several nest scrapes are made, only one is used. We suspect that a Mountain Plover initiated the nest and was first to lay eggs; and the Killdeer later parasitized the nest and re-mained to incubate, possibly after loss of its own nest. This is where their camouflaged feathers come in handy. The Mountain Plover nest marking program was developed in 2003 by Fritz Knopf in cooperation with RMBO and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to locate and protect Mountain Plover nests from accidental tillage on privately-owned agricultural fields. Mountain Plover in Nebraska Mountain Plover Nest Marking Playa Wetlands of E. More. The upperparts are sandy brown and the underparts and face are whitish. This steep decline is mainly due to habitat loss. 2000, Vol 112, Num 4, pp 454-456 ; ref : 17 ref. In many areas nesting mountain plovers are strongly associated with prairie dog colonies, where in fact there is a good percentage of ba… By early November, most move southward and westward to their wintering grounds. Their nests are simple scrapes in the ground, and though their eggs are well-camouflaged, they are vulnerable to predators such as coyotes, foxes, and ground squirrels. In certain parts of their range Mountain Plovers rely almost exclusively on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies as nesting habitat. In the construction of suitable plover habitats, more success would be found in short-grass prairie habitats. Most mountain plovers nest in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. Plovers eat small invertebrates, and their foraging style is what sets them apart from other shorebirds. 2019), but the role of extreme minimum or maximum temperatures may vary because Mountain Plovers inhabit a fairly wide climatic envelope given their limited geographic range (Knopf and Wunder 2006). 1-11. This type of incubation suits the mountain plover well and allows for a greater yield of chicks compared to similar species of birds in which both the male and female tend a single clutch together. Plovers usually select a breeding range that they share with bison and black tailed prairie dogs. Temperature has been previously linked with Mountain Plover nest survival (Dreitz et al. Web. Model S was a time-independent model; nest success was held constant. Both parents incubate and care for the young, although newly hatched chicks walk and feed themselves soon after hatching. They also nest on gravel pits along rivers and on the salt-encrusted bare areas of interior alkali wetlands and lakes. Adults will lead chicks away from the nest scrape to seek shaded, sheltered spots under tall vegetation or even in the shadow of a nearby water tank. Mountain plovers often are associated with prairie-dog colonies or other forms of surface … Dinsmore, “Mountain Plover Nest in Kimball County,” from Nebraska Bird Review (September 1997) 65(3). Mountain plovers are selective in choosing nest sites, preferring expansive arid flats with very short grass and a high proportion of bare ground, and often selectively nest in prairie dog towns. Mountain Plovers in Oklahoma: distribution, abundance, and habitat use. This native Nebraska shorebird prefers flat, dry, open areas, which can include agricultural landscapes and shortgrass prairies. This upright style contrasts with that of sandpipers, which are most often seen head down, probing for underground prey. Loss of these areas because of crop planting or the removal of prairie dogs, is the biggest threat to the mountain plover's population. Mountain plovers nest in four habitat types: 1) native short- and mixed-grass prairie, 2) semi-desert sites, 3) prairie dog colonies, and 4) agricultural land. This is particularly the case after the chicks have hatched. Mountain plovers perform uniparental incubation by both sexes. A total of 278 nests were found 2002-2007, all but six in agricultural fields, … 2002, Mettenbrink et al. CODEN WILBAI ISSN 0043-5643 One factor common to all breeding areas is that the land must include extensive bare ground. Habitat loss and altered disturbance regimes have led to declines in many species of grassland and sagebrush birds, including the imperiled Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus). The name “Mountain” Plover is misleading, since this is a species of shortgrass prairies. Behrens, C., Z. J. Ruff, T. M. Harms, and S. J. Dinsmore. The mountain plover is much quieter than its relative the killdeer. In Medieval England some migratory birds became known as plovers because they returned to their breeding grounds each spring with rain. Egg-Size Investment in a Bird with Uniparental Incubation by Both Sexes. The Wilson bulletin (Wilson Ornithological Society). In March 2009, a multi-agency report, the first of its kind, issued by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology in conjunction with federal agencies and other organizations, indicated that the mountain plover is one of the birds showing serious declines in population. Additional study is needed to help ensure the continued presence of mountain plovers in Oklahoma. I observed both birds almost continuously from 1-2 p.m. MDT. comm.). Mountain Plover Population Responses to Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs in Montana. 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