Habitat selection by western Snowy plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) during the nonbreeding season

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Natural Resources: Wildlife, 2009Conservation of threatened and endangered species requires managing habitat for both breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The factors that influence habitat selection by the threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) during the nonbreeding season are poorly understood. I examined the distribution of Western Snowy Plovers in coastal northern California during the nonbreeding season over two consecutive years. The plovers that wintered in northern California included residents and migrants from other areas. Individual plovers demonstrated high site faithfulness within the nonbreeding season, occupying small home ranges (1331 ?? 1382.9 m). Occupied sites had more brown algae and associated invertebrates, were wider, and had less debris in the foredune than unoccupied sites. These findings suggest that during the nonbreeding season Snowy Plovers select habitats that have more food and where birds could more easily detect predators. The results from this study provide information that can be used to identify habitat for nonbreeding Snowy Plovers and to incorporate nonbreeding habitat into restoration efforts. Maintaining nonbreeding habitat in northern California is important not only to the local population, but other populations as well.California North Coast Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Rotary Club of Eureka, The Garden Club of America, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Section of The Wildlife Societ