Differential migratory timing of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri)

MSc research at Simon Fraser University

Differential migratory timing of southward-migrating Western Sandpipers

(Calidris mauri)

Amanda Niehaus

Centre for Wildlife Ecology

Behavioral Ecology Research Group

My MSc research at SFU focuses on the relationship between breeding and migration in a small shorebird, the Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri).

It has long been assumed that the early departure of females from breeding sites relates to a female-first migration southward.

Do differences in male/female timing at breeding sites remain consistent on the subsequent migration?

I found that females do precede males in a) departure from breeding sites, b) movement to post-breeding sites, and c) migration through the first stopover site south of Alaska. However, differential timing of sex classes decreases between breeding sites and British Columbia. Post-breeding sites had very different estimates of sex-class timing, highlighting the need for more work at this phase of the migration.

Why does migratory timing differ between males and females?

I am currently testing hypothesis sets to answer this question.

Breeding Western Sandpiper

In the process of looking at male/female differences in parental care and migratory patterns, I noticed a great deal of inter-annual variation in the southward migratory timing for both sexes.

Why does migratory timing vary so much among years?

I investigated whether migratory phenology could be linked back to breeding phenology (snowmelt and hatch timing). Capture effort was a significant effect on mean migration estimates, precluding comparison of mean migration timing with breeding phenology. However, capture effort did not influence the differential timing between sexes. Years with earlier mean hatch at breeding sites corresponded with greater differences in migratory timing of females and males.

Western Sandpipers

Are exclosures useful for protecting Western Sandpiper nests?

From May to July 2001 I studied breeding Western Sandpipers at the Kanaryaramiut Research Station on the Yukon Delta NWR, Alaska. Although my attempts to test incubation/parental care trade-offs were thwarted by local predation rates of 40-90%, I observed very interesting behaviors of avian predators at the exclosures I placed over Western Sandpiper nests. Long-tailed Jaegers eventually learned that exclosures were food sources and targeted these structures in attempts to depredate nests and predate adult birds.

This work is discussed in greater detail in “Response of predators to Western Sandpiper nest exclosures” (submitted to Waterbirds, May 2003).

Western Sandpiper chick

Me at Kanaryaramiut, AK

One possible explanation for the male-biased care and female-first migration in Western Sandpipers and other near relatives is that members of the larger sex (in this case, the females) are more at risk of predation on the migration. Early migration is associated with lower abundances of the sandpipers’ primary predator, the Peregrine Falcon. In addition, heaviness (or high wing-loading) is associated with reduced flight performance in birds, including take-off ability and flight maneuverability.

Is maneuverability associated with size, wing-loading or sex class?

I captured and tested southward-migrating Least (C. minutilla) and Western Sandpipers in an outdoor flight apparatus. Birds had to navigate a series of obstacles before obtaining freedom. I painted wingtips and recorded the number of obstacles hit and the flight path of each bird. A high proportion of larger birds (e.g. Western Sandpiper females) ran, rather than flew, through the apparatus. Analyses are still in progress for this experiment.

Curriculum Vitae

Me finishing the Half-Ironman in Victoria, BC, 2002

Me penguin-wrangling in Argentina, 2000

Me penguin-wrangling in Argentina

Amanda Christine Niehaus

WORK EXPERIENCE

Centre for Wildlife Ecology MSc student, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia

September 2000-present

I have used field, experimental and analytical approaches to address male-female differences in the southward migration of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri).

1. In 2002, I captured 80 Western and Least Sandpipers and tested their escape maneuverability in an outdoor obstacle course. To my knowledge, this is the first test of maneuverability on migrating birds.

2. I obtained data on the migratory timing of Western Sandpipers from sites in Alaska and British Columbia and compared male-female timing differences between breeding sites and subsequent stopovers on the southward migration.

3. I created and manipulated a simulation model and obtained data on snowmelt and hatch phenology to elucidate causes of inter-annual variation in migratory timing.

4. I prepared permit applications, hired and managed field crew, and volunteered on other banding and radio telemetry projects.

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge volunteer, Alaska

May-July 2001

To better understand male-female differences in departure timing from breeding sites, I studied breeding Western Sandpipers on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska.

On a daily basis, I re-sighted banded birds, captured, banded and collected blood samples from adult and young Western Sandpipers, and monitored nesting success of all birds in the study area, including shorebirds, waterfowl, passerines.

I studied the effect of predator exclosures at Western Sandpiper nests on sandpiper and predator behavior and hatching success.

I conducted ‘rapid’ and ‘intense’ plot surveys for breeding shorebirds under the supervision of Dr. Jon Bart (USGS-BRD), and trained and supervised short-term volunteers.

Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve volunteer, Argentina

September 1999-February 2000

As a field technician for a long-term study of Magellanic penguins, I was one of only a few researchers ever to spend an entire breeding season at this site.

I conducted daily surveys of Magellanic penguin nest sites, captured, banded and collected blood samples from all age classes of penguins, conducted regular point and transect surveys at multiple colonies, applied radio transmitters to adult penguins and wrote detailed behavioral observations on resident marine mammals.

I interpreted research for tourists (in English and Spanish) and trained and supervised short-term volunteers.

Teaching assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Iowa

January-May 1999; May-June 1999

In my final year of my BSc, I was a teaching assistant for two courses.

I planned and directed two discussion sections weekly for an undergraduate non-majors’ course Ecology & Evolution.

I prepared laboratories for an advanced undergraduate course Plant & Animal Interactions. For both courses, I evaluated student performance for grade assignment.

Department of Biology honors researcher

January 1997-July 1999

My Honors degree at the University of Iowa involved three years of field research on depredation of passerine nests.

1. I designed and directed 5 artificial nest experiments over 3 seasons, coordinated field crews of 4 to 10 individuals, marked transects and oriented through dense forest (in pre-GPS times!).

2. I used quail and finch eggs as well as clay eggs to distinguish among predator communities in forest interior and edge. As part of my analyses, I assigned predator identities based on tooth marks in clay eggs.

3. I wrote and presented an honors thesis and have since published this work (see Publications, below).

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics student researcher

November 1994-January 1999

My experience in medical research was a diverse one.

I maintained cell culture, prepared and isolated bacterial cultures, purified DNA for PCR, operated on live frogs to obtain oocytes, removed ovules and testes from fruit flies, and prepared adenovirus vectors.

My favorite duties included managing the mouse lab, creating spreadsheets to track breeding and heredity of individual mice, and performing behavioral tests on adult and young mice.

PRESENTATIONS

Talks

Niehaus, A.C. April 2003. Southward migratory timing of Western Sandpipers: Gender differences and variation among years. Les Ecologistes seminar series, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

Niehaus, A.C. March 2003. Differences in the migratory timing of male and female Western Sandpipers: From breeding to BC. Canadian Wildlife Service seminar series, Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta BC.

Niehaus, A.C. January 2003. Climatic variation and migratory timing in Western Sandpipers. Western Sandpiper Workshop, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

Niehaus, A.C. November 2002. Amazing bird migrations. Tri-Cities Talented and Gifted Youth, Hyde Creek School, Port Moody BC.

Niehaus, A.C., D.B. Lank and R.C. Ydenberg. September 2002. Differential migratory timing of male and female Western Sandpipers on the southward migration. North American Ornithological Congress, New Orleans, LA.

Niehaus, A.C., D.R. Ruthrauff and B.J. McCaffery. March 2002. Use of exclosures as cues by avian predators. Alaska Bird Conference, Fairbanks, AK.

Niehaus, A.C. September 2001. CWS/NSERC and the Centre for Wildlife Ecology. Biological Sciences Graduate Research Symposium, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

Niehaus, A.C. May 1999. Are quail eggs too large to determine edge effects? Ecology Lunch seminar, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA.

Posters:

Niehaus, A.C., D.B. Lank and R.C. Ydenberg. March 2002. Female-first temporal patterns in southward-migrating Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri). Alaska Bird Conference, Fairbanks, AK * Best Poster Award*.

January 2003, Western Sandpiper Workshop, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

February 2003, Biological Sciences Graduate Research Symposium, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

Niehaus, A.C., D.R. Ruthrauff, and B.J. McCaffery. August 2001. Use of predator exclosures at Western Sandpiper nests in western Alaska. East meets West Conference. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC.

Niehaus, A.C. February 2001. Parental care and migration strategies in Western Sandpipers.

Pacific Ecology Conference. Bamfield Marine Station, BC.

Niehaus, A.C. November 2000. The southward migration of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri): why do females depart before males? SFU/UBC/UVic Graduate Retreat. Brackendale, BC.

RECENT VOLUNTEER WORK

Women in Science Working Group

March 2003—present

I organized a discussion on issues for women in science, which was led by our invited speaker, P.D. Boersma of the University of Washington. This event was a great success, and we are now organizing a working group to further discuss on gender issues in science, begin a mentorship program, and speak to young scientists in the community.

Biological Sciences Graduate Caucus chair

May 2002-October 2003

I plan and direct monthly meetings, coordinate representatives on various committees, and communicate graduate student opinions to the department.

Biological Sciences Departmental Seminar series organizer

May 2002-April 2003

I selected and invited speakers for weekly seminar series and organized seminar logistics. I hosted a speaker, arranging meetings and entertainment.

Biological Sciences Graduate Research Symposium committee chair

September 2002-February 2003

I coordinated meetings, prepared an event budget, solicited financial assistance, and organized the format and logistics of this event, which included a career seminar and a graduate student poster session to present research.

Volunteer, Pacific Seabird Group meetings

February 2003

I set-up and ran presentations for two plenary speakers, three sessions and the banquet speaker.

Western Sandpiper Workshop assistant coordinator

April 2002-January 2003

I assisted in planning of the conference talk schedule, prepared the abstracts book, communicated with conference participants, organized talk and banquet logistics, and coordinated volunteers. I edited the abstracts for submission to Wader Study Group Bulletin.

Volunteer, North American Ornithological Congress

September 2002

I set-up and ran presentations for a plenary speaker and two sessions.

Session chair, East meets West Conference

August 2001

I introduced speakers for the Behavioral Ecology session.

Amanda Christine Niehaus

Burnaby BC V5A1S6 Canada

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge volunteer, Alaska

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics student researcher

PUBLICATIONS

REPORTS

PUBLISHED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

HONORS AND AWARDS

MSc

BSc

March 2003—present

September 2002-February 2003

February 2003

September 2002

August 2001