From: Jonathan Plissner <plissnej@CCMAIL.ORST.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 11:24 AM
Subject: Tamaulipas plovers
In mid-December, an international team of Mexican, U.S., and
Canadian biologists surveyed the upper two thirds of the
eastern Laguna Madre in Tamaulipas for a variety of
shorebirds, particularly focusing on plover species with
declining populations (Piping, Snowy, etc.). Much of the
impetus for the study came from results of international
surveys of piping plovers (in 1991 & 1996), which indicated
significant gaps in knowledge of the wintering distribution
of the species and which further indicated that the Laguna
Madre region was likely to be a major source of "missing"
birds. In December, over 300 Piping Plovers and over
600 Snowy Plovers were counted, confirming expectations.
A less formal follow-up survey is planned in the next two
weeks. I would love to hear from anyone who may be
interested in looking for birds in the region (El Mezquital
south to La Pesca) during this time. I would also
appreciate hearing of any sightings of Piping Plovers
(Chorlitos melodicos) from Mexico. Many individuals have
been color-banded on their breeding grounds, and any
additional information on these birds would be especially
helpful.
Jonathan Plissner
plissnerj@fsl.orst.edu