new paper: Over-summering abundance, species composition, and habitat-use patterns at a globally important site for migratory shorebirds

New paper published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology on the conservation importance of the Kadalundi Vallikkunnu Community Reserve on the southwest coast of India for oversummering shorebirds — migrants that remain on their wintering grounds during the breeding season.

Over the 14 yr study, we documented 7 over-summering species, including Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultia), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), and Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva). Management plans that aim to restore vulnerable mudflats and mangroves and to reduce anthropogenic threats such as sand mining and waste dumping are needed to prevent the loss of important oversummering, foraging habitat for migratory shorebirds in southern India and along the Central Asian and South Asian Flyways. 🔗