Status of breeding Wilson’s Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia) on St. Kitts, West Indies
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Abstract: We report observations from waterbird surveys completed in 2004 and 2009 that detected breeding Wilson’s Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia) on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts in the Lesser Antilles. Our comparison of surveys indicates a slight decrease in activity island-wide, with eight nests in 2004 and seven nests in 2009. The breeding activity at each wetland differed between years, perhaps in response to increased development at historic nesting sites.
Keywords: Charadrius wilsonia, development, nesting, St. Kitts, West Indies, Wilson’s Plover
Resumen: Estado de individuos reproductores de Charadrius wilsonia en San Kitts, caribe insular- Reportamos las observaciones que detectaron individuos reproductores de Charadrius wilsonia a partir de muestreos de aves acuáticas completados en 2004 y 2009 en la península Sudeste de San Kitts, en las Antillas Menores. La comparación de nuestros muestreos indica una ligera disminución en la actividad en toda la isla, con ocho nidos en 2004 y siete en 2009. La actividad de cría en cada humedal difiere entre años, probablemente como respuesta a un incremento de la urbanización en los sitios históricos de cría.
Palabras clave: Caribe Insular, Charadrius wilsonia, nidificación, San Kitts, urbanización
Résumé: Statut du pluvier de wilson (Charadrius wilsonia) nicheur sur Saint-Kitts, antilles- Le suivi des oiseaux d’eau réalisé en 2004 et 2009 sur la péninsule sud-est de Saint-Kitts dans les Petites Antilles a permis d’observer la reproduction du Pluvier de Wilson (Charadrius wilsonia). La comparaison des relevés indique une légère diminution de l’activité sur toute l’île, avec huit nids en 2004 et sept nids en 2009. L’activité de reproduction sur chaque zone humide diffère entre les années, peut-être en réponse à l’augmentation du développement sur les sites de nidification historiques.
Mots clés: Antilles, Charadrius wilsonia, développement, nidification, Pluvier de Wilson, Saint-Kitts
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