American Oystercatcher Research and Monitoring

1. American Oystercatcher Research and Monitoring 2004 Status Report North Carolina’s Outer Banks and Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, MA

2. Monomoy NWR • Northernmost AMOY study site • Monomoy is one of the highest density nesting site for AMOY in the Northeast • Well protected site (from humans) – potential production site for the Northeast region • Supports the largest fall staging flock of AMOY in the Northeast

3. Monomoy NWR • The Refuge consists of two primary islands, North and South Monomoy, a small sandbar accreting to the west, “Minimoy” and a small portion of the mainland

4. Monomoy NWR • Second year of research • Collaborative effort between Monomoy NWR and NCSU Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit • Advisory support in 2004 from Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences

5. Monomoy NWR • Productivity from 2003 - 2004

6. Monomoy NWR • Causes of Nest Failure 2003-2004 • 109 Nests monitored • 69 Failed to Hatch • Coyotes 17 24.6% • Avian 12 17.4% • Weather 10 14.5% • Failed to Hatch 6 8.7% • Unknown 24 18.7%

7. Monomoy NWR • Expanded on banding efforts begun in 2003 • Banded 21 adults and 9 chicks • Monitored banded birds through the breeding season and into fall staging flocks

8. Monomoy Resightings

9. North Carolina • NC Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit • Shiloh Schulte • Ted Simons • US National Park Service • Jeff Cordes • Marcia Lyons • National Audubon Society • Walker Golder

10. Methods and Study Sites • Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores • Over 160 km of barrier island habitat • Locate nests and track their status every 3 to 4 days • Determine causes of failure • Monitor chick survival • Trap and band adults and chicks

11. Productivity from 1995 through 2004 No. of ChicksFledged Fecundity(No. chicks/pair/year) No. ofBreedingPairs No. ofClutches % NestsHatchingYoung South Core Banks 1995-2003 South Core Banks 2004 North Core Banks 1998-2003 North Core Banks 2004

12. Productivity – continued No. of ChicksFledged Fecundity(No. chicks/pair/year) No. ofBreedingPairs No. ofClutches % NestsHatchingYoung Bodie Island 1999-2003 Bodie Island 2004 Hatteras Island1999-2003 Hatteras Island2004 Ocracoke Island1999-2003 Ocracoke Island2004 Total1995-2003 Total2004

13. North Carolina

14. North Carolina • Productivity spike in 2004 • Exploring the use of habitat models to interpret pre and post Hurricane Isabel conditions in terms of their value to breeding AMOY • Possible explanations • Significantly improved nesting habitat • Rejuvenated foraging areas • Reduction in predators • Larger buffer between humans and nests due to increased habitat (NCB primarily)

15. North Carolina • Banding • 95 Oystercatchers banded in NC this summer! • 62 chicks and 33 adults • Adults were trapped using the decoy and noose carpet method • Chicks were captured between ages 21 and 37 days

16. North Carolina resightings