Coastal Bird Program Update: OCT 2014
D. Newstead
O. Fitzsimmons
Rookery Island Management
The 2014 breeding season is now complete, and rookery island management activities have commenced. This is the 2nd year we have had the Mid-Coast Master Naturalist group propagating native plants to help restore habitat on rookery islands and provide nesting structure. Exotic/invasive vegetation control is needed at several of the more important rookery islands, as well as predator control. With the sustained predator and exotic species control over the past few years, we are seeing re-colonization of some islands, like Pelican Island, which in 2008-2009 supported 0 nesting wading birds but now supports nearly 100. Other islands, like Triangle Tree in the upper Laguna Madre, have gone from being dominated by exotic vegetation to primarily native brush we planted over the past several years. Since first-year survival of young native brush plants is usually low due to dry south Texas conditions, we plan to capitalize on recent rains and the forecast of a wet winter by focusing on planting brush on several major islands using newer techniques to improve plant survival.
Laguna Vista – Audubon Texas
Last year we entered a contract agreement with Audubon Texas to perform management work on islands in the lower Laguna Madre called Laguna Vista Spoils. Audubon TX has very little capability to do actual on-the-ground management in the lower Laguna Madre. Laguna Vista Spoils serve as a major rookery, but erosion and minimal nesting structure are limiting reproductive efforts. With the help of volunteers we planted over 600 young brush plants, treated nearly 4 acres of exotic grasses, and treated close to 50 large Fire Ant colonies.
We are contracting with Audubon Texas again this year to continue work on Laguna Vista Spoil. This will likely be a multi-year effort that will triple or quadruple the amount of available brush and nesting structure on the island, as well as limit the re-growth of exotic grasses.
Rookery Island Cleanup
The Coastal Bird Program partnered with USFWS, TPWD, and the City of Corpus Christi to hold the 8th annual Rookery Island Cleanup at Doc’s Seafood Restaurant this past Saturday. This event removes dangerous trash and fishing line from sensitive rookery islands, and is a great outreach tool.
Tracking Migratory Shorebirds from South Texas
We are working with researchers from the Smithsonian Institute and US Geological Survey in a project of the Migratory Connectivity Project, on a project to utilize the most technologically-advanced tracking devices available to track the full life-cycle journeys of four migratory shorebird species that occur in south Texas. We will be trapping and attaching location/transmitter devices to Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Black-bellied Plover, and Red Knot at the end of October. The information provided by these devices will provide insightinto habitat use, migratory timing, breeding area and habits, and other vital information necessary to enhance stewardship of these species of conservation concern.
Coming up:
· Continue rookery Island management
· Texas Colonial Waterbird Society Meeting
· Laguna Vista Project