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ABOUT
Scientific Name | Recurvirostra americana |
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General Description | L 18", WS 31", 11 oz. Body is black and white with a striking orange-cinnamon head and neck, thin up-curved bill, and blue legs. |
Status | Occurs in North Dakota from April to October. Peak breeding season mid-May to early July. |
Abundance | Fairly common. |
Primary Habitat | Wetlands or lakes with exposed, sparsely vegetated shorelines or islands. |
Federal Status | Migratory Bird. |
Reason for Designation | A high proportion of the population breeds in North Dakota. Listed as a U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan Species of High Concern in the Prairie Pothole Region. Increased climate change vulnerability in Shorebirds of Conservation Concern 2015. |
Preferred Habitat
American Avocets are most commonly seen using exposed, sparsely vegetated salt flats, sandbars, peninsulas, mudflats, or islands with beaches. Generally use shallow water (less than 1m) in tilled, alkali, ephemeral, temporary, seasonal, semi-permanent, permanent wetlands, or lakes. Islands appear to host higher breeding densities than along shorelines. In North Dakota, avocets favored large islands with beaches, located in shallow water, and islands constructed in wetlands. The nest is usually located on unvegetated ground or in areas with short, sparse vegetation. Nests may be slightly elevated, within about 60 m of water, and often near a clump of vegetation or debris. Most often nest in loose colonies, sometimes in association with terns, but never with gulls, pelicans, or cormorants. Avocets will also nest solitary. Foraging usually takes place in shallow water less than 20 cm deep for aquatic invertebrates, small fish, seeds, or terrestrial vertebrates on land.
Key Areas and Conditions for American Avocet in North Dakota
No specific sites have been identified.
Habitat
Breeding density may be determined by availability of island nesting grounds. Avocets do not use islands used by breeding gulls; and ring-billed gulls have increased substantially in North Dakota over the past 40 years. High water years can limit nesting substrate.
Other Natural or Manmade Factors
Nest losses attributed to flooding and predation. An elevated level of selenium has been found in avocet eggs in other areas. Selenium is present in evaporation ponds that receive subsurface agricultural drainage, such as irrigated fields. Human presence at nesting site during early laying stages can cause abandonment. Collision with power lines over wetlands has been documented. Expanding oil and gas development in North Dakota increases risk of oilfield contamination of wetland habitat.
Current Research or Surveys
Previous Research or Surveys
Population and Trend Estimates
Management Recommendations
Monitoring Plans
The Breeding Bird Survey continues to be a useful monitoring tool, however the annual surveys implemented by HAPET in 2004 are valuable. Ensuring all BBS routes are conducted annually is priority. A shorebird monitoring plan should follow The International Shorebird Survey (ISS) Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM) and “Guidance for Developing and Implementing Effective Shorebird Surveys."
2005-2015 Progress
The American Avocet remains a Level II Species of Conservation Priority. Several State Wildlife Grant Projects (T2-9-R, T2-11-HM, T-18-R, T-21-D, T-22-HM, T-23-HM, T-25-HM, T-27-HM, T-37-D) have contributed to habitat enhancement of wetlands and grasslands for Willet and other wetland/grassland dependent birds.
Note: A listing of works consulted when compiling the information on this page may be found in the 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan.