Written by Charles Duncan/WHSRN
On 14 December 2010, the Mexican Federal Government announced the inclusion of four shorebird species or subspecies on its Endangered Species List (NOM 059), bringing them under federal protection.
American Oystercatcher. © Gyorgy Szimuly
Two of the shorebirds are listed as Endangered:
» the frazari subspecies of American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
» the roselaari subspecies of Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
And two are listed as Threatened:
» the nivosus subspecies of Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
» Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
Because members of the Northwest Mexico Bird Group (GANO, by its Spanish acronym) have conducted coordinated monitoring activities in past years, they were able to provide the scientific evidence for the successful proposal of these shorebirds for federal protection. The partners involved in GANO form a diverse group of ornithologists and conservationists from federal and state government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and research centers throughout Northwest Mexico.
Federally protecting these declining shorebird species is a major step forward for the regional conservation strategy established by partners in Northwest Mexico, a focus region of the Shorebird Recovery Project led by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. This effort was made possible, in large part, by financial support from the Ramsar Secretariat, Copper River International Migratory Bird Initiative (CRIMBI), and Mexico’s National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP, by its Spanish acronym).
Congratulations and thanks to all!
For more information, please contact Charles Duncan (cduncan@manomet.org), Director, Shorebird Recovery Project, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.