3.3 Birds
• Conduct monitoring to estimate American Oystercatcher, Gull-billed Tern, Black Skimmer, and Wilson’s Plover reproductive success, especially needed for the Wilson’s Plover due to scant data available. Studies should examine direct and indirect fac- tors afecting reproductive success, including efects of diferent levels of human disturbance.
• Conduct research on foraging strategies and energy budget allocations of migrating shorebirds, especially the Red Knot.
• Conduct life history studies of colonial waterbirds, especially SGCN.
• Examine the efectiveness of diverse vegetation control methods for beach-nesting birds that require early successional habitat.
• Examine impacts of coastal engineering actions on benthic macro-invertebrates on which migratory shorebirds feed, especially the Red Knot.
• Assess the impacts of changes mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in water releases at hydroelectric dams on high-priority species.
• Conduct bird nest productivity studies, including nest-searching and spot mapping, and studies of predator efects on bird nest productivity.
• Conduct genetics research to determine if the coastal Worm-eating Warbler is a sepa- rate subspecies.
• Conduct genetics studies of the breeding subspecies of American Kestrel in the Sandhills ecoregion.
• Conduct genetics studies on the Henslow’s Sparrow at Voice of America sites.
• Conduct studies of small wading birds (e.g., Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis) using miniature GSM transmitters to obtain habitat selection, migration, energetics, and survival estimates. • Use GIS mapping and modeling capabilities to study change in coastal bird habitats relative to past and predicted storm events, including natural barrier islands, marsh islands, and dredged-material islands. Use models to provide guidance for long-term habitat management for continued population viability.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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