Robinson, R.A., Clark, N.A., Lanctot, R., Nebel, S., Harrington, B., Clark, J.A., Gill, J.A., Meltofte, H., Rogers, D.I., Rogers, K.G., Ens, B.J., Reynolds, C.M., Ward, R.M., Piersma, T. & Atkinson, P.W. 2005. Long term demographic monitoring of wader populations in non-breeding areas. Wader Study Group Bulletin 105:17-29

Abstract

Understanding numeric changes in wader populations requires knowledge of the demographic parameters underlying such changes, i.e. survival and recruitment. Data from long-term monitoring programmes are crucial for obtaining these parameters. Following discussions held at a workshop on demographic monitoring of wader populations at the 2004 International Wader Study Group meeting, we present guidelines for establishing new programmes to monitor survival and recruitment of waders in non-breeding areas, particularly those species that breed in the Arctic. We provide a general overview of some common issues in the demographic monitoring of waders and then provide detailed methods for measuring both recruitment and survival on the non-breeding grounds.