Buff-breasted Sandpiper Conservation
Rick Lanctot
richard_lanctot@fws.gov
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper Conservation workshop will include lightening talks describing current studies on the species throughout the Western Hemisphere, with follow-up focused discussions surrounding the formal establishment of a Road 2 Recovery group, refinement of the Recovery Wheel process, completion of the species conservation strategy/plan, existing and new projects creating suitable habitat for the species at stopover and nonbreeding locations, projected changes in habitat due to development and climate change, and other conservation efforts underway. Finally, we will discuss possible collaborative projects and fund-raising for future work over lunch or dinner.
Working Landscapes for Shorebirds: Advancing Conservation in Agricultural Systems in the Midcontinent Flyway
Benoit Laliberté, Srigley Werner Kelly, Christie Katherine S. and Isadora Angarita-Martinez
benoit.laliberte@ec.gc.ca; srigleywerner@uidaho.edu; katie.christie@alaska.gov; iangarita@manomet.org
Agricultural working lands across the Midcontinent play an important role in supporting migratory shorebirds by providing habitat within highly modified landscapes. At the same time, these landscapes sustain rural livelihoods and provide valuable ecosystem services such as water retention, soil health, flood mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. This workshop will bring together researchers, conservation practitioners and producers requirements to explore shorebird-friendly beneficial management practices (BMPs) in two globally important agricultural regions: the Prairie Pothole Region of North America and the Pampas of South America. Discussions will also focus on selected crop systems to examine how BMP opportunities and challenges align/vary across agricultural landscapes. The workshop will begin with tailored presentations that provide ecological, agricultural, and socio-economic context for each geography and agricultural system. Landowners will provide their own point-of-view in separate presentations, grounding the discussion in real-world decision making for operational constraints, and agri-business contexts within working landscapes. Following these presentations, participants will reflect in breakout groups to identify lessons learned, discuss barriers and opportunities for BMP implementation, and explore what drives successful adoption from the perspective of landowners and producers. A central focus of the workshop will be the human dimensions of BMP adoption, including communication, incentives, trust-building, and the importance of “speaking the language” of producers for conservation practitioners to learn how to design win-win BMPs. Discussions will explore how conservation objectives designed to benefit shorebirds can better align with agricultural production through practical approaches, partnerships, and ecosystem service benefits, while also identifying opportunities to scale up effective practices.
Arctic-breeding shorebird species threat assessment: Review of hemispheric perspectives
Benoit Laliberté, Julie Paquet, Marcel Gahbauer and Isadora Angarita-Martinez
benoit.laliberte@ec.gc.ca; julie.paquet@ec.gc.ca; marcel.gahbauer@ec.gc.ca; iangarita@manomet.org
This workshop will convene shorebird experts, regional partners, and conservation practitioners to review and refine a threat assessment calculator developed for Arctic-breeding shorebird species as part of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) unsolicited status report process. The assessment currently includes 19 species representing 20 designatable units and provides a standardized approach for evaluating the scope, severity, and timing of threats affecting Arctic-breeding shorebirds throughout their annual cycle. The workshop will place particular emphasis on addressing knowledge gaps and regional perspectives from Latin America, where many Arctic-breeding shorebirds spend a significant portion of their non-breeding period. Participants will review existing threat scores and supporting evidence related to habitat loss and degradation, coastal development, hunting pressure, climate change, pollution, disturbance, aquaculture expansion, and changing hydrological conditions across key non-breeding and migratory areas. Through facilitated discussions and expert review sessions, participants will identify uncertainties, data deficiencies, and opportunities to improve consistency in how threats are assessed across species and geographies. The workshop will also help strengthen collaboration among researchers and conservation organizations working across the Western Hemisphere by incorporating regional expertise, unpublished information, and local monitoring knowledge into the assessment framework. Outcomes from the workshop will include revised threat rankings and recommendations for future data collection, monitoring priorities, and research needs to support shorebird conservation planning and species status assessments across the Americas.
Workshop on using eBird Status and Trends to identify key shorebird areas
Franco Bogel, Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta, and Natalia S. Martínez-Curci francobogel@mdp.edu.ar; omh28@cornell.edu; nmartinezcurci@conicet.gov.ar
This theoretical-practical workshop is designed to train students, researchers, and conservation professionals in the use of eBird Status & Trends (S&T) products to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of shorebirds. The workshop will focus on the identification of Bird Concentration Areas (BCAs) and the characterization of temporal site or region use by migratory species. It is organized into two complementary blocks. The first, which is introductory and demonstrative, will be dedicated to the foundations of eBird S&T and the analysis of concentration area maps for individual species in RStudio and QGIS. The second block, which is practical, will focus on working within RStudio where, using base scripts, participants will generate individual and multi-species BCAs as well as graphs of temporal use patterns in specific regions. After a general explanation of the scripts and workflow, each participant will be able to adapt the code to their own study area and species or group of species of interest. Participants may register for only the first block or for both. No prior knowledge is required to participate in the first block, while the second block is aimed at participants with R knowledge who have attended the first section. As a result of the workshop, participants will gain a conceptual and methodological foundation for using eBird S&T products in spatial ecology studies and conservation planning.
Field and analytical methods to estimate shorebird abundance using R - 2nd Edition
Joaquín Aldabe and Mark Drever
jaldabe@manomet.org; mark.drever@ec.gc.ca
Knowing the abundance of shorebirds at a site is key to assess population trends and shorebird responses to habitat management. However, estimating abundance can be challenging due to the inability to observe all birds present in a certain area. Ecologists refer to this as ‘imperfect detection’. To estimate abundance accurately, it's essential to account for imperfect detection during surveys. Through this course, participants will learn practical and theoretical issues on three methods to estimate animal population abundances with imperfect detection in a known area: Distance Sampling, Double Sampling and N-mixture model. The methodology will consist of a survey protocol design and data gathering in an open area (e.g., sports field). Instructors will spread a known number of wooden beads (i.e. “the shorebirds”) across 20x20 m in a soccer field. After a classroom session detailing conceptual background and sampling methods, participants will go to the field and apply search and count methods. Once data are taken, we will go back to the classroom and work with software R to fit models to estimate the total number of wooden beds. Basic R scripts will be provided for participants. Based on the differences between the estimated number of beds and the known number of shorebirds, we will discuss which methods perform better and why.
Status and trends of Western Hemisphere shorebirds – an update
Nils Warnock, Rob Clay and Arne Lesterhuis
rclay@manomet.org; ALesterhuis@manomet.org
In 2012, Anders et al. published “Population estimates of North American shorebirds, in the Wader Study Group Bulletin, a document that summarized the latest trends and population estimates for North American breeding shorebirds. We are working on a much needed revision and will present preliminary results from this work. We also will present preliminary results and suggestions for a similar product for Central and South America. During this workshop, we will solicit feedback on shorebird population trends and estimates and discuss how to come to agreement on estimates for species where data are conflicting. In particular, there are wide discrepancies in population estimates for certain species. We welcome input from others who have new shorebird status and trend data. The outcome of this workshop will be an updated version of the Anders et al. (2012) paper and progress towards a similar product for Central and South America.
North America Banding Council Shorebird Banding and Motus Training
River Gates, Julian Garcia and Victor Ayala
pacificshorebirds@gmail.com; jgarciaw@pronatura-noroeste.org; v.ayala@uabcs.mx
Cost:
75 USD
Effective conservation of migratory shorebirds requires coordinated monitoring and research across the Western Hemisphere. Bird banding—the capture, marking, and release of birds—provides critical information on migratory connectivity, survival, movement patterns, and population trends. These data are essential for evaluating conservation actions, identifying priority habitats, and informing management decisions across international flyways. However, access to formal banding instruction remains limited, constraining the implementation of standardized monitoring programs and reducing participation in collaborative initiatives such as Motus and coordinated color-mark networks. To address this need, we will host a North American Banding Council (NABC) shorebird capture and banding workshop immediately preceding the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group Meeting in La Paz, Mexico (November 7–8, 2026). The training program will combine preliminary online coursework with intensive field-based instruction. Prior to the workshop, participants will complete virtual modules covering banding ethics, safety, permitting requirements, data standards, and introductory shorebird biology and identification. This preparatory coursework will establish a shared foundation of knowledge and maximize hands-on learning opportunities during the in-person training. The field component will provide practical instruction in shorebird capture techniques, safe handling and processing, banding protocols, aging and sexing methods, morphometric measurements, and standardized data management practices. Participants will also learn how banding data contribute to hemispheric monitoring and tracking efforts. By equipping practitioners with technical skills, standardized methodologies, and connections to international research networks, this workshop will strengthen long-term monitoring and shorebird conservation throughout the Americas.
Beyond Awareness: Practical Tools for Engaging People in Shorebird Conservation
Vianey Ramirez and Fabiola Riva Melofiro
vramirez@manomet.org; frivamelofiro@gmail.com
Shorebird conservation increasingly depends on our ability to work strategically and collaboratively with people, communities, and site users. However, many conservation initiatives still focus primarily on awareness and outreach, without practical tools to better understand behaviors, identify barriers, or design effective engagement processes. This interactive workshop will introduce practical human dimensions tools and approaches applied to shorebird conservation. Through participatory exercises, group reflection, and hands-on work with real participants’ cases, we will explore how to identify priority audiences, understand barriers and motivators for action, and design more effective, context-based engagement strategies. The workshop combines concepts from participatory conservation, facilitation, and behavior change with practical activities that help participants advance real challenges from their own sites and projects. Participants will work directly on their own conservation contexts and leave with concrete tools and ideas that can be adapted and applied in their work. This workshop is intended for conservation practitioners, researchers, educators, site managers, and others interested in strengthening the human dimension of shorebird conservation initiatives.
Integration of BirdNET and Kaleidoscope for bioacoustic analysis of birds
Dr. Rafael Rueda-Hernández
rafa@wildlifeacoustics.com
This hands-on course will introduce participants to the combined use of BirdNET and Kaleidoscope for the efficient analysis of acoustic bird recordings. It will demonstrate how to classify large volumes of recordings using BirdNET and how to organize, review, and validate identifications within Kaleidoscope. Participants will learn a reproducible workflow to improve the quality of results and reduce automatic identification errors. The course is geared toward researchers, environmental consultants, students, and birdwatchers interested in applied bioacoustics. The training will combine conceptual foundations, practical demonstrations, and recommendations for acoustic field monitoring projects.
Illustration for science and nature
Graciela Tiburcio Pintos
gracielatiburciopintos@gmail.com
Cost:
35 USD
Scientific illustration is a discipline that unites art and science to communicate, synthesize, and explain complex concepts through close observation. It is an essential tool for bringing scientific knowledge closer to society, using rigorous methods to clarify, simplify, and objectify certain concepts through drawing. This workshop aims to be an introduction to scientific illustration, exploring its origins and key figures. At the end of the course, participants will be asked to create an illustration as an exercise. All necessary materials for the course will be provided to students. NO ILLUSTRATION EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
Advancing Shorebird Recovery: Training on R2R's Recovery Progress Wheel for Tipping Point Species Working Groups
Esmeralda Bravo
eb1573@georgetown.edu
Working groups share common challenges: deciding where to focus next and measuring progress. Road to Recovery’s (R2R’s) 1-day hands-on training focuses on helping working groups use the Recovery Progress Wheel. This practical tool helps working groups assess their progress, guide their priorities, and plan concrete steps toward species recovery. This workshop is designed for members of Tipping Point Species Working Groups at all phases of recovery planning. Participants will work together on building effective recovery networks, filling knowledge gaps, and full annual cycle conservation. Through a combination of hands-on tool training, peer working group case studies, and small-group breakout work, participants use The Wheel to assess collective progress towards recovery of their target species. In addition to completing the Wheel assessment, working groups will focus on strategies to strengthen their recovery network and prioritize next steps for recovery. As a group, workshop participants will discuss and identify shared threats as well as species-specific limiting factors. The agenda spans one full day. It offers an opportunity to translate working group momentum into structured recovery planning, solidify partnerships across the full annual cycle, and connect with other working groups tackling similar threats across species.
International Phalarope Working Group
Emm Clark
emily@sagelandcollaborative.org
We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting an in-person meeting of the International Phalarope Working Group. Anyone interested in phalarope conservation is welcome to participate. While the full agenda is still being developed, the meeting will provide an opportunity to share partner updates and collaborate on conservation planning strategies.
Whimbrel Working Group
Sam Wolfe
swolfe@manomet.org
The Whimbrel Working Group is a group of scientists and conservation professionals that seeks to develop, support, and implement range-wide research and management efforts that promote the conservation of Whimbrel populations in the Western Hemisphere by identifying and alleviating threats, promoting habitat protection and restoration, and engaging others through publication and media. The working group meets virtually every three months and aims to meet in-person every other year alongside the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group conference to maximize the opportunity for members to participate. During this side meeting, we will make progress on current working group projects through discussions and work sessions, as well as hear updates on regional work.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Working Group
Dov Lank
dlank@sfu.ca
The Semipalmated Sandpiper working group formed following a symposium at the 10th WHSG meeting. The group includes about 20 participants from throughout the hemisphere, bringing together government and academic researchers, conservation managers, and associates from NGOs. It includes persons with personal field experience from breeding, migration, and non-breeding areas, population modellers, and persons with skills at literature and data handling. The group has drafted an extensive multi-authored general review paper summarizing areas of knowledge and knowledge gaps throughout the annual cycle and geographical range of the species. Members completed a thorough bibliography of work on the species. The review paper summarizes current knowledge of the species’ basic biology, outlines its population structure, and considers threats and potential bottlenecks, with the goal of motivating and supporting conservation actions. One goal of this side meeting will be to help create a more formal structure. We intend to create a website and hope to fund a coordinator position.
Latin America and the Caribbean Subcommittee of the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) Working Group
Salvadora Morales
salvadoramorales@gmail.com
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) serves as a key bioindicator of coastal health. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the species faces critical threats such as habitat loss, tourism pressure, and nest predation. To mitigate these impacts, the American Oystercatcher Working Group (AMOYWG), established in 2001 with efforts focused on the U.S. Atlantic coast, achieved a historic 43% population increase. This remarkable success demonstrated the effectiveness of large-scale scientific monitoring and coordinated conservation actions. To replicate this milestone and share lessons learned, the AMOYWG aims to expand these successful management measures into the region by creating and strengthening a dedicated LAC subcommittee. This concurrent meeting is indispensable for connecting researchers, conservationists, and public officials in person. The gathering will facilitate a strategic space to discuss consolidating monitoring efforts, standardizing protection methodologies, and coordinating the governance of priority critical habitats. Furthermore, the session will align local efforts, unify management criteria, and thoroughly discuss current methodological challenges in real time. This direct exchange will accelerate complex decision-making and establish the operational foundations for this new subcommittee. Consequently, it will enhance the impact of local initiatives, effectively integrating conservation under a unified flyway-scale vision to ensure the long-term survival of this shorebird and all its subspecies.
Canada–Chile Action Plan for the Conservation of Shared Shorebird Species (2026–2030)
Benoit Laliberté
benoit.laliberte@ec.gc.ca
Shared migratory shorebird species between Canada and Chile, including the rufa Red Knot, Hudsonian Godwit, and Surfbird, depend on interconnected coastal and wetland habitats throughout their annual cycle, yet many populations continue to decline due to habitat loss and degradation, climate change, disturbance, and expanding coastal and energy infrastructure. This workshop will present the Canada–Chile Action Plan for the Conservation of Shared Shorebird Species (2026–2030), a collaborative initiative led by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Ministry of the Environment of Chile (MMA). The session will focus on practical strategies to implement the Plan, with particular emphasis on tracking progress, addressing knowledge gaps, and strengthening long-term collaboration between both countries and partners across the flyway. Participants will explore how tracking studies and coordinated monitoring initiatives, including satellite telemetry, bird banding, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, can improve understanding of migration routes, connectivity, habitat use, and threats throughout the annual cycle. Discussions will highlight how these data can support evidence-based conservation actions, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and inform decision-making related to development pressures and habitat management at key sites. The workshop will also examine approaches for measuring progress through shared indicators, reporting frameworks, and collaborative research priorities identified under the Action Plan. In addition, participants will discuss the critical need for sustained funding, international partnerships, and coordinated investment to support implementation, maintain monitoring networks, build technical capacity, and achieve measurable conservation outcomes for shared shorebird populations across the Americas.
Multi Shorebird Flyway Strategic Meeting
Benoit Laliberté
benoit.laliberte@ec.gc.ca
This strategic meeting convenes steering committee members from the Pacific, Midcontinent, and Atlantic Flyway conservation initiatives to strengthen coordination and advance shared priorities for shorebird conservation. Bringing together leaders from across regions, the meeting will create space for focused dialogue on the most pressing challenges facing flyway-scale conservation, including resource constraints. Participants will work collaboratively to identify areas of overlap and opportunity among initiatives, with an emphasis on building synergies and improving efficiency. Key discussions will explore mechanisms for pooling resources, aligning funding strategies, and enhancing communication across flyways. The meeting will also consider strategies to increase the visibility and recognition of these initiatives. Discussions will further examine how flyway initiatives can better align with and leverage international bilateral and multilateral agreements relevant to migratory bird conservation, helping to reinforce commitments and avoid duplication. The meeting will also serve as a platform to share lessons learned, highlight successful approaches, and identify gaps where joint action could yield greater impact.
From Framework to Action: Advancing Shorebird Conservation Across the Midcontinent Flyway
Isadora Angarita-Martinez and Benoit Laliberté
iangarita@manomet.org; benoit.laliberte@ec.gc.ca
This meeting will convene partners from across the Midcontinent geography to share progress since the launch of the Midcontinent Shorebird Conservation Initiative (MSCI) Strategic Framework in 2025. The session will highlight advances in implementing a flyway-scale, full life-cycle approach to shorebird conservation, grounded in collaboration across sectors, geographies, and disciplines. A central component of the meeting will be the presentation of a new mapping effort of Working Lands initiatives and programs relevant to shorebird habitats and populations across the Midcontinent Flyway. This synthesis aims to identify opportunities for alignment, reduce duplication, and strengthen collective impact across agricultural and productive landscapes critical for shorebirds. In addition to technical presentations, the symposium will include interactive and participatory activities designed to foster knowledge exchange on key ecological, social, and management dimensions of the Midcontinent Flyway. These activities will also promote peer-to-peer learning and strengthen collaboration among practitioners working at different scales. The session will conclude with a networking component to encourage dialogue, build partnerships, and reinforce a shared vision for advancing shorebird conservation across the Midcontinent.
Copper River International Migratory Bird Initiative
Erin Cooper
erin.cooper@isda.gov
CRIMBI members meet to discuss project collaboration based on 2024 and 2026 planning meetings.
Lessons learned from 40 years of shorebird conservation at sites across the Americas
Rob Clay
rclay@manomet.org
In the mid-1980s, scientists throughout the Americas began to document serious declines in shorebird populations. Recognizing that these birds were in trouble prompted the scientific community to develop the framework for a network of key sites to protect shorebirds and their habitats: the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN). Launched in 1986, WHSRN is a science-based, partnership-driven, conservation initiative for protecting the ecological integrity of critical sites for shorebirds throughout the Americas. WHSRN seeks that the ecological networks of sites that shorebirds need to thrive are managed for effective conservation, resulting in healthy shorebird populations and habitats that benefit current and future human generations. During the side event we will invite WHSRN site partners to share lessons learned from 40 years of site-based conservation within the framework of a voluntary network, with a particular emphasis on shorebirds of conservation concern. Among key lessons that are expected to be highlighted are the importance of building local capacity; integrating different systems of knowledge; strengthening links between local communities, livelihoods and shorebird conservation; and the need for connectivity between local and global action.
Migratory Shorebird Project Partners' Side Meeting
Diana Eusse
deusse@calidris.org.co
During the 11th WHGSM, the Migratory Shorebird Project (MSP) partner network will meet in person to discuss pathways and roadblocks for MSP to maximize and share its impact, from science to action, and achieving the conservation of migratory shorebirds in the Pacific American flyway in the coming years. The meeting will be led by the steering committee and will include partners from the 13 countries that have contributed to the MSP's 15 years of collaborative work. We will use participatory and discussion-based methodologies, focused on sharing experiences, strengthening partner capacities, and developing a roadmap for the project's next stages. The main topics of discussion will include: 1) funding strategies and positioning the project's achievements; 2) analysis and communication of results; and 3) evaluation of the impacts of conservation actions implemented through the grant program. The expected outcomes include strengthening participants' abilities to analyze and disseminate results, consolidating collective knowledge about the impacts achieved, and advancing an initial sustainability and positioning strategy for the coming years.