Semipalmated Sandpipers breed in coastal tundra of the subarctic and Low Arctic. Surveys conducted throughout Canada and the United States during fall migration suggest that the Canadian population has decreased substantially in abundance relative to about 1970, especially prior to the mid-1990s. The decreases are most pronounced for those birds breeding in the eastern Arctic and migrating through Atlantic Canada. Legal and illegal hunting in South America is a significant threat to the species, and may be implicated in the observed declines (Hicklin and Gratto-Trevor 2010). With over 80% of the global breeding population, Canada's responsibility for the species is very high. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Semipalmated Sandpipers are hunted, legally and illegally, in northern South America to an extent that could have effects at the population level (Hicklin and Gratto-Trevor 2010). The Canadian breeding range of the Semipalmated Sandpiper overlaps with that of several populations of over-abundant Arctic geese. Geese can degrade tundra habitats by grazing on grasses, sedges, and their rhizomes (Alisauskas et al. 2006); this modified habitat often supports lower densities of shorebirds (e.g., Sammler et al. 2008, Hines et al. 2010). It is not known whether this is a contributing factor to the apparent decreases in the abundance of Semipalmated Sandpipers. In the Bay of Fundy, loss of access to historical roost sites as a result of increased recreational activities may be the biggest threat to these sandpipers (J. Paquet, ECCC, pers. comm.). Like many shorebirds, Semipalmated Sandpipers are reliant on a network of staging sites during migration. Reduced availability of prey, such as horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay, can affect Semipalmated Sandpipers at these key migratory staging sites (e.g., Botton et al. 1994, Nettleship 2000). Recent declines in the numbers of birds at South American non-breeding sites and eastern Arctic breeding areas have indicated the vulnerability of some sites and populations. Studies suggest that Semipalmated Sandpiper declines are occurring in the eastern Arctic and along the Atlantic Flyway (Brown et al. 2017).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
