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North Carolina Banding Schemes:
2004 - present:
Duplicate Green bands on upper legs with 2 engraved White letters/numbers
2003:
Colors used: Red, Yellow, Dark Blue, Green, Orange, White
Upper Left: No band or one color band
Lower Left: Green Flag over USFWS metal band
Upper Right: No band or one color band
Lower Right: No band or one color band or two color bands
Participants:
North Carolina State University (NCSU)
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Lookout National Seashore
North Carolina Audubon
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision
Contacts:
Ted Simons - USGS co-op unit - Department of Zoology, NCSU
Shiloh Schulte - USGS co-op unit - Department of Zoology, NCSU
Marcia Lyons - Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Michael Rikard - Cape Lookout National Seashore
Jeff Cordes - Cape Lookout National Seashore
Sue Cameron -
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision
Walker Golder - North Carolina Audubon
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
research and monitoring in North Carolina
The objectives of our research are to evaluate the status and viability of North Carolina’s Oystercatcher population and to understand the relationship of this population to other populations along the east coast of the United States. We are currently focused on obtaining reliable estimates of survival, recruitment, and other key demographic parameters through a large scale mark-recapture study. In addition, we have recently initiated a radio telemetry study to investigate factors affecting pre-fledging chick survival. |
For more images from NC go to Field Methods |
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We started monitoring American Oystercatcher productivity on the Outer Banks in 1997 and have continued through 2006. We are currently monitoring oystercatcher productivity at several locations in North Carolina in conjunction with staff from the National Park Service and the North Carolina Audubon Society. |
Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores comprise over 160 km of barrier island habitats that support a population of approximately 90 breeding pairs. North Carolina Audubon manages several islands in the Cape Fear region that provide habitat for additional breeding and wintering oystercatchers.
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We have been trapping and banding breeding American Oystercatchers on the Outer Banks of North Carolina since 1999. Our goal is to establish a color-banded population to study patterns of dispersal and survival of birds nesting along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States. We are currently developing demographic models to investigate population trends. |
Fecundity and annual adult survival are the only demographic parameters for which we have reasonably reliable estimates for our oystercatcher populations. Other important demographic parameters, including juvenile and sub-adult survival, are not known for American Oystercatchers. Davis and others have stressed the importance of long term banding studies to generate better estimates of demographic rates.
The Excel file linked below contains a current list of color band combinations and re-sightings of birds banded in North Carolina. Banding data were provided by the co-op unit at North Carolina State University. This dataset should not be published or distributed without permission. For more information contact Ted Simons
North Carolina banding records (xls)
The maps below show (1) locations where color-banded oystercatchers were resighted in North Carolina and (2) locations throughout the US where oystercatchers banded in North Carolina were resighted. Click on a location for a closer view.
