From the Ramsar Forum

Four new sites added to Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

(posted to the Ramsar Forum, 21 September 2000)

Dear Forum Members,

The WHSRN Council gave final approval to the designation of 4 new sites into the Network. At its regular meeting September 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Council formally endorsed the nominations of Elkhorn Slough (California), Lake Erie Marshes (Ohio & Michigan), Laguna Madre (Texas & Mexico), and Guerrero Negro (Mexico), and Nushagak Bay (Alaska) was confirmed, bringing the total number of recognized shorebird reserves up to 46. The total area of these sites brings over 120,000 acres (75,000 hectares) into the reserve system and includes 22 partners who are committed to the conservation of these critical wetland habitats.

Elkhorn Slough, located on the California coast at Monterey Bay, confirms the presence of 21 shorebird species (plus 19 uncommon/rare sightings!) totally 39,000 shorebirds during spring and fall migrations and the site serves as important wintering habitat for many shorebirds. Partners include the State of California, The Nature Conservancy, and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. Contact: Mark Silberstein, Elkhorn Foundation, email: esf@elkhornslough.org

The Lake Erie Marshes, located along the northwestern shoreline of Lake Erie in the states of Ohio and Michigan, hosts 38 species of shorebirds totally at least 48,000 birds. Partners include the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (3 refuges), the states of Ohio and of Michigan, and FirstEnergy Company. Contact: Julie Shieldcastle, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, email: bsbobird@thirdplanet.net

The Laguna Madre site is the first Bi-National Site with coastal habitat in both Texas, USA and Tamaulipas, Mexico. In Texas the site includes the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and The Nature Conservancy South Padre Island Reserve and in Tamaulipas, Mexico the site includes the Rancho Rincon lands along Laguna Madre. Both of these sites are also under consideration as a Ramsar site. The combined site hosts at least 100,000 shorebirds during migration and during the winter. 37 species have been counted at the site, including the endangered Piping Plover during the winter season. The Laguna Madre is also a major area for waterfowl, especially Redheaded Ducks and is the only breeding are for Ocelots in the U.S.A. Partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, the State of Texas, Texas Center for Policy Studies, the Rancho Rincon, ProNatura, DUMAC, and SEMARNAP. Contact: Stephen Labuda, USFWS, email: FW2_RW_Laguna@fws.gov

Guerrero Negro, located along the shores of Ojo De Liebre Lagoon in Baja California Sur, Mexico, is the site of a long established salt extraction facility ("salina") run jointly by the Government of Mexico and Mitsubishi Corporation. The site has confirmed the presence of over 124,000 shorebirds during migration and over-wintering with at least 20 species identified. The area has also become famous for the gray whales that use the area. Partners at the site include Exportadora de Sal (ESSA), the town of Guerrero Negro, ProNatura, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, and the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur in La Paz. Contact: Edmundo Elorduy Dahlhaus, Marine Operations, email: eelorduy@mail.nextgeninter.net.mx

CONGRATULATIONS to all these sites! Please join us in welcoming them to the Network and thanking them for their great contribution to hemispheric shorebird conservation.

Jim Corven, Director, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, P.O. Box 1770 Manomet, MA 02345 U.S.A. Tel: 508 224-6521 ext. 227 Fax: 508 224-9220 ICQ: 291938 www.manomet.org/WHSRN.htm  jmcorven@manomet.org

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