A census of spring migrant Red Knots Calidris canutus in coastal Washington, USA: results from 2008

Populations of Red Knots Calidris canutus appear to have experienced substantial declines in the Western Hemisphere. The small population, attributed to the subspecies roselaari, that migrates along the coast of Washington, USA, has also declined. The migration route(s) and important wintering areas of this subspecies are poorly known. In the spring of 2006, I conducted surveys at key sites in Washington to update information on its abundance and to search for colour-bands that might provide insight into the migration pathway or location of the wintering grounds. Between 248 and 380 individual Red Knots were observed, far fewer than numbers reported in the early 1980s. Between 89 and 221 Red Knots were closely scrutinized for colour-bands, but none was seen. In future efforts, an attempt will be made to a) include more observers and conduct additional visits to key sites, and b) obtain samples for stable isotope analyses.