Arctic Shorebirds in North America : a Decade of Monitoring.

Among North American birds, many shorebird populations (various species of plovers and sandpipers) are in decline for numerous reasons. This technical volume, part of the "Studies in Avian Biology" series, brings together the results of a decade-long study monitoring shorebird population density in arctic North America. The 21 contributors provide an introduction and detailed methodologies, regional reports ranging from locations in western Alaska east to Baffin Islands, detailed summaries of the results, and suggested priorities for future surveys. The goals of the Program for International and Regional Shorebird Monitoring surveys include estimating the breeding populations of shorebirds; describing each species's distribution, abundance, and habitat; and monitoring shorebird numbers at migration stopover sites. The effort will hopefully identify trends in changing population numbers, not only for species in general but also for local populations that breed (often in very different densities) in various locations throughout the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic. Many more researchers than those who authored this work's 15 chapters conducted the field surveys. This is a massive coordinated effort to gain a robust understanding of the population dynamics and trends of arctic nesting shorebirds. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and ornithologists and conservation biologists. J. C. Kricher Wheaton College (MA)