Spoon-billed Sandpiper

ရေညောင့်နှုတ်ဝိုင်းငှက်

Calidris pygmaea

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Scolopacidae

Class

Bird

Extinction risk

Global IUCN statusCR

Measurement

Head to body length

14-16 cm

Body weight (kg)

Justification

This small migratory wader winters in Myanmar from October to April. This species is listed as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small population that is declining extremely rapidly. This is because of a number of factors, including habitat loss along the migration route and in wintering areas, where tidal flats are reclaimed for industrial, infrastructure and aquaculture which are compounded by disturbance, pollution, net trapping and the effects of climate change.

POPULATION & HABITAT

Wild population

Trend

declining

Myanmar population

< 150

Global population

240 - 620

Details

The generation length for C. pygmaea is 6.3 years https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693452/134202771. Population trend is decreasing and the population of this species was estimated <150 individuals. AOO of the species is 32 km2 and its EOO covers 151,255 km2 in its available habitats.

Habitat ecology

This species inhabits marine terrestrial habitats, such as tidal mudflats, sandy shorelines, sand bars, spits, saltpans and sandy beaches.

Distribution

Threats to survival

Habitat loss due to aquaculture and sand mining, habitat degradation due to solid waste and pollution, net trapping for food are main threats in their wintering areas in Myanmar.

Instruction: The visualization shows threats that are impacting each species. According to IUCN, direct threats are the proximate human activities or processes that have impacted, are impacting, or may impact the the status of the taxon being assessed. Click of the highlighted icons to see details each threat category.

Use and trade

This species is not used or traded.

Conservation Actions

Research

Research undertaken

This species’ main wintering site Gulf of Mottama has been designated as Ramsar Site and Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and all partner organizations are conserving the area through education and awareness programme, changing livelihoods for bird hunters, and supporting fund for livelihood. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force supports the national partner BANCA in implementing necessary conservation action, carrying out regular monitoring and researching wintering sites. BANCA also receives support to mitigate hunting pressure on Spoon-billed Sandpiper at all four wintering sites too. This species is completely protected under the Conservation of Biodiversity and Protected Area Law (2018).

Research needed

There is a need to ensure the protection of its all wintering site in Myanmar as Protected Areas, and trapping of shorebirds by net should also be banned. Local community should also be educated about the plight of this species with conservation concepts. Surveys should be done regularly along the coastline where there is potential habitat.

Assessed by

Thet Zaw Naing,Kyaw Myo Naing,Nay Myo Hlaing,Saw Moses,Thiri Dae We Aung,Branshaung,Thiri Sandar Zaw,Win Thuya Htut,Htet Lin Kyaw,Kyaw Zay Ya

Reviewed by

Monica Böhm

references

Resources

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