Population dynamics of Common SandpipersActitis hypoleucosbreeding along an upland river system

Population dynamics of Common SandpipersActitis hypoleucosin the Peak District of Derbyshire – a different decade

“…Another snowstorm in April 1989 caused a similar drop, to 12 pairs. This coincided with a previous report on the dynamics of this population (Holland & Yalden 1991) which demonstrated a low rate of recruitment in this population, but we confidently expected a comparable slow recovery during the 1990s.…”

“…The apparent survival rate of colour-ringed birds to the Ashop was shown to be strongly related to the minimum late-April temperature (at Buxton, 20 km southwest; Holland & Yalden 1991). Using this to predict the likely survival rates through the 1990s, survival was actually better than expected in five years and as expected in one more, but lower in one year and much lower in the three years 1992-94 when the population was declining (Fig.…”

“…Conversely, most of the recruits produced by this population must go elsewhere (Holland & Yalden 1991. In an effort to evaluate this dispersal, the nearby reservoirs in the Ladybower-Derwent-Howden system and the more distant Goyt Valley reservoirs (Fernilee and Errwood) (Fig.…”

Who lives and who dies? The impact of severe April weather on breeding common sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos

“…More recent examples include Grant (1983) demonstrating that larger Geospiza fortis in the Galapagos survived better through a drought, and Jones (1987) (Holland & Yalden, 1991). This prompted us to ask whether there were any differences between the survivors and the casualties on these occasions; in particular, whether different sexes, ages and sizes of birds were involved, or different parts of our study area suffered worse.…”

“…Our study area and methods have been documented elsewhere (Yalden, 1986;Holland & Yalden, 1991;Holland & Yalden, 1994). In 1980, there were 21 pairs, including 36 colour-ringed individuals, but the population dropped to 14 pairs in 1981.…”