Shorebird reproductive success monitoring often relies on surveys of nest and
brood survival. However, conclusions may be inaccurate due to the challenges of gathering and
interpreting evidence of nest and brood fate. We tested the efficacy of in-person versus camera-
based monitoring to quantify productivity and evaluate threats to reproductive success of
American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) and Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) at
Metompkin Island, Virginia. We deployed 73 cameras using three set-ups: at nests, at brood
sites, and along a transect. The same areas were also surveyed in-person approximately once per
week. Camera monitoring confirmed nest fate where in-person monitors could not determine fate
from field evidence and provided insight to the effectiveness of mammalian predator removal.
However, cameras failed to capture causes of mortality for mobile chicks and did not
consistently document chicks where in-person monitoring confirmed successful broods. Cameras
produced large quantities of data requiring 63.5–315 hours to review, depending on camera set-
up. We found cameras were useful for validating conclusions from in-person monitoring,
highlighting threats that surveys missed, and characterizing the predator community. Managers
should consider the tradeoff between potential benefits and required effort of camera monitoring
when deciding which method would be effective for meeting management goals.
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This content will become publicly available on August 13, 2025
Biotic and abiotic factors affecting Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) spatiotemporal activity at an important shorebird nesting site in Virginia
Atlantic ghost crabs (
- Award ID(s):
- 1832221
- PAR ID:
- 10547749
- Editor(s):
- Romanach, Stephanie S
- Publisher / Repository:
- PLOS
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- PLOS ONE
- Volume:
- 19
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 1932-6203
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- e0307821
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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