The International Shorebird Survey (ISS) was started by Manomet in 1974 and is a long-term data set of shorebird species and abundances. Long-term datasets are key for monitoring shorebirds as populations have declined 40% since the 1970s, and many shorebirds are designated species at risk in Manitoba and Canada. The Manitoba IBA Program began coordinating the ISS in Manitoba in 2018.

Training with the IBA Coordinator or an experienced volunteer is available for those interested in learning shorebird identification and/or running an ISS route. The Manitoba IBA Program can also lend ISS volunteers spotting scopes to aid in shorebird identification, based on equipment availability.

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Tasks Involved:

Monitoring locations: Whitewater Lake, Oak Lake/Plum Lakes, Oak Hammock Marsh, and North, East, and West Shoal Lakes IBAs. There are 1–6 routes within each location; you may choose to monitor all or a subset of the routes.

Monitoring

• During spring and fall migration along set routes (approximately 1–5 km), following a standardized protocol
• Most routes are covered in a vehicle, stopping to conduct counts as needed, while others are walking routes
• Survey durations depend on shorebird numbers along each route
• You may choose to count shorebirds only or all birds present along the route
• Take habitat photos at photostations (one photostation per route)

Reporting

• Submit bird counts to eBird.org using the ISS monitoring protocol and share your checklists to Manitoba IBA or submit paper IBA monitoring forms (available upon request to the IBA Program Coordinator)
• Email photostation photos to the IBA Program Coordinator

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Time Commitment: 2–15 hours/year from April–June and August–October

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For more details see the International Shorebird Survey Protocol