(Numenius phaeopus ) , short-billed dowitcher ( Limnodromus griseus ) and 

 sanderl ing ( Calidris alba ) (Imhof 1976). In addition, many other species 

 pass through the area during migration or overwinter there. 



Shorebirds that nest in Alabama and may be considered permanent residents 

 include willet ( Catoptrophorus semipalmatus ) , American oystercatcher ( Haema- 

 topus palliatus )" snowy plover ( Charadrfus alexandrinus ) , Wilson's plover 

 (Charadrius wilsonia ) , black-necked stilt ( Himantopus mexicanus ) , clapper 

 raTI (Rail us longirostris ) , and king rail ( Rallus "eTegans ) (Tmhof 1976). 

 Specific nesting sites of these species are variable and generally not 

 reported in the literature. However, some nesting sites occur on Daupnin 

 Island, in the Bon Secour Bay area, on Blakeley Island, the Pinto Pass area, 

 around Lake Shelby, and many other areas. 



Probably tne most common marsh bird found along the coast is the clapper 

 rail, usually found in saline and brackish marsh areas. They are abundant, 

 and also breed in the marshes and on the islands of Mississippi Sound. The 

 greatest densities are found on Marsh Island (Biloxi quadrangle) and along 

 Heron Bay (Holliman 1978). Snowy plover are reported to nest on Sand Island 

 (Biloxi quadrangle), west end of Dauphin Island (Biloxi auadrangle), and Fort 

 Morgan peninsula (Pensacola quadrangle); and the black-necked stilt on the 

 dredge spoil areas of Blakeley, Pinto, and McDuffie Islands (Mobile 

 quadrangle) (Johnson 1979). Theodore Disposal Island (Hollinqers Island) 

 (Mobile and Biloxi quadrangles) is also reported as a nesting site for the 

 brown pelican (P. O'Neil 1984, pers. comm.). Additionally, over 600 white 

 pelicans were observed on the Theodore Disposal Island (D. Cooley, U.S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service; pers. comm. 1984). 



Information on certain bird species believed to be threatened or 

 endangered, such as osprey and the peregrine falcon, is contained in the 

 section on threatened and endangered species. 



Waterfowl Concentration Areas in Coastal Alabama 



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Migratory Bird Habitat 

 Preservation Program, which is designed to preserve critical waterfowl 

 habitat by acquisition from private owners (Fish and Wildlife Service 1982). 

 This program of purchases from willing owners is designed to save from devel- 

 opment areas vital to waterfowl species. Under this program, specific areas 

 in the United States have been identified as key wetland units, most 

 important to nesting or migrating waterfowl. Two units have been identified 

 in coastal Alabama, the Point Aux Chenes-Grand Bay Swamp Unit (Biloxi quad- 

 rangle) and the Lower Mobile Delta Unit (Mobile and Bay Minette quadrangles). 

 The Lower Mobile Delta Unit is by far the most important as indicated by the 

 acreage versus wintering population totals snown in Table 2. 



The most numerous waterfowl species in the Lower Mobile Delta are lesser 

 scaup ( Aythya affinis ), gadwall ( Anas strepera ), redhead ( Ay thy a americana ), 

 northern pintaTI ( "Anas acuta ) , green-winged teal (A. crecca ), blue-winged 

 teal (A. discors), mallard (A^ platyrhynchos ) and - american wigeon (A. 

 americana - ). Wood duck ( Aix sponsa ) and hooded mergansers ( Lophodytes cucuTy 

 1 atus) are found in tne thicker wooded areas and are two "of tFie few duck 



