The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) breeds in disturbed short-grass prairie or shrub semidesert habitats in the western Great Plains and winters in the southwest and western United States and Mexico. The number and distribution of wintering birds in California has decreased markedly since the 1800's. Loss of habitat in many states, and loss of habitat and changes in agricultural practices in California, have been implicated in population declines of over 60% from historic levels. The California Department of Fish and Game initiated a census of wintering mountain plovers in California employing skilled volunteers using standardized survey methods throughout the species historic California range. The 1998 survey resulted in detection of 2,663 birds at 31 sites in 11 California counties. The 1999 survey, which was less rigorous, resulted in detections of 1,372 birds at 10 sites in 3 counties. A similar one-day volunteer survey of historic mountain plover locations organized by the National Audubon Society in 1994 resulted in detection of an estimated 3,346 birds at 25 sites in 9 California counties. Mountain plovers selected barren, recently burned or grazed sites for foraging and roosting.
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