Long-billed Curlew – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name Long-billed Curlew
Species Scientific Name Numenius americanus
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Blue Mountains

Located in NE Oregon, the Blue Mountains ecoregion is the largest ecoregion in the state. It provides a diverse complex of mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaus that extend beyond Oregon into the states of Idaho and Washington.

Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau ecoregion was shaped by cataclysmic floods and large deposits of wind-borne silt and sand earlier in its geological history. It is dominated by a rolling landscape of arid lowlands dissected by several important rivers, and extends from the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountains, south and east from the Columbia River to the Blue Mountains.

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains’ summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

Northern Basin and Range

The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion covers the very large southeastern portion of the state, from Burns south to the Nevada border and from the Christmas Valley east to Idaho. It is largely a high elevation desert-like area dominated by sagebrush communities and habitats.

Special needs

Long-billed Curlews are found in open habitat with relatively short grass and little woody vegetation. In the Northern Basin and Range ecoregion, much of the suitable habitat is comprised of sub-irrigated meadows created by adjoining flood-irrigated meadows.

Limiting factors

Declines are due largely to habitat loss, including conversion of grassland and agricultural land used for breeding to other croplands. Human disturbance may also adversely affect breeding success.

Data gaps

Assess nest success. Identify priority areas for conservation of the species. Investigate the role and importance of working ranch lands in curlew habitat management and conservation.

Conservation actions

Expand partnerships with private landowners to maintain and restore large patches of short grass habitat, including ranching operations. Minimize human disturbance from March 15-July 1 at known nesting areas. Increase water availability during key brood-rearing periods through impoundments, securing water rights on public and private lands, and the development of incentives for private land managers to use more compatible water management practices when practicable.

Key reference or plan

Status assessment and conservation action plan for the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)