The Delaware Bay American Oystercatcher Project

The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a large, charismatic shorebird with distinctive features that make it hard to miss at New Jersey beaches. The oystercatcher’s long, orange bill is specialized for opening and feeding on bivalves such as mussels, clams, and as its name implies - oysters! As a state-listed Species of Special Concern, American oystercatchers in New Jersey rely on conservation actions and management to protect their populations from a variety of threats.

Project Goals
• Conduct comprehensive monitoring of breeding oystercatchers along the Delaware Bayshore to determine their abundance, distribution, and reproductive success.
• Conduct research to better understand what factors threaten their productivity, how oystercatchers utilize Bayshore habitats, and which habitat characteristics are preferred.
• Track movements within and between breeding seasons using field readable bands and GPS transmitters.
• Use data collected to inform future management decisions and restoration projects to improve or create suitable nesting habitat on the Bayshore.