1. American Oystercatcher Working Group

2.  Timeframe: January/early February 2013  Follows protocol from 2003 survey with key modifications  Survey windows:  Jan 1-7, Jan 15-20, Jan 28-Feb 6 (Atlantic Coast)  Jan 7-12, Jan 21-Feb 4 (Gulf Coast)  Designed to be a complete survey of the AMOY winter range in the US, completed in a short time window  Simultaneous coverage of Atlantic and Gulf coasts

3.  Estimates of flock size  Stratified sampling  Aerial photography (Digital SLR, 6.1 MP, 300 mm image stabilized lens) for detection rate within flocks  Ground counts for flock detection rates  Survey window High Tide +/- 2 Hours  Pre and post survey window flights to estimate detection rates for both observers

4. Boat/ground surveys  Surveys on same tide cycle as aerial survey  Observers will record flock size, GPS location, time, and roost substrate type  Record GPS track  Complete statewide surveys not required – Surveys will cover a well defined area on the same tide cycle as the aerial survey

5.  High quality habitat types  Known roost sites  Shell rakes, sand spits, etc.  Complete survey of all locations identified  Intertidal marsh habitats  Marsh edges  Random subsample surveyed completely  Flight track recorded to quantify coverage  Barrier beach habitats  Survey all in random blocks  Flight track recorded to quantify coverage

6. Detection Rates Detection rate for flocksDetection rate for flocks - Calculated from ground counts - Applied to high quality habitat areas with no ground counts Detection rate for birds within flocksDetection rate for birds within flocks - Calculated with photographs - Applied to high quality habitat area flocks with no photograph