Evidence of differing staging strategies between adult and juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers highlights the importance of small staging sites in Atlantic Canada.

This article investigates differing staging strategies between adult and juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during their southbound migration through Atlantic Canada, emphasizing the importance of smaller staging sites outside the well-known Bay of Fundy. Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System and nanotags, researchers found that while birds tagged in the Bay of Fundy largely remained there, many tagged along the Northumberland Strait used smaller, lesser-known sites exclusively or in combination with the Bay. Juveniles stayed approximately three days longer than adults and utilized a broader variety of sites, suggesting differing habitat use and movement strategies by age. Additionally, sandpipers using the Bay of Fundy were more selective of departure wind conditions, favoring north and northwesterly winds, whereas those using sites outside the Bay were less selective and may follow different departure routes. The findings highlight the conservation significance of protecting both large and numerous small staging sites in Atlantic Canada, especially given threats from climate change, coastal development, pollution, and human disturbance.