Individual foraging site fidelity persists within and across stopover seasons in a migratory shorebird, Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel).

This article focuses on the fine-scale site fidelity of Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), a long-distance migratory shorebird, during migratory stopovers in South Carolina, USA. Using high-resolution GPS tracking, the study found that individual Whimbrels exhibit strong fidelity to a shared nocturnal roost site but maintain distinct, largely non-overlapping foraging territories during the day, with individuals returning to the same foraging areas both within and between migration seasons. These findings reveal unprecedented fine-scale individual foraging site fidelity during migration stopovers, suggesting that Whimbrels rely on site familiarity despite the availability of widespread prey and the capacity to explore alternative habitats. The study highlights the importance of understanding such spatial fidelity for conservation and management, especially given the dynamic and changing coastal habitats these birds depend on.