Marsh Bird Monitoring Technical Workshop March 6-8, 2006 Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center

1998 Marsh Bird Monitoring Workshop Need for a monitoring program: Marsh birds are important components of wetland ecosystems Consumptive and non-consumptive recreational uses Some species are of conservation concern Little is known of their status, population trends, or management needs Poorly surveyed by BBS

SpeciesTrend-95%CI+95%CIPNRel. Abun. Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Eared Grebe Least Bittern Clapper Rail King Rail Virginia Rail Purple Gallinule Common Moorhen Forster’s Tern Nelson’s Sh-tl. Sparrow Seaside Sparrow BBS Trend Results for Marsh Birds: Small sample size + low relative abundance + Limpkin, Black Rail, Yellow Rail, Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow with N<15

SpeciesTrend-95%CI+95%CIPNRel. Abun. Pied-billed Grebe Am. Bittern Sora Marsh Wren LeConte’s Sparrow BBS Trend Results for Marsh Birds: Large sample size + low relative abundance

SpeciesTrend-95%CI+95%CIPNRel. Abun. Am. Coot Franklin’s Gull Black Tern Sedge Wren Com. Yellowthroat Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Tricolored Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle BBS Trend Results for Marsh Birds: Small sample size + low relative abundance

Potential additional survey data Colonial nesting surveys: –Franklin’s Gull –Forster’s Tern –Black Tern –Tricolored Blackbird Breeding/winter waterfowl surveys –American Coot

1998 Marsh Bird Monitoring Workshop, cont. Tasks at the workshop: Discussed strategies for monitoring populations of wetland-dependent birds Reviewed current monitoring and research efforts related to marsh bird population assessment Identified information needs necessary for developing survey protocols and sampling schemes at various geographic scales Established a Steering Committee to continue development of a Marsh Bird Monitoring Program

1998 Marsh Bird Monitoring Workshop, cont. Information needs: Statistical assessment of call playback methods –Is detectability improved? –Is variance increased or decreased? –Implications for required sample sizes? Evaluation of sampling frame/scheme –Local protected sites surveyed as one stratum would not impact validity of overall program. –Selection of samples from non-protected sites: habitat-based or area-based approach?

Information needs, cont. Source of habitat information –Need status review of current databases (NWI, GAP) How current is this information? At what geographic scale are these data useful? Availability of habitat information for Canada? Documentation of habitat change over time –Need to collect habitat data at survey points?

Information needs, cont. Effects from timing of counts (morning vs. evening) Phenological and geographical differences influencing timing of surveys Relationship between index to population density/size Data quality issues –Volunteer vs. paid surveyors –Training and testing of participants

Developments Post-1998 Multi-year USGS Science Support Program (SSP) projects: – Project to address questions concerning use of call playbacks to survey marsh birds and develop standardized survey protocols (Conway) –Project to develop sampling frame/scheme for continental monitoring program (Bart)

Waterbird Conservation for the Americas: North American Waterbird Conservation Plan –Articulated general strategies and desired results for monitoring Subsequent regional and national waterbird conservation plans –Identify species of concern/focal species and specific strategies –Recent emphasis on marsh bird species assessment highlights need for better data on status and population trends Developments Post-1998, cont.

New or continued regional marsh monitoring programs (e.g. MMP) Evolution of conservation design and modeling approaches for management Emphasis on integrated all-bird monitoring (e.g. NABCI, CBM) USFWS Refuges funding development of data management system for marsh bird surveys conducted on refuges New or continuing array of threats to wetlands Developments Post-1998, cont.

Marsh Birds of Concern Status Assessments provided in plans –Continental (e.g., WCA), national (e.g., CWS WOW, USFWS BCC), regional lists Administrative Status –Species at Risk, T&E Harvested Species –KIRA, VIRA, CLRA, SORA, AMCO, COMO, PUGA

March 2006 Marsh Bird Workshop Goal: Continue progress towards the development of an operational monitoring program for marsh birds that provides timely data for the purposes of determining distribution, abundance and population trends and informing population and habitat management strategies, at multiple geographic scales.

March 2006 Marsh Bird Workshop, cont. Premises: Program involves survey protocols primarily focused on secretive marsh bird species that require call playback to be regularly detected (grebes, bitterns, rails, moorhen, gallinules, snipe, coot). Survey data should be useful for not only determining when conservation action is appropriate, but informing population and habitat management practices and strategies. This program acknowledges the need to assess and manage marsh birds at multiple geographic scales, from the continental-scale to the site-scale.

March 2006 Marsh Bird Workshop, cont. Desired Outcomes: Define survey objectives Recommend standardized survey protocols or identify/prioritize information gaps and research needs Recommend a sampling frame/design or identify and prioritize information gaps and research needs Is it time to seriously consider data management issues? If so, that develop recommendations for general data management system requirements

Implementation Implementation has already occurred/will be occurring shortly at local and regional scales. All workshop topics should be viewed with respect to their implications for implementation at various geographic scales. If appropriate, discuss issues related to implementation of a continental marsh bird monitoring program

Why are you here? To provide comments, criticisms, feedback, insights, expertise, guidance, and personal perspectives on issues related to marsh bird monitoring As in 1998, we would like to develop a consensus among marsh bird experts concerning future directions for this program