Québec Marsh Monitoring Program

Transcription

1 Québec Marsh Monitoring Program Training kit and instructions for surveying marsh birds and their habitats 2008 Edition (Québec)

2 About this training kit We want to clearly instruct participants in all aspects of the Marsh Monitoring Program. Please read this instruction booklet thoroughly and adhere to the protocol carefully. If you have any questions, comments or recommendations, please give us a call at The instruction booklet is divided in three sections: a general overview of the Marsh Monitoring Program, bird surveys and habitat description. The training kit also includes two CD, and various data forms. The training CD has recordings of songs and calls of the birds you are most likely to encounter in marshes. It is provided to all new participants during their first year of registration to the program. Use the training CD to thoroughly familiarize yourself, or refresh your memory, with the vocalizations before beginning your first survey. The broadcast CD is to be used in the field to broadcast marsh bird calls. In order to limit possible disturbance by broadcasting bird calls, we ask that you only use the broadcast CD while doing your surveys and that you do not use it during other birding activities. Thank you! The first version of this document was produced in English for the Great Lakes region. Funding partners for the program in that region were: Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada- Ontario region, Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Wildlife Watchers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Great Lakes United. Suggested Citation: The Québec Marsh Monitoring Program- Training kit and instructions for surveying marsh birds and their habitat Edition (Québec). 29 pages. Published by Bird Studies Canada in collaboration with Environment Canada. April 2008.

3 TABLE OF CONTENT THE MARSH MONITORING PROGRAM NEEDS YOU! Who Can Participate? How Will the Program Help Conserve Marshes? What Are the Participants Obligations? What is a Marsh Monitoring Program Sample Station? How to Set Up a Route? Where to Set Up a Route? A Route has been Selected. How to Set Up the Stations? Marking the Stations Contact and Route Information Form MARSH BIRD SURVEY When Should Surveys be Done? Conducting the Survey Getting Started Marsh Bird Broadcast CD Recording Bird Observations Example of a Bird Survey Summarizing Marsh Bird Data MARSH HABITAT DESCRIPTION Completing the Habitat Description Form Location Information The Sketch Map Sections A-F Section G : Dominant Emergent Vegetation Returning Your Data to Bird Studies Canada APPENDIX APPENDIX APPENDIX MMP Spring Refresher

4 THE MARSH MONITORING PROGRAM NEEDS YOU! The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence corridor makes up the largest freshwater system on Earth. The biggest threat to this impressive ecosystem is the loss of healthy wetlands. Close to 80% of the area covered by wetlands along the St. Lawrence River at the beginning of European settlement has disappeared. Sadly, remaining wetlands are threatened by pollution, filling, draining, and other human impacts. About a third of endangered species recognized by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) live within or near wetlands, and about half of endangered bird species need wetlands to breed. Habitat loss and degradation are two of the main factors affecting species. Scientists around the world worry about the loss of wetlands and decline of bird populations associated with marshes. The Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) has been established in 1995 in the Great Lakes basin to aid the conservation and rehabilitation of marshes in Canada and the United States. For this, we study population changes and habitat requirements of marsh birds and amphibians. In 2003, Bird Studies Canada and Environment Canada (Québec region) created a partnership in order to expand the program to marshes in Québec. Although the Québec Marsh Monitoring Program is concentrated in the St. Lawrence basin, it applies to all marshes in the province. The MMP is one of the monitoring programs identified in the Québec Aquatic Bird Conservation Plan which aims at promoting and implementing the goals and objectives listed in the Canadian Waterbird Conservation Plan. Since our knowledge on the state of many aquatic bird populations in Québec is limited, the implementation of the Québec Marsh Monitoring Program has the objective to help fill this gap. Who Can Participate? The Marsh Monitoring Program offers everyone, from amateur naturalists to professional biologists, a unique and rewarding opportunity to contribute to the knowledge and conservation of one of North America s most threatened ecosystems. However, participants need to have the skills necessary to conduct the surveys. It is important that there are no misidentified species. Regardless of your experience level, you will need to annually familiarize yourself with training material presented in this booklet and the training CD. It is not necessary to be an ace-birder to conduct marsh bird surveys. Nevertheless, this survey is not suitable to novices. As a general guideline, participants should be able to correctly identify at least 50 species of common birds, by sight and sound, especially those living in and around marshes. The training CD will serve as a useful memory refresher and to fine-tune skills, but it alone will not be sufficient to learn all that s required. If you are unsure of your ability to survey a route, even after looking through this booklet and listening to the accompanying training CD, contact us. We may be able to put you in touch with a surveyor who needs field assistance. After you ve assisted a surveyor for a field season, you may feel ready to survey your own route the following year! 1

5 How Will the Program Help Conserve Marshes? In order to better know marsh bird populations nesting in Québec and to help possible marsh management, the Marsh Monitoring Program aims to answer a variety of basic questions: What is the relative abundance of the various bird species utilizing marshes? What long-term changes in species abundance and range are occurring? How do various habitat features influence species diversity and abundance? What are the habitat requirements of marsh birds? What habitat changes are occurring? The information gathered will be made available to scientists, conservation groups and other researchers. In addition to basic research, the program will build a network of volunteers devoted to conserving our marsh resources and increase public awareness on the roles that marshes play within the environment. What Are the Participants Obligations? The program brings together a wide array of organizations and individuals who share a commitment to our marshes. People who are knowledgeable about natural history are increasingly volunteering their free time for a wide variety of environmental causes. Many of you already participate in one or more biological surveys. Still, we hope you can share a little more of your expertise and enthusiasm by participating in the Québec Marsh Monitoring Program. Although all participants will be using the same methodology, there will still be differences between different observers (i.e. observer bias ). The best way to minimize this effect is by having each route surveyed by the same person, in the same manner, year after year. We hope that you will take a personal interest in your route for many years, and pass your route to your family and friends. The Marsh Monitoring Program is meant to be an enjoyable and interesting experience. But there is a time commitment involved. Each survey route consists of a series of as few as one or as many as eight stations. Each station must be visited twice during the breeding season in the early morning or evening. On average, the total time required to complete a MMP survey season will be about ten hours. Your first survey season will have a slightly greater time commitment as you become familiar with your route, the survey protocol and forms. 2

6 What is a Marsh Monitoring Program Sample Station? The Marsh Monitoring Program surveys are based on the point count method. Point counts are used to determine the abundance of each species utilizing a given location. They are carried out by standing at one point (the focal point ) for a standard period of time and recording all birds that are seen or heard within a specified area (the sample area in the diagram below). Each survey is conducted from a central point located on the baseline of a 100-meter radius semi-circular sample area (also referred to as a station). Why a semi-circle? First, a semi-circular sample area works best in a marsh situation because stations will often be accessed along the marsh edge (e.g. along roads and dykes). A full circle would tend to sample non-marsh habitats. Second, there is always a lot of bird activity to look after in a marsh. A semi-circular sample area helps to maintain a reasonable load of work for surveyors. direction Semi-circular Sample Area 100 m 50 m Focal Point 50 m 100 m A Diagram of a Point Count Station 3

7 Where to Set Up a Route? How to Set Up a Route? There are a few things to consider before establishing a route. It is helpful to obtain a detailed topographic map of the area to survey (see Appendix 1). When setting up a route, consider the following: Routes should be established in marsh habitat. Marsh habitat is dominated by nonwoody emergent plants such as cattails intermingled with shallow open water (see box on next page). Marshes can be found within other habitats such as along the edge of lakes and rivers and as part of other wetland types (e.g. swamps and bogs) but stations must be established in areas dominated (i.e. greater than 50%) by marsh characteristics. Marshes along the St. Lawrence River that are subject to tides can be surveyed. In such cases, we recommend you do your two surveys during relatively equivalent tidal stages. The section of the marsh that should be surveyed is the high marsh, which is the section that is not inundated twice a day. Periods of very high tides should be avoided for surveys. Survey routes consist of as few as 1 or up to as many as 8 sample stations. You must be able to survey all stations on a route during a single visit. In smaller or less accessible marshes, it may be feasible to establish only 1 or 2 stations. This is fine. Small marshes are entirely acceptable, provided that marsh habitat predominates within the 100-meter radius semi-circle. Surveys of small marshes are needed to help determine the effects of marsh size on species diversity and abundance. If all of the marshes in your region are small, you can design a roadside route encompassing several smaller marshes, each one with one or more stations. In very large marshes, several different routes can be set up in the same marsh by one or more volunteers as long as the sample stations do not overlap and are separated by no less than the minimum inter-station distance (see below). Survey stations should be separated by at least 350 meters (distance between two focal points) to avoid surveying the same bird twice. While there is no maximum distance between stations, you need to be able to complete your route in one evening. We recommend that you locate your route within a reasonable distance of where you will spend the night. Don t forget that you need to obtain permission from landowners before entering private property. Don t hesitate to contact us for help in obtaining the landowner s permission. A permit is necessary for Montréal s nature parks and for all of National Wildlife Areas. If your route is within one of those territories and that your permit hasn t been included in your training kit, please contact the coordinator of the program who will provide you with the necessary paper. 4

8 Finally, let us know where you have established your route, to ensure that no one else selects the same marsh for their route. A Route has been Selected. How to Set Up the Stations? You should spend some time during daylight hours scouting for suitable sample stations and familiarizing yourself with the unique qualities of your marsh. Here are some advices: Many routes can be surveyed by walking along the marsh edge. Stations along roadsides are fine as long as traffic volume is light (preferable less than 5 vehicles per 15 minutes). You can also set up stations that are only accessible by canoe. When you visit a potential station, assess the habitat within the sample area. You should orient the stations so as to maximize the amount of marsh being sampled. At the same time, your stations should be representative of the entire marsh. Stations should be situated so that you can see and hear as much of the sample area as possible. For this reason, it is useful to pick a slightly elevated focal point if possible. It is not a problem if shrubs and trees block your view or part of the sample area, as long as the entire sample area can be surveyed by ear. Remember that visibility can become a problem once vegetation grows high later in the survey season. The setting sun is also an element to consider regarding the orientation of the stations as the reflection of the sun s light on the water can greatly diminish visibility. What is a Marsh? A marsh is a vegetated, wet area, periodically or regularly inundated up to a depth of 2 meters with standing or slowly moving water. Small numbers of trees or shrubs may occur, but the predominant vegetation consists of a variety of emergent non-woody plants, such as cattails, rushes, grasses and sedges. Where open water occurs, a variety of submerged and floating aquatic plants will often flourish. Swamps, bogs and fens (that you should not survey) can be distinguished from marshes by their characteristic vegetation and by the presence of more trees and/or shrubs. Marking the Stations Whenever possible, each station s focal point should be permanently marked with a metal or wooden stake to facilitate relocating sites in subsequent years. While 2 x 2 wooden stakes are inexpensive and easily obtained at any lumber store, inexpensive ½ metal, electrical conduit piping is a more permanent alternative and can be found at most hardware or home building stores. These stakes can be easily pushed at least one meter into the marsh bottom, leaving the top portion of the stake visible for easy location from year to year. It is important to firmly anchor the stake in the marsh bottom, so that it withstands wind, waves, ice and frost action. In many managed wetlands sites, marking is controlled, so remember to check with the landowner 5

9 or manager prior to installing your stakes. If staking is not possible, landmarks (e.g. telephone poles, towers) can be used to locate station focal points. The aluminum tags we provide with this kit are used to permanently identify each station. They are attached to the stakes simply by twisting their wire ends together. Inscribe each tag using a ballpoint pen, permanently etching it with the station letter (e.g. Station A ). By pressing down hard on the pen, the inscription will last indefinitely. We recommend that you also label the stake itself with the same information that you inscribed on the aluminum tag, using a black waterproof felt marker on a piece of fluorescent flagging tape. Though it will last only one field season, this labeling will be visible from a distance, is easily read in low light, and acts as extra insurance in case your aluminum tag is lost. Remember to remove any flagging material at the end of the season. To easily conduct your bird surveys, it might be a good idea to mark the perimeter of the semicircle. If that is possible, mark a spot that you can see on either side of the focal point (and in front of you if possible) at a known distance (e.g. 50 or 100 meters) with flagging tape to help you know the limit of the sample area. Note that it is also possible, and even interesting, to make correspond the focal points of the stations with an important feature of the environment, such as a view-point, a big tree or even a telephone post. In such situations, you do not have to mark your landmarks but only know the limits of the sample area. The Habitat Form comprises a section at the bottom for you to write down information about the location of the stations. We encourage you to use that space. Know How to Measure Your Pace If you can, measure precisely distances with a measuring tape. Otherwise, the best way to measure distances consists of reproducing in the field a known distance. To do this, you must measure your pace. Delimit a predetermined distance on the ground (e.g. 50 meters), walk this distance in your normal stride and count each stride. Record this number. When you set up your stations, you only have to reproduce the appropriate number of strides for the given distance. Contact and Route Information Form The Contact and Route Information Form is used to provide basic information about your route and stations; some of the information is required annually, others are required only once unless the information changes. Route number, observer number, observer name and year must be filled-out annually. See the label provided in the left box to know the route and observer number. If it is your first survey year or it is a new route, it is possible that these numbers haven t yet been assigned. If this is the case, leave these fields blank. Numbers will be assigned during data processing. Check the contact information on the label: use the right-hand box to report corrections. 6

10 Section A must be completed annually. Please read through and answer each question carefully. Sections B and C are completed for new or changed routes only and deal with site and station information. Section B identifies basic location information for your site including marsh name or route, closest town and province. For data analysis purposes, we require the exact location of survey stations. For this reason, all participants are asked to provide detailed station information on Section C during the first year season or when stations or routes are changed. If available, please collect focal point coordinates using a GPS unit. If you do not have access to a GPS, mark the precise location of each station on the topographic map provided to you with this training kit. Coordinates will be calculated from this map. Do not forget to include a copy of this map when sending your data. MARSH BIRD SURVEY The protocol for the marsh bird surveys was developed, tested and refined over the course of several years. Please read these instructions carefully and listen to the training CD to refresh your memory prior to doing your first survey. Note that the survey protocol was revised in 2008 to align with North American marsh bird monitoring standards. When Should Surveys be Done? Each route is to be surveyed for marsh birds twice each year between May 27 and July 12. Surveys must be conducted at least 10 days apart. Survey time (morning or evening) is determined at the time of route creation and must remain the same for that route for both visits and all subsequent years of surveying. Differences in bird activity during morning and evening require that data from a survey be collected consistently during the same period of the day. Hence, evening routes must remain evening routes, and morning routes must remain morning routes. Morning surveys can begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end no later than 10:00. Evening surveys can begin after 18:00 (6 p.m.) and must be completed by dark. Routes are to be surveyed in their entirety, in the same station sequence on both visits, starting at about the same time of day. Each station is surveyed for 15 minutes. A typical route of four stations may take up to two hours to survey. Survey period length will vary depending on the distance between stations and site accessibility. Surveys should be undertaken in weather that is favorable for surveying birds: good visibility, warm temperatures (at least 16 C), no precipitation and little or no wind. If the weather does not meet these guidelines, you should decide if it is acceptable to continue or better to start over on another day. Strong wind not only suppresses bird calling activity, it interferes with your ability to hear and distinguish bird calls. To reduce the influence of wind on survey accuracy, we ask that surveys be conducted when the wind strength is Code 0, 1, 2 or 3 on the Beaufort 7

11 Wind Scale (see Appendix 2). If the wind is strong enough to raise dust or loose paper and move small tree branches, wait for calmer weather. All but the lightest drizzle suppresses bird activity and interferes with your ability to hear, not to mention soaking you and your forms, and generally making you miserable! We want you to find these surveys interesting and pleasant, not a burden. Pick a nice morning or evening! Getting Started Conducting the Survey When preparing your survey, make sure you have your Marsh Bird Data Form, a pen or pencil, a watch or timer, a clip board (if desired), a portable CD player with fresh batteries, the marsh bird broadcast CD, binoculars, and mosquito repellant. If you have already filled in Habitat Description Forms, you can bring them along to help you relocate the stations. A compass, thermometer, spare batteries, spare pen or pencil, and this instruction booklet are other useful items. You will find at the end of this booklet a checklist of survey items. You may wish to bring an assistant along for company and to share in the experience! This person can help you find the stations, hold your CD player and document some information such as the weather conditions. However, you must find, identify and count all the birds unaided. More than one observer will bias the results and we want to avoid this. Before starting the survey, fill in the information required in the top section of the Marsh Bird Data Form (see example on page 16). Each survey route should be given a unique route name (e.g. Marais Provancher ). If the marsh does not already have a name, choose one. Stations should be labeled in sequential order of coverage from A to H. Record the observer number, observer name, route number, date, number of stations comprising the route and visit number (#1 or #2). The observer and route numbers are printed on the label of the Contact and Route Information Form. Note that routes receive a number after they ve been surveyed once. Please leave that field blank if it is the first year that your route is being monitored. When you ll be ready to start the survey at a station, you ll only need to write down the start time by using the 24-hour clock. And once you ve completed a survey at a station, you ll need to indicate the level of background noise by using the categories and codes provided in the Appendix 3. All weather information can be easily estimated. Cloud cover is estimated as covering so many 10ths of the sky (e.g. if it s sunny with no cloud cover, 0/10 of the sky will be covered). Determine the wind speed according to the Beaufort Wind Scale (Appendix 2). You can bring a thermometer to record the air temperature at the start of the survey. If you don t have one, record the air temperature from a reliable source such as the local weather station or an outdoor thermometer at your home. Weather conditions must be estimated at the beginning of the survey. Use the Remarks section to record the names of any assistants, notes on any other wildlife detected (e.g. 2 Bullfrogs calling ), problems encountered (e.g. started to rain ), and other comments (e.g. 10 million mosquitoes; glad I remembered my repellant! ). Use additional 8

12 pages if necessary. All remarks and comments are welcome. Please fill in the data form completely. Without this information, we may not be able to use your data. Marsh Bird Broadcast CD Although several species of marsh birds are secretive, they can often be coaxed into responding to a broadcast CD of their call. In order to ensure data are collected on some important but shy marsh birds, you have been provided with a 15-minutes broadcast CD that contains a 5-minute sequence of call recordings of the following species: Least Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, a combination of Common Moorhen/American Coot, and Pied-billed Grebe. Each species call broadcast is 30 seconds long followed by 30 seconds of silence. The 15-minute MMP marsh bird survey is sub-divided into three 5-minute components: a 5-minute passive (silent) observation period, a 5-minute call playback period, and a second 5-minute passive observation period. A double-tone will mark the start and end of the 15- minute survey. A recorded voice will announce each 1-minute interval during the first passive period. A new species call, starting with the Least Bittern, will mark the start of each 1-minute interval of the call broadcast period. A single-tone will mark the start of the second 5-minute passive period. The CD player that you use to broadcast the calls must be loud enough to be heard well at a distance of 100 meters. Many of the small, low-cost CD players can produce enough volume but the speakers must also be capable of attaining the appropriate volume. Many battery-powered speaker sets available are appropriate, but you should test the effective broadcast distance before using the unit in the field. Recruit a friend to help you establish that you can hear the calls at the appropriate distance. If you can t, you should upgrade your equipment. When you are ready to survey a station, make sure that the volume is at full. Hold the CD player at chest height and aimed so that it broadcasts in front of you. In order to have your hands free, you may want to place the portable CD player in a small pouch tied around your waist. You can also ask your assistant to hold the CD player for you. Caution: Please don t play the broadcast CD any more than necessary as birds could be disturbed if they hear it too often. Thank you! Recording Bird Observations The Québec Marsh Monitoring Program recognizes two categories of bird species: the focal species, and the other species. Ways to report the presence of focal species and other species are different. It is therefore important that you familiarize yourself with the different tables that we have prepared. There are two different forms to report your bird observations. The first form, the Marsh Bird Data Form, allows you to record your observations in the field. The table for recording other species is very simple and the form can be used to report observations made at four stations. A second form must be used to transcribe your observations: this is the Bird Route Summary Form. This form will be scanned and the information will be read by a computer program. It is therefore important that you write neatly! This form allows you to report 9

13 observations made at two stations and a list of bird species most often surveyed in Québec marshes has been established for you. We are most interested in birds that are inside the survey stations. Use the following rules to determine if birds you observed are inside or outside the sampling station: Inside: All birds observed or heard within the sample area. These birds are in physical contact (e.g. perched) with the sample station. This category also includes birds that are actively foraging in the airspace above the 100 meter radius sample area, at an altitude of less than 100 meters. Birds only flying over the station are not to be counted. Actively foraging birds are usually seen flying slowly over the station, occasionally diving to the water s surface or picking insects from the air, as opposed to birds simply flying through the area (see Outside ). Bird species that adopt such a behavior are swallows, terns, Belted Kingfishers, Ospreys, Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers. If numbers are important, particularly for swallows, it can be useful to count them separately and report a tally at the end of the survey period. Outside: this category includes all birds observed or seen during the 15 minutes survey period that are outside the sample station or that are seen flying through without landing. We do not have to know how many birds of each species there are; only their identity. Information on these species will help determine simple presence/absence information on the birds occurring in the marsh. It is important that during your surveys, you note every adult bird that you observe. Do not count young of the year even if they are independent. This applies for both, birds inside the sample station and birds outside the station (see below the particularity for Red-winged Blackbirds). If at the beginning of the survey a bird is seen outside the station but then goes inside the station, consider it inside only. However, if two birds of the same species are noted outside the sample station but that one transfers inside during the survey, note the species by being inside AND outside. NOTES: Some birders like to coax birds into view by pishing or making a variety of other noises. Birds are not to be coaxed in any way other than using the broadcast CD when you are completing your survey! Red-winged Blackbird For Red-winged Blackbirds, record males only. This species is polygamous (one male forms pair bonds with a number of different females) and experience has shown there are often too many females to follow their movements. 10

14 Focal species The primary objective of this program is to track observations of focal marsh bird species. Focal species are those species that rely on marsh habitats for one or more stages of their life cycle. For the purposes of the Québec Marsh Monitoring Program, the focal species are: Pied-billed Grebe (PBGR) American Bittern (AMBI) Least Bittern (LEBI) Yellow Rail (YERA) Virginia Rail (VIRA) Sora (SORA) Common Moorhen (COMO) American Coot (AMCO) Since the calls of coots and moorhens are difficult to differentiate, we have created a combined category Moorhens/Coots (MOOT). Consequently, report only Common Moorhens (COMO) and American Coots (AMCO) that you have visually identified, and use the combined category MOOT for coots and moorhens that have only been heard. Focal species are tracked using the main table on the top of the forms. See pages 16 and 18 to view examples of forms. A separate record (row) is made for each observed (seen or heard) individual of a focal species during the 15-minute survey. For example, if you hear two different Sora individuals calling at Station A, you will record SORA in two separate rows in the Species column. For each individual, indicate which response period(s) you saw or heard each of these individuals by filling in the circle under the appropriate response period(s) in which that individual is detected. The following sections detail how to record observations in each response period. For the first 10 minutes of the survey period (first 5-minute passive period and 5-minute call-broadcast period), focal species individuals are tracked minute-by-minute. At first observation, each individual is added as a new row in the main table and the circle is filled for the minute during which that individual was observed. For each additional observation of the same bird, fill the appropriate circle of that same row for each minute in which it is observed. For example, if you hear a Virginia Rail respond to its call broadcast and have not previously heard this individual, you will add Virginia Rail to the Species column and fill in the circle under VIRA min 7-8 (Virginia Rail call period on the Broadcast CD). If this same individual then calls during minute 10, you will fill in the circle in the same Virginia Rail row under the PBGR min 9-10 column (Pied-billed Grebe call period on the Broadcast CD). We have included to the table a Position column allowing you to record the position of focal species individuals in the survey station. The use of this column is optional but you may find it useful when recording multiple individuals of the same species. Simply add a dot or a dash at the approximate location of the individual within the small representation of your survey station area. Marsh birds may not respond immediately to the call broadcast. The second 5-minute passive period is included to ensure that delayed responses are recorded. Unlike the first two periods (first passive and call-broadcast), focal species individuals are not tracked minute-by-minute during the second passive period. Rather, if you observe a focal species individual at any time during that 5-minute period, you simply fill in the circle under Passive min column. If this individual was detected earlier in the survey, fill the circle under the Passive min

15 column for that individual s row; if not previously detected, add a new row and fill in the circle under the Passive min column. Since we are interested in knowing about the presence of birds that are in the marsh but are not necessarily in the survey station, we have added to the main table a column labeled Outside. Use this column to record birds that were never observed inside the station during the 15-minute survey. If you observe a focal species at your station before or after the 15-minute survey period, add a row to the Focal Species table and fill in the circle under the Before/After Survey Period column. This method will help us track the presence of those birds in the marsh. Birds recorded as observed before or after the survey period are ONLY those that were not otherwise observed during the 15-minute survey period. Observations made while traveling to or from your station cannot be included, but you can mention them in the Comments section of your Bird Route Summary Forms. Other species All bird species that are not focal species are considered other species. Other species are surveyed throughout the 15-minute by recording each species on a separate line. Each bird observed is assigned to one of the three 5-minute periods, according to the period it was first detected. The sum of the three columns should correspond to the total number of different birds of each species observed during the 15-minutes survey. This means that during the first 5 minutes of the survey, you must write down the names of the species observed along with the total number of birds for each species. During the second 5-minutes period (minutes 5-10), you must only write down the new birds that were not heard or seen during the first observation period. And again, during the third 5-minutes period (minutes 10-15), you must only write down the new birds that were not previously heard or seen during the first two observation periods. Let s look at an example. If you count 3 Swamp Sparrows in the first 5 minutes, you write down Swamp Sparrow on a line of the Other Species table and write 3 in the first column (min 0-5). If during the second observation period (minutes 5-10) you hear again 3 Swamp Sparrows but estimate that only one bird is different, you note 1 in the second column. And if during the third 5-minute period you see one Swamp Sparrow that you had not previously detected, you note 1 in the min column. The tally for the Swamp Sparrows in that station is 5. When transcribing your data onto the Bird Route Summary Form, you must write down the numbers on the line corresponding to the species surveyed, using the list of common marsh birds that we have prepared. If you have observed species that are not on the list, write them down on the blank lines provided on the right hand side of the table. If you do not have enough space, use additional forms. We have included a column for 4-letter codes beside the blank species name column. Leave this column blank; it will be completed by Bird Studies Canada staff during the proofing process to facilitate data processing. 12

16 Example of a bird survey In order to help you understand how to note down your observations, a sample survey has been provided. The sample Marsh Bird Data Form (see page 16) demonstrates how the following examples would be recorded and you should refer to it as you read through the example given below. In addition, the sample Bird Route Summary Form (page 18) reflects how the information on the Marsh Bird Data Form should be transcribed. Now, sit back and imagine that you re at Station A on your route... You ve filled in the information on top of your Marsh Bird Data Form, including all weather variables, and you are ready to begin your survey. Upon arrival at Station A, two Least Bitterns fly up from the sample station area and out of sight. Under the species column of the Focal Species table, you write Least Bittern in two separate rows, indicating that two individuals were detected. These birds were observed before the start of the survey, so within each row, you fill in the choice circle under the column Before/After Survey Period. Now that are you ready to begin, you record the station start time and press play on your CD player. A double-tone marks the beginning of the survey. As the first 5 minute passive period begins, you quietly listen and scan the marsh for any bird observations. You are quickly rewarded as a Pied-billed Grebe swims into view during the first minute that you are listening. You proceed to write Pied-billed Grebe on a new line in the Focal Species table, and fill in the choice circle under the Pass. Min. 0-1 column. There is one lone Tree Swallow foraging over the station. It circles and catches insects out of the air. You write down Tree Swallow in the Other Species table and note 1 under the column 0-5 min. Although focusing on detecting focal marsh bird species, you notice two Red-winged Blackbird males that are calling within 50 meters on your right. You write down Red-winged Blackbird in the Other Species table and note 2 under the column 0-5 min. You hear a Swamp Sparrow calling about 40 meters to your left. Again, you write down Swamp Sparrow in the Other Species table and note 1 under the column 0-5 min. Soon after, you hear a voice on the CD say two. This marks the start of the 2 nd minute of the first 5-minute passive period. Still seeing the same Pied-billed Grebe, you fill in the choice circle within that individual s row, this time under the Pass. min 1-2 column. As time continues, no additional species are heard or seen until after you hear a voice say five. Halfway through this minute you hear the call of an American Bittern off in the distance. You write American Bittern on a new row in the Focal Species table, and fill in the choice circle under the column Pass. Min You estimate that the bittern is outside the survey station so you fill in the choice circle under the Outside column. The broadcast call of the Least Bittern marks the end of the first 5-minute passive period and the beginning of the 5-minute call broadcast period. 13

17 Following the Least Bittern call broadcast, you immediately hear a response from a Virginia Rail only a few meters away from you. You write Virginia Rail on a new row of the Focal Species table, and fill in the choice circle LEBI min. 5-6 column. To your disappointment, you don t hear a Least Bittern. The two Red-winged Blackbirds males and the Swamp Sparrow that you recorded previously are still calling, but because you have already recorded their presence, you do not record them again. You notice a different male Red-winged Blackbird singing to your left, near a group of three female Red-winged Blackbirds. You add 1 under the column 5-10 min on the line you previously recorded your other Red-winged Blackbirds. You do not count the females. You now observe four Tree Swallows in your station, and you watch their aerial acrobatics as they circle and catch insects out of the air. Having previously recorded one Tree Swallow, you write 3 for the three additional individuals under the column 5-10 min. Following the call broadcast of the Virginia Rail during the minute 7-8, you hear the Virginia Rail you heard earlier call again. Within that individual s row in the Focal Species table, you fill in the choice circle under the VIRA min. 7-8 column. The Pied-billed Grebe that you recorded earlier reappears again. You fill in the VIRA min. 7-8 choice circle for that individual s row. During the call broadcast period, you see a pair of Common Yellowthroats to your right. The male calls, and then flies away, landing somewhere in the middle of the station. You write down Common Yellowthroat on a line of the Other Species table and record 2 under the column 5-10 min. After the 30 seconds of silence following the final (Pied-billed Grebe) call broadcast, you hear a single tone from the CD player marking the end of the call broadcast period and the beginning of the 5-minute post-broadcast passive period. Five young coots, accompanied by two adults, emerge from the vegetation. You record the two adults in separate rows of the Focal Species table and fill in the choice circle under the Pass min column for each. You decide to note in the Remarks section that an entire family group was seen. Two Black Terns are seen circling over an area of the marsh to your left, beyond 100 meters of you. You record the species name on a line of the Other Species table and fill in the circle Out.. A Mallard then flushes from within the sample area and flies away. You write down the bird species name and 1 under the column min. 14

18 You again watch the aerial acrobatics of the Tree Swallows and notice that there are now 14 individuals. You tally the additional 10 individuals under the column min. You also notice a Barn Swallow foraging with the Tree Swallows. You write down Barn Swallow on a line of the Other Species table and write down 1 under the column min. You hear a double-tone from the CD player, signaling the end of your survey at this station. Before leaving, you look over your data form to make sure you ve written down all necessary information. You also assign a Background Noise Code to the station. You then pack up your equipment and move to your next station. American Coot Judie Shore 15

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20 Summarizing Marsh Bird Data Data recorded on the Marsh Bird Data Forms need to be transcribed onto Bird Route Summary Forms. Please do this as soon as possible after completing your survey, when the experience is fresh in your mind. The sample Bird Route Summary Form on page 18 shows how the data from the sample Data Form would be transcribed. Please study both of these sample sheets. Call us if you have any questions! One Bird Route Summary Form is good to summarize the information recorded at two stations, for a single visit. Use more than one form if your route comprises more than two stations, and one set of forms per visit. The top part of the Bird Route Summary Form is identical to the top part of the Marsh Bird Data Forms. Simply copy the information as required. You then have to transcribe your bird observations from the data forms, using the same format (one line per bird for focal species and one line per species for all other species). If you are reporting focal species, write down the corresponding 4-letter codes in the boxes provided under the Species Code column. If in the section Other Species you have added birds during a 5-minutes period (e.g. Tree Swallows: 3+5+1), record only the total for the 5-minutes period. Transcribe your Other Species on the corresponding line. If you have observed species that are not on the list, use the blank lines on the right column of the table. Leave the 4-letter code column blank; it will be completed by Bird Studies Canada staff. Since we will be entering your data directly from your Bird Route Summary Form, please double-check to be sure that all of your sheets are complete and correct. Be sure to send us your data forms along with the Summary Forms but keep a photocopy of all of your forms for future reference and to guard against them getting lost in the mail. To rapidly treat your data, please send your documents before 31 July at the address given at the end of this booklet. 17

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22 MARSH HABITAT DESCRIPTION It is very important that you describe the habitat in each of your stations. Habitat associations for many species of the St. Lawrence River wetland birds are not well known. A good understanding of these relationships is critical to designing effective wetland management and conservation practices. When combined with information on trends in species occurrence or abundance, data on vegetation and other wetland characteristics help identify those wetland habitats most at risk of losing their ability to support marsh birds. Marsh habitats are noted for changing in response to fluctuations in water levels. If bird populations change over time, we must be able to take habitat change into account. For these reasons, we ask that you do habitat descriptions each year, to assess habitat characteristics for each Marsh Monitoring Program station. In addition, complete habitat descriptions may help you relocate your stations if your station markers are ever lost. The habitat descriptions we want you to provide are relatively simple. Since we are mostly interested in broad habitat features, you do not need to be an expert botanist. However, you need to be able to make fairly simple distinctions between important groups of plants. We ve grouped the common types of marsh plants into three basic categories: floating plants, emergents, and shrubs/trees. Below is some general information to help you categorize basic marsh vegetation. Floating Plants The leaves of floating plants float on the water surface. Floating plants do not provide nesting habitat for birds. However, floating plants can be a very good indication of water depth and of the areal extent of pools of open water. The most common floating plants are the tiny duckweeds (Lemna spp.) and large water lilies (Nymphaea spp. & Nuphar spp.). Tiny duckweed Water lilies 19

23 Emergents Emergent plants are herbaceous (non-woody) species that are rooted in the marsh bottom, but rise up and out of the water. Several kinds of the more robust species (e.g. some grasses and sedges, cattail, water willow) maintain some structural integrity over the course of the winter, providing important habitat cues to birds early in the breeding season. Other less-robust species (e.g. wild rice, arrowhead, pickerel weed) often leave little or no trace of their presence after the fall dieback and reappear only late in the growing season. Emergent plants can be grouped into the following three categories: narrow-leaved emergents, broad-leaved emergents and tall robust emergents. Narrow-leaved Emergents: When fully grown, these plants stand less than 2 meters high. With the exception of the more robust grasses and sedges, which often grow in dense tussocks, many narrow-leaved emergents are simply too fragile and/or emerge too late in the season (e.g. wild rice, burreed, rushes, bulrush) to be of much value to birds during the nesting season. Here are examples of common narrow-leaved emergents, followed by their scientific name and the family to which they belong: Cordgrass (Spartina spp,; GRASS) Bulrushes (Scirpus spp.; SEDGE) Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea; GRASS) Rushes (Juncus spp.; RUSH ) Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica; GRASS) Burreed (Sparganium spp.; BURREED) Sedges (Carex spp.; SEDGE) Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus; BUTOMACEAE) Spikerush (Eleocharis spp.; SEDGE) Horsetail (Equisetum spp.; EQUISETACEAE) Bluejoint Grass (Calamagrostis canadensis; GRASS) 20

24 Broad-leaved Emergents: These plants have broad leaves and usually stand less than 1 meter tall. They have little value to nesting birds. Examples include: Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata;pontederiaceae) Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.; ALISMATACEAE) Smartweed (Polygonum spp.; POLYGONACEAE) Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria; LYTHRACEAE) Beggar s-tick (Bidens spp.; ASTERACEAE) Water Willow (Decodon verticillatus; LYTHRACEAE) Tall Robust Emergents: These plants are tall and sturdy, ranging from 2 to 3 meters high when fully grown. Even after the fall dieback, they can usually withstand the winter, and this dead overhang provides important nesting substrate and cover for birds in subsequent breeding seasons. The most common species are: Cattail (Typha spp.; TYPHACEAE) Common Reed Grass (Phragmites australis; GRASS) 21

25 Cattail Common Reed Grass Emergent Plants of the St. Lawrence River In Québec, many emergent plant species that are found in wetlands along the St. Lawrence River are exotic and classified as invasive. The St. Lawrence Centre studies some of these plants including: Flowering Rush, Purple Lossestrife, Reed Canary Grass, and Common Reed. Fact sheets on these species are available on the Internet at the following address: You will also find information on one species of floating plant, European Frog-bit, and one submerged plant, Eurasian Watermilfoil. The vegetation composition of brackish and salty marshes in the St. Lawrence is very different than the one found in fresh water marshes. Some species that are found in those marshes are: Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata; Grass), Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens; Grass), Common Glasswort (Salicornia europea; Chenopodiaceae) and Red Fescue (Festuca rubra; Grass). Sedges and Grasses Sedges are usually herbaceous or perennial plants with an aerial stem that is generally triangular and solid. Their rhizome allows them to invade areas such as marshes and prairies. We find in this family plants of the genus Carex and Scirpus, along with Eleocharis and Eriophorum. Grasses, which belong to the cereal family, are annual or perennial plants with an aerial stem that is generally round and hollow. Some genus that are found in this family plant are: Phalaris, Phragmites, Calamagrostis, Spartina, Zizania, Puccinella, Festuca and Agrostis. 22