David Yeany II

Assessing Secretive Marsh Bird Breeding Populations and Habitat Associations to Implement Conservation Actions at High Priority Wetlands in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

We will conduct field surveys for secretive marsh birds at high priority sites in Crawford and Erie counties to assess some of Pennsylvania’s largest breeding marsh bird populations. This project will be part of a statewide survey of breeding marsh birds in 2021, led by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). We will implement the Standardized North American Marsh Bird Monitoring Protocol, utilizing early morning and evening call-broadcast point count methods for priority primary target species: King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule, and American Coot, and secondary target species: Black Tern, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, and Wilson's Snipe.We will also conduct habitat assessments in association with our marsh bird survey locations, using field surveys, existing satellite imagery, and drone-based surveys, in order to measure vegetation structure, composition, and habitat condition as part of larger efforts to better describe and map important marsh bird habitats for conservation and management purposes. This project will result in species occupancy and abundance estimates at priority sites for secretive marsh bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in western Pennsylvania and preliminary habitat management recommendations.