1. MARTIMES MARSH MONTIORING PROGRAM
NB PILOT
Status Update
Becky Stewart

2. GOAL
•
MMMP
Assess and monitor wetland-associated species and their habitats
PURPOSE
•
Establish wetland conservation and management priorities and
assess effectiveness of conservation efforts
OBJECTIVES
•
Monitor trends in wetland-dependent spp. across
boundaries
•
Wetland species-habitat associations & features
that influence occupancy, distribution and
abundance at multiple scales
•
Evaluate and refine current management activities
•
Assess relative to established population goals
•
Engage in wetland conservation

3. Maritime Marsh Monitoring Crew
Margaret Campbell, Coordinator, May 2012

4. Wetland sampling - NB DNR’s wetland
classification and spp./habitat matrices
1. Wet Meadow
Yellow Rail
Nelson’s Sparrow
4. Treed peatland/swamp
7. Saltmarsh
Rusty Blackbird
Solitary Sandpiper
Palm Warbler
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
2. Shallow Marsh
Marsh Wren
Least Bittern
3. Deep Marsh
Pied-billed Grebe
Virginia Rail
Sora
Black Tern
5. Alder/shrub wetland
Alder Flycatcher
Canada Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Green Heron
8. #3 + permanently
flooded wetland
American Bittern
Common Snipe
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Green-winged Teal
Canada Goose

5.  Wet Meadow
 Shallow Marsh
 Deep Marsh
 Survey point

6. 5 min. listening – 5 min. playback – 5 min. listening
Primary Focal Spp.
Secondary Focal Spp.
American Bittern
Pied-billed Grebe
American Black Duck
Northern Shoveler
Least Bittern
Common Moorhen
American Wigeon
Ring-necked Duck
Sora
American Coot
Blue-winged Teal
Wood Duck
Virginia Rail
Nelson’s Sparrow
Common Goldeneye
Great Blue Heron
Common Merganser
Green Heron
Canada Goose
Black Tern
Gadwall
American Woodcock
Green-winged Teal
Wilson’s Snipe
Mallard
Sedge Wren
Northern Pintail
Marsh Wren
Yellow Rail
= playback
N
50 m
100 m
BOLD = EHJV Priority; Italics = IBP timing non-optimal
PLUS SONGMETRES

7. [~ 150 pt counts; 38 song metres] x 3
PC Done
Song Metre
 Wet Meadow
 Shallow Marsh
 Deep Marsh
 Survey point

8. Next
• Baseline occupancy, detection and habitat
• Formalize Steering Committee
• Future Directions and Implementation Plan
NB
Broaden Coverage
Ecoregions
Management
Units
(stratification)
Temporal
Seasonal
Wetland Types
and Focal Spp.
• Saltmarsh
• Alder/shrub
• Treed
peatland/
Other
provinces
Pilot NS
(PE, NL)

9. Funding
• Current Fiscal ~ 103k
– WHC, NB DNR, NB ETF, EC-CWS, NB WTF
– In-kind: NB DNR, EC-CWS, DU, DND CFB Gagetown
– Part-time Coordination only
• Next Fiscal ~ 140 – 160k
– Full-time coordination
– Earlier start dates, greater coverage
– All-bird
– Pilot NS?
WHC’s Research Stream – support letter JV’s scientific committee

10. They’ll
never find
me

11. Advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of
wild birds and their habitats, through studies that engage the
skills, enthusiasm, and support of our members, volunteers,
and the public.