LB 6-54 - CANCELLED - Assessing distribution of a threatened marsh bird in the Everglades to inform conservation planning

Background/Question/Methods:

Human-induced global change is causing widely-documented shifts in wildlife habitat and distributions. A prime example is the Black Rail, a marsh bird whose eastern subspecies (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) was recently listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. It breeds in the eastern USA and south into Central America: nearly all U.S. populations have declined drastically due to loss of wetlands from a combination of landscape transformation, climate change, and rising sea levels. Southern Florida is considered a potential stronghold and research priority for its extent of suitable habitat, lack of existing data, and the promise of applying outcomes to habitat restoration in Atlantic seaboard areas with dwindling coastal marsh / rail populations. We partnered with National Wildlife Refuges and other land managers to determine a baseline of Black Rail presence in strategic areas in the Everglades region. Occupancy is being assessed with established USFWS protocols for secretive marsh birds, using call‐response surveys at sunrise and sunset at least three times per location. We timed surveys to start in February, earlier than is typical (e.g., April to June) for studies of this species, because of southern Florida’s differing, subtropical climate.

Results/Conclusions:

Surveys for Black Rail were conducted at over 400 point locations at priority wetland sites in the Everglades and surrounding areas, from February through May in 2021 and 2022. Survey locations included federal, state, and regionally-managed lands at National (Big Cypress) and State (Fakahatchee Strand) Preserves, National Wildlife Refuges (Ding Darling, Loxahatchee, Ten Thousand Islands), and areas managed by the South Florida Water Management District (Southern Glades area). At least 30 detections of Black Rail calls were observed over the two field seasons. Data are still being collected and compiled to assess occupancy and to inform analysis of habitat features that are most important at study locations. This will in turn support future status assessments and adaptive management, including identification of priority areas on refuge and partner lands that could be targeted for more intensified study and protection. Such information is critical for planning efforts to mitigate impacts of land use and climate change on wetland wildlife. Note that findings and conclusions of this study are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.