 ESNERR
staff and volunteers do "quick and dirty" counts of large bird categories
("cormorants", "gulls", "pelicans", etc.) on islands in the restored South
Marsh area, from a vantage point above the wetland on the Five Fingers trail.
This easy 45 min loop, which can be carried out by amateur birders, yields
important data about habitat use in this area.
We are interested in determining:
1) which birds use this restored wetland;
2) how use patterns change with tidal height;
3) whether bird use changes over time, as islands decrease in size due to
tidal scour; and
4) whether disturbances (passing trains, railroad repairs) affect bird use
of the wetland.
If you'd like to carry out this monitoring protocol, ask someone at the
front desk of the Visitor's Center to set you up with a clipboard with the
self-explanatory instructions and data-sheet, or contact Kenton Parker (831) 728-2822 for an initial walk through the protocol.
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