Columbia Wetlands marsh bird monitoring project
Secretive or inconspicuous marsh birds in the Columbia Wetlands near Golden are being surveyed to estimate their populations and identify habitat needs. Goldeneye Ecological Services, with seven volunteers, completed 191 surveys at 65 survey stations, collecting data on 108 bird species.
This information will help inform conservation actions and with FWCP funding, there are plans to install nest boxes, work with landowners, and restore an old mill site. Interim results have already been submitted to influence decisions on local restoration and management plans.
Final results of the three-year project will be available in spring 2020, but already some interesting findings have surfaced. There were high detection rates of Pied-billed Grebe, Sora, Redwinged Blackbird, Yellow Warbler, and Willow Flycatcher. In addition, the Blue-listed American Bittern — a focal species for the FWCP — was detected 10 times at five survey stations near Brisco. Specific habitat types are important for these birds and will be the focus of future habitat conservation actions.
FWCP Program Manager, Trevor Oussoren took a closer look during a recent field tour of FWCP projects in the Rocky Mountain Trench.
