Avian Habitat Use Monitoring at the Edmonds Marsh
The Edmonds Marsh Survey is a community science survey project powered by Pilchuck Audubon volunteers that is evaluating the richness and evenness of the avian species in the marsh’s micro-habitats.
This study has been actively surveying the marsh since December 2018, and will continue for ten years. The data collected during this time will allow the researchers to look at the relative diversity in the marsh, and will give us a baseline by which to evaluate the impact of the upcoming changes to the marsh on its avian residents and visitors.
Marsh Wren by Bill Anderson.
The primary objectives of the study are:
to understand which avian species are using the various habitats within and associated with Edmonds Marsh
to assess how different avian species are interacting with microhabitats within the Edmonds Marsh
to establish baseline richness (abundance) (S), diversity (Hmax=ln(S)), and evenness (E= H/Hmax) of the avifauna in the different microhabitats in the Marsh
to document trend data for analysis against changes/impacts and for developing best management practices that support a diverse bird population in an urban marsh setting
to provide community engagement through opportunities to participate in community science
How we’re collecting the data:
The Edmonds Marsh Survey is entirely dependent on a team of excellent volunteers. Our surveyors are making time in their schedules to help with this community science research. Survey teams go out to the marsh twice per month to record all the birds they encounter, recording the observed behavior and the microhabitat within the marsh the birds are using when recorded.
Beginning fifteen minutes before sunrise, observers visit each of seven observation points. At each point, surveyors document every bird they detect within a 10 minute window, using data codes to mark down behavior and location of the birds detected. Because of the early morning start, and the access to non-public areas deep within the marsh, our observers get to experience so many interesting animal interactions right in the middle of the City of Edmonds. So far, we have recorded over 70 unique species with more than 14,000 data points!
The survey needs you!
A project like this needs a lot of volunteer help!
We are looking for volunteers with good observation and bird identification skills, an attention to detail, a love for the marsh, and the willingness to volunteer three or four hours at a time. Volunteers on this project can choose to volunteer as often as every month, and as infrequently as once a year. In this survey we get the privilege of visiting spots in the marsh that are not open to the public, so a reasonable level of mobility is necessary!
If you are interested in being a part of this survey and contributing to bird conservation, please contact scott_markowitz@yahoo.com to get in on the action.
We look forward to your participation!
What have we discovered so far?
The first couple of years of this project are helping us establish a baseline measure for the avian biodiversity in the marsh and its microhabitats. Check out our annual data presentation at the 2020 Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds.
