Category Archives: Research and Monitoring

Foresters for the Birds Program comes to Elm Hill

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Margo Mercer

Brown Thrasher by John Sill

Birds that breed in young or recently disturbed forests are a conservation priority in Massachusetts. Sharp declines of these species, such as the Eastern Towhee and Brown Thrasher, have been linked to habitat loss due to changes in the frequency of these natural and anthropogenic disturbance regimes. For example, fire and flooding have been suppressed, our familiar middle-aged forests are less susceptible to storm damage, and once common forestry practices have declined.

However, carefully planned forestry is one of the most effective ways to create early successional habitat, and the corresponding breeding bird species respond positively. What’s more, some species of birds that breed in the more mature surrounding forests use these same young forests during the post-fledgling period – a time of high morality after young have left the nest. Having this habitat in place also bolsters populations of mature forest breeders.

Mass Audubon’s Foresters for the Birds program responds to this conservation need. The program provides technical assistance to private landowners who wish to manage their woods for important bird habitat, including the creation of early successional forest.

To further this conservation initiative, Mass Audubon will demonstrate these science-based habitat management techniques at our Elm Hill sanctuary. Not only will this project provide crucial habitat for species in decline, but the site will also be used to educate professional foresters, agency staff, conservation professionals, the land trust community, our members, and the public at large.

Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, the project is in its initial phase. The end product will be a 100 year plan to maintain a mosaic of forest successional stages, including various ages of young forest, and stands that will naturally progress towards old growth conditions. In this initial phase, we are working with a Foresters for the Birds trained forester to map out the existing forest resources, and determine areas to be actively managed for bird habitat. Other phases include monitoring birds to assess and adjust our management efforts, delivering public outreach, engaging the help of volunteers, and conducting studies of other taxa to inform management decisions.

This will be an exciting time of sharing and learning, and we hope you will follow along with the project as we post further updates.

Research Update: S4 – The Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Steward Program

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Margo Mercer

Leach’s Storm Petrel by John Sill

Seabirds constitute one of the most difficult groups of birds to systematically monitor, particularly when they are at sea and away from their breeding colonies. Fortuitously, the inshore location and rich marine biota of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary provide a unique opportunity to support a long-term seabird monitoring program.

In 2011 Mass Audubon joined Stellwagen Sanctuary staff in initiating the S4 Program (Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Steward Program). The goal of this program is to systematically gather baseline data about seabird seasonal distribution and abundance within the Stellwagen Bank Important Bird Area (IBA). By using sanctuary scientists and Mass Audubon personnel working in concert with trained volunteer observers, seabird data has now been systematically gathered for six years. It is hoped that this information will increasingly inform seabird scientists and Massachusetts residents about how seabirds utilize local marine waters. More importantly, the information will hopefully also help predict future environmental impacts possibly caused by climate change and its effect on the regional marine ecosystem.

Since the initiation of the S4 Program in 2011, regular seabird surveys have been conducted at least six times throughout the year along a 63 nautical mile-long transect located within the Stellwagen Sanctuary. Observations recorded during these surveys have collectively provided hundreds to thousands of sightings annually of a majority of the seabird species regularly utilizing the Stellwagen Sanctuary. In addition to the observers participating in the regular year-round systematic surveys, volunteer observers coordinated and trained by Stellwagen Sanctuary and Mass Audubon staff, have also been monitoring seabirds on public whale watching vessels the during the regular whale-watching seasons.

With concurrent regular monitoring efforts taking place in the sanctuary of other marine features including physical ocean characteristics, plankton, fish, and marine mammals, it is hoped that the information gathered will gradually help elucidate both short-term and long-term fluctuations taking place in seabird distribution and abundance that may possibly correlate with climate change. The S4 project represents a unique opportunity to allow citizen scientists to partner with both Mass Audubon and a federal agency to support local research and conservation efforts. Future editions of The Warbler will provide highlights of some of the already noteworthy findings provided by the S4 Program. For more information and volunteer opportunities with the S4 Program, contact Wayne Petersen, Director of the IBA Program at [email protected].

Melodious Meadowlarks

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Lindall

Despite their name, Eastern Meadowlarks are not larks, but are members of the blackbird family. These brightly colored blackbirds were once abundant, singing from atop fence-posts and telephone lines near Massachusetts fields. Unfortunately, this sight has become increasingly rare: Eastern Meadowlarks have suffered one of the sharpest declines of any species in Massachusetts. Data from our Breeding Bird Atlas 2, show that this species has disappeared from over 75 percent of its 1979 distribution. Their breeding range in Massachusetts is now very limited.

Dr Jon Atwood installing an Eastern Meadowlark decoy, photo by Rosemary Mosco.

To take action, Bird Conservation staff are conducting field experiments to see if audio playback and decoys can be used to encourage Eastern Meadowlark to nest on former breeding sites. The use of audio playbacks (playing pre-recorded bird song), and decoys is an increasingly common conservation technique. In general, the songs or calls from individuals of the same species can indicate good habitat and encourage other individuals to settle and breed there too.

This technique has been used successfully in North America for over 20 songbird species. Last summer we experimented with audio playback systems at two of our Wildlife Sanctuaries. Read more about that work here.

This summer, we are focusing our efforts on Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. With over 200 acres of grassland habitat, Arcadia is an important refuge for grassland birds. Eastern Meadowlarks bred in Sanctuary fields in the past, but have not been observed breeding there for three years. Audio playback systems and decoy meadowlarks have been placed in fields at the Sanctuary and will remain throughout the summer. Keep an eye on this blog for progress updates.

Learn more about Eastern Meadowlark conservation

Share our Eastern Meadowlark quick guide

Eastern Meadowlark decoys like this have been installed at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary this summer, photo by Rosemary Mosco.

Bird Conservation and Sanctuary Staff installing meadowlark playback equipment into a field at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary.

Give a Hoot About Owls

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Lindall

Short-eared Owl, by John Sill.

Halloween is a fitting time for us to shine a spotlight on owls, birds of prey who are well-known for their nocturnal activities and haunting hooting. There are eight regularly occurring species of owl in Massachusetts and they are found in a variety of habitats, including your residential neighborhood!

Although they are quite common, owls can be very mysterious and little is known about their habitat needs or population dynamics. Unfortunately, data from our State of the Birds monitoring suggests that three species, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl are declining in Massachusetts. These species require urgent conservation action and we need your help to fill knowledge gaps about their populations.

Our Owl Citizen Science project is helping to unravel the mystery of where owls occur; we have had more than 300 reports of areas where owls have been seen or heard. The majority of data have been on the location of breeding owls, and many people have even reported nests. While these data are valuable, we are also interested in information on wintering owl populations. This citizen science project runs year round so give a hoot about owls and report your sightings today!

We were lucky enough to have Barred Owls breed outside the Bird Conservation office at Mass Audubon Headquarters this spring. Photo by Marj Rines.

Saving Our Swifts

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Lindall

Chimney Swifts are the only swift species that regularly occur in Massachusetts. Their chattering calls and cigar shaped silhouettes are a sure sign that spring has arrived. Unfortunately these enigmatic little birds are experiencing steep population declines. Chimney Swift numbers have dropped dramatically over the last 30 years and research has shown that declines are more prevalent towards the northeast of North America.

Declines are exacerbated by a loss of nesting and roosting sites. The traditional brick chimneys that swifts nest or roost in are deteriorating or being capped by homeowners. Furthermore, the logging of old growth forests reduces natural nest and roost site availability. Protecting these sites may be key to slowing population declines.

To take action, we launched the Chimney Swift Project which aims to map spring and fall roosting sites, as well as summer nests across the northeast. The project is a partnership with the University of Connecticut and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The location of Chimney Swift Sighting reported by citizen scientists in 2015 as part of Mass Audubon's Chimney Swift Project.

Chimney Swift sightings reported by citizen scientists in 2015.

Since it’s initiation in the summer of 2014, more than 100 people have participated in the project. Our citizen scientists have made tremendous efforts reporting 5500 Chimney Swifts at over 150 sites. This year, the maximum number of birds reported at a single chimney was estimated at 300! Breeding takes place from late May through early August and this year participants estimated that 64% of observed swifts were breeding.

Very little is known about the winter roost locations of Chimney Swifts so if you are lucky enough to be heading to South America on a birding trip this winter, any observations you make will have huge conservation value. Keep the sightings coming and expect to see us expand this work next year!

Additional Resources

Learn more about chimney swifts and what do if you’re concerned about a nest in a chimney.

Stellwagen Seabird Show!

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Lindall

Over the past three summers, Bird Conservation staff have been participating in seabird surveys within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This 842-square mile ocean sanctuary is a protected area lying approximately twenty miles off the coast of Massachusetts between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. This incredibly rich region hosts over 575 species of fish, sea turtles, marine mammals, and birds.

Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Sanctuary by Shannon Currie.

The sanctuary is an important feeding ground for no fewer than 53 species of summering, wintering, and migratory seabirds and has been designated by Mass Audubon as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

In order to better understand the role and importance of seabirds in the Stellwagen ecosystem, Mass Audubon is partnering with the sanctuary’s S4 Program (Stellwagen Sanctuary Seabird Stewards) to systematically collect seasonal, temporal, and distributional seabird data.

The S4 program engages citizen scientists to collect baseline seabird data that will be used to compare the status and relative abundance of seabirds in the region over time. These data will help better understand any population changes that may occur within the sanctuary and the possible significance of such changes to the marine ecosystem as a whole.

This summer has proven to be an exceptional season for seabirds within the Stellwagen Sanctuary. Most notably Cory’s, Great, and Manx shearwaters have been present in increased numbers, along with lesser numbers of Sooty Shearwaters and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels. Fin and Humback whales were also more numerous than in recent years were. All of these species have been responding to a huge spike in the population of a little pencil-sized baitfish called sand lance. Both seabirds and whales feed very heavily on these fish while they are in Stellwagen waters, so when there is a population explosion in the sand lance population like this summer, the numbers of seabirds and whales increase substantially. Many of the seabirds will start their seasonal migration soon so be sure to try and get out to see them over the next several weeks.

Shearwaters (mostly Great), Stellwagen Sanctuary.

Great Shearwaters, Stellwagen Sanctuary.

Humpback Whale, Stellwagen by Rosemary Mosco

Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Sanctuary by Rosemary Mosco.

An Ode to Odes

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Lindall

BY KAIJA GAHM*

In early August, members of Bird Conservation teamed up with regional scientists to survey dragonflies and damselflies at Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton. Dragonflies and damselflies are members of the order Odonata, and may be referred to as odonates, or “odes” for short.

Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary, Hopkinton

Waseeka covers 230 acres, including a forest and a sizeable pond that has been extended by Beavers in recent years. With extensive wetland vegetation and trails running along the pond edge, Waseeka offers ideal habitat to observe odonates.

The goal of Mass Audubon’s ongoing odonate monitoring project is to assess ode diversity across various sanctuaries. Keeping track of odonate presence and diversity is a good way to monitor the health of Mass Audubon’s water bodies because odonates play key roles in aquatic food webs. Also, their pollution-sensitive larvae are good indicators of water quality.

Overall our day was very productive, we identified 19 species of dragonflies and damselflies, including six that had not previously been recorded at Waseeka. Highlights included huge Green Darners and the tiny Slender Bluet. Learn more about these fascinating insects here.

In addition to the odonates, we were able to identify some plant species that were new to the Sanctuary inventory including Southern Bog Clubmoss, Rattlesnake Plantain and Pink Lady’s Slipper. We also saw eighteen species of butterflies including three swallowtails and six skippers. Other spectacular sightings included a Pickerel Frog and a Gray Tree Frog.

Birding highlights were a pair of Eastern Towhees, an Osprey circling overhead carrying a fish, a Broad-winged Hawk, four Cedar Waxwings, and several Eastern Wood-Pewees.

Bird Conservation staff monitoring odes at Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ruby/Cherry-faced Meadowhawk, Jonathan Eckerson.

Slender Spreadwing, Rosemary Mosco.

*Kaija Gahm is a recent high school graduate interested in birds and environmental science. This summer, she is volunteering in the Bird Conservation office at Mass Audubon.

Keeping Track of Grassland Birds: A 20 Year Perspective

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Lindall

Over the summer, Bird Conservation has been working hard to coordinate a region-wide survey of grassland bird breeding sites in New England. Grassland birds have experienced steeper, more consistent, and more widespread population declines than any group of birds in North America.

Dr Jon Atwood and the field techs who surveyed sites for grassland species across New England.

Dr Jon Atwood with field techs who surveyed sites for grassland species across New England.

In order to learn more about the decline, Mass Audubon started collecting data on breeding birds almost two decades ago. In the 1990’s over 1000 sites were surveyed across New England and New York including hayfields, fallow fields, pastures, airports, and military bases. Efforts centered on focal species at sites where they had historically been recorded breeding.

Last summer and this year, we have been busy repeating these surveys using similar methods. This large-scale project involved multiple visits to over 495 sites and was done in collaboration with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and partners from Massachusetts DFW (see their grassland bird recovery plan here), Maine DFW, New Hampshire Audubon and the University of Delaware. Eight field techs and many citizen scientists worked hard to help collect important data on ten focal species of grassland birds.

These data enable a direct assessment of changes in northeastern grassland bird populations and are critical for implementing effective management practices to help reverse declines. Additionally, this unique data set allows us the opportunity to examine how changes in land use might affect grassland bird species. Our efforts represent the most comprehensive survey of grassland birds across New England since the 1990s.

We look forward to sharing our results with you!

Focal species: L-R top-bottom, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Horned Lark, Bobolink, Upland Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, Killdeer, Vesper Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow. Images by John Sill

Focal species: L-R top-bottom, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, Upland Sandpiper. Images by John Sill