In spring 2009 I initiated a 2-year project funded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to investigate the distribution and abundance of secretive marsh-birds in Iowa. Tyler Harms, a M.S. student in my lab, surveyed wetlands statewide using call playbacks and is also collecting data on wetland characteristics and associated bird species of interest. The study focused on eight species - Pied-billed Grebe, Least and American bitterns, King and Virginia rails, Sora, Common Moorhen, and American Coot. Our annual research reports are now available for 2009 and 2010.
Funding Organization: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)