Dataset

Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program

About

Geographic area covered

New Brunswick (Ecoregions: Grand Lakes (129 stations), Fundy Coastal (51 stations), Valley Lowlands (20 stations), Eastern Lowlands (116 stations); Nova Scotia (20 stations); Prince Edward Island (39 stations)

Primary species covered

Primarily waterbirds (plus Nelson’s Sparrow)

Goals

Established in 2012 by Eastern Habitat Joint Venture partners, the Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program helps assess and monitor statuses of wetland-associated species and habitats. Modelled after Bird Studies Canada Marsh Monitoring Programs in other regions the program focuses on obtaining baseline information on secretive marsh birds not well-captured by other surveys offering a window into the health of wetlands.

Methods

Sampling Design

Randomly selected routes

Field methods

Bird survey routes with 2-11 listening points 250 m apart. Listening stations were unlimited distance for primary species and 100 m fixed-distance point counts for all other species. One to three visits, at least 10 days apart between 15 May and 15 July. Specialized 15 minute point count protocol; 5-minute call broadcast period book ended by two, 5-minute silent listening periods. Individuals of primary species (AMBI, LEBI, PBGR, SORA, VIRA, YERA, AMCO, COGA, NESP) are recorded on a minute-by-minute basis and are grouped into 3 distance classes (0-50m, 50-100m, unlimited). Counts of all other species detected within a 100m radius of the observer are recorded for each 5-minute time period. Additionally, observers record the number of drakes, hens and young to provide productivity information.

Analysis methods

Reports and publications available on line at www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/acmmp/

Partners

New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources
Prince Edward Island Fish and Wildlife Division

Citation

Birds Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, Prince Edward Island Fish and Wildlife Division, and New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund. 2025. "Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada.