Interior Black Rail Literature Compilation

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A review of existing Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) distribution, habitat use, and relative abundance information is needed for interior populations (defined here as those found west of the Appalachians and north of Texas) to complement ongoing work on Eastern and Coastal populations and is a necessary precursor to future comprehensive planning. A comprehensive compilation and review of historical locations, habitat use notes, and other existing published and unpublished information is needed to populate a database and map distributions of interior breeding Black Rails. The project will involve careful and in-depth investigation to obtain unpublished and anecdotal information from resource managers and birders, as well as records from breeding bird atlases, state wildlife and natural history records, and other available sources, to compile historical and contemporary geo-referenced and bibliographic information on location and habitat use into a database. This database will be assembled following the format developed by the Eastern Black Rail Working Group. Additionally, historical information on land use patterns, management actions, and weather conditions will be integrated as they are available. Information from interior studies that have evaluated the standardized Marshbird Monitoring Protocol as well as other monitoring efforts will also be gathered. Results from these studies as to response at different times during the day, at different times throughout the breeding season, and according to density dependence will also be reviewed and incorporated where applicable into the development of future monitoring efforts. States of interest include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Limited travel may be necessary to work with USFWS biologists and access records in Minneapolis, MN; Albuquerque, NM; and/or Willows, CA. Office space in Lakewood, Colorado and limited equipment availability is negotiable. Proposed Deliverables: 1) Database of historical and current distribution of breeding populations of Black Rails in the interior states (habitat and sites) suitable for input into GIS; 2) Information on which to evaluate current Marshbird Monitoring Protocol as a monitoring technique for interior Black Rails; and 3) Information on which to base habitat management recommendations for this species. Project Time Line: 6 months from start date, project must be completed by December 2011.

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