Citation:

BERRY, W. J., S. M. LUSSIER, S. E. Reinert, M. A. CHARPENTIER, AND F. C. Golet. Is Residential Development Adjacent to Salt Marshes Causing Declines in Seaside Sparrows? Presented at American Ornithological Union Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, August 04 - 08, 2008.

Impact/Purpose:

The Seaside Sparrow’s worldwide geographic range is restricted to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, where it breeds only in saltmarshes. Saltmarsh habitat is under pressure from development on the landward side, and sea level rise from the seaward side. The research described here will help us to assess the status of the breeding populations of the Seaside Sparrow in Rhode Island, and help us better understand the effects of landscape change on those populations.

Description:

To assess the possible effects of residential development on nesting populations of Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus), we repeated a 1982 survey conducted by Stoll and Golet. In June and July 2007, 23 RI salt marshes were surveyed in their entirety for the presence of breeding Seaside Sparrows. We compared aerial photographs from 1981 and 2003 to document landscape changes within a 0.5-km zone surrounding each marsh. Seaside Sparrow counts decreased markedly from 1982 to 2007. Counts decreased at 13 of the 14 marshes where Seaside Sparrows had been found in 1982 and Seaside Sparrows were present on only seven marshes in 2007 (including two where no Seaside Sparrows were found in 1982). Preliminary analysis suggests that the degree of decline in Seaside Sparrow numbers was correlated with increased residential development within 0.5 km of marsh borders. Marshes with increased adjacent residential development exhibited large declines (44-100%) in Seaside Sparrow numbers, while marshes largely bordered by protected or agricultural land demonstrated smaller decreases (0-21%) or slight increases. We will repeat the survey in 2008 to assess annual variation in bird numbers.

Record Details: