It’s back-to-school season, and SMAS Vice-President Ben Springer answers the age-old writing prompt, “What did you do this summer?”
I have officially returned to Southern Maryland after an incredible field season working on the Eastern Shore for the Marshes for Tomorrow project! It was an action-packed summer of searching for and monitoring Saltmarsh Sparrow nests and surveying marsh vegetation. In the early mornings we conducted SHARP (Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program) point counts, documenting birds from a fixed point while playing a 12-minute audio track with the calls of target marsh bird species occurring at 1-minute intervals.
Our team finished the season with 39 nests in total at the Irish Grove Sanctuary, 14 of which were our target species, the Saltmarsh Sparrow. We also found an additional 2 Willet nests and 23 Seaside Sparrow nests. Of the 14 Saltmarsh Sparrow nests, I am excited to report that 6 nests fledged chicks, a success rate of approximately 43%. Compared with other states, this ranks on the high end of success rates. This result offers hope for Saltmarsh Sparrows in Maryland, although flooding and sea level rise remain major threats. Marsh restoration is critical to the continued success of Saltmarsh Sparrows at Irish Grove.
The good news is, beginning this fall, other teams will help restore the Irish Grove Sanctuary by digging shallow channels called runnels. These structures will connect stagnant water to tidal creeks, allowing marsh plants to regrow in areas where excessive water has drowned them. With restoration efforts like this one underway, I am hopeful that the emblematic Saltmarsh Sparrow will remain a part of Maryland’s unique high marsh ecosystem.
In addition to our extensive field work, two colleagues and I made a music video in our free time about our beloved Saltmarsh Sparrows! (The video features Ben Springer on banjo, percussion, and vocals; Duncan Zona on guitar; and vocals and video editing by Evan Powers.) We hope you enjoy it!