Rusty Blackbird Workshop
January 24, 2008
The decline and future recovery of the rusty blackbird along the South Atlantic Coast.
- Did you know that one of the fastest declining species in North America is the rusty blackbird? Global declines for the past 40 years are estimated to be more than 90 percent.
- Did you know that a sizable portion of the world population—most of the population that breeds in the eastern boreal forest of North American —winters in the flooded woodlands of the Carolinas and Georgia? Regional declines over the past 40 years are estimated to be more than 95 percent.
Much needs to be done to understand the decline and we hope much can still be done to protect and recover the rusty and its habitat while the species is still numerous. So...
A one-day workshop was held to discuss our current knowledge and to begin to map out a plan for the future.
The program included presentations on what is known about the current status and possible causes of decline, the status of the species in the South Atlantic Coast region, and a focused discussion of research, monitoring, and management needs.
The workshop was organized by the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Group, which includes staff or faculty of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and the Cape Romain Bird Observatory.
Program
Some of the presentations below can be downloaded as pdf files.
8:30 Meet and Greet
9 - 10 The Big Picture
Declines in the Rusty Blackbird: An overview Russ Greenberg (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center)
Where do Atlantic Coast populations breed? Russ Greenberg (for Keith Hobson et al., Environment Canada)
Rusty Blackbirds on their Breeding Grounds Luke Powell (University of Maine) by phone
10:15-11 Wintering Ground Issues
Mercury contamination David Evers (Biodiversity Research Institute) by phone
Blackbird control and protection status Michael Avery (USDA/APHIS) and Dean Demarest (USFWS)
11:15- 12 Focus on the South Atlantic Region
Surveying Rusty Blackbirds in the winter Jason Luscier (University of Arkansas) by phone)
12 - 1:30 Lunch and Informal Discussions
1:30 - 3 Group Discussions
Research ideas and monitoring needs for the South Atlantic region
Key regions and sites to initiate research
Strategies of outreach to the public
Developing support for future work
3 Wrap-up and Discussion of Partnerships and Roles for Future Work
4 - 6 Join us for an expedition to see a spectacular blackbird roost with Rusties at a nearby locality
