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

Winter habitat use of Rusty Blackbirds Russ Greenberg (for Claudia Mettke-Hofmann, John Moore University, Liverpool)

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

Abundance and distribution of Rusty Blackbirds Nathan Dias (Cape Romain Bird Observatory) and Will Post (Charleston Museum)

The status of wooded wetlands - threats, management, protected areas Craig Watson (USFWS -Southeast Joint Ventures)

Managed wetlands impoundments: history, distribution, management strategies for wildlife Sara Schweitzer (University of Georgia)

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