̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

Monitoring Vulnerable Marsh Birds of the Great Lakes Region

Hemi-marsh wetland habitat in the Calumet region provides far-reaching benefits to marsh birds, other wildlife, and people; and after centuries of eradication and degradation through pollution, altered hydrology, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, it will take sustained efforts to restore and maintain them into the future. Through partnerships, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Great Lakes has established regular marsh bird and vegetation monitoring over 40 sites across the region that have informed habitat restoration. This monitoring is crucial to our wetland conservation efforts in Illinois and Indiana.

Marsh Bird Monitoring Hub

The Marsh Bird Data Hub is a tool that provides important resources to help inform restoration planning and collaborative decision-making to protect wetlands for declining marsh bird species.  Land managers and conservationists can use this tool to better understand marshes in the Calumet region that are most threatened and inform decision making around restoration efforts to restore wetlands and marsh bird populations.  

The Marsh Bird Data Hub was created with data from ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s Calumet Marsh Bird Monitoring Program, which has engaged over 80 volunteers and 15 conservation partners at over 40 wetlands sites across the region and incorporates data including marsh bird data, drone and satellite imagery, invasive species presence and water level.

By looking at this data scientists are able to better understand the health and condition of the region’s remaining marshes, and how marsh birds are responding to restoration efforts.

You can access the Marsh Bird Data Hub