Marshbird Survey Resources
Call broadcasts are effective in locating and studying marshbirds but should not be used indiscriminately. Responding birds may continue to vocalize for some time after the playback ends, and therefore, may be more easily located by predators. In addition, frequent and persistent playbacks may affect the normal activities of the birds. Enjoy the experience, but please keep disturbance to a minimum by closely following the instructions in Marshbird Survey Instruction Manual. Remember that the health and welfare of each bird is our utmost priority.
Marshbird Survey Instructions & Forms
Read and download the Marshbird Survey protocol here.
- Watch a video overview of why we have a Marshbird Survey and how it works here.
Download a printable version of the Marshbird Survey data form here.
Download a printable version of the Marshbird Survey habitat assessment data form here.
- Watch an instructional video on how to enter Marshbird Survey data into NatureCounts here.
Playback for Marshbird Surveys
Download the Marshbird Survey Broadcast MP3 file here. (Once the new tab opens, press the ‘download’ button in the top right corner).
Want help or advice with your Atlas-3 Marshbird Surveys? Please get in touch with Doug Tozer (dtozer[AT]birdscanada.org). He’ll try his best to answer any questions you have. And if you wish he’s especially keen to help you locate marshbird survey points within your square. He’ll even send you coordinates for your GPS if you like!
American Bittern © Scott Leslie
Training Resources
The audio tracks presented below are for training purposes ONLY. Above is the audio file for use during the Atlas-3 Marshbird Surveys.
The audio tracks were originally developed for training participants in Birds Canada’s Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program (GLMMP). They are provided here because the 3rd Atlas Marshbird Surveys are very similar to those of the GLMMP, and are really an extension of the GLMMP to all of Ontario. As such, these recordings should be very useful to participants in the Marshbird Survey.
We thank Monte Brigham, Lang Elliott and the Library of Natural Sounds at Cornell University for permission to use their audio recordings.
Pied-billed Grebe
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Wood Duck
Yellow Rail
Virginia Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail vs. King Rail
Sora
Black Rail
Common Gallinule & American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Wilson’s Snipe
Caspian Tern
Forster’s Tern vs. Common Tern
Black Tern
Belted Kingfisher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Alder vs. Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird