Saltmarsh Sparrows: Conserving a surrogate species at the landscape level; connecting the dots between breeding, migration and wintering in Region 5

This project provides information to examine migratory and wintering pathways and breeding and migratory behavior for Saltmarsh Sparrows. Data from nanotag tracking studies will be combined with genetic marker research to identify areas that are important to conserve for Saltmarsh Sparrows. Nanotag data will reveal information on the timing and duration of migration movements, how sparrows use the marshes before and during migration, and possibly their destination on the wintering grounds. High resolution genetic tags will identify fine-scale relationships among breeding populations and their migratory connections as well as their wintering grounds location on a scale that is informative for regional conservation planning. Saltmarsh sparrows are of the highest conservation concern due to declining populations and vulnerability to climate change.