Fine Scale Habitat Use of Secretive Marsh Birds

Goals: To investigate fine-scale patterns of habitat use in secretive marsh bird species in Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Virginia Rail, Sora). By deploying synchronized acoustic recorder grids and utilizing automated sound localization tools, the project aims to identify vocalization locations and habitat preferences with high spatial precision. These insights contribute to more effective monitoring and conservation efforts for under-detected marshland bird species.

Overview: The project piloted a localization grid of 33 GPS-synchronized acoustic recorders in northern Pennsylvania, with additional deployments planned in subsequent years. Field recordings are analyzed using the OpenSoundscape Python package to localize calls of target species. The integration of newly collected data with existing datasets from the University of Alberta allows cross-site comparisons. Findings will support habitat conservation strategies and be published in a manuscript. Future work will involve continued data collection, refinement of localization algorithms, and collaboration with conservation partners to validate and apply habitat-use insights.