About This Project

The Rusty Blackbird is a globally threatened North American songbird that has declined precipitously over the past century. The reasons for this decline have yet to be fully understood. This collaboration between the NH Audubon and University of Maine will use radio telemetry to examine how the species uses intensively managed forests that are common within their breeding range. We hypothesize that intensively managed forests will provide quality nesting and fledgling habitat for the species.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Making its home in the forests of Alaska to the Maritime provinces and northern New England, the Rusty Blackbird is a globally-threatened songbird that has declined by over 85% since the 1970s. Getting its name from its distinctive brown nonbreeding plumage, the species is a habitat specialist that relies on foraging wetlands within young spruce-fir forests. Possible causes of Rusty Blackbird decline include climate change and habitat loss, however no explanation has been able to account for the alarming rate of the bird's decline. Previous research has shown that intensive forest management can increase the numbers of some species while decreasing others. The effects of intensive forest management on Rusty Blackbird occupancy and breeding success have yet to be examined.

What is the significance of this project?

The Rusty Blackbird is not alone in its plight, as one out of every eight bird species worldwide is threatened with extinction. As human populations expand and wildlife habitat shrinks, we must find ways to provide quality wildlife habitat while managing lands for economic benefit. Sustainable forestry is particularly important in northern New England, where over 75% of the land in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont is forested and 70% of that forested land is actively managed. Understanding Rusty Blackbird responses to intensive forest management will help to ensure their survival in actively managed landscapes.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to learn how intensive forest management affects Rusty Blackbird breeding habitat occupancy and survival to better inform management planning. During 2019 and 2020, we will affix radio transmitters to fledgling blackbirds in Maine and New Hampshire and track them daily throughout the summer. We will document forest harvest history and habitat characteristics at nest sites and fledgling locations. By comparing used vs available sites, we will determine if intensive forest management practices are creating quality Rusty Blackbird nesting and fledgling habitat.