The Center for Conservation Biology was awarded a grant by the Northeast
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Regional Conservation Needs program
that allows us to continue working on the conservation of Black Rails in the
Northeast. The grant will support CCB's efforts to develop a population
assessment and action plan for declining Black Rails within the northeast
region. It will also compliment other ongoing work by CCB and partners
throughout the species' annual range (see http://ccb-wm.org/BlackRail).
The eastern Black Rail is one of the most imperiled bird species along the
Atlantic Coast and is a candidate for federal listing. Populations in the
northeast have declined by an estimated 85% over the past 20 years and are
reaching dangerous levels. Populations are threatened by nest predators, loss
of wetlands, and sea-level rise among other concerns. Without immediate
conservation intervention, Black Rails could become extirpated within several
portions of their range during our lifetimes.
CCB is interested in all recent and historic records for this species in the
east. We have been building a geo-database of accounts to document population
changes over time. Contact Mike Wilson for more information (mdwils@xxxxxx).
Michael Wilson
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
phone: 757-221-1649
fax: 757-221-1650
email: mdwils@xxxxxx
web: www.ccb-wm.org/BlackRail