The Dyke Marsh Breeding Bird Survey is in its third week. This weekend's
surveys focused on canoe routes in the marsh with Least Bittern and Marsh
Wren being high visibility species. In the north marsh, a Least Bittern has
been reported for several weeks at the end of the Haul Road peninsula near
the boardwalk. We could not find this individual yesterday, but found 5
(including a possible breeding pair) Least Bitterns in the little inlets
that lead into the west end of the "Little Gut" just south of the Haul Road
peninsula. We also located about a half dozen Marsh Wrens in the narrow-leaf
cattails on the north side of Haul Road and the adjacent island.
Today's survey in the south marsh's "Big Gut" was more disappointing. There
was one calling Least Bittern and for the third week in a row, no Marsh
Wrens. This is particularly disappointing since the Marsh Wren population
last year in the south marsh seemed to be growing after years of decline.
It's becoming difficult to determine what is going on, although it is
becoming apparent that the erosion is eating away at the southern marsh at a
faster pace than in the north.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
