Date:         Tue, 20 Jun 2000 11:45:40 -0600
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Monint3 <Monint3@USGS.GOV>
Subject:      SWSP Chronicles III
Comments: To: jerpendel@www.acnatsci.org
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     The survey for the Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow is in full deer-fly
     avoidance mode and our dedicated volunteers have provided the
     following notes from the field:


     In MD: No Swamp Sparrows were found in any marshes investigated
     between West River (south of Annapolis) down to just north of
     Fairhaven on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. SWSPs have given
     us the slip in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties as well. Across the
     Bay, further exploration of Kent Island has revealed no SWSPs but
     there is minimal shrub habitat. Just to the north, however, SWSPs have
     been heard on both sides of the bridge to Eastern Neck Island. Despite
     being found throughout the island 12 years ago, sleuthing by two
     investigators produced no Swamp Sparrows anywhere else on the Refuge.
     Finally, no trace of SWSPs has been uncovered in the Cambridge area or
     in the Nanticoke River marshes, a location of historical breeding.

     In VA: Surveys of Dyke Marsh (on the Potomac, just south of the
     Beltway) yielded no indication of SWSPs but an attack from the sea may
     prove more fruitful. Has anyone seen a SWSP in the coastal plain of
     Virginia?

     In DE: SWSPs are hopping up and down the eastern shore of the Delaware
     Bay with pockets of birds from Prime Hook to Taylor's Bridge. One
     point just to the north of Taylor's Bridge had 7 SWSPs but this is
     substantially more than have been observed elsewhere. Around Delaware
     City, a few birds have been located along Dutch Neck Road and Route 9
     just south of the canal. In the future, we look forward to probing the
     interior guts of the expansive marshes that characterize the Delaware
     shore.

     In NJ: Chuck Hetzel, our correspondent in the north has been finding
     SWSPs (an average of one bird per site) in the region of Shiloh,
     Hancock's Bridge, and Greenwich. On the eastern side of the state, a
     slow motor across the causeways to Avalon and Stone Harbor revealed no
     SWSPs supporting the assumption that these salt marshes along the
     Atlantic are not appropriate habitat. In addition, Chuck has been
     collecting samples of Coastal Plain SWSP song for eventual comparison
     to the songs from inland populations. Finally, we received a report of
     a SWSP in the Bass River just up from New Gretna. (Keep those reports
     coming!)


     It is not too late to send us your current or historical observations
     of SWSPs in the MD, DE, NJ, or DE River area. Please send information
     (exact location, date, number of birds) to Jon Beadell at
     monint3@usgs.gov. Thanks much!


     The Swamp Sparrow Skunkworks Team

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