1. Salt Marsh Sparrow Project Nate McVay – NRG City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

2. Saw Mill Creek Park The Natural Resources Group has conducted breeding bird surveys in Saw Mill Creek Park since 1992. Areas surveyed are predominantly salt marsh habitat with associated upland. Since 1998 there have been three restoration projects to enhance this ecosystem. City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

3. Seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) and Sharp-tailed sparrows (Ammodramus caudactus) are two species of concern for us to monitor as indicators of a functioning salt marsh. Sesp is listed as T/E/SC for NY State and both are considered SGCN Seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus)Sharp-tailed sparrows (Ammodramus caudactus) Seaside Sparrows & Sharp-tailed Sparrows City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

4. Salt Marsh Sparrow Habitat City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

5. Berm Removals and Study Area City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

6. Restoration The projects all removed fill material or berms placed on the marsh surface in the early part of the 20 th century. These projects magnified the reach of daily tidal flushing of the marshes and enhanced both the high and low marsh character of the area. Monitoring was completed four years prior to and a minimum of two breeding seasons after each restoration. City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

7. Restoration City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

8. Survey Protocol NRG continues to use a composite methodology developed to be a hybrid of the Cornell, Audubon and Federation of New York State Bird Clubs protocols. Territories are established by examining the data from 8 separate visits to the site during the breeding season. City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

9. Confirmed Nesting City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

10. Confirmed Nesting City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

11. Distance of a 1/4 Mile of Restored Area City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

12. Sharp-tailed Sparrows City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

13. Saeside Sparrows City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

14. Discussion Relationship to restoration Survey techniques Establishing territory status City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group

15. Future Goals Looking to participate in a study of salt marsh sparrows in Bird Conservation Region (BCR) 30 in collaboration with USF&WS, NYC Audubon and other partners. This area includes the New England and Mid-Atlantic States. Breeding season 2011 will see a census focused on SESP and STSP in the greater area of high and low marsh in Saw Mill Creek Park. NYC Parks will also explore other City-owned salt marshes to document other salt marsh sparrow populations. City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation Natural Resources Group