Sponsoring Program: Galveston Island State Park

Black Rails are sparrow sized marsh birds that inhabit the east, west, and gulf coasts of North America. The diminutive size and preference for dense marsh grass habitat makes studying them difficult. In accordance with US Fish and Wildlife range-wide protocols, Galveston Island State Park is conducting callback surveys to determine how many Black Rails are in the park, what type of habitat they are occupying, and how that changes with the seasons or disturbance.

More information on Black Rails: Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Black Rail

Callback surveys consist of playing an audio recording of Black Rail calls and song over a speaker and listening for a response and the direction and distance of that response is recorded. They are conducted every other week during the Survey Window from mid-February to mid-June during both the dawn (30 minutes before sunrise to 3 hours after) and dusk (3 hours before sunset to 30 minutes after) hours.

Survey Protocols are attached to this announcement.

Requirements:
1. Volunteers must have normal hearing range (hearing aids are acceptable)
2. Volunteers must attend ONE of two training sessions offered at Galveston Island State Park prior to the Survey Window in order to be able to conduct surveys.
3. Volunteers must sign up for at least 2 surveys during the Survey Window.

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