Eastern Black Rail Call-Response Survey Protocol for Range-Wide Monitoring

This collection explains how to conduct Eastern Black Rail call-response surveys, provides the necessary sound files and data sheets, and provides instructions to submit reports to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

1. Eastern Black Rail Call-Response Survey Protocol for Range-Wide Monitoring(PDF)Version 1.1 (February 2023)

   • This document describes a targeted call-response survey protocol with the end goal of population estimation and trend estimation at the national and state levels. This protocol is based on the Standardized North American Marsh Bird Monitoring Protocol (Conway 2011) and has been tailored to specifically focus on detecting Black Rails.

2. Playback Recording (zip-mp3)

   • The playback recording is broadcast at each survey point. It begins with five passive minutes followed by two minutes of intermittent playback of black rail calls, one minute of silence, another minute of playback and a final minute of silence, for a total of ten minutes. Minute markers announce the beginning of each minute of the survey.

3. Volume Test File for Playback Recording (zip-mp3)

   • The volume test file is a version of the playback recording with the initial 5-minute passive period removed. This file is used to adjust and set the volume on the playback device from which the recording will be broadcast. Volume adjustments should be completed prior to the initiation of surveys and this recording should never be broadcast near survey points or other potential black rail habitat.

4. Datasheet v1.1 (PDF)

   • The datasheet is used in the field to record data during the surveys. The PDF version is ready to be printed. One double-sided datasheet typically provides sufficient space for an entire survey route (all points surveyed during an entire morning or evening survey period).

5. Editable Datasheet v1.1 (Excel)

   • The Excel version of the datasheet is available for instances in which users need to make changes for their specific objectives and do not wish to use the PDF version.

6. Data Entry Spreadsheet (Excel)

   • The standardized Excel data entry spreadsheet corresponds with the datasheet. Field data should be entered into the data entry spreadsheet and submitted to the USFWS Recovery Lead (Morgan Wolf, morgan_wolf@fws.gov) via email by December 1 of the survey year.