Scarborough Marsh
Description: Scarborough Marsh is located about seven miles southwest of Portland, ME. The marsh consists of sand beach, intertidal mudflats and estuarine marsh with an extensive complex of flooded ditches and pannes. It is owned by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and managed as part of the Scarborough Wildlife Management Area. There are seven survey hotspots within this site, mostly roost sites, which have been marked with dashed circles on the map above. All areas are easily accessible from roads or parking lots.
The most numerous species from ISS maximum count data are: BBPL (120), SEPL (200), GRYE 921), LEYE (38), WHIM (34), RUTU (60), SESA (300), LESA (20) and SBDO (100).
Survey Method: Ground surveys should be conducted throughout the marsh. Scarborough Marsh is a vast area and may require several volunteers to survey. Lindsay Tudor, MDIFW biologist, has divided the marsh into seven survey areas.
Selection Bias: None.
Measurement error: *
Measurement bias: *
Pilot Studies: None needed.
Site 1: WesternBeach
Description: WesternBeach consists of sand beach and intertidal mudflats. The flats are used extensively by feeding shorebirds. The sand beach experiences heavy human use and therefore receives minimal shorebird use. The outstanding feature in this site is an intertidal shoal, which becomes an island during certain parts of the tide, concentrating large numbers of shorebirds. Numbers increase until the bar becomes covered at high tide, but birds quickly return as soon as it is exposed again feeding along the receding tide. Access is from the beach parking area.
Survey Method: Ground surveys should be conducted on the rising tide, but not at high tide.
Site 2: Eastern Road
Description: Eastern Road runs through the middle of Scarborough Marsh. The habitat adjacent to the road includes estuarine marsh and intertidal flats. Areas can be observed from Eastern Road and the golf course. Access is from Eastern Road.
Survey Method: Ground surveys from Eastern Road and the golf course.
Site 3: Pine Point
Description: This area contains sand beach, estuarine marsh and inter-tidal mudflats. Some roosting occurs in the sand beach areas. The major use occurs by feeding birds using the intertidal areas. Birds begin arriving in numbers two hours after high tide and increase through the falling tide. Access is from the Town landing parking lot or PublicBeach lot.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the inter-tidal areas should be conducted from two hours after high tide through the falling tide.
Site 4: Dunstan Landing
Description: This area consists predominantly of estuarine marsh and pannes used both for feeding and roosting around the higher ranges of the tide. Access is through the Maine Audubon parking lot on Route 9.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted around the higher ranges of the tide.
Site 5: Jones Creek
Description: This area consists of irregularly inundated inter-tidal and brackish marsh, characterized by large areas of sparsely vegetated pannes and flats. Because this area is above the influence of tides, birds use it throughout the tidal cycle for roosting and feeding. Access is from Borden’s Seafood products lot, off Route 9.
Survey Method: Ground surveys. Tidal stage is not a factor at this area.
Site 6: Winnocks Neck
Description: This area consists of estuarine marsh and pannes. Shorebirds use the pannes for feeding and roosting predominantly around the higher ranges of the tide. Intertidal mudflats of the ScarboroughRiver are exposed at low tide. Large numbers of shorebirds concentrate in this area, just up river from the railroad bridge, as the incoming tide begins covering the flats. Access points are located at Winnocks Neck Road, Salt Marsh Road and the railroad tracks.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted at the higher ranges of the tide for feeding and roosting birds; and/or ground surveys of the river mudflats north of the railroad tracks should be conducted on the incoming tide.
Site 7: Ocean View Lane
Description: This site consists of estuarine, emergent marsh and pannes. Shorebirds use the pannes for feeding and roosting predominantly around higher ranges of the tide. Access is by a dirt road at the end of Ocean View lane.
Survey Methods: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted at the higher ranges of the tide for feeding and roosting birds.