Suisun Marsh provides critical habitat for wintering and breeding waterbirds in California. USGS WERC collaborates with the California Department of Water Resources to examine trends in bird declines and to assess the habitat factors driving long-term survival of waterfowl, rails, and other birds in this important area.
SUSTAINING SUISUN SPECIES
Suisun Marsh, California is the largest contiguous brackish water marsh in western North America, formed where the fresh water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta joins up with the salt water from San Francisco Bay. The marsh provides habitat to thousands of migratory and resident waterfowl and water birds, along with many other plants and animals. The importance of the Suisun Marsh, California, as a waterfowl-use area is widely known and has a long history.
But as of 2014, waterfowl abundance was below the Central Valley Joint Venture’s population objective for 300,000 ducks wintering in Suisun Basin, and well below the nearly 370,000 waterfowl that typically wintered there during the 1950s. Long-term population trends for dabbling ducks and geese are declining in Suisun Marsh, even after accounting for California-wide population trends, indicating that proportionately fewer dabbling ducks and geese are choosing to winter in Suisun Marsh than historically. Suisun Marsh also supports among the highest densities of breeding ducks in North America, and plays an important role in duck production within California.
With more than 90 percent of California’s wetlands lost, Suisun Marsh represents one of the last remaining contiguous wetland habitats in the state. In order to understand and manage water bird populations and habitats in Suisun Marsh, the California Department of Water Resources has partnered with the USGS WERC and other collaborators to these address information needs.
USGS WERC’s research in Suisun Marsh focuses on waterfowl nesting and movement ecology, but covers many elements of the Suisun ecosystem. Learn more about each major research area below, and explore recent results, publications, multimedia, and news related to the Suisun Marsh Waterfowl project by clicking on each tab.
Click here or the image below to learn more in our Waterfowl Ecology Story Map
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Avian Ecology and Multi-Species Habitat Use in Pacific Coast Estuaries
Western States Cinnamon Teal Initiative
Waterfowl Ecology in California and the Pacific Flyway
Breeding and Wintering Ecology of Waterfowl
Movement Maps for Suisun Marsh Waterfowl and Waterbird Studies
- Overview
Suisun Marsh provides critical habitat for wintering and breeding waterbirds in California. USGS WERC collaborates with the California Department of Water Resources to examine trends in bird declines and to assess the habitat factors driving long-term survival of waterfowl, rails, and other birds in this important area.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Gadwall ducklings in nest, Suisun Marsh, CA. (Credit: Sarah Peterson/USGS. Public domain.) SUSTAINING SUISUN SPECIES
Suisun Marsh, California is the largest contiguous brackish water marsh in western North America, formed where the fresh water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta joins up with the salt water from San Francisco Bay. The marsh provides habitat to thousands of migratory and resident waterfowl and water birds, along with many other plants and animals. The importance of the Suisun Marsh, California, as a waterfowl-use area is widely known and has a long history.
But as of 2014, waterfowl abundance was below the Central Valley Joint Venture’s population objective for 300,000 ducks wintering in Suisun Basin, and well below the nearly 370,000 waterfowl that typically wintered there during the 1950s. Long-term population trends for dabbling ducks and geese are declining in Suisun Marsh, even after accounting for California-wide population trends, indicating that proportionately fewer dabbling ducks and geese are choosing to winter in Suisun Marsh than historically. Suisun Marsh also supports among the highest densities of breeding ducks in North America, and plays an important role in duck production within California.
With more than 90 percent of California’s wetlands lost, Suisun Marsh represents one of the last remaining contiguous wetland habitats in the state. In order to understand and manage water bird populations and habitats in Suisun Marsh, the California Department of Water Resources has partnered with the USGS WERC and other collaborators to these address information needs.
USGS WERC’s research in Suisun Marsh focuses on waterfowl nesting and movement ecology, but covers many elements of the Suisun ecosystem. Learn more about each major research area below, and explore recent results, publications, multimedia, and news related to the Suisun Marsh Waterfowl project by clicking on each tab.
Click here or the image below to learn more in our Waterfowl Ecology Story Map
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Avian Ecology and Multi-Species Habitat Use in Pacific Coast Estuaries
Waterbirds such as shorebirds, waders, and ducks depend on healthy and productive estuaries to “fuel up” for long distance migrations along the Pacific Flyway. Estuarine ecosystems include a mosaic of managed, natural, and restoring wetlands, and provide critical stop-over and wintering areas for federally protected migratory bird species. USGS WERC’s Dr. Susan De La Cruz works with federal, state...Western States Cinnamon Teal Initiative
Cinnamon Teal are a relatively understudied and WERC scientists are working with agencies from seven other states collecting data on their ecology which will help inform distribution, movements and habitat use.Waterfowl Ecology in California and the Pacific Flyway
The Suisun Marsh and Central Valley in California offer some of the world’s most important wetland habitats for waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. Mike Casazza and USGS WERC biologists are providing the science to support and evaluate waterfowl populations and habitat management in North America.Breeding and Wintering Ecology of Waterfowl
Western U.S. wetlands provide critical habitat for wintering and breeding waterfowl in California. WERC's Dr. Josh Ackerman is working toward collecting data to understand factors influencing duck nest success, to improve and restore breeding habitat for resident duck populations in California, and understand composition of predator communities. To learn more about how USGS WERC is implementing...Movement Maps for Suisun Marsh Waterfowl and Waterbird Studies
Suisun Marsh is a critical habitat for wintering and breeding waterbirds in California. USGS is working with the California DWR to examine the trends in bird decline and to assess the habitat factors driving long-term survival of waterfowl, rails, and other birds in this important area. - Multimedia
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