A few folks have been searching for a king rail survey protocol. The North American Marshbird Survey Protocol is being used by National Wildlife Refuges across the country and can be found at the following website: http://www.waterbirdconservation.org/waterbirds/NorthAmericanMarshbirdSurveyProtocolsOnlywithoutpicture2.pdf
If a "King Rail Taskforce" is in the works, I suggest ensuring your data will add to current research projects and be compatible with databases that are already in use. For birders who would like to become citizen scientists I recommend contacting your nearest National Wildlife Refuge and becoming a volunteer (http://midwest.fws.gov). Other agencies/organizations that may have opportunities to turn your birding talents into data that links to management decisions and more public awareness include the National Park Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Audubon Minnesota and The Nature Conservancy to name a few. Don't be afraid to call them up and offer your talents. We all have more field work than people. If you would like to participate in the marshbird (least bittern, yellow rail, sora, Virginia rail, and American bittern) survey this summer at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge please contact me. Sincerely, Michelle McDowell Wildlife Biologist Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge McGregor, MN 218-768-2402
