Barajas, Megan; Gilbert, Cameron; Meckler-Pacheco, Alma; Woidat, Charles; Tanner, Richelle L: Avian community composition in Suisun Marsh tidal wetlands [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.987849 (dataset in review),

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In: Tanner, Richelle L: Community function under Phragmites invasion in Suisun Marsh CA [dataset bundled publication]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.987847 (dataset in review)

We conducted a monthly field study from January to December 2021 to characterize the avian community dynamics of three tidal wetlands experiencing Phragmites australis invasion in Suisun Marsh, located in the San Francisco Bay-San Joaquin Delta region of California. We sought to understand whether avian community composition (species richness, diversity) on the marsh plain was impacted by the invasive plant canopy. The surveyed wetlands were Tule Red (38.128880, -121.980554), Hill Slough (38.232834, -122.020285), and Blacklock (38.183957, -121.889321). At Tule Red and Hill Slough, semi-permanent transects (n=19) were distributed in a paired design with Phragmites-invaded and native canopy areas along secondary and tertiary tidal channels within the wetlands, positioned perpendicular to the water channel. Transects were 50m in length with bird abundance collected continuously through an aural survey. At Blacklock, these transects were done along 50m sections of vegetated area throughout the marsh. This was done because of high inundation of the site and a lack of dry marsh plain. Avian communities were surveyed using a trained aural method, noting the presence of bird calls within ~20m of the transect tape (in perpendicular width) and their corresponding vegetation stand for 50m. Researchers trained on local California birds using the Cornell Lab All About Birds guide with audio files (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/) and completed multiple field training sessions before collecting data. To account for disturbance, one researcher would walk slightly ahead to listen and the other would note their observations on a clipboard indicating the meter number at which they were heard. Data were noted using 4-letter alpha codes that are standard for bird species identification (see www.birdpop.org). Often the bird(s) were visually spotted during this survey, which provided confirmation of recording accuracy.