Wetland suitability for waterbirds in Illinois

Waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, and other waterbirds rely on wetlands to meet dynamic physiological needs. However, the midwestern United States has undergone extensive wetland loss, and extant wetlands are often degraded. Currently, there is limited information available to estimate the quantity of suitable habitat for wetland-dependent birds to prioritize wetland management and inform conservation planning processes. Furthermore, the hydrology and other physical characteristics of wetlands that determine their suitability for waterbirds often differ among species, foraging guilds, and temporally. The suitability of stopover wetlands used by spring migrants influences survival and body condition of some species as they prepare for breeding, and most secretive marsh birds species have experienced population declines presumably linked to losses in quantity and suitability of habitat during the breeding season. Therefore, I identified factors that influenced the availability of suitable waterbird habitat and provided baseline data on the spatial distribution and extent of wetlands capable of supporting migratory and breeding bird populations in Illinois. I assessed habitat conditions in Illinois wetlands during spring, summer, and autumn 2016 – 2017 across Illinois Natural Divisions. Each spring, I surveyed wetland sites for dabbling ducks and other waterbirds (e.g., geese, diving ducks, herons) using aerial surveys, and conducted call-broadcast surveys for secretive marsh birds at sites with emergent vegetation spanning the marsh bird breeding and migration chronology in Illinois. I assessed wetland suitability for dabbling ducks, marsh birds, and shorebirds; waterfowl and other waterbird abundances; and marsh bird occupancy as a function of local wetland characteristics, landscape context and integrity, and wetland management practices and characteristics to assist conservation planners prioritize wetland restoration and enhancement in the Midwest, USA. Across all survey periods, suitable vegetative and hydrological conditions for wetland-dependent bird guides comprised a small portion of the total area of wetlands and deepwater habitats within the National Wetlands Inventory. Furthermore, important vegetation cover and inundation levels considered suitable for waterbirds varied among NWI classes and Illinois Natural Divisions. Suitable emergent vegetation for migrating and breeding marsh birds and mudflats and shallowly inundated foraging habitats for migrating shorebirds were particularly limited during survey periods, and wetlands with greater complexity and connectivity to other wetland types offered the greatest proportion of suitable habitat resources. Surface water inundation and vegetation coverage were the most important predictors of waterbird density during spring migration; for every 10% increase in the proportion of inundated vegetation, dabbling duck density increased 34.8%. Similarly, local wetland characteristics such as inundated persistent emergent vegetation and forested cover, and to a lesser extent, persistent emergent vegetation, were important components predicting marsh bird occupancy in Illinois. My study highlights a poor representation by the National Wetlands Inventory of the quantity of suitable habitat conditions for migratory wetland-dependent birds, specifically wetland inundation and vegetation cover. Future emphasis should be placed on identifying variables appropriate for predicting wetland suitability for waterbirds by combining National Wetlands Inventory data with other available spatial data and addressing demographic responses (e.g., survival, nest success, breeding propensity) of waterbirds to suitable habitat in Illinois since suitable habitat appears to be very limited for some waterbird guilds

Identifying Wetland Availability and Quality For Focal Species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign W-184-R-1

The purpose of the study was to estimate functional quality of wetlands for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign, including the following objectives: 1) Estimate wetland habitat quality during spring, summer, and autumn for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign; 2) Develop a model to predict wetland quality for focal species of the Illinois Wetlands Campaign relative to wetland and landscape characteristics.Illinois Department of Natural Resources Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUC Subagreement Number: SIU Carbondale 15-01unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Wetland Management Strategies that Maximize Marsh Bird Use in the Midwest: Annual Performance Report Period: 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

We determined marsh bird use across a wide range of wetland types (e.g., emergent, non-vegetated, riparian), hydrologic regimes (e.g., temporary, seasonal, semi-permanent), management practices (e.g., active, passive, unmanaged), and past disturbance regimes (e.g., natural and restored, impounded and unimpounded) in Illinois during late spring and early summer in 2015–2017. Our objectives were to 1) compare marsh bird use of restored and natural wetlands, 2) determine characteristics of wetlands and the surrounding landscape that influence marsh bird use of restored and natural wetlands, 3) compare marsh bird use of wetland impoundments managed for waterfowl across a continuum of management intensities and strategies to predict how these actions can increase use by both waterfowl and marsh birds. Additionally, we surveyed marsh birds using the standard protocols on wetlands concurrently surveyed within the Illinois Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) for comparison of methodologies. We will provide marsh bird and other wetland-associated bird data to the Midwest Avian Data Center and the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) and other conservation partners.Our data will be used as a basis for establishment of multi-group management strategies for marsh birds in the Midwest. These data will be especially useful as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) finalizes their Wetlands Campaign and Conservation Strategy as part of the Illinois Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan and Strategy (i.e., wildlife action plan; ICWCPS). Moreover, our research addresses several priorities outlined in the Midwest bird monitoring framework outlined by Koch et al. (2010), including furthering understanding of the ecology and conservation priorities for migrating birds, evaluating effectiveness of conservation actions such as wetland restoration, and increasing access to bird data relative to landscape characteristics for use in conservation planning.Unites States Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: F14AP00485unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Integration of Household Water Filters with Community-Based Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion-A Process Evaluation and Assessment of Use among Households in Rwanda

Unsafe drinking water contributes to diarrheal disease and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income contexts, especially among children under five years of age. Household-level water treatment interventions have previously been deployed in Rwanda to address microbial contamination of drinking water. In this paper, we describe an effort to integrate best practices regarding distribution and promotion of a household water filter with an on-going health behavior messaging program. We describe the implementation of this program and highlight key roles including the evaluators who secured overall funding and conducted a water quality and health impact trial, the promoters who were experts in the technology and behavioral messaging, and the implementers who were responsible for product distribution and education. In January 2019, 1023 LifeStraw Family 2.0 household water filters were distributed in 30 villages in the Rwamagana District of Rwanda. Approximately a year after distribution, 99.5% of filters were present in the household, and water was observed in 95.1% of filters. Compared to another recent water filter program in Rwanda, a lighter-touch engagement with households and supervision of data collection was observed, while also costing approximately twice per household compared to the predecessor program. &nbsp;</p

Improving Patient Outcomes With High Nurse To Patient Ratios: A Quality Improvement Study

According to the United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit published in the May/June 2018 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality, a shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the country between 2016 and 2030. Surveyed nurses see the shortage in the future as a catalyst for increasing stress on nurses (98%), lowering patient care quality (93%) and causing nurses to leave the profession (93%) (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021). A thorough literature review was conducted, and 40 studies were reviewed. Common themes that emerged include: high nurse to patient ratios increased the risk for hospital acquired infections, higher levels of understaffing are associated with higher mistreatment rates, and there is a decrease in patient outcomes associated with nurse understaffing. A set of guidelines have been developed to assist the nursing staff during a shortage of nurses or nursing technicians.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2021/1026/thumbnail.jp

Wetland Management Strategies that Maximize Marsh Bird Use in the Midwest: Final Performance Report: F14AP00485

We sought to investigate marsh bird occupancy and abundance across a wide range of representative wetlands types, hydrologic regimes, management practices, and former disturbance regimes in Illinois. We hypothesized that characteristics of wetlands that were actively and passively managed for waterfowl would be positively correlated with marsh bird occupancy and abundance in Illinois during the migration and breeding seasons. Our specific objectives were to: 1) compare marsh bird use of wetland impoundments managed for waterfowl across a continuum of management intensities and strategies to predict how impoundment management actions can increase use by both groups; 2) compare marsh bird use of restored and natural wetlands; and 3) determine characteristics of wetlands and the surrounding landscape that influence marsh bird use of restored wetlands. Our results are important to understanding spatiotemporal, hydrological, and vegetative conditions suitable for multi-species management of wetlands. Moreover, our research provided information regarding the effectiveness of conservation actions, particularly wetland restoration in meeting conservation priorities for migrating birds.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programsunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-64 Annual Progress Report FY2017 Period: 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

Objectives 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration at a minimum of 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey in the central Illinois River Valley for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1), 3) Investigate movement and population ecology of lesser scaup, canvasback, and other diving ducks by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, 4) Investigate the ecology of American green-winged teal and gadwall by radio-marking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 5) Investigate movements and home range size of a minimum of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) of Illinois, 6) Determine habitat quality of a minimum of 50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds in Illinois, and 7) Distribute results and findings to site managers and biologists of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and other state agencies, the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section, the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region (UMRGLR) Joint Venture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-63 Annual Progress Report FY2016 Period: 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016

Objectives 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl and other waterbirds (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration at a minimum of 30 sites along the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers of Illinois, 2) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey along the central Illinois River for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1), 3) Investigate the ecology of up to 50 gadwall and 50 American green-winged teal during spring migration in and near the central Illinois River valley of Illinois, 4) Determine breeding bird use of and nest density in a minimum of 10 moist-soil wetlands managed for waterfowl during summer in central Illinois, 5) Investigate the breeding ecology of a minimum of 50 sandhill cranes during spring and summer in northeastern Illinois consistent with an ongoing research project, 6) Investigate movements and home range size of a minimum of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area of Illinois, and 7) Determine habitat quality of a minimum of 100 wetlands and deepwater habitats during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds in Illinois.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-65-A Annual Progress Report FY2018

Study objectives were: 1)Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl and other waterbirds (≥10 species and guilds) during autumn (September–January) and spring migration (February–April) at a minimum of 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi Rivers, 2)Use data from an aerial quadrat survey in the central Illinois River Valley to estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (≥10 species and guilds) during autumn migration for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective1) and make recommendations for modifications to aerial inventory design and methodology, 3)Contribute to efforts to study population ecology of lesser scaup and canvasback by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration in the Illinois River Valley, 4)Investigate the ecology of American green-winged teal and gadwall by radio-marking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois RiverValley,5)Determine habitat quality of ≥50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds, respectively,in Illinois,and6)Distribute results and findings to site managers and biologists of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and other state agencies, the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section, the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region (UMRGLR) Joint Venture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional wetland and waterbird conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-43-R-65-AIllinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe