Telemetry Studies of Sora Rails on the Patuxent River

Greg Kearns will discuss his recent work on Sora tagged with microchips that enable their migration routes to be tracked remotely via tracking station beacons on the Patuxent River and elsewhere in the United States. The research is part of an international consortium called Motus (Latin for movement). The newest MOTUS sensor station beacon in our area was recently installed at the Patuxent Research Refuge near the National Wildlife Visitor Center, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Ornithological Society, in cooperation with the Refuge,Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, and Friends of Patuxent. Greg has a fascinating story to tell about his years of research and fieldwork studying Sora and Wild Rice on the Patuxent River and throughout the Bay. His energy and enthusiasm will inspire you.

About the lecturer

Greg Kearns is a Senior Park Naturalist for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) at the Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County. His work of more than 35 years in the Jug Bay Natural Area has had a major impact in the areas of habitat restoration and avian research. His intensive study of the relationship between Sora, Wild Rice, and Canada Geese led to a project to restore the Wild Rice marshes of Jug Bay, benefitting Sora as well as many other species. Another line of research has followed Sora on their annual migrations using a combination of trapping, banding, and now, remote telemetry. Apart from this, Greg has worked tirelessly as an educator, incorporating citizen science into his programs and advocating wetland conservation through presentations at schools, senior centers, and environmental organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay Region. In 2017, Greg’s work was recognized with a Conservation and Restoration Award from the Environmental Law Institute’s National Wetland Awards Program. Greg was also named Conservationist of the Year by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 2006 for his work on the restoration of the wild rice marshes in Jug Bay. (Biographical information in part courtesy of the Environmental Law Institute.)

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PGAS monthly programs are held on the second Tuesday of each month, September through June, in partnership with the Patuxent Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society. There are no programs scheduled in July or August. PGAS members are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and non-members are always welcome.

The formal program always begins at 7:30 pm, but doors open at 7:00 for informal conversation, refreshments, and exchange of birding news.  Each program opens with brief statements from leaders of both clubs about upcoming events, items of interest and other club business, followed by the featured speaker with a question-and-answer period afterwards.

The programs are held at the College Park Airport Operations Building, 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD.