The Great Marsh, the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England, is a vital staging area for migratory shorebirds and has been recognized by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) and the National Audubon Society as a critical habitat. Spanning over 25,000 acres of saltmarsh and barrier beach, it provides feeding and resting areas for tens of thousands of shorebirds each year as they migrate between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites in the Southern Hemisphere.

Using the International Shorebird Survey (ISS) framework, we coordinate surveys across the Great Marsh each summer to estimate shorebird abundance during peak migration and identify key stopover sites within the marsh. This year, 38 participants surveyed 52 locations, counting 12,948 shorebirds of 20 species. The data are gathered in collaboration with Manomet and regional partners as part of a statewide effort, and they are used to guide ongoing research and conservation of these declining species.