Last fall, I had the opportunity to attend the National Land Trust Alliance conference in Rhode Island. One day included a trip to a local salt marsh, offering a boots-on-the-ground view of the challenges facing the area. The first thing I noticed was the lack of spartina grass and the overwhelming presence of a new species to me: phragmites. This invasive plant thrives in salt marshes and accelerates the erosion of salt marsh edges and natural areas. I learned that 53% of Rhode Island’s salt marshes have been lost in the past 200 years.
This discussion soon turned to one of my favorite species: the salt marsh sparrow. In recent years, I have volunteered in Charleston to assist with the banding of these sparrows. These birds breed in the marshes of the Northeast and migrate to the Southeast during the winter months. They nest in the marshes, but with rising sea levels and more frequent flood tides, their nests are becoming increasingly vulnerable. With a 9% annual population decline since the 1990s, the species is on the verge of extinction within the next 20 to 30 years.
The marshes of the Northeast don’t hold sediment in the same way as those in our region, so their restoration efforts look quite different. Organizations like Save the Bay are working to create runnels—small drainage ditches—to restore the natural flow of water and allow vegetation to regrow.
Why does this matter? Salt marshes have only existed for about 3,000 years and remain in a vulnerable state. The Kiawah Conservancy stewards over 3,000 acres of local salt marsh and is committed to their protection in perpetuity. These areas are not just scenic; they play a crucial role in holding back water during tropical storms, filter contaminates in our water, and offering habitat to unique marsh species. Species like the diamondback terrapin, black rail, and salt marsh sparrow are elusive, hiding among the grasses. It’s hard to appreciate their presence but on a slow boat or kakak ride through our estuaries, they become visible and are a constant reminder of their importance.
Seeing the salt marshes of Rhode Island completed the story for me. What took me two flights, a taxi ride, and a bus tour is a seasonal journey of survival for the salt marsh sparrow. I now have an even deeper appreciation for our protected marshes. For indicator species like the salt marsh sparrow, it is more important than ever to support organizations that protect our marshes.
For more information regarding the salt marsh sparrow. Refer to the Town of Kiawah Island’s bird banding efforts.
Winnapaug Pond, Rhode Island
Saltmarsh sparrow being held during research efforts
Town of Kiawah Island biologists prepare for salt marsh sparrow banding. High marsh areas become holding spots for marsh sparrows during high tides.
Additional species such as the marsh wren also call the salt marsh home. While hard to spot they can be heard and seen foraging along marsh edges.