MSU-led group to study rare birds

A research effort by Audobon Louisiana has revealed new information about one of the Gulf Coast’s least understood black rails bird. In an effort to research the birds, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $3.9M grant to a Mississippi State University-led group of researchers to look into the rare and poorly understood marsh bird that is under consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The research will look into bird’s high coastal marshland habitats, which will also support yellow rails and mottled ducks. Since 2017, Audubon Louisiana has collected one of the continent's richest pools of data on the elusive bird. The group's research is to be focused in Cameron and Vermilion parishes. (Source: NOLA.com 12/02/19) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_687f9c6e-0d64-11ea-8e8a-077f7bf88851.html