Priority Information Needs for American Coots, Purple Gallinules and Common Moorhens, A Funding Strategy

This strategy was developed in 2010. The purpose of the plan was to obtain priority information needed to improve habitat and harvest management decisions for migratory populations of American coot, purple gallinule, and common moorhen. The four priority needs (in no particular order of importance) identified were:

1. implement a National Marshbird Monitoring Program;
2. update the National Wetland Inventory;
3. continue to improve the Harvest Information Program sampling frame; and
4. determine breeding origin of American coots and common moorhens that are harvested at high-harvest locations.

Plan developers identified two overarching guidelines that should be considered along with each of the four information needs:

1. consider the effects of climate or ecosystem change on this suite of species; and
2. actively engage Canada and Mexico.