Priority Information Needs for Rails and Snipe, A Funding Strategy

This strategy was developed in 2009 with the input of state, federal, and non-governmental biologists. The purpose of the plan was to determine priority information needs to reduce uncertainties underlying management decisions for rails and snipe. The four priority needs (in order of importance) identified were to:

1. implement a national monitoring program;
2. continue to improve the Harvest Information Program sampling frame;
3. improve the rails and snipe parts collection survey; and
4. estimate vital rates to support population modeling.

To inform management decisions, plan developers stressed the need to involve Canada and Mexico and the potential importance of breeding, migration, wintering habitats, and harvest that occurs in these countries. In addition, plan developers also recognized that when addressing information needs, regional differences in rail and snipe population characteristics, and the effect of climate and system change, need to be considered.