Scarborough Marsh
Description: Scarborough Marsh is located about seven miles southwest of Portland,
ME. The marsh consists of sand beach, intertidal mudflats and estuarine marsh with an
extensive complex of flooded ditches and pannes. It is owned by the Maine Department
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and managed as part of the Scarborough
Wildlife Management Area. There are seven survey hotspots within this site, mostly roost
sites, which have been marked with dashed circles on the map above. All areas are easily
accessible from roads or parking lots.
The most numerous species from ISS maximum count data are: BBPL (120), SEPL
(200), GRYE 921), LEYE (38), WHIM (34), RUTU (60), SESA (300), LESA (20) and
SBDO (100).
Survey Method: Ground surveys should be conducted throughout the marsh.
Scarborough Marsh is a vast area and may require several volunteers to survey. Lindsay
Tudor, MDIFW biologist, has divided the marsh into seven survey areas.
Selection Bias: None.
Measurement error: *
Measurement bias: *
Pilot Studies: None needed.
Site 1: Western Beach
Description: Western Beach consists of sand beach and intertidal mudflats. The
flats are used extensively by feeding shorebirds. The sand beach experiences
heavy human use and therefore receives minimal shorebird use. The outstanding
feature in this site is an intertidal shoal, which becomes an island during certain
parts of the tide, concentrating large numbers of shorebirds. Numbers increase
until the bar becomes covered at high tide, but birds quickly return as soon as it is
exposed again feeding along the receding tide. Access is from the beach parking
area.
Survey Method: Ground surveys should be conducted on the rising tide, but not
at high tide.
Site 2: Eastern Road
Description: Eastern Road runs through the middle of Scarborough Marsh. The
habitat adjacent to the road includes estuarine marsh and intertidal flats. Areas can
be observed from Eastern Road and the golf course. Access is from Eastern Road.
Survey Method: Ground surveys from Eastern Road and the golf course.
Site 3: Pine Point
Description: This area contains sand beach, estuarine marsh and inter-tidal
mudflats. Some roosting occurs in the sand beach areas. The major use occurs by
feeding birds using the intertidal areas. Birds begin arriving in numbers two hours
after high tide and increase through the falling tide. Access is from the Town
landing parking lot or Public Beach lot.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the inter-tidal areas should be conducted
from two hours after high tide through the falling tide.
Site 4: Dunstan Landing
Description: This area consists predominantly of estuarine marsh and pannes
used both for feeding and roosting around the higher ranges of the tide. Access is
through the Maine Audubon parking lot on Route 9.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted around the
higher ranges of the tide.
Site 5: Jones Creek
Description: This area consists of irregularly inundated inter-tidal and brackish
marsh, characterized by large areas of sparsely vegetated pannes and flats.
Because this area is above the influence of tides, birds use it throughout the tidal
cycle for roosting and feeding. Access is from Borden’s Seafood products lot, off
Route 9.
Survey Method: Ground surveys. Tidal stage is not a factor at this area.
Site 6: Winnocks Neck
Description: This area consists of estuarine marsh and pannes. Shorebirds use the
pannes for feeding and roosting predominantly around the higher ranges of the
tide. Intertidal mudflats of the Scarborough River are exposed at low tide. Large
numbers of shorebirds concentrate in this area, just up river from the railroad
bridge, as the incoming tide begins covering the flats. Access points are located at
Winnocks Neck Road, Salt Marsh Road and the railroad tracks.
Survey Method: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted at the higher
ranges of the tide for feeding and roosting birds; and/or ground surveys of the
river mudflats north of the railroad tracks should be conducted on the incoming
tide.
Site 7: Ocean View Lane
Description: This site consists of estuarine, emergent marsh and pannes.
Shorebirds use the pannes for feeding and roosting predominantly around higher
ranges of the tide. Access is by a dirt road at the end of Ocean View lane.
Survey Methods: Ground surveys of the pannes should be conducted at the
higher ranges of the tide for feeding and roosting birds.