Mercury Levels in Parker River NWR Saltmarsh Sparrows: Lecture at Joppa Flats

Wildlife biologist Nancy Pau will present a slide program and lecture, “Research on Saltmarsh Sparrows at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge,” at Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center on Wednesday, February 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Scientists at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge found elevated levels of mercury in saltmarsh sparrows in 2004. Since then, the Refuge has been working with partners to investigate the impacts of mercury contamination on sparrow survival and productivity. Ms. Pau will be presenting results from several recent research projects and discussing the importance of the Great Marsh’s salt marsh habitats to this species.

Nancy Pau is the Wildlife Biologist at Parker River NWR, administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. For the past eight years, she has worked towards managing the Refuge habitats as an interconnected ecosystem, restoring the Refuge’s diverse and unique native habitats and fully incorporating research and monitoring studies to make better management decisions. Her prior jobs with the Service include acquiring land for the Refuge System in the Northeast and conserving endangered species in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

This program is open to the public and appropriate for all ages. The admission fee is $4.00 (free to members of Mass Audubon). No pre-registration is required.

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education and visitor center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4.  Call 978-462-9998 for information about additional programs and events, or visit the website at www.massaudubon.org.