Surveys of salt marsh wading birds and shorebirds at Plum Island Sound and portions of Essex Bay

This data set is part of a study of how wading birds, primarily Great and Snowy Egrets are using different estuarine habitats at Plum Island Sound. It contains the results of count surveys of wading birds in the salt marshes of the Plum Island Estuary and parts of adjacent Essex Bay. Surveys were carried out from May to October in 2012 and 2013. One additional sampling occurred in July 2014. Bird counts took place from 37 observation points around the bay and documented species, estimated distance from observer, habitat of each individual bird counted and its behavior (feeding, resting, etc.).