Douglas Marsh dedicated as Important Bird Area BeaverLodge at the Douglas Marsh Photo by Cory Lindgren Douglas Marsh is recognized internationally for the Yellow Rail birds that can be found there. These birds are nationally listed as a Species of Concern because their populations are declining. They are very sensitive to disruption through human activity or natural events. The Douglas Marsh, east of Brandon, Manitoba, is thought to have the largest concentrations of breeding Yellow Rails in southern Manitoba and possibly the entire southern Prairies. Very secretive in nature, this bird that looks like a young, brown chicken, is on the top 10 list of species most sought after by bird watchers. The Douglas Marsh Important Bird Area has successfully acquired about $10,000 through grants and donations to enhance and conserve the marsh for the Yellow Rail and other species using this important habitat. On Saturday, June 8, the Douglas Marsh Important Bird Area volunteer committee will join with its partners and interested individuals from surrounding communities to dedicate Douglas Marsh as an important bird area. Many individuals and organizations have worked together to establish Douglas Marsh as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The IBA program was established by Canadian Birdlife Partners, Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada as part of an international effort to identify and conserve sites important to all bird species worldwide. In Manitoba, the Manitoba Naturalists Society delivers the program