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Abstract
Black Rails (Laterallus jamaicensis) are small migratory marshbirds that occur in emergent, fresh- and saltwater wetlands. Little is known about even the basic ecology and life history of this species, and metrics of occupancy and abundance are difficult to gauge. However, emerging technologies present new tools that may shed light on previous knowledge gaps. In this thesis, I discuss the applications of Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) and Automated Radio-Telemetry Systems (ARTS) as they relate to Black Rail research. I developed a vocalization-specific, audio recognizer using the Animal Sound Identifier (ASI) framework that allows the user to control false positive rates of vocalization detection. Additionally, I present a case study for the application of radio signal strength (RSS)-based ARTS to Black Rail research.