Fire is a recurring force affecting coastal ecosystems across the northern Gulf Coast. The irregularly flooded high marshes located between fire-prone uplands and more frequently inundated wetlands are no exception and are dominated by plants adapted to and sustained by regular and recurring fires. High marshes also support imperiled Black Rails, rare Seaside Sparrows and Yellow Rails, and Mottled Ducks, a popular game species. Significant gaps exist regarding the effects that prescribed fires mimicking natural fire regimes might have on these taxa, but data from the Firebird Project are being used to develop recommendations and identify additional research needs.  Recommendations based on the first 5 years of study will be provided in a forthcoming publication and are couched in terms of the factors that practitioners’ control when conducting a prescribed burn.