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Wetland-Riparian Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region

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Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Wetlands: Advances in Wetlands Science, Management, Policy, and Practice

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Abstract

Wetland-riparian birds are conspicuous in the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR), but sometimes use aquatic habitats beyond what is typical for waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds. Over the past two decades, Riparia conducted studies to determine the importance of wetlands and riparian corridors as habitats for birds covering the range from obligate to facultative users. We sampled wetlands used by wood ducks and other waterfowl species common to the Appalachians. We surveyed lakes and their associated fringing wetlands and riparian edges in the glaciated Pocono region. Songbirds were sampled along human disturbance gradients from wetlands into adjacent uplands. In addition, our work developed and tested an innovative way to consider biodiversity through the component life history traits of species in communities—a guild-based approach. The quantification of differences in the life history composition of different communities led to the development of a class of ecological indicators called the Bird Community Index (BCI). In this chapter, we trace the development and application of the BCI and its derivatives, including a multi-metric Regional Index of Biological Integrity for forest riparian ecosystems (RIBI). The chapter progresses through studies of birds using wetland habitats, beginning with obligate species and progressing through facultative users. We conclude with a summary of projects and monitoring protocols that use the BCI for ecological assessment, and a description of emerging issues that make such assessments a conservation imperative for the MAR.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, 005-AA Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74077, USA

    Timothy J. O’Connell

  2. Riparia, Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, 302 Walker Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Robert P. Brooks

  3. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville Lab, c/o BARC-East, Building 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Diann J. Prosser

  4. 277 Clark Island Road, Spruce Head, ME, 04859, USA

    Mary T. Gaudette

  5. Pennsylvania State University, 202 Research D, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Joseph P. Gyekis

  6. USDA-NRCS—State Biologist, 441 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY, 13202-2450, USA

    Kimberly C. Farrell

  7. Wild Turkey Biologist, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 342 Station Road, Bedford, PA, 15522, USA

    Mary Jo Casalena

Authors
  1. Timothy J. O’Connell
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  2. Robert P. Brooks
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  3. Diann J. Prosser
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  4. Mary T. Gaudette
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  5. Joseph P. Gyekis
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  6. Kimberly C. Farrell
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  7. Mary Jo Casalena
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Correspondence to Timothy J. O’Connell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Riparia, Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, Old Main 201, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Robert P. Brooks

  2. , Riparia, Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, Old Main 201, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Denice Heller Wardrop

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O’Connell, T.J. et al. (2013). Wetland-Riparian Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region. In: Brooks, R., Wardrop, D. (eds) Mid-Atlantic Freshwater Wetlands: Advances in Wetlands Science, Management, Policy, and Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5596-7_8

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