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Wetland birds provide us with some of nature's most wonderful sights--from vast flocks soaring overhead to newly-hatched chicks drying in the sun. Apart from their beauty and recreational and economic importance, these birds are excellent indicators of water quality and measures of biodiversity. But how do they use wetland habitats, and how can we best conserve and maintain them for the future? Milton Weller describes the ecology of wetland birds by identifying patterns of habitat use and typical bird communities that result from the use of resources such as food, cover, and breeding sites. He integrates basic and practical information on bird/habitat relationships for researchers, landowners, managers, and avid birders alike. As wetlands continue to decline, this book will help us to understand the potential and limits of wetlands as bird habitats.
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Wetland Birds: Habitat Resources and Conservation Implications
Milton W. Weller
Cambridge University Press
Wetland Birds
Wetland birds provide us with some of nature’s most wonderful sights, from vast flocks wheeling overhead to newly hatched chicks drying in the sun. Apart from their beauty and recreational and economic importance, these birds are excellent indicators of water quality and measures of biodiversity. But how do they use wetland habitats, and how can we best conserve and maintain them for the future? Here, Milton Weller describes the ecology of wetland birds by identifying patterns of habitat use and typical bird communities that result from the use of resources such as food, cover, and breeding sites. He integrates basic and practical information on bird–habitat relationships for researchers, landowners, managers, and birders alike. As wetlands continue to decline, this book will help us to understand the potential and the limitations of wetlands as bird habitats. milton w. weller is Professor Emeritus at the Texas A & M University. His research interests have emphasized wetland bird–habitat dynamics, waterbird behaviour, bird communities and wetland restoration and management. He is author of The Island Waterfowl and Freshwater Marshes. His many honours include the Gulf Conservation Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists, and the prestigious Aldo Leopold Award Medal from The Wildlife Society.
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Wetland Birds Habitat Resources and Conservation Implications
milton w. weller
PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS (VIRTUAL PUBLISHING) FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 IRP 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia http://www.cambridge.org © Milton W. Weller 1999 This edition © Milton W. Weller 2003 First published in printed format 1999
A catalogue record for the original printed book is available from the British Library and from the Library of Congress Original ISBN 0 521 63326 5 hardback Original ISBN 0 521 63362 1 paperback
ISBN 0 511 01136 9 virtual (netLibrary Edition)
To many former students who are doing so much for the conservation of wetlands and wildlife, especially to bob bergman and joe moore who gave their all
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Contents
List of plates [x] Preface [xi] Acknowledgments [xv]
Introduction []
. The habitat perspective [] . Some biological issues [] . Some ecological viewpoints []
Wetlands: what, where, and why []
. Classification of wetlands [] . Factors influencing wetland formation []
Major groups of birds that use wetlands []
. Distribution and adaptations [] . Wetland bird group