Impacts of Man-Made Landscape Features on Numbers of Estuarine Waterbirds at Low Tide |
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Authors: | NIALL H K BURTON MICHAEL J S ARMITAGE ANDREW J MUSGROVE MARK M REHFISCH |
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Institution: | (1) British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK, GB |
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Abstract: | The potential impact of human disturbance on wintering waterbirds using intertidal mudflats was considered by relating their
numbers to the presence of nearby footpaths, roads, railroads, and towns. Data were obtained for six English estuaries from
the Wetland Bird Survey Low Tide Count scheme. Counts were undertaken monthly from November to February, and data were available
for an average of 2.8 years per estuary for the period 1992–1993 to 1999–2000. Count sections and the positions of man-made
landscape features were mapped using a GIS. Generalized linear models tested whether bird numbers varied according to the
estuary, month, area, whether or not the section bordered water, and the proportion of each section within a specified distance
of each landscape feature. In addition, the proximity of sections to the nearest footpath access point was considered. Numbers
of six of nine species, northern shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), red knot (Calidris canutus), dunlin (Calidris alpina), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) and common redshank (Tringa totanus), were significantly lower where a footpath was close to a count section, while those of brant (Branta bernicla) were greater. Northern shelduck, black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola), dunlin, and black-tailed godwit numbers were reduced close to railroads and those of common ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), black-bellied plover, and Eurasian curlew close to roads. Common ringed plover numbers were greater close to towns. The
relative distances to which species were affected by footpaths corresponded to published information concerning their flight
distances in response to human disturbance. The study provided evidence that sustained disturbance associated with footpaths,
roads, and railroads reduced local habitat quality for waterbirds and the carrying capacity of estuaries. |
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Keywords: | : Estuary Footpaths Roads Railroads Disturbance Shorebirds Waterfowl |
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