Research Article

Habitat and Landscape Suitability as Indicators of Bird Abundance in Created and Restored Wetlands

Table 6

Waterbird species habitat characteristics based on Habitat Suitability Models as referenced.

GuildspeciesHydrologic regime preferenceHSI criteriaSource

Diving
American cootSemipermanentPercent emergent herbaceous vegetation[29]
Herbaceous vegetation-open water edge
Hydrologic regime
Lesser scaupPermanentPercent herbaceous cover[30]
Average height of herbaceous vegetation
Percent shrub crown cover
Hydrologic regime

Dabbling
Wood duckPermanentDensity of potential nest sites[31]
Percent cover woody and herbaceous vegetation
Interspersion
Blue-winged tealSemi-permanentWetland density to 0.9 km radius[32]
Average height of herbaceous vegetation
Distance to nesting habitat

Wading
Great egretSemipermanent to permanentAppropriate water depth[33]
  Submerged and emergent cover at optimal depth
Appropriate water depth under woody cover
Height of woody vegetation
Distance from nest site to road or disturbed area
Great blue heronPermanentDistance to potential rookery[34]
Presence of suitable prey and foraging substrate
Width of buffer for foraging and nesting sites

Emergent-dependent
Marsh wrenSeasonallyGrowth form of emergent vegetation[35]
Percent herbaceous and woody vegetation cover
Mean water depth
Red-wingedSemipermanent to permanentGrowth form of emergent vegetation[36]
blackbirdPercent herbaceous vegetation cover
Presence of carp
Presence of Odonate nymphs
Hydrologic regime
Presence of regional foraging sites