Avian communities in riparian forests of different widths in Maryland and Delaware

Wetlands
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Abstract

In agricultural landscapes, much of the remaining forest is in linear tracts along streams. These riparian forests provide habitat for forest birds, but their use by forest interior birds may depend on forest width. We conducted point-count surveys of birds in riparian forests on the Eastern shore of Maryland and Delaware to assess whether the presence of any species was dependent on corridor width. We surveyed 117 corridors that ranged from 25- to 800-m wide. Several area-sensitive neotropical migrants were encountered more frequently in wider riparian forests, and probabilities of occurrence increased most rapidly between 25 and 100 m. Based on these surveys, we recommend that riparian forests be at least 100-m wide to provide some nesting habitat for area-sensitive species. Wider riparian forests would be preferable and should be preserved.

Suggested Citation

Keller, C., Robbins, C., and Hatfield, J., 1993, Avian communities in riparian forests of different widths in Maryland and Delaware: Wetlands, v. 13, no. 2, p. 137-144, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160874.

ISSN: 1943-6246 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Avian communities in riparian forests of different widths in Maryland and Delaware
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/BF03160874
Volume 13
Issue 2
Year Published 1993
Language English
Publisher Springer Nature
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 8 p.
First page 137
Last page 144
Country United States
State Delaware, Maryland
Other Geospatial eastern shore
Additional publication details