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The Effect of Human Activity on Shorebirds in Two Coastal Bays in Northeastern United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Joanna Burger
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Bureau of Biological Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.

Extract

The effects of human activities on shorebirds migrating through Raritan and Delaware Bays (New Jersey, USA) were examined from late April to late October 1982. Less than 5% of the 471,055 shorebirds counted in the censuses were in Raritan Bay, and only eight species accounted for 95% of the total. Bird populations peaked during late May to early June, and had a secondary peak in early August. People walking accounted for 43% (Raritan Bay) and 50% (Delaware Bay) of the disturbances. Other disturbances, in descending order of abundance, were of fishermen, airplanes, dogs, clam-diggers, off-road vehicles, boats, children, and joggers.

Type
Main Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1986

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