Breeding bird communities of recently restored and natural prairie potholes

Abstract

We compared the breeding bird communities of natural and recently restored prairie potholes in northern Iowa in 1989 and 1990. Species richness of breeding birds was higher (P 0.1). Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), and swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) were each more abundant at natural than at restored wetlands during at least one year (P<0.05). Brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) parasitized a significantly greater proportion of red-winged blackbird nests at natural than at restored wetlands. Incomplete development of typical vegetation structure evidently depresses bird species richness at recently restored prairie potholes. Drought the year before and during the first year of our study undoubtedly affected our results. Similar studies should be conducted during periods of relatively high precipitation to complement our results.