Predicting Avian Community Response to Lakeshore Cottage Development

Abstract

Breeding songbird species were studied in both developed and undeveloped lakeshore habitats of central Ontario. Information is presented for managing lake shorelines for human recreational development without significant loss of wildlife values. The disturbed ground vegetation layer was significantly correlated with a number of habitat variables deemed important in describing avian habitats. Avian species were placed in one of three groups: the ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus), an example from the group found primarily in undeveloped habitats; the eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), one of the group found in highly developed habitats; and the veery (Catharus fuscescens), from the group that was not significantly affected by development. These findings are presented in a simple model of breeding bird response to disturbance that can be used to assess the negative impact of cottage development. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 48(4):1239-1247 Human encroachment on undeveloped areas often impacts the plant and animal communities located there. Avian species respond as their breeding habitat is altered or destroyed. Neotropical migrants may be particularly affected by development because not only is their breeding habitat being altered, but wintering grounds are being converted to pasture and farmland (Terborgh 1974). In the last 50 years, many lakes in south-central Ontario have become popular for recreational activity. Cottages have been built along many lakeshores with associated roads and transmission line corridors nearby. Unlike successional sequences, cottage construction tends to impose permanent change in the vegetation and associated environment. Resource managers need information to predict how changes imposed by this development affect wildlife. Robertson and Flood (1980) found an increase in diversity of the songbird community along portions of cottage lakesh re in the nearby Rideau Lakes. Martin (1960) investigated changes in bird populations in relation to forest succession in the Algonquin Park area. James and Wamer (1982) and others have demonstrated that bird species diversity depends on vegetation structure and composition. The mportance of large blocks of unbroken for st was reviewed by Robbins (1979). We have added to these studies to provide resource managers with a tool to predict how future cottage development m y affect bird communities along lakeshores. Songbird populations are notoriously diffic lt to measure, and the populations themselves fluctuate widely. Preston (1960) noted that for 57 breeding species in Ohio, based on 10 years of survey data, nly a out half (28 species) bred every year. James and Wamer (1982) showed that study plots of less than 10 ha often have less than the total species breeding in an area. In our work, based on 2 years of data and small sample plots, we cannot hope to show the long-term comprehensive impact of cottage construction on songbird populations. However a general model of cottage development and the re'Present address: Ontario Ministry of Environment, Box 21, Dorset, Ontario POA 1EO, Canada. 2 Present address: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Cochrane, Ontario, POL 1CO, Canada. J. Wildl. Manage. 48(4):1984 1239 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.70 on Tue, 06 Sep 2016 05:51:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 1240 AVIAN COMMUNITY RESPONSE * Clark et al. suiting impact on the wildlife community is needed to provide planners with guidance in approving or disapproving plans for cottage subdivisions. A concurrent study described the habitat associations of 19 species of breeding birds at varying levels of cottage development and determined that tree density, shrub coverage, conifer composition, and canopy volume were important in describing the habitat associations (Clark et al. 1983). The purpose of this study was to develop a method to predict changes in avian species composition caused by cottage development that could be used to model the impact of habitat disturbance on wildlife commu-