Waterbirds in constructed suburban wetlands, Eastern Denton County, Texas, USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Waterbirds were observed at 13 suburban wetlands in the Blackland Prairie of eastern Denton County, Texas, on 45 dates over a year. Five wetlands were built to improve ecosystem services in areas impacted by Lewisville Lake flood control operations; these habitat restoration wetlands were planted with diverse native flora to enhance the recovery of vegetation communities from natural seedbanks. Eight other wetlands, built to manage stormwater in residential developments, are surrounded by mixed monocultures of groomed turf grasses, with sparse shoreline plants and submerged vegetation in the littoral zone. Thirty-one species of 5,724 birds were observed, including one to nine species in each of six guilds: dabblers, divers, open water waders, dense vegetation waders, moist soil foragers and aerial piscivores. Dabblers were most abundant in count and number of species present, followed by divers and open water waders. Highly represented species were mallards, gadwalls and American coots among dabblers; lesser scaup and ringed-neck duck among divers; and great blue heron and great white egret among open water waders. Abundance averaged 539 individuals at habitat restoration wetlands and 379 individuals at stormwater management wetlands.