Abstract
In an effort to identify the potential effects of beach replenishment projects on waterbird and shorebird communities, avian abundance, species richness, and behavior were monitored at three transects before and after beach replenishment. The length of the study was 2 years with weekly surveys for most of the year. Data were analyzed with a Before/After Control Impact Pairs (BACIP) design, which incorporated spatial and temporal data from a control beach and replenished beaches into one analysis. No significant changes in mean waterbird and shorebird abundance were detected after replenishment, although the data do suggest that habitat use by waterbirds might have increased at replenished beaches. Of the individual waterbird and shorebird species examined, only Laughing Gulls and Black-bellied Plovers exhibited a significant change in abundance after replenishment, with these species exhibiting an increase and a decrease, respectively. Postreplenishment changes in waterbird and shorebird species richness were not consistent. Waterbird feeding activity declined significantly after replenishment, but, overall, there was no strong evidence that shorebird and waterbird feeding activity were altered by replenishment. Despite the BACIP design, high variability was common for most parameters. Recommendations for future bird monitoring projects include the use of multiple control sites and scheduling surveys to reduce all potential sources of variability.
