Freshwater and coastal aquatic habitats are used by water birds, which feed on aquatic organisms, and by many other birds which frequent the varied vegetation of water-land interfaces. This Topic deals mainly with birds associated with freshwater habitats. Waterfowl (ducks and geese) have been studied much more than other wetland birds, and factors influencing their ecology and distribution are discussed. A list of species of wetland birds found in Nova Scotia appears in the section.

This Document Includes:

Habitat Factors
Wetland Users
Open Water
Deep and Shallow Marshes
Wed Pasture or Meadow
Swamp and Riparian Shrubbery
Lakes and Rivers with Stony or Unvegetated Shores
Fens and Bogs
Waterfowl Ecology and Distribution
Fertility
Climate
Shoreline Gradient and Water/Land Interspersion
Disturbance of Birds and their Habitat
Bird Use of Freshwater Wetlands Outside the Breeding Season

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Additional Keywords:
hydrosere, eutrophic, oligotrophic, dystrophic, nest, nesting, Least Bittern, COSEWIC.

Associated Topics:

T8.2 Freshwater Environments
T8.3 Freshwater Wetlands
T11.1 Factors Influencing Birds
T11.2 Forest and Edge-habitat Birds
T11.3 Open-habitat Birds
T11.6 Shorebirds and Other Birds of Coastal Wetlands
T12.11 Animals and Resources

Associated Habitats:

H3.1 Open-Water Lotic (Rivers and Streams)
H3.2 Open-Water Lentic (Lakes and Ponds)
H3.5 Water's Edge Lotic (Rivers and Streams)
H3.6 Water's Edge Lentic (Lakes and Ponds)
H4 Freshwater Wetlands