The Effects of Weather on Wetland Habitat Conditions and Shorebirds During Spring and Fall Migration in Northwest Minnesota

The purpose of this study was to compare wetland availability and relative value of private agricultural fields and CRP wetlands to intensively managed impoundments at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge for migratory shorebirds between seasons and years with variable weather conditions. Habitat conditions between 2002, a wet year, and 2003, a dry year, varied considerably. The percent of flooded off-refuge wetlands varied between 100% in spring 2002 to a low of 5% in fall 2003. As a result of these variable weather conditions, a variety of wetlands were necessary to support migrating shorebirds. Overall, the majority of shorebirds were observed on the refuge. In the drier year, over 99% of the birds observed were on the refuge. Shorebirds were observed on off-refuge wetlands during early spring migration 2002, before the refuge was able to lower their water levels and when the refuge was flooded during summer and early fall 2002.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

2006

Author dc:creator

• Ranallo, Kari Ann

Contributors dc:contributor

• Leigh H. Fredrickson

• weather
• seasons
• wetland
• habitat mangement
• shorebirds
• minnesota
• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2006 Kari Ann Ranallo All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/369

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1369