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Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds
Published on: November 13, 2017
eBird Data Highlight Shifts in Wetland Resources Structuring Waterfowl and Shorebird Abundance
J Patrick Donnelly1,2,3, Johnnie N Moore4, John S Kimball3
1Ducks Unlimited Inc. Missoula Montana USA.
Ecology and Evolution
|February 20, 2026
Summary
Wetland drying threatens migratory waterbirds. Declining surface water, especially in semi-permanent wetlands, creates habitat bottlenecks, impacting bird populations across North America.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Ornithology
Background:
- Wetland ecosystems are crucial for migratory waterbirds, but rapid drying poses a threat to their habitats.
- Understanding changes in wetland hydrology is essential for assessing the sustainability of flyway habitats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify emerging bottlenecks in habitat availability for migratory waterbirds due to wetland drying.
- To assess the impact of changing wetland surface water hydrology on waterbird abundance and distribution.
Main Methods:
- Combined 40 years of wetland surface water data (1984-2023) with eBird abundance maps for the western U.S.
- Applied a machine-learning approach to identify key wetland factors influencing waterbird abundance.
- Analyzed changes in essential ecosystem functions aligned with waterbird seasonal distributions.
Main Results:
- Wetland area, semi-permanent wetlands, and saline lake wetlands were primary factors structuring bird abundance.
- Waterbirds aggregated in predictable, abundant wetland habitats, showing density dependence.
- Functional wetland losses, particularly in semi-permanent wetlands (19%-48% decline over 20 years), overlapped with waterbird annual cycles, reducing habitat availability and increasing uncertainty.
Conclusions:
- Persistent declines in surface water create significant challenges for waterbird populations.
- Management strategies should integrate this approach to conserve ecological processes supporting flyway function.
- Conservation efforts are needed to address rapid changes in wetland resources for migratory birds worldwide.
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