Avian Use of Dairy Farm Ponds and Landowners’ Perceptions of Their Management for Wildlife Conservation

Abstract

Farm ponds are among the last remaining lentic wetland habitats in human-dominated agricultural and suburban landscapes. However, their wildlife value and farmers’ willingness to maintain them for the conservation of regionally declining biodiversity are often both poorly documented. The objectives of this study of 61 dairy farm ponds located in Southern Quebec (Canada) were to (1) describe their biophysical features and birds’ use, (2) determine habitat and landscape characteristics that influence the bird community, and (3) assess the willingness of farmers to support wildlife use. The studied ponds were small (0.17 ha) and had rectangular shape with rocky/muddy steeply slopes (21°), surrounded by 3 m wide riparian strips and pastures, hayfields, and fallows. They were located about 300 m from farmhouses, buildings, streams, and adjacent ponds. A total of 1963 individuals belonging to 46 bird species were observed. The abundance of all bird species, of species with declining populations, and of crop damaging species were positively related to the area of fallow land and to the width of riparian strips; the areas of cereals and of mixed-wood forest had a negative influence. Only two habitat variables had influence on species richness: the width of riparian strips (+) and the distance to the closest farm buildings (–). Most pond landowners (>80%) were in favour of increasing wildlife use if they were given access to associated financial support and logistical assistance. Wider riparian strips and adjacent uncultivated field margins are recommended.

Relación especie-hábitat del Tordo Sargento (Agelaius phoeniceus) en la península de Yucatán

“…A diferencia de la zona templada donde el tordo sargento, además de los humedales, se asocia con hábitats suburbanos como cultivos, mosaicos de vegetación y granjas (Bélanger et al 2021, Ingold 2022, Robinson y McChesney 2022, en la península de Yucatán encontramos que su ocurrencia fue restringida a los hábitats con vegetación natural inundable permanente o temporalmente. Esta ocurrencia fue similar tanto en la temporada reproductiva como no reproductiva.…”

“…Esto indica que la especie puede utilizar diferentes hábitats en función de la época del año. Sin embargo, en la península de Yucatán, no hay grandes extensiones agrícolas como en las regiones templadas, lo que podría limitar la distribución de la especie a humedales y, por lo tanto, presentar menos flexibilidad en su uso de hábitat a través del año, comparado a lo que se ha registrado en las regiones templadas (Bélanger et al 2021, Ingold 2022.…”