Use of Wildlife Water Developments by Birds in Southwest Arizona During Migration

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that desert water developments attract birds; however, few studies have focused on the role of surface water in habitat selection by migratory birds. Therefore, we studied bird use of wildlife water developments in the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona, USA, using 2 observational approaches (bird surveys in washes with and without water developments and direct observations at water developments) and 1 experimental approach (direct observations at water sources with and without vegetation cover). In spring 2004, we conducted weekly bird surveys at 3 pairs (with and without water developments) of washes. In spring 2005, we designed an experiment to test whether migratory birds more frequently used water developments with than without vegetation cover. During spring, in both 2004 and 2005, we documented use of water by directly observing birds at 13 existing water developments. We found little evidence to support that water developments were important water sources for migratory birds. Migratory bird communities in desert washes near wildlife water developments did not differ in species richness, relative abundance, or density when compared with washes without water developments. This observation suggests that the wildlife water developments that we studied were not an attractant to migratory birds at the landscape scale. At a finer scale, migratory birds rarely (0.1% of all observations) used water developments and experimental water sources. However, resident bird species frequently were recorded (>69,000 observations) drinking and bathing at wildlife water developments. Based on our observations, we conclude that water developments are an important resource for local bird populations in the Sonoran Desert, USA, particularly during periods of drought.

Responses of Desert Bighorn Sheep to Removal of Water Sources

“…Water catchments are used by a variety of other species (Cutler and Morrison 1998, Kuenzi 2001, Lynn et al 2006, O'Brien et al 2006). However, the influence of catchments on population performance (i.e., reproduction, recruitment, and survival) of these taxa is largely unknown.…”

Developed Waters for Wildlife: Science, Perception, Values, and Controversy

“…Contrary to popular perceptions of high predation rates at human-made water catchments, relatively few predation events (n ¼ 8) were observed (O'Brien et al 2006). Catchments in the Sonoran Desert received little use by passerine birds during spring migration but were heavily used by resident bird species, particularly during drought (Lynn et al 2006). Although wildlife use of free-water sources may be opportunistic and does not by itself indicate a need for that resource, these studies imply greater conservation benefits from catchments than previously recognized.…”

“…Coyotes (Canis latrans) are frequent visitors to desert water catchments (O'Brien et al 2006), but habitat use was not concentrated in areas closer to water, even during summer months (R. Waddell, Arizona Game and Fish Department, unpublished data). During spring migration, passerine bird density and species composition did not differ between xeroriparian habitats with and without water developments (Lynn et al 2006).…”

Abundance and variety of birds associated with point sources of water in southwestern New Mexico, U. S. A.

“…Those few studies comparing bird numbers between areas near versus far from developed waters have yielded mixed results. Two reported higher numbers near water (Cutler and Morrison, 1998;Knight et al, 1998), while two others found no differences (Burkett and Thompson, 1994;Lynn et al, 2006).…”