ABSTRACT
Birds breeding in the vicinity of shorelines of lakes, rivers, or marshes may be the subject of census for a variety of reasons. Shorelines encompass a rapid transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitat. The species composition and numbers of birds in such habitats may be important for comparative purposes. All shorelines have certain common elements, yet these may vary in quantity and type. Comparisons of avifaunas of different shorelines may be instructive to determine the influence of certain factors on the breeding bird community. Shorelines are very susceptible to disturbance from recreational use of the lake or river and from cottage development along the waterfront. Studies of shoreline breeding bird communities allow comparison of disturbed and undisturbed areas and help recreational land use planners to better predict the influence of various levels and types of disturbance. Statistical analyses such as the Kendall Rank Correlation allow determination of the relationship between the breeding bird community and the environmental parameter of interest.
