Although most of you have probably already seen this message via the
ornithology list, I'll forward it to all on the off chance someone can help him.

Thanks & you'll find his email address after his name for a direct reply.

Peggi
>

>>
>>Dear all, is there someone who knows of research done on artificially
>>inundated wetlands, concerning the effects of inundation on the soil fauna
>>and flora and the meaning of this to wader birds that might feed or rest on
>>these lands?
>>
>>The reason for me asking this is in the following (it might be a bit
>>extended, but nevertheless intersting).
>>
>>As a volounteer, I am involved in a bird project running in an area in the
>>western part of the Netherlands, indicated as a wetland, but commonly
>>consisted of agricultural grasslands used as meadows for cattle grazing and
>>hay. In particular, it are meadows on a peat/clay soil with a high
>>groundwater level, hence its wetland character. These lands provide in
>>general (very) good breeding possibilities for species as lapwing (Vanellus
>>vanellus), black tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), redshank (Tringa totanus),
>>oystercatcher (Hematopus ostralegus), ruff (Phylomachus pugnax), common
>>snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and occasionally duck species as mallard (Anas
>>platyrhynchos) and ?? (A. clypeata). (the first six here indicated as
>>species that breed most commonly in agricultural grass lands, therfore
>>called "meadow birds")
>>
>>Most of the time, the project is occupied with protection of nests of
>>these birds in the grasslands, against the "threads" from farming
>>activities (manuring, cattle: cows and sheep, mowing, etc.). In good
>>cooperation with the farmer, the nests are searcehd first, then indicated
>>with thin sticks at reasonable distance and regularly checked during the
>>breeding period. The farmer now knows the position of the nest and can
>>easyly avoid the nest with the tractor, during manuring or mowing etc.. If
>>cattle is grazing, specially constructed protection cages are placed over
>>the nest, preventing the cows or sheep to put their legs or nosy noses &
>>tongues in the nest. (When stuck into the ground, the height of the cage is
>>about 15 cm - that low! - over the nest. If properly placed, these cages
>>allow the bird to go in and out the nest and they do not disturb the
>>breeding). If we wouldn't have that many cows in Holland, we wouldn't have
>>that many black tailed godwit (L. limosa).
>>
>>Another part of the project is artificially inundation of meadows for
>>periods of about six weeks. This is a new option since the beginning of
>>this years's breeding season. (Note that our lands in the western part of
>>tha Netherlands are truely flat, without any accidentation). It was noticed
>>that inundation of fields after the harvest of flower bulbs (typical
>>dutch), many wader birds are attracted to this and apparently spent their
>>time there in feeding and resting (Inundation is carried out to kill
>>organisms that are harmful to flower bulbs - such as nematodes and worms.
>>In any case a better way tahn using chemicals). The idea is now to inundate
>>meadows temporarely for providing a good place for waders. However, we do
>>not know if waders really benefit from such a "true" wetland, apart that it
>>might look like a natural habitat to them. Important questions are for
>>instance: will waders really find food on/in inundated meadows, and if so,
>>what sort of organisms. Organisms that have been pested out of the soil by
>>the water (insect larvae, worms, beetles and other insects), and/or
>>organisms that are brought in with the water (zooplankton, macrofauna). Are
>>these organisms easy to pick for birds? How many species will take profit
>>from such an inundated meadow and what are they doing? Feeding? Resting? At
>>what time of day and night are they there? It seems suitable to inundate in
>>the spring and fall migration period.
>>
>>I have planned a pilot study on a few meadows that are different in
>>properties (such as composition of the grass by species, the use of the
>>land for cattle or for hay, the amount of fertilizers that is put on:
>>either organic and/or artificial, the type of soil: either peat or peat
>>with clay, the location of the meadow: close to the farm or remote, and so
>>on). First an ionvestigation of the soil flora and fauna befor inundation,
>>then investigation at regular intervals after inundation. Specially
>>designed traps must be ussed to catch the pested out soil organisms, and
>>they should prevent birds to eat these caught animals. Furthermore, samples
>>will be made of the zooplankton and macrofauna and field observation on
>>birds should tell more about their activities on the inundated fields. The
>>aim of the pilot study is to know better which meadow type is suitable or
>>not for inundation.
>>
>>Well, that's it, a long story. I really would appreciate to read from
>>someone who knows of similar experiments or research. I will also
>>appreciate comments on the above as far as it concerns the birds and the
>>research (I mean, for resons of time I would like to exclude now a
>>discussion on the sense of protection and manipulation of nature - for
>>sure, in general critical remarks can be made).
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>
>>
>>Matthijs van Couwelaar
>>Afd. Marien Plankton
>>Instituut voor Systematiek en Populatiebiologie
>>Universiteit van Amsterdam,
>>Postbus 94766, 1090 GT Amsterdam,
>>Nederland
>>email: couwelaar at bio.uva.nl
>>tel: +31-205257235
>>fax: +31- 205255402
>>
>>
>Ben & Peggi Rodgers
>Veneta, OR
>prodgers at efn.org
>
>"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
>it sings because it has a song"
>
>
>



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
prodgers at efn.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"