8.0 Waterfowl Distribution and Abundance on Long Point Bay

8.4 Influence of human activities on the distribution and abundance of waterfowl on Long Point Bay

8.5 Information gaps

The following topics require increased research and/or long-term monitoring efforts to ensure the sustainability of Long Point as an internationally important staging area, as well as for the early detection of potential problems related to its suitability for migratory waterfowl.

1/ Spring and fall monitoring should continue, to provide essential information on to changes in the waterfowl use of Long Point, while providing for early detection of any further changes in the species composition or relative importance of the various sub-areas for migratory birds.

2/ While it is very difficult information to acquire, some indication of the turnover rates of each species at Long Point would facilitate the determination of just how many individuals of each waterfowl species pass through Long Point during the spring and fall.

3/ Once equipped with species specific turnover rates, studies should be conducted to determine the amount of body fat that waterfowl obtain at Long Point during both spring and fall migrations.

4/ It is relatively easy to assess the effects of human disturbance on waterfowl. However, information pertaining to the ultimate impacts of this disturbance is much more difficult to obtain. As human disturbance is most likely to increase at Long Point, information on the impacts of disturbance on waterfowl (e.g. their ability to acquire body fat and their staging duration) would be beneficial.

5/ Further study of the influence of zebra mussels on the distribution and abundance of individual species is also required.

6/ At the continental level, information pertaining to the influence of contaminant bioaccumulation, through zebra mussel ingestion, on the survival and reproductive output of waterfowl, is essential.

7/ Banding or more efficient monitoring programs should be implemented for those species which are difficult to identify, and consequently under-represented, during aerial surveys.