RESOURCE PROTECTION FOR WATERBIRDS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY

Many living resources in the Chesapeake Bay estuary have deteriorated over the past 50 years. As a result, many governmental committees, tas k forces, and management plans have been established. Most of the reco mmendations for implementing a bay cleanup focus on reducing sediments and nutrient flow into the watershed. We emphasize that habitat requi rements other than water quality are necessary for the recovery of muc h of the bay's avian wildlife, and we use a waterbird example as illus tration. Some of these needs are: (1) protection of fast-eroding islan ds, or creation of new ones by dredge deposition to improve nesting ha bitat for American black ducks (Anas rubripes), great blue herons (Ard ea herodias), and other associated wading birds; (2) conservation of r emaining brackish marshes, especially near riparian areas, for feeding black ducks, wading birds, and wood ducks (Aix sponsa); (3) establish ment of sanctuaries in open-water, littoral zones to protect feeding a nd/or roosting areas for diving ducks such as canvasbacks (Aythya vali sineria) and redheads (Aythya americana), and for bald eagles (Haliaee tus leucocephalus); and (4) limitation of disturbance by boaters aroun d nesting islands and open-water feeding areas. Land (or water) protec tion measures for waterbirds need to include units at several differen t spatial scales, ranging from ''points'' (e.g., a colony site) to lar ge-area resources (e.g., a marsh or tributary for feeding). Planning t o conserve large areas of both land and water can be achieved followin g a biosphere reserve model. Existing interagency committees in the Ch esapeake Bay Program could be more effective in developing such a mode l for wildlife and fisheries resources.