Post-disturbance changes in a desert breeding bird community

We examined breeding bird species richness, density, and community composit ion on a California desert riparian site in 1980 and, following constructio n of flood control structure and subsequent vegetation restoration, again i n 1995. Both species richness and bird abundance declined markedly between 1980 and 1995. Except for turnover in locally scarce breeders, however, avi an community composition did not shift significantly. Alteration and remova l of much of the desert riparian habitat formerly on-site is probably respo nsible for the changes reflected in bird community structure, such that ric hness and density are now comparable to Breeding Bird Censuses conducted in other desert scrub habitats despite the intermittent stream that still tra nsects the site. When examined in a broader context of desert bird communit y variation, overall community changes were slight if we emphasized species composition and abundance, but substantial if we emphasized species turnov er. Community-level analyses emphasizing richness and composition are more sensitive to species turnover, whereas those incorporating bird density are more sensitive to changes in relative abundance.