Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Davis, J. Brian

Committee Member

Iglay, Raymond B.

Committee Member

Ayers, Christopher R.

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) is a critical stopover and wintering area for dozens of migratory waterbird species. For many species, especially shorebirds, shallow water and mudflats during migration and winter are vital for foraging and survival. Wetland restoration combined with strategic flooding practices can provide important resources for various waterbird guilds using the LMAV. I surveyed waterbirds during three migration seasons (January-May 2024 and 2025, and July-December 2024) across 62 total wetland units on four national wildlife refuges, four wildlife management areas, and one aquaculture facility in the Mississippi LMAV. I also compared abundance and richness of waterbirds between restored and reference wetlands. I counted 203,187 individual waterbirds of 76 species and three hybrids across all surveys. Restoring wetlands with new infrastructure (e.g., water control) combined with timely flooding and drainage allows managers to provision resources for a diversity of waterbirds using the LMAV.

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