Do Breeding Bird Communities or Conservation Value Differ Among Forested Wetland Types or Ecoregions in Nova Scotia?

Forested wetlands are being lost to development at a higher rate than other wetland types in Nova Scotia despite limited understanding about the ecology of these ecosystems. To examine differences in community composition or conservation value among forested wetland types (peatlands, treed and shrub swamps) or ecoregions (Western, Valley, Fundy Shore), we surveyed breeding birds at 229 sites in western Nova Scotia in 2015 and 2016. We observed 95 species (46% of Nova Scotia’s breeding bird species) and 8971 individuals across all sites. In addition, 5 of 13 (38%) inland (noncoastal) bird species that are listed as at-risk in Nova Scotia were detected. There were more distinct differences in communities among wetland types than ecoregions, shrub swamps and peatlands had significantly more species and higher mean abundances than treed swamps, and Valley Ecoregion sites had the highest species richness and abundance. We also found strong wetland type and ecoregion affinities for particular species. Our results indicate that shrub swamps, particularly in the Valley Ecoregion, have high conservation value and are acting as important refugia for birds in this highly-fragmented landscape. The conservation value of peatlands and treed swamps is also high, partly owing to the at-risk species they support.