The objectives of this study were to document avian species inhabiting West River Memorial Park in New Haven, Connecticut and develop goals for restoration of a salt marsh bird community. Restoration goals were based on the breeding season bird community at the restoration site, breeding season communities of less disturbed salt marshes, and a literature review. Community descriptions included relative abundances of species and foraging guilds, nesting density, and obligate species. We conducted fixed-radius point counts and call-back surveys to develop a species list and estimate relative abundances. Nesting densities in less disturbed marshes were summarized from the literature. We also searched stands of common reed (Phragmites australis) at the restoration site to identify nesting species that would be affected by restoration.

The number of species using West River Memorial Park was high (n=99), and 11 species were endangered, threatened, or of special concern (Appendix 1 and 2). This indicates the importance of the park for avian diversity within an urban area. No species of concern would be negatively impacted by the restoration, and many would benefit. The species we observed most often in common reed during the breeding season was the red-winged blackbird (Table 3), and only red-winged blackbird nests were found in common reed stands.

The proportion of species shared by West River Memorial Park and the less disturbed marsh during breeding was high, and the relative abundance of foraging guilds was similar. However, relative abundances of species were different. Breeding bird densities of all species in Spartina spp. zones summarized from the literature suggest an average 2.5 breeding pairs ha-1 (1 pair acre-1)(Table 1). These results suggest that restoration of a salt marsh bird community in West River Memorial Park is feasible. We discuss changes in species abundance that will be necessary to achieve restoration. We also recommend design criteria to address salt marsh bird habitat restoration problems in this park and urban areas in general.