Birds of the Southeastern United States: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Historic freshwater aquatic and wetland ecosystems of the Southeastern United States were predominantly rivers and streams and associated natural bottomland forests. These systems have been drastically altered through the creation of reservoirs via damming, through other alterations of water courses and their associated forests, and through conversion to other uses. In this chapter the author addresses historical aspects of bird communities of southeastern aquatic systems by considering the original composition of forested wetlands, the changes that have been wrought to them, and how these changes have most probably influenced bird communities.

Citation

Dickson, James G. 1997. Birds of the Southeastern United States: A Historical Perspective. Aquatic fanua in peril: the southeastern perspective. Decatur, GA: Lenz Design & Communications: 233-243.