Avian Use of Small Aquatic Habitats in South Texas

Monthly censuses for 18 months were taken of avian communities on 12 ponds in South Texas. Ponds were classified into 4 types: stock, semi-permanent pasture, semi-permanent field, and temporary field ponds. Thirty-eight families represented by 132 species and 17,912 individuals were observed. Anatidae, represented by 22 species and 7,839 individuals, had the highest importance value of any bird family. Bird densities were similar across all pond types within each of 3 major time periods.