| Abstract | | Proposed hiking trails throughout protected lands along the Laguna de Santa Rosa waterway will create desired public access throughout the scenic Laguna floodplain area. As construction and use of future trails may affect potentially sensitive wildlife habitats (e.g. wildlife corridors and important bird breeding areas) it is imperative to assess potential trail impacts on the plants and animals of the Laguna.
This study measured natural fluctuations in bird populations to establish baseline, pre-trail conditions before trail construction begins. Potential impacts to birds during and after trail construction can then be compared to a meaningful set of baseline data spanning several years.
Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) (Fehring and Gardali 2005) conducted the first two seasons of this study. The Laguna Foundation continued the surveys for a following five seasons. We calculated the abundance, diversity, and richness of birds in the Laguna, documented by the time of year present, distribution, taxonomic guild, and habitat type used. We propose recommendations for future study and trail construction.
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