Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Water-based recreation is increasing; this includes fishing, bird watching, swimming, canoeing, sailing, rowing, picnicking, and holiday boating of various kinds. Many of these activities are incompatible with each other and variably affect the ecosystem. Cottages on the shore and trailer sites can also have detrimental effects. Few quantitative studies have been done in the United Kingdom on effects of disturbance. I. Newton (pers. comm.) found that disturbance of nesting ducks caused a significant increase in predation on eggs. In a control area with 84 nests, which were not disturbed, 17% were predated and in the disturbed study area with 781 nests, 41% were predated. This difference occurred even though the disturbance amounted to only one or two visits to the nests each week. Conflicting activities can be segregated. Zones can be established as wildlife reserves into which no boats are allowed, and in which there is no bank fishing and picnicking. Blinds with screened walkways should be erected for the use of birdwatchers.