Dynamics of the structure and composition of the waterfowl community of Ensenada del Jato, Cayo Sabinal, Cuba

Studies of dynamic of bird communities approach allows to know the structure of the communities as an essential element for preservation. This study aimed to analyze the annual dynamics of the structure and composition of the community of waterbirds in Ensenada del Jato, Cayo Sabinal, Cuba, between 2008 and 2010. The bird counts were made from June 2008 to May 2010, two to four times a month, between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning. Three fixed band transects of 323 m long and 180 m wide were used. A total of 42 species of waterbirds were observed during the two years of study, belonging to 9 orders and 15 families. Of these species, four were new records for the study area. In the the study area, the values of richness were stable throughout the year, although the stage of greatest abundance of waterfowl was during the spring migration. During this stage the conditions seem to be more appropriate for the migratory species of the guild of shallow sounders. Considering the above, it is recommended to prioritize the monitoring of waterbirds in the area and the monitoring of populations of migratory species with some category of threat