Abstract
A baseline survey of bird species at the Aquarena Center, Southwest Texas State
University (SWT), Hays County, Texas, was conducted from summer 1999 through
spring 2001. From a total of 11,151 individual observations, 103 bird species were
recorded in 320 point counts from eight stations. Species richness, relative abundance,
and diversity of the bird species were calculated from the data for each study year. The
most abundant bird species for year one and two was the American Coot (Fulica
americana) (respectively RA = 0.1341, RA = 0.1421). The Brillouin index of diversity
(H) was used to calculate the diversity for each year and season. Station #2, near a new
wildlife-viewing boardwalk, in year one and two had the highest diversity (respectively H
= 1.29, H = 1.37). The summer of year one had the highest diversity (H = 1.37), and the
spring of year two had the highest diversity (H = 1.40). These data and previous data
from many contributors were used to compile a bird checklist for the site. The purpose of
this study was to provide baseline information that will be a useful tool for evaluating
future habitat conservation efforts.
