Wetland birds provide us with some of nature's most wonderful sights, from vast flocks wheeling overhead to newly-hatched chicks drying in the sun. Apart from their beauty, recreational and economic importance, they are excellent indicators of water quality and measures of biodiversity. But how do they use wetland habitats, and how can we best conserve and maintain them for the future? Here, Milton Weller describes the ecology of wetland birds by identifying patterns of habitat use and typical bird communities that result from the use of resources such as food, cover and breeding sites. He integrates basic and practical information on bird/habitat relationships for researchers, landowners, managers and keen birders alike. As wetlands continue to decline, this book will help us to understand the potential and limits of wetlands as bird habitats now and in the future.