Human Disturbances to Waterfowl Human Disturbances to Waterfowl Annotated Bibliography 26. Braun, C. E., K. W. Harmon, J. A. Jackson, and C. D. Littlefield.
Refuges are vital for habitats and overall conservation of many birds.
In 1974, fishing was allowed on 171 refuges with fishing waters being stocked on at least 18 refuges. Excessive use of shallow vegetated areas of lakes and streams by wading and boating fishermen can disturb feeding and nesting waterbirds. Various publics have demanded and received access to 42 NWRs for motor boating and water skiing. Obvious and documented impacts of high speed boating are shoreline degradation, disruption of nesting and feeding with loss of production, and displacement of birds. Sport hunting of wildlife was permitted on portions of 184 national wildlife refuges in 1974, primarily for migratory waterfowl but also for resident game birds and big game.