on overwashed, sandy beaches or dunes. In Virginia, with little disturbance 

 on the beaches, wading birds and seabirds are equally abundant on barrier 

 islands (Table 17). Also significant is the use of dredge material in New 

 Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. In most cases, dredge deposition material has 

 been placed on marshes, making it difficult to determine if the dredge 

 material per se or particular marshes provide the proximal cues in attracting 

 nesting colonies. Records of colony location before dredging activities would 

 help address this question. Dredge material deposited on low Spartina 

 alterniflora marsh islands raises the elevation of the marsh and allows sub- 

 sequent encroachment of woody vegetation (Soots and Parnell 1975). On those 

 islands, there is little doubt that new heron nesting habitat becomes 

 available. 



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