13-23 



the operational years may have caused the slight reduction in abundance 

 observed, or this change may be an artifact of sampling error. There 

 does not appear to be any consistent reduction from preoperational to 

 operational years. We conclude from this result that no impact on the 

 maintenance of a balanced, indigenous assembly of finfish has occurred 

 as a result of New Haven Harbor Station operation. The harbor has 

 continued to support diverse and abundant finfish assemblages which in 

 turn contribute to the recreational and commercial fisheries of Long 

 Island Sound. 



AVIFAUNA 



New Haven Harbor, though not utilized as a nesting area, is an 

 important foraging and rest area for shorebirds, gulls and waterfowl. 

 It also provides habitat for cormorants, herons, loons, grebes and other 

 waterbirds . 



A total of 125 species was observed in New Haven Harbor 

 during the period 1971-1977. Annual numbers of species observed remained 

 fairly constant from 1972 through 1975, but increased substantially in 

 1976 and during the ten months of 1977. This was due primarily to 

 limited sightings of each of many species of land birds. Increases in 

 numbers of shorebird species observed in 1976 and 1977 are attributed to 

 changes in study personnel. 



In each study year, bird counts began increasing in November, 

 and remained at high levels, peaking in February. Numbers then dropped 

 off with the lowest number of birds observed in the period of May 

 through July. Waterfowl numbers were highest in the winter months while 

 shorebird numbers peaked in the summer. Gulls were present in large 

 numbers all year and showed no pattern of fluctuation. 



The most abundant species were waterfowl, scaup and black 

 duck. Herring gulls {Larus argentatus) were next most abundant, followed 



