Drivers of songbird productivity at a restored gravel pit: influence of seasonal flooding and rainfall patterns and implications for habitat management

The restoration of riparian sites following aggregate extraction frequently aims to expand the wetland habitat, and enhance the wetland wildlife community. However, aggregate extraction sites, typically on river flood plains, are subject to unpredictable flooding along with climate variability and other factors beyond the control of local management that may be equally important in determining the success or failure of a restoration project. Here we report on an 18 year study tracking songbird productivity and changes in the avian community following the restoration of a gravel pit on the flood plain of the River Great Ouse, Cambridgeshire. As part of the British Trust for