Birds, as well as other wildlife species, have been affected negatively by habitat degradation due to anthropogenic activities. Restoration activities can enhance the habitat conditions which result in an increase in the resources available to supply needs like food and breeding sites that promote avian biodiversity. Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Jobos Bay NERR) has been planning to implement a restoration strategy for the enhancement of hydrology and mangrove wetland habitat at the northern boundary of the Mar Negro Unit. This research presents baseline data about the bird community in two contrasting areas along the northern boundary of the Mar Negro Unit that will help the staff on the Jobos Bay NERR evaluate the effectiveness of mangrove wetland restoration after its implementation. The bird surveys showed that species richness was higher in the Referenced Area but the species are more evenly distributed in the Designated-Restoration Area, consequently the avian diversity was higher. Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger), Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) and doves were the most abundant species which can be influenced with the presence of preferred habitat in the reserve. The nesting attempts of 9 species were monitored and the nest success determined. Mourning Dove was the species with the highest number of located nesting attempts, most success and had high daily survival rates in both study areas. Nest height (m) and the canopy cover (%) near the nest were the microhabitat characteristics significantly different among bird species in both study areas.
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