Wetland birds have long attracted the attention of the public and scientists because of their beauty, abundance, visibility, and social behavior, as well as for their recreational and economic importance. Recently, they have become of interest as indicators of wetland quality, and as parameters of restoration success and regional biodiversity. Recognition of the importance of wetland habitat resources as the dominant influence on the presence and repeated use of wetlands by birds has come slowly, but sufficient information is now available that it seems timely to summarize what we know, and to speculate on what we think we know, as a means of seeking direction for future work. This book is partly a product of my own interest in patterns of wetland habitat use by birds in relation to wetland dynamics. In addition, nonspecialists have been seeking help in using birds as indicators of wetland function or as measures of success in wetland management, restoration, and creation. I have tried to make the book understandable to students of various ages and stages who are interested in wetland birds and their conservation, but some may find more detail than they like. Others with greater knowledge of certain topics will find it advantageous to skip from the known to the less well-known subject matter. The literature on wetland birds now is enormous, but to avoid constant interruption of the text, I have cited literature in some chapters less than some may prefer. However, some chapters list further reading material not cited in the text; in both sections I have tried to include classics in the subject area and more recent papers or books that provide summaries of pertinent literature.