Songbird Abundance and Avian Nest Survival Rates in Forests Fragmented by Different Silvicultural Treatments

Abstract

Concerns over declining songbird populations have led to investigations of the effects of various silvicultural practices on breeding songbirds. Few studies published, however, have examined both songbird populations and avian nest success among harvesting treatments, particularly in forested landscapes. We conducted a study in the Monongahela National Forest of West Virginia during the summers of 1993 to 1996 to compare breeding-bird abundance and daily nest survival rates among different sivicultural treatments: a two-age treatment (a type of deferred removal in which 37-49 mature trees/ha remain after a harvest until the next rotation), clearcutting treatments 15 years after harvest, unharvested forest surrounding the harvested stands, and unharvested stands not adjacent to cuts. Abundance and daily nest-survival rates did not differ among treatments ( p Ͼ 0.05) for four of the five species for which the most nests were found: Wood Thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina ), Rose-breasted Grosbeak ( Pheucticus ludovicianus ), Acadian Flycatcher ( Empidonax virescens ), Veery ( Catharus fuscescens ), Red-eyed Vireo ( Vireo olivaceus ). Parasitism rates were low (6%), and most parasitized nests were associated with the two-age harvest treatment. A source-sink model for the Wood Thrush revealed that all treatments were likely population sources for this species. Thus, it appears that 15 years after harvest, cuts placed within otherwise extensively forested areas do not result in the type of edge effects (population sinks) observed in areas fragmented by agriculture in the midwestern United States. Further, because neither nest success nor avian abundance was lower in the two-age than clearcut harvests, we conclude that two-age management is a viable conservation alternative to clearcutting in large forested landscapes where Brown-headed Cowbird ( Molothrus ater ) parasitism is not a concern.Abundancia de Aves Canoras y Tasas de Supervivencia de Nidos de Aves en Bosques Fragmentados por Diferentes Tratamientos Silviculturales Resumen: La preocupación sobre la declinación de poblaciones de aves canoras ha conducido a investigaciones sobre los efectos de varias prácticas silviculturales sobre la reproducción de aves canoras. Sin embargo, pocos estudios han examinado tanto las poblaciones de aves como el éxito de nidos de aves entre tratamientos de cosecha, particularmente en paisajes boscosos. Realizamos un estudio en el Parque Nacional Monongahela en Virginia Occidental durante los veranos de 1993 a 1996 para comparar la abundancia de aves reproductoras y las tasas diarias de supervivencia de nidos entre diferentes tratamientos silviculturales (tratamiento de dos edades [un tipo de remoción diferida en el que permanecen 37-49 árboles maduros/ha después de una cosecha hasta la siguiente rotación] y tratamientos de tala total 15 años después de la cosecha, bosque no cosechado alrededor de los áreas cosechadas y áreas sin cosechar no adyacentes a áreas con cortes). La abundancia y las tasas diarias de supervivencia de nidos no d...

Assessing Ecosystem Restoration Alternatives in Eastern Deciduous Hardwood Forests Using Avian Nest Survival

“…During the extended response years, nests in this guild were highly successful in the combination thin + burn treatment, but were no different from control in the individual thin and burn treatments. The individual treatments having no significant effect on this guild is consistent with previous results [38,40,41], but the significant increase in nesting success in the combination thin + burn treatment is a novel result.…”

“…Similarly, nest success did not differ for understory nesting species between two-age thinned treatments and control forest in West Virginia [40], or for birds in either nesting guild in thinned forests in southern Illinois [41]. Barber et al [42] found that nesting success in some shrub nesting species decreased in thinned pine plantations in relation to previous other published studies, whereas Bourque and Villard [43] found that selective cutting lowered Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) nesting success.…”

For what, when, and where is green-tree retention better than clear-cutting? A review of the biodiversity aspects

“…Agestam et al (2003); 2, Baker and Lacki (1997); 3, Beese and Bryant (1999); 4, Brais et al (2004); 5, Chambers et al (1999); 6, 7, Chan-McLeod and Bunnell (2002); 8, Dahlberg et al (2001); 9, Duguay et al (2000); 10, Duguay et al (2001);11, Felix et al (2004); 12, Hannerz and Hånell (1993); 13, Hannerz and Hånell (1997); 14, Harpole and Haas (1999); 15, Harrison and Kilgo (2004); 16, Holgen and Hånell (2000); 17, Hood (2001); 18, Hyvärinen et al (2005); 19, Jalonen and Vanha-Majamaa (2001); 20, King and DeGraaf (2000); 21, Koivula (2002); 22, Lance and Phinney (2001); 23, Lazaruk et al (2005); 24, Lemieux and Lindgren (2004); 25, Lesak et al (2004); 26, Lindo and Visser (2004);27, MacKenzie and Steventon (1996); 28, Merrill et al (1998);29, Nilsson et al (2002);30, North et al (1996); 31, Schieck and Hobson (2000); 32, Schweitzer (2004); 33, Seip and Parker (1997);34, Siira-Pietikäinen et al (2001);35, Siira-Pietikäinen et al (2003); 36, Steventon et al (1998); 37, Sullivan and Sullivan (2001); 38, Sullivan et al (2000); 39, Vega (1993).…”

Effects of different levels of green- and dead-tree retention on hemi-boreal forest bird communities in Sweden

“…For example, boreal forest birds are often hesitant to cross larger gaps in the forest (Bé lisle and Desrochers, 2002) and green-tree retention may therefore be more important on larger than smaller cuts. Several studies have also suggested higher rates of predation on both adults and eggs/nestlings in forests adjacent to clear-cuts (e.g., Sö derströ m et al, 1998;Rodriguez et al, 2001) but few studies have investigated if birds in neighbouring stands are affected by partial harvesting techniques (but see, e.g., Duguay et al, 2001).…”