Document: HEA-3-68-38

Effects of prescribed burns on abundance and habitat selection of wintering cavity-nesting birds.

BATEMAN, H.L.* and M.A.O'CONNELL

Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA ¹

Abstract:
Primary cavity-nesting birds play a critical role in forest ecosystems by excavating cavities later used by other birds and mammals as nesting or roosting sites. We examined the abundance and use of habitat by primary cavity-nesting birds during winter in prescribed burned and unburned stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Several species of cavity-nesting birds are non-migratory residents and consequently subject to winter conditions. Although breeding success and summer habitat selection of birds have been evaluated in prescribed burned forests, much less focus has been on habitat selection of wintering birds. Winter bird surveys were conducted from 1998 to 2000 using a variable point count method. Bird abundances were associated with habitat data in three prescribed burned and three unburned stands. Preliminary results show that prescribed burned and unburned stands are similar in total bird abundance, but different for individual species and guild abundances. Foliage gleaners are significantly greater in unburned stands, whereas bark foragers are significantly greater in burned stands. Individual species are further differentiated by specific habitat variables within stands. This juxtaposition of burned and unburned stands and habitat heterogeneity within stands is important in maintaining a diverse cavity-nesting bird assemblage.

Keywords: prescribed burns, habitat selection, cavity-nesting birds

This abstract is being presented at: 1:30 PM in session:
Oral Session #14: Disturbance Effects on Bird Populations.