PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #43: Avian Ecology.
Thursday, August 9, 2001. Presentation from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Exhibition Hall

Bird populations relating to overstory vegetation and canopy cover along the Yellow River floodplain in central Wisconsin.

Saeland, Melissa¹, Cook, James¹, ¹

ABSTRACT- Many recent studies have shown habitat composition and avian abundance are strongly related. Floodplain zones offer a unique environment for many bird species survival. Learning what area species utilize is important to preserve stable populations and prevent the loss of others. Data were collected in the summer of 2000. A total of 100 plots were set up along 19 line transects that ran due east or west from the river. Points along the transect were established at 20, 60, 100 m; and every 50 m thereafter to the edge of the floodplain. The overstory vegetation plots were 22.58 m in diameter. Canopy cover was determined, and averaged for all transects. Ten woodland bird species were recorded from the preliminary bird point counts; these were conducted at same-plot locations with a 200 m buffer between stations. Counts of all species seen or heard were recorded for a period of 10 minutes at each station. As expected, canopy cover percentages showed 85% of the area has more than 60% canopy cover. Based on the dominance of deciduous species and canopy cover, this landscape should provide habitat for many woodland Neotropical migrants. More data will be collected during June of 2001 and will be incorporated into this analysis.

KEY WORDS: Neotropical , floodplain, Yellow River, Wisconsin