Cavity-nesting bird abundance in thinned versus unthinned Massachusetts oak stands

Abstract

Cavity-nesting birds provide significant benefits to forest communities, but timber management techniques may negatively affect cavity-nesting species by reducing the availability of suitable nest and foraging sites. We surveyed cavity-nesting birds from transects in eight Massachusetts oak stands to examine the effect of thinning with retention of snag and wildlife trees on bird use of those stands. We found no difference (P > 0.05) in number of primary- and secondary-cavity nesters detected per km among thinned and unthinned stands when snag and wildlife trees were retained during thinning. Our stands ranged from 13.0-51.9 ha and were surrounded by pole- and sawtimber-sized stands. Intermediate cuttings on areas of similar size can be conducted without reducing cavity-nesting bird abundance if forest managers include wildlife considerations when planning and marking stands for harvest.

Citation

Welsh, Christopher J.E.; Healy, William M.; DeGraaf, Richard M. 1992. Cavity-nesting bird abundance in thinned versus unthinned Massachusetts oak stands. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 9(1): 6-9.