Impacts of forest management and habitat change on declining avian species in West Virginia

Abstract Conservation efforts on private lands are important for biodiversity conservation. On private lands in South Carolina, in the southeastern United States, forestry management practices (prescribed burning, thinning, herbicide application) are used to improve upland pine habitat for wildlife and timber harvest and are incentivized through U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Bill cost-share programs. Because many forest-dependent avian species have habitat requirements created primarily through forest management, data are needed on the effectiveness of these management activities. We studied privately owned loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands in the South Carolina Piedmont region. Our objective was to understand how management practices influence avian species richness and abundance at local (forest stand) and landscape levels in relatively small stands (average ~28 ha). We surveyed 49 forest stands during 2 bird breeding seasons with traditional point counts and vegetation surveys. We evaluated the effects of management on pine stand characteristics, avian species richness, and abundance of state-designated bird species of concern. Repeated burning and thinning shifted stand conditions to open pine woodlands with reduced basal area and herbaceous understories. Stands with lower basal area supported greater avian species richness. Some species increased in abundance in response to active management (e.g., Brown-headed Nuthatch [Sitta pusilla] and Indigo Bunting [Passerina cyanea]), but relationships varied. Some species responded positively to increases in forest quantity at a landscape scale (1–5 km; e.g., Northern Bobwhite [Colinus virginianus]). We found species-rich avian communities and species of conservation concern on working timber lands, indicating that incentivized forest management on private lands can provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

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ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS (VERMIVORA CHRYSOPTERA) AND ASSOCIATED AVIAN SPECIES IN THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA

10.33915/etd.7152 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kyle R. Aldinger

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

Avian Species ◽

Vermivora Chrysoptera ◽

Allegheny Mountains

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West Virginia Tree Farmers and Consulting Foresters: A Comparison of Views on Timber Harvesting

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/14.1.16 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 16-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew F. Egan ◽

John Rowe ◽

Dan Peterson ◽

Grover Philippi

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

West Virginia ◽

Contingency Table ◽

Mail Survey ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Contingency Table Analysis ◽

Forest Environment ◽

Forest Practices ◽

Table Analysis ◽

Similarities And Differences

Abstract A mail survey sought the responses of West Virginia Tree Farmers and consulting foresters to questions related to timber harvesting. The intent was to examine the attitudinal similarities and differences between citizens who own forestland and are predisposed to forest management and the forestry professionals often charged with assisting with the management of these resources. Results of contingency table analysis indicated agreement between landowners and foresters on general harvesting philosophies and objectives, but disagreement on specific logging outcomes and environmental effects. The possibility of significant differences between landowners and foresters on issues such as banning clearcutting and the effects of logging on the forest environment indicates a need for efforts to educate not only landowners about forest practices, but also foresters about landowner objectives and attitudes. North. J. Appl. For. 14(1):16-19.

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