Bird-Friendly BMP’s for Bottomland Forest in the Carolinas Birds and People on Common Ground

Bird-Friendly BMP’s for Bottomland Forest in the Carolinas

Birds and People on Common Ground

Typical Hardwood Management

Historically we’ve left as is… or done large harvests followed by natural regeneration

Small Patch Clearcut

2-10 acres with <10% of entire bottomland in regenerative stateFeathered edges necessary if thinning does not accompany clearing

“String of Pearls”

Spokes of a Wheel

Example – Silver Bluff Audubon Center• 90 acre stand• Homogenous stand condition• 25 year old stand• Mature forest function – 95% canopy closure

• Prescription • Regenerate 10% of stand using patch cut(s)• 15 year entry cycle• 135 year rotation

Feathered edge of a small patch opening

Brown-headed Cowbird

All things equalThickets as far

interior as possible

Prolific! One female can Lay as many as 40 eggs a season

In other birds nests!

Nest parasites that grow largerAnd compete for adoptamom’s resources

Thicket example 1

Thicket example 2

Hardwood thinning

Ideally we want to thin down to 60-70% canopy closureTree selection can be done to leave better species composition for economics or mast production

95% Canopy Closure

60% Canopy Closure

60% Canopy Closure

Epicormic Branching

Is a problem that can occur when too much sunlight is allowed into a stand.While epicormic branching can hinder log quality, we feel that a conservative thinning will close canopy quickly enough to avoid this concern.

So how do we decide where?

Often times it is best to mimic mother nature!

Consider invasive species

Tornado Damage

Hurricane Damage

Ideal Silver Bluff Location

Since we get to choose where we put our thickets, we can pick places that naturally grow the types of understory we want!

Ideal Four Holes Swamp Location

Ironwood, Sweet Gum, Palmetto, Loblolly Pine, Water and Swamp Chestnut Oaks, Green Ash, American Elm, Hawthorne, Switch Cane, and Persimmon

Higher… less flooded areas

“Flippable” Ground Litter

HoodedWarbler

Bird survey

Swainson’sWarbler

1989 post tornado this species wasPrevalent on the S.B. Island and has sinceMoved on due to lack of habitat

National Audubon is telling me to cut

TREES??? And hunt DEER???

Brandon HeitkampResource ManagerSilver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary803-522-2299

Norman BrunswigExecutive DirectorAudubon South Carolina843-462-2150