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Forest Bird Habitat Assessment
A Guide to Integrating Bird Habitat Data into a Vermont Forest Inventory
Introduction
Thisguidehasbeenpreparedtoassistforesters
interestedinsilviculturethatintegratestimber
andsongbirdhabitatmanagementinVermont.
Informationprovidedhereisintendedto
supportboththecreationofStewardshipand
UseValueAppraisalforestmanagementplans
andsubsequentimplementationofon-the-
ground,stand-levelmanagementactivitiesthat
canbenefitbreedingbirdpopulationswhile
producingtimberproducts.
Thisdocumentwascreatedasoneofthree
componentsoftheForesters For The Birdsproject,
acollaborativepartnershipbetweentheVermont
DepartmentofForests,Parks,andRecreation
andAudubonVermont.Thesethreedocuments
weredevelopedoveraperiodoftwoyearsbystaff
ofthesetwoorganizationsin
collaborationwithover100forestersparticipating
intheproject.Inthisguide,weprovide
considerationsandtipstoassistforestersin
qualitativelyassessingforestbirdbreeding
habitatatthestandlevelinnorthernhardwood
andassociatedforesttypes.Thisguideis
intendedtobeusedinconjunctionwithitstwo
companiondocuments:Birds with Silviculture
in Mind: Birder’s Dozen Pocket Guide for Vermont
Foresters and Silviculture with Birds in Mind:
Options for Integrating Timber and Songbird
Habitat Management in Northern Hardwood
Stands in Vermont.
Weassumeusersofthesedocumentsalreadyhave
atleastsomeexperienceinsilviculturefortimber
productionandaninterestinmanagingforbird
habitataswell.Ourpurposeistoproviderelevant
birdinformationandguidanceonintegrating
birdhabitatmanagementconceptswithaccepted
andwidelyappliedforestinventorypractices.
Responsibility Birds
Responsibilitybirdsare40speciesidentifiedby
AudubonVermontasbeingofhighconservation
priority,becauseasignificantpercentage
oftheirglobalbreedingpopulationisfound
intheNorthernForestand/ortheirpopulations
areshowinglong-termdeclines.Alistofthe40
responsibilitybirdsisfoundattheendofthis
guide.TheBirder’sDozen-asubsetoftwelve
responsibilityspecies-arehighlightedinthe
twocompaniondocumentstothisguide.
Habitat Quality
Vermont’sforestsareamongtheworld’smost
diverseandproductiveforbreedingbirdsand
abundant,high-qualityhabitatisavailablein
ourregion.Ahigh-qualitybreedinghabitatfor
anygivenspeciesisonewhereindividualssurvive
andreproducesuccessfully.Forforestbirds,the
abilitytosurviveandbreedisoftenrelatedtothe
presenceofspecificforeststructuralconditions
orattributes,suchasthosethatprovidenestsites,
foodandforagingsubstrates,singingperches,and
coverfrompredators.
Manyforestbirdscanbefoundinhabitingawide
rangeofconditionsduringthebreedingseason.
Nonetheless,notallforesthabitatsarecreated
equal.Solerelianceuponthepresenceorabsence
ofaparticularspeciestoassesshabitatquality
isnotrecommendedbecausedetectionmaybe
limitedbysurveyeffortandtimeofyear,and
speciespresencealonedoesnotnecessarily
indicatebreedingsuccess.
Landscape Level Considerations
Landscapecompositionandconfigurationaround
aforeststand(s)orpropertymayaffectstand
levelhabitatquality.Forexample,birdsnesting
inforeststandsadjacenttoopenareasmaybe
subjecttonestparasitismbybrown-headed
cowbirds.Althoughsomelandscapelevel
influencesaredifficulttoaddressthroughstand
levelforestmanagement,theydeserveattention.
Werecommendthatforestmanagersconsider
landscapecomposition(theproportionof
differentlandusesandforestages)and
configuration(size,shape,arrangement,and
relativepositionofdifferentlandusesandforest
ages)ontheparcelsandlandscapesonwhich
theywork.Afullexplanationofthesefactors’
relevancetohabitatqualityforforestbirdsis
beyondthescopeofthisdocument.
Using this Guide
Thisguideprovidesbackgroundinformation
andtipsforunderstandinghowinformation
forestersalreadyarecollectingduringtheirforest
inventoryisrelevanttoforestbirds–aswell
assuggestionsforadditionalfeaturestopay
attentiontoduringyourtimbercruise.The
descriptivedatacollectedduringinventorycan
beusedtoassessthehabitatqualityofaforest
standorstandsandidentifyhabitatattributesthat
couldbeenhancedthroughorprotectedduring
timbermanagementactivities.
Thisguideisorganizedaroundninehabitat
attributeswhicharelinkedtohabitatquality
foroneormoreresponsibilitybirdspecies.We
explainthefunctionofeachhabitatattributeand
offertipsonhoweachmightbemeasured,ifthe
measurementisnotalreadycapturedina
standardtimbercruise.Wecreatedthisguide
inresponsetoforesters’interestinevaluating
habitatqualitybasedonstandconditionsasseen
fromthecenterofaprismplot,whichmay
encompassanareaof¼-½acre.Thereisno
singlerightwaytocollectthishabitat
information.Eachforesterwillhaveasystem
thatintegratesbestwithhisorherownforest
inventoryprotocol.
Thebirdhabitatinformationfeaturedin
thisguideisprimarilyqualitativeanddescriptive.
Althoughsomeattributesmayinclude
quantitativemeasures,theyarenotintended
toprovidenumericalindicesofhabitatquality.
Acknowledgements
The project on which this publication is based is supported by the Northeastern Area State and Private
Forestry, U.S. Forest Service and TogetherGreen, an Audubon program with funding from Toyota.
Thanks to all foresters participating in the ForestersfortheBirds project who provided feedback on
this document. Photos provided courtesy of Aaron Worthley, Kristen Sharpless, Steve Hagenbuch,
Roy Pilcher, Charley Eiseman, and the Powdermill Avian Research Center.
Landscape composition and configuration around a property may afffect stand level songbird habitat quality.
1
2
Understory Vegetation
Definition Livevegetationinthe1-5ft.heightrange,includingtreeseedlingsandsaplings,shrubs,andherbaceousvegetation.
Function for Forest Birds Highstemandfoliagedensitiesofwoodyplantsinthisforestlayerprovidepotentialnestsites,foragingsubstrates,andprotectivecover.Stand-widecoverageisdesirablebutnotnecessary;welldistributedpatchesaresufficient.Herbaceousplantsmayalsobeusedbysongbirdsforforagingandnesting,butgenerallylesssothanwoodyplants.Speciesinthislayerfrequentlyusedbybirdsincludesugarmaple,Americanbeech,hobblebush,redspruce,Rubusspp.,andstripedmaple.
Black-throatedbluewarblerandwoodthrushplacenestsinthislayer,andCanadawarblerandveerytendtonestonorneartheground,concealedbydenseunderstorygrowth.Thebestbreedinghabitatsformourningwarblerandchestnut-sidedwarblerarepatchesofdense,lowgrowthwith<30%overstorycoverinpatches>1acreinsize(early-successionalhabitatconditions).
Inventory Integration TipsWhenevaluatingcommercialregenerationataplot,simultaneouslyevaluatedensityofallvegetationintheunderstorylayer–whethershrubs,commercialspecies,ornon-commercialspecies.
Notewhetherdistributionisevenorpatchyatandbetweenplots.
Wheninventoryingduringleaf-off,evaluatefoliardensitybytryingtovisualizewhatitwouldlooklikeduringleaf-onwhennestingoccurs.
References:DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001, Falls and Kopachena 2010, Holmes et al 2005, Holway 1991, Lambert and Faccio 2005, Reynolds and Mills 1981, Tate 1970
low function
high function
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Midstory Vegetation
DefinitionLive,woodyvegetationinthe6-30ft.heightrangeincludingtreesandshrubs.
Function for Forest BirdsHighstemandfoliagedensitiesofwoodyplantsinthisforestlayerprovidepotentialnestsites,foragingsubstrates,andprotectivecover.Stand-widecoverageisdesirablebutnotnecessary;welldistributedpatchesaresufficient.Themajorityofresponsibilitybirdspeciesnestand/orforagewithinthe1-30ft.layeroftheforest.Nestsofwoodthrush,Americanredstart,black-throatedgreenwarbler,andblue-headedvireoaremostcommonlyfoundinthemidstorylevel.
Inventory Integration TipsWhenevaluatingcommercialregenerationataplot,simultaneouslyevaluatedensityofallvegetationinthemidstorylayer–whethershrubs,commercialspecies,ornon-commercialspecies.
Notewhetherdistributionisevenorpatchyatandbetweenplots.
Wheninventoryingduringleaf-off,evaluatefoliardensitybytryingtovisualizewhatitwouldlooklikeduringleaf-onwhennestingoccurs.
References:DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001, Hoover and Brittingham 1998, James 1998, Morse and Poole 2005, Sallabanks 1998
low function
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Coarse and Fine Woody Material
DefinitionCoarsewoodymaterial(CWM)isdownedlogsandbranches>4in.diameter.Finewoodymaterial(FWM)islimbsandbranches<4indiameterincludingslash.
Function for Forest BirdsCWMprovidesperchsitesforsinging(e.g.byovenbird)andothermalecourtshipdisplays,andprovideshabitatfortheinsectsandotherarthropodsthatareasignificantpartofthebreedingseasondietofmanybirds.RuffedgrousetendtouseCWM>8in.diameterasdrummingperches.Whenaggregatedinpiles(slashpiles)FWMoffersanestingsubstrateandcoverforwhite-throatedsparrowsandveeries.Individualpieceshaveminimalhabitatvalue.Inventory Integration TipsNotedecaystageofCWM.Soundpiecesprovidegreaterhabitatfunctionthansoftmaterial.
Noteiffinewoodydebrisisscatteredoraggregated.
References:DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001, Falls and Kopachena 2010, Johnsgard and Maxon 1989, Van Horn and Donovan 1994, VT Dept Fish and Wildlife 2007
low function
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Coarse Woody Material
Fine Wood Material
5
Snags and Cavity Trees
DefinitionSnagsarestandingdeadorpartiallydeadtreesthatarerelativelystable.Cavitytreesmaybealiveordead.
Function for Forest BirdsSnagsprovideopportunitiesfornestingcavityexcavationbyyellow-belliedsapsuckersandnorthernflickers,andexistingcavitytreesprovidepotentialnestingcavitiesforchimneyswifts.Aspenandbirchspeciesarefrequentlychosenastreestoexcavate.CavitiesareoftenmadeintreeswiththeheartwooddecayfungusPhellinus tremulae (Fomes igniarius var. populinus)andFomes fomentariusandsapwooddecayfungiTrichaptum biformisandTraemetes versicolor.Suggestedtargetsforsnagsandcavitytreescombinedinare≥6peracre,withonetree>18in.DBHand3>12in.DBH.Branchesonsnagsmaybeusedasforagingperchesandnestsites.Inventory Integration TipsIncludesnagsandcavitytreesintallyatplot.Indicatewhethertreesaredeadoraliveandwhethercavitiesarepresent.
Qualitativelyassesssnagandcavitytreeabundancebetweenplots:low(overalllowabundanceofanysnagsorcavitytrees),moderate(snagsandcavitytreespresent,butofsmalldiameter(s)orminimalabundanceofsnagsandcavitytreesoftargetdiameters),andhigh(abundanceoftargetdiametersnagsandcavitytrees).
Makespecialnoteofaspenandbirchsnagsandcavitytrees
References:Flatebo et al 1999, Kilham 1971, NH Forests Sustainability Standards Work Team 1997
aspen cavity tree with yellow-bellied sapsucker nest cavity
yellow birch snag
6
Deciduous Leaf Litter
Function for Forest BirdsAnabundantlayerofmoistleaflitterishometoanarrayofinsects,mites,andspiders.Thesearthropodsmakeupasignificantcomponentofovenbird,veery,andwoodthrushdietsduringthebreedingseason.Ovenbirdsalsorelyuponadeeplayerofdeciduouslitterforconstructingtheirgroundnests,andnestsiteselectionisstronglyassociatedwiththishabitatvariable.ForthesereasonstheperiodfromearlyMay-lateJulyisthebesttimetoassesslitterconditions.
Inventory Integration TipsAssessleaflitterwithina5ft.radiusofplotcenter.
Qualitativerankingofpresentorabsentshouldbesufficienttoassessfunctionforresponsibilitybirds.
Leaflitterthicknessvarieswithseason;itisthickestinfallandmaydecomposeoverthefollowinggrowingseasonuntilitisabsent.
References:Bevier et al 2005, Burke and Nol 1998, Roth et al 1996
Canopy Height
Function for Forest BirdsCanopyheightinfluencesnestingsitepotentialforresponsibilitybirdsinbothyoung,regenerating(early-successional)andmature(mid-latesuccessional)foresthabitat.Forbirdsthatnestinearly-successionalhabitats–suchaschestnut-sidedandmourningwarbler–oncetheregenerationattainsaheightofapproximately20ft.overallconditionsarenolongersuitableasnestinghabitat.Formatureforestnestingbirds,includingwoodthrushandblackburnianwarbler,nestsiteselectionisstronglyassociatedwithincreasingcanopyheight.
References:DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001, Hooverand Brittingham 1998, Morse 1976
low canopy cover makes this young forest suitable for birds that breed in
early-successional habitat.
ovenbird nest built from leaf litter
7
Canopy Closure of Dominant and Co-Dominant Trees
Function for Forest BirdsForeststandsof≥1acrewithanopencanopy(<30%closure)arelikelytoprovideearly-successionalhabitatconditions.Anintermediatecanopy(30-80%closure)oftenpromotesadvanceregenerationandshrubdevelopmentsuitableforunderstoryandmidstory-nestingbirds.Canopyclosuretendstobeinverselyproportionaltounderstorydevelopment.
Inventory Integration TipsConsiderusingthreecategorieswhendescribingcanopyclosure;open(<30%),intermediate(30-80%),andclosed(>80%).
Describecanopyclosureasobservedwithina20ft.radiusfromprismplotcenter.
Overallcanopyclosuredescriptiononapropertyislikelytobeamixofcategories.
References:Thompson and Capen 1988
Canopy Closure Classes and Associated Responsibility Species
Canopy Closure >
Species >
Intermediate (30-80%)
B l a c k - t h r o a t e d B l u e Wa rb l e r
Ve e r y
C anada Wa rb l e r
Ame r i c a n R ed s t a r t
Open (<30%)
Na s h v i l l e Wa rb l e r
Wh i t e - t h r o a t e d S p a r r ow
Che s t n u t - s i d e d Wa rb l e r
Ame r i c a n Wood co c k
Mou r n i n g Wa rb l e r
Closed (>80%)
B l a c k - t h r o a t e d G r e e n Wa rb l e r
S c a r l e t Tanag e r
B l u e - h e ad ed V i r e o
B l a c kbu r n i a n Wa rb l e r
8
Bicknell’sThrush
WoodThrushCanadaWarbler
Bay-breastedWarblerAmericanWoodcock
Olive-sidedFlycatcherRustyBlackbird
CapeMayWarblerChestnut-sidedWarbler
VeeryEasternWood-Pewee
PurpleFinchYellow-belliedSapsucker
AmericanRedstartBorealChickadee
Black-throatedBlueWarblerChimneySwiftRuffedGrouse
BlackpollWarblerLouisianaWaterthrush
NorthernParulaBlackburnianWarblerBlack-throatedGreenWarblerOvenbirdYellow-belliedFlycatcherGrayJayPalmWarblerNorthernFlickerBlack-backedWoodpeckerTennesseeWarblerWhite-throatedSparrowMourningWarblerSpruceGrouseMagnoliaWarblerAlderFlycatcherNashvilleWarblerLincoln’sSparrowSwampSparrowBlue-headedVireoScarletTanager
Birders Dozen
AmericanWoodcockBlack-throatedBlueWarblerBlack-throatedGreenWarblerBlue-headedVireoCanadaWarblerChestnut-sidedWarblerEasternWood-PeweeScarletTanagerVeeryWhite-throatedSparrowWoodThrushYellow-belliedSapsucker
Responsibility Birds of the Northern Forest
Rocky Bottom Streams
Function for Forest BirdsRockyorgravellybottomedstreamswithinaforestmatrixmaysupportnestingLouisianawaterthrush.Thiswarblernestsincavitiesundersteepstreamsidebanksorinupturnedrootsofafallentreeoverornearwater.
Inventory Integration TipsNotepresencewithinandbetweeninventoryplots.
References:DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001, Mattsson et al 2009
Forested Wetlands
Function for Forest BirdsForestedwetlandcommunitiessuchasredmaple-nothernwhitecedarandspruce-fir-tamarackswampsprovidebreedinghabitatattributesimportanttoCanadawarblerandyellow-belliedflycatcher.Amongtheseattributesarelowaveragecanopyheightandabundanceofgroundcover,primarilyfernsandshrubs.Structurallycomplexforestfloorswithhummocks,rootballs,anddownedwoodydebrisprovideconcealmentfornestsandyoung.Shrub-dominatedwetlandsprovidebabitatforAmericanwoodcockandalderflycatcher.
References:Chase et al 2009, Lambert and Faccio 2005
9
References
Bevier,L.R.,A.F.PooleandWilliamMoskoff. 2005.Veery(Catharusfuscescens),TheBirdsof NorthAmericaOnline(A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca: CornellLabofOrnithology;Retrievedfromthe BirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/142.Burke,D.M.andE.Nol.1998.Influenceoffood abundance,nest-sitehabitat,andforest fragmentationonbreedingovenbirds.TheAuk, Vol.115,No.1,pp.96-104.Chase,J.F,S.D.Faccio,andA.Chacko.2009. CanadaWarblerHabitatUseofNorthern HardwoodsinVermont.NortheasternNaturalist 16(4):491–500DeGraaf,R.M.andM.Yamasaki.2001.NewEngland Wildlife:Habitat,NaturalHistoryand Distribution.UniversityPressofNewEngland, Hanover,NH.Falls,J.B.andJ.G.Kopachena.2010.White-throated Sparrow(Zonotrichiaalbicollis),TheBirdsof NorthAmericaOnline(A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca: CornellLabofOrnithology;Retrievedfromthe BirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/128.Flatebo,G.,C.R.FossandS.K.Pelletier.1999. BiodiversityintheforestsofMaine:guidelinesfor landmanagement.C.A.Elliott,ed.Univ.ofMaine Coop.Extension.UMCEBulletin#7147.Holmes,R.T.,N.L.RodenhouseandT.S.Sillett. 2005.Black-throatedBlueWarbler(Dendroica caerulescens),TheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline (A.Poole,ed.).Ithaca:CornellLabofOrnithology; RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.bnaproxy.birds.cornell. edu/bna/species/087Holway,D.A.1991.Nest-SiteSelectionandtheImpor- tanceofNestConcealmentintheBlack-Throated BlueWarbler.TheCondor93(3):575-581Hoover, J.P.andM.C.Brittingham.1998.Nest-siteselection andnestingsuccessofwoodthrushes.WilsonBull., 110(3),1998,pp.375-383.James,RossD.1998.Blue-headedVireo(Vireo solitarius),TheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline (A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca:CornellLabofOrnithology; RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/379.Johnsgard,P.A.andS.J.Maxson.1989.Nesting.Pages 130-137inRuffedGrouse.(Atwater,S.andJ. Schnell,Eds.)StackpoleBooks,Harrisburg,PA.Kilham,L.1971.ReproductiveBehaviorofYellow- BelliedSapsuckersI.PreferenceforNestingin Fomes-InfectedAspensandNestHole InterrelationswithFlyingSquirrels,Raccoons, andOtherAnimals.WilsonBulletinVol.83(2), pp.159-171.
Lambert,J.D.andS.D.Faccio.2005.CanadaWarbler populationstatus,habitatuse,andstewardship guidelinesfornortheasternforests.VINSTechnical Report05-4.Mattsson,B.J.,T.L.Master,R.S.MulvihillandW.D. Robinson.2009.LouisianaWaterthrush(Seiurus motacilla),TheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline (A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca:CornellLabofOrnithology; RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/151.Morse,D.H.andA.F.Poole.2005.Black-throated GreenWarbler(Dendroicavirens),TheBirdsof NorthAmericaOnline(A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca: CornellLabofOrnithology;Retrievedfromthe BirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/055.Morse,D.H.1976.Variablesaffectingthedensityand territorysizeofbreedingspruce-woodswarblers. Ecology57:290-301.NHForestsSustainabilityStandardsWorkTeam1997. GoodForestryinGraniteState,65pgs.Pitocchelli,Jay.1993.MourningWarbler(Oporornis philadelphia),TheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline (A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca:CornellLabofOrnithology; RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/072Reynolds,J.D.andA.M.Mills.1981.Anunusual nestingoftheVeery.Ont.FieldBiol.35:85-86Roth,R.R.,M.S.JohnsonandT.J.Underwood.1996. WoodThrush(Hylocichlamustelina),TheBirdsof NorthAmericaOnline(A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca: CornellLabofOrnithology;Retrievedfromthe BirdsofNorthAmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/246.Sallabanks,R.1993.Americanredstartspecies managementabstract.TheNatureConservancy. Tate,Jr.,J.1970.Nestinganddevelopmentofthe Chestnut-sidedWarbler.Jack-PineWarbler 48:57-65.Thompson,R.R.,IIIandR.D.Capen.1988.Avianas semblagesinseralstagesofaVermontforest. J.Wildf.Manage.52:771-777.VanHorn,M.A.andT.M.Donovan.1994.Ovenbird (Seiurusaurocapilla),TheBirdsofNorthAmerica Online(A.Poole,Ed.).Ithaca:CornellLabof Ornithology;RetrievedfromtheBirdsofNorth AmericaOnline: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/088.VTDeptFishandWildlife2007.Ruffedgrousefact sheet.
Created and Published by
Audubon Vermont255ShermanHollowRoad
HuntingtonVermont05642(802)434-3068vt.audubon.org
And
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation103SouthMainStreet
Waterbury,VT05671-0601(802)241-3655www.vtfpr.org
Authors/Editors
Steve HagenbuchAudubon Vermont [email protected] ManarasAudubon [email protected]
Jim Shallow Audubon [email protected] SharplessAudubon [email protected]
Michael SnyderVermont Department of Forests, Parks, and [email protected]
©2011
