Effects of forest management on population parameters and habitat use of wood thrushes
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Michael J. Conroy, Georgia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia
Dr. David G. Krementz, National Biological Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia
Research Assistants and Sub-Projects:
Larkin A. Powell, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia "Experimental Analysis of Forest Management Effects on Survival and Movements of Adult Wood Thrushes"
Jason D. Lang, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia "Effects of Forest Management on Nesting Success and Fledgling Dispersal of Wood Thrushes"
Funding
US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
Georgia Ornitological Society
Objectives: Estimate population parameters and habitat of Wood Thrushes (WOTH) in relation to forest management directed at Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers (RCW) at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Using a constrained experimental design, test for effects of silviculture (thinning and prescribed burning) used to create optimal RCW habitat on population viability of WOTH.
Maintenance and enhancement of viable populations of the endangered RCW are high priorities for management at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. However, concern exists about the impacts of management directed at RCW on other species, including neotropical migrants such as WOTH. We took advantages of planned refuge management to design and execute a 4-year, before/ after treatment/ control study to evaluate the impacts of prescribed burning and thinning on WOTH demographics and habitat use. Results do not suggest a strong impact on any population parameters, but cannot exclude the possibility of a weak impact. Thus continued monitoring in relation to management will be critical to the successful long term management of both RCW and WOTH populations.
Project Status: Completed.
Final report . To dowload final report file For further information contact Michael J. Conroy