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Managing Longleaf Forests for Grassland and Other Songbird Habitat

Managing Longleaf Forests for Grassland and Other Songbird Habitat. Mark D. Smith Alabama Cooperative Extension System School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University. Pine-grassland System. Most ecologically diverse system in the south Periodic natural disturbance

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Managing Longleaf Forests for Grassland and Other Songbird Habitat

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  1. Managing Longleaf Forests for Grassland and Other Songbird Habitat Mark D. Smith Alabama Cooperative Extension System School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University

  2. Pine-grassland System • Most ecologically diverse system in the south • Periodic natural disturbance • Disturbance-dependent species • Early succession species • Specialists

  3. 75 0 Time in Years Plant Succession • Plant communities change over time • Wildlife resources change • Habitat quality changes

  4. As vegetation changes, bird communities change • At planting and soon thereafter • ~50 species • Grasshopper sparrow • Eastern meadowlark • Horned lark • Savannah sparrow

  5. As vegetation changes, bird species change • Shrub-scrub understory • ~3-10 years after establishment • ~50 species • Indigo bunting • Yellow-breasted chat • Common yellowthroat • Prairie warbler

  6. As vegetation changes, bird species change • Forest Birds • ~50 species • Bachman’s sparrow • Brown-headed nuthatch • Blue grosbeak • Pine warbler • Red cockaded woodpecker

  7. A rare habitat indeed!

  8. Herbicide application October 1998 March 1999 Fertilizer August 1999 Prescribed fire March 1999 “Re-capturing” unmanaged sites

  9. What about thinning? • Opening up the overstory • Sunlight to the forest floor • Combine with prescribed burning

  10. An example of the effects of thinning on understory growth

  11. What affects bird use? • Short and Long Term • Planting density • Canopy closure • Understory composition---what’s on the ground

  12. Management at Establishment • Ground vegetation is important! • Control invasive exotics • Bahiagrass • Bermudagrass • Site prep • High intensity = less ground cover • Low rate = more ground cover • Planting of native forbs and grasses • Bluestems

  13. Realistic Expectations • Not going to happen overnight! • Several species are territorial • Depends on: • Stand size • Stand shape • Location to other similar stands • Location to other habitats • Region of the state • With periodic fire, understory will change over time

  14. Questions?

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