Avian diversity in various age pine forests in East Texas

Abstract

Objectives of this study were to quantify avian density and diversity as related to changes in vegetation structure of southern pine stands over a rotation interval (ca 35 years) and to determine the value of forest management features within such stands to bird population throughout a year. Study plots were established in 7 southern pine stands of 5 successional stages of development (grass, young brush, old brush, pole-size and sawtimber-size). Paired plots were placed in the grass and young brush stages; windrows (sheared and raked logging debris) in 1 were burned, those in the other were not. Plots in the grass, young brush and old brush stages had forest management features of windrows and environmental strips (areas of residual vegetation left along watercourses) characteristic of intensively site prepared and planted pine forests. Tree snags were present in all environmental strips and throughout the pole-and sawtimber-size plots. Logging roads occurred within or adjacent to all plots. A 40 ha plot with 100 bird observation stations was placed in each structural stage. Avian characteristics among plots were compared using biweekly census data for numbers of species and individuals by residency status (residents, breeders, winterers and migrants) and calculated bird species diversity (BSD) indices. Avian relationships to pine successional stages during spring breeding (7 April through 19 July 1977) and wintering (17 October 1977 through 28 January 1978) seasons were analyzed using nonparametric statistical procedures..