Response of breeding seaside sparrows to fire on the upper Texas Coast

Abstract

Fire is one of the primary tools for managing coastal marshes in parts of the range of the Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus). This study examined changes in Seaside Sparrow densities between breeding seasons following fire in marshes of the upper Texas coast. I measured habitat characteristics and relative abundances of Seaside Sparrows on two 250-m transects for three breeding seasons post-fire on one site, and four breeding seasons on two sites. The number of sparrows/survey the second year post-fire averaged 2.8 (2.2-3.2) times higher than any other year post-fire. Two sites had significantly more sparrows/survey in the second year post-fire than the first, third, or fourth. The third site had a significant increase in sparrows/survey from the first to second year after burning, but the third year was not different from the first or second year. The increase in sparrows/survey from the first to second year post-fire coincided with a significant increase in the cover of dead vegetation. Dead vegetation may be an important factor for suitable nesting conditions, at least in the second year after burning.