The response of boreal forest songbird communities to fire and post-fire harvesting

Abstract

Post-fire timber harvesting (salvage logging) is becoming more prevalent as logging companies try to recover some of the economic losses caused by fire. Because salvaging is a relatively new practice and because of the common perception that burned areas are of little value to wildlife, few guidelines exist for salvaging operations. We surveyed birds in unburned and burned stands of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), mixedwood, and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) to characterize the post-fire bird community in commercially important forest types. The effects of salvage logging were examined in mixedwood and jack pine. Using fixed-radius point counts, a total of 1430 individuals representing 51 species were detected during this study. Community analysis revealed that burned forests supported a distinct species assemblage of songbirds relative to unburned forests and that salvage logging significantly altered this community. An examination of guild composition showed that resident species, canopy and cavity nesters, and insectivores were the least likely to be detected in salvaged areas. Species less sensitive to salvage logging tended to be habitat generalists, omnivores, and species that nest on the ground or in shrubs. We suggest alternative management strategies that may help reduce the impact of salvage logging on the boreal forest songbird community