Treesearch

Four case studies were presented to demonstrate how neotropical migrant bird conservation is being integrated info other resource management activities in the Midwest.

Avian communities that are associated with forest habitat attributes are affected by silvicultural and other stand influences. Some species have specific habitat requirements, whereas others occupy a broad range of vegetative conditions. In general, bird species richness and density are positively related to stand foliage volume and diversity. Bird density and diversity are usually high in young brushy stands, decrease in dense pole stands as canopies close and shade out understories, and are highest in older stands with diverse foliage strata. Tree harvesting generally favors early...

Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk.) occurs throughout the range of its principal host, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). At epidemic levels, the beetle causes considerable mortality in large-diameter Douglas-fir trees. Wind storms, drought, fire, and other factors have been reported as precedent conditions for epidemics of Douglas-fir beetle. An impact model has been developed to simulate tree mortality during such epidemics. The model has been linked to the Stand Prognosis Model (Forest Vegetation Simulator). This is a guide for using the model.

We briefly review the effects of climate (particularly drought and hurricanes), insect outbreaks, and fire on populations of migrant birds. An important feature of all of these natural disturbances is that they occur over a variety of spatial and temporal scales, thus precluding any simple generalization of their effects or of methods for mitigating those effects. We recognize that (1) natural catastrophic phenomena will inevitably occur; (2) an ecosystem will consist of a mosaic of patches that reflects the recurrence time and spatial extent of these disturbances; and (3) after some...

The Southeast Management Working Group for Partners in Flight initiated a prioritization scheme in April 1991 to help guide regional and local conservation efforts for Neotropical migratory landbirds. Preliminary breeding season priorities have been established in each of 24 physiographic areas for species and habitats, with some non-breeding season priorities set as well. Interested parties have met in most physiographic areas in the Southeast to review preliminary priorities and organize for future action. Species of regional concern, habitats of regional and physiographic area concern,...

Relevant wildlife monitoring on managed lands lies somewhere between monitoring everything and monitoring nothing. Knowing the population status of all birds on a managed area would be potentially useful information but would be costly to collect, but without monitoring no link between management and wildlife populations can be made. A decision making process for developing appropriate monitoring programs on managed lands is outlined.

The future for neotropical migratory birds rests with our commitment and ability to provide them adequate habitat during all periods of their life cycle. Our commitment to this cause is apparent in the groundswell of interest in neotropical migrants and the many proactive and coopemtive partnerships resulting from the Partners in Flight - Aves de las Americas Neotmpical Migratory Bird Conservation Program. Our commitment will be tested, however, by the need to balance competing priorities and demands, i.e., for jobs; commercial resources such as wood, livestock, minerals, and land;...

On behalf of the fourteen Federal agencies represented on the Federal Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Committee, welcome to this first national workshop on management of neotropical migratory birds. The response and interest in this workshop and Partners in Flight has been tremendous. Your participation this week is evidence of the serious commitment of your agencies and organizations, and you personally to this effort.

More than 20 nongovernmental organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding committing them to participate in Partners in Flight. Several more organizations will be signing the memorandum in the near future. Others may never sign the agreement but are contributing substantialy to the program.

Unlike the federal ownership patterns of the western United States, the eastern states are still largely in the hands of the private landowner. As a result, the implementation of the Partners in Flight program in the East will depend a great deal on the motivation and dedication of individual states. Monitoring programs in particular are in a position to benefit from the relationships that state agencies maintain with private landowners and non-governmental organizations, as well as their federal counterparts. The activities of Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries serve as an...