Measuring Ecological Effects of Prescribed Fire Using Birds as Indicators of Forest Conditions

Abstract

To evaluate the ecological effects of prescribed fire, bird and vegetation surveys were conducted in four study areas of the Klamath National Forest where prescribed fires are being used for management. Bird and vegetation data were collected at sites treated with prescribed fire and nearby untreated control sites. Data were collected at stations from 2000 (pre-treatment) to 2004 (1-4 years post treatment). The treated sites ranged from 9 to 30 ha, and during the course of the study 25-73% of each area was treated with prescribed fire. Over this time period, there was no consistent change in the volume of vegetation in either the tree or shrub strata. Similarly, there was no measurable effect of prescribed burning on the composition of the overall bird community. Spatial variation and annual variation in abundance appear to be more important than the change induced by prescribed burning at this scale and intensity. The abundance of eight individual species that have been identified as conservation focal species for coniferous forests was also investigated. There were no consistent changes in the abundance of these species that we could attribute to the application of prescribed fire. These results suggest that the prescribed fire applied in these treatment units had negligible effects on landbird community composition.

Parent Publication

• Fuels Management-How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings

Citation

Seavy, Nathaniel E.; Alexander, John D. 2006. Measuring Ecological Effects of Prescribed Fire Using Birds as Indicators of Forest Conditions. In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret W., comps. 2006. Fuels Management-How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings. 28-30 March 2006; Portland, OR. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 593-603