Chapter 3 - Using Bird Ecology to Learn About the Benefits of Severe Fire

Abstract

Important lessons emerge from studies of birds in ecosystems born of, and maintained by, mixed- to high-severity fire. Specifically, (1) the effect of fire on any one species is context dependent. It depends on the time since the fire, the fire severity, and vegetation type and condition. (2) Bird species respond differently to any given postfire condition and, given an appropriate time since the fire and postfire vegetation conditions, most benefit from severe fire. (3) Some bird species (the black-backed woodpecker being iconic) seem to depend on conditions created by severe fire, as evidenced by their distribution patterns, territory sizes, nest success, and other adaptations. (4) Given these facts, current management practices designed to prevent fire, suppress fire, mitigate fire severity, “restore” or “rehabilitate” burned forests after fire, and mimic the effects of severe fire are incompatible with the maintenance of bird populations and, therefore, ecosystem integrity.