Relationships of Breeding Birds to Habitat Characteristics in Logged Areas

Abstract

Habitat and breeding bird populations were examined in logged areas of northern Minnesota. A gradient of habitat complexity was related with increasing density and basal area of dead trees, live trees, and shrubs. The combined densities of 26 breeding species ranged from 3.9 in the least complex habitat to 8.6 territorial males/ha in the most complex. The chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), mourn- ing warbler (Oporornis philadelphia), white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), and song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) represented an average of 75% of the individuals on the eight plots. Only the density of the chestnut-sided warbler was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the habitat gradient, while the song sparrow was negatively correlated (P < 0.05). Management for greater habitat complexity provides more opportunities for nesting and foraging and results in greater species richness and density of birds breeding in early successional vegetation.