Floodplain Forest Bird Communities and Habitat Associations Eileen Kirsch, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI Floodplain Forest Bird Communities and Habitat Associations Eileen Kirsch, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI
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Floodplain Forest Bird Communities and Habitat Associations
Eileen Kirsch, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center,La Crosse, WI
Floodplain Forest Bird Communities and Habitat Associations
Eileen Kirsch, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center,La Crosse, WI
Importance of UMR forests to birds
Large noticeable birds: Bald EagleGreat Blue HeronGreat EgretsWood Duck, Hooded Merganser
Landbirds: Passerines and Woodpeckers - Breeding- Migration
Importance of UMR forests to birds
Large noticeable birds: Bald EagleGreat Blue HeronGreat EgretsWood Duck, Hooded Merganser
Landbirds: Passerines and Woodpeckers - Breeding- Migration
Kathleen Carlyle
Large mature trees especially PODE3 along shorelines for roosting
For nesting also but will use large mature ACSA2
Large mature trees especially PODE3 along shorelines for roosting
For nesting also but will use large mature ACSA2
Herons and EgretsHerons and EgretsLarge mature treesBut preference for tree species and sizes needs to be systematically examined: ACSA2, FRPE, PODE3?
Colony placement is not clearly related to landscape patterns
Colony placement may be related to inter colonydistances and amount of “safe” foraging habitat
Large mature treesBut preference for tree species and sizes needs to be systematically examined: ACSA2, FRPE, PODE3?
Colony placement is not clearly related to landscape patterns
Colony placement may be related to inter colonydistances and amount of “safe” foraging habitat
Kathleen Carlyle
Joan and Dan Emlin
Cavity nesting waterfowlobviously need mature trees for nesting - over mature or wind damaged trees with rotted heartwood.
WODU feed on mast but also seeds of maple, ash and elm, as well as aquatic plants and arthropods.
Cavity nesting waterfowlobviously need mature trees for nesting - over mature or wind damaged trees with rotted heartwood.
WODU feed on mast but also seeds of maple, ash and elm, as well as aquatic plants and arthropods.
Other birds that like larger mature trees…..Other birds that like larger mature trees…..
Luke Fara
Luke Fara
Kevin Smith VIREO
How do birds use forests? ~~ Habitat SelectionScales of selection
How do birds use forests? ~~ Habitat SelectionScales of selection
Scales:Floodplain versus Upland forestBreeding and migration
Latitude (species ranges)Breeding and migration
Interior vs Edge - Breeding and migration
Within floodplain forest habitat associations – Breeding
Tree preferences for foraging -migration
Scales:Floodplain versus Upland forestBreeding and migration
Latitude (species ranges)Breeding and migration
Interior vs Edge - Breeding and migration
Within floodplain forest habitat associations – Breeding
Tree preferences for foraging -migration
Breeding bird studies in the 1990’sPools 4, 8, 13 primarily withdata also from Pools 5, 7, 12, 26 and La Grange
Breeding and Migration study 2008Pool 3 and upper 4
Migration studies: Pools 6-8, 2005-2007 and Pools 8 and 9, 2010-2013
Work of others – M. Knutson papers, Emlen et al., etc
Breeding bird studies in the 1990’sPools 4, 8, 13 primarily withdata also from Pools 5, 7, 12, 26 and La Grange
Breeding and Migration study 2008Pool 3 and upper 4
Migration studies: Pools 6-8, 2005-2007 and Pools 8 and 9, 2010-2013
Work of others – M. Knutson papers, Emlen et al., etc
Floodplain and upland forest breeding bird communities differ
Floodplain and upland forest breeding bird communities differ
Knutson et al. 1995
Floodplain(pairs/ha)
Upland(pairs/ha)
Total Neotropical migrants 15 8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 0.7 0.1
American Redstart 3 0.5
Prothonotary Warbler 0.8 0
Ovenbird 0 0.7
Breeding bird abundances higher in floodplainforest
Breeding bird abundances higher in floodplainforest
Knutson et al. 1995
Spring migration:
Greater numbers of birds overall, numbers of neotropicalmigrants and short distance migrant songbirds were detected in floodplain than upland forest. (2005-2007)
Average detected/survey Floodplain Upland
Total Birds 25.1 21.7
Number of Species 13.8 13.5
Neotropical migrants 11.1 9.4
Short distance migrants 9.4 7.7
Residents 4.1 4.5
Total species 144 131
Spring migration:
Greater numbers of birds overall, numbers of neotropicalmigrants and short distance migrant songbirds were detected in floodplain than upland forest. (2005-2007)
Average detected/survey Floodplain Upland
Total Birds 25.1 21.7
Number of Species 13.8 13.5
Neotropical migrants 11.1 9.4
Short distance migrants 9.4 7.7
Residents 4.1 4.5
Total species 144 131
During spring migration bird assemblages differ between upland and floodplain forest (transect surveys)
Species in top 20 of one habitat but not in the top 20 of the other
Spring migration assemblage differences between floodplain and upland forestSpring migration assemblage differences between floodplain and upland forestDriftless Area Prairie Peninsula
Relationships of birds with landscape featureswithin 200m of the point 1990’s dataRelationships of birds with landscape featureswithin 200m of the point 1990’s data
AMCR
AMGO
NAMRENAMRO
NBCCHNBGGN
NBHCO
NBLJA
BRCR
BRTH
CEDW
CERW
COGR
COYE
NDOWO
EAPH
NEAWPNGCFL
GRCA
NHAWO
NHOWR
NINBULEFL
MODO
NNOCANNOFL
NNOOR
NPIWO
PROW
RBGR
NRBWO
REVI
RHWO
RTHU
RWBL
SOSP
TRES
ETTI
VEER
WAVI
NWBNU
WIFL
WODU
WOTHNYBCU
NYBSA
YWAR
NYTVI
Amount of Forest
Grass-Open water edge
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5 0.5 1.50.0
1.0
2.0
Axis 1
Axi
s 2
AMRE
BCCH
BGGN
BLJA
GCFL HAWO
HOWR
INBU
NOCA
NOOR
RBWO
WBNU
YBCU
YBSA
EAWP&YTVI
0.0
PIWO
NOFL
BHCO
AMRODOWO
ACFL
*week habitat relationships r2 < 0.3*analysis accounts for little of the variance in the bird data
*week habitat relationships r2 < 0.3*analysis accounts for little of the variance in the bird data
17 sample sites in each:
interior
associated edge
random sites
A study designed to examine edge vs interior vs random Forest points: Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008*Interior was defined as being 100m or more from any edge
Breeding assemblages do not differ among edge vs interior vs random sites (Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008)
Is there an effect of forest width on breeding birdassemblage composition? (Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008)Is there an effect of forest width on breeding birdassemblage composition? (Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008)
ANOSIM site type ρ = 0.027, P = 0.116R-E ρ = 0.063, P = 0.038R-I ρ = 0.059, P = 0.039I-E ρ = -0.041, P = 0.921 I-E pairs ρ= 0.465, P < 0.001 spatial auto correlation
No pattern related to edge for bird assemblagesduring spring migration (Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008)No pattern related to edge for bird assemblagesduring spring migration (Pools 3 and upper 4, 2008)
NMS of bird species composition with sites labeled by forest composition classes
NMS of bird species composition with sites labeled by forest composition classes
Cannonical Correspondence Analysis ofRelationships of birds with forest structure 1994-1997 data (Pools 4, 8, 13).Cannonical Correspondence Analysis ofRelationships of birds with forest structure 1994-1997 data (Pools 4, 8, 13).
AMROBCCH
BHCO
BLJACEDW
DOWO
HAWO
HOWR
INBU
NOFL
WAVI
WBNU
GCFL
RBWO
EAWP
AMRE
0, 0
AMCRAMGO
NAMRE
NAMRO NBCCH
BGGN
NBHCO
NBLJA
BRCR
BRTH
NCEDW
CERW
COGRCOYE
NDOWO
EAPH
NEAWP
EUST
NGCFL
GRCA
NHAWO
NHOWR
NINBU
LEFL MODO
NOCA
NNOFLNNOOR
PIWO
PROW
RBGR
NRBWO
REVI
RHWO
NRTHU
RWBL
SOSP
TRES
ETTI
VEER
NWAVINWBNU
WIFL
WODU
NWOTH
YBCU
YBSA
YWAR
YTVI
Canopy Cover
Phalaris presence
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5 0.50.0
1.0
Axis 1
Axi
s 2
ACFL
*weak habitat relationships (r2<0.3) *analysis accounts for 4% of the variance in the bird data!Because the community is dominated by a few species.
*weak habitat relationships (r2<0.3) *analysis accounts for 4% of the variance in the bird data!Because the community is dominated by a few species.
AMROBCCH
BHCO
BLJACEDW
DOWO
HAWO
HOWR
INBU
NOFL
WAVI
WBNU
GCFL
RBWO
EAWP
AMRE
0, 0
American RedstartAmerican RobinHouse WrenWarbling VireoWhite-breasted NuthatchDowny Woodpecker Great Crested FlycatcherNorthern FlickerHairy WoodpeckerBrown-headed CowbirdIndigo BuntingBlack-capped ChickadeeCedar Waxwing & Blue Jay
Song SparrowRed-winged BlackbirdCommon YellowthroatLeast FlycatcherWillow FlycatcherMourning Dove Yellow Warbler
Brown CreeperTufted TitmouseProthonotary WarblerPileated WoodpeckerCerulean WarblerVeeryAmerican CrowRed-eyed Vireo
Phalaris presence Higher Canopy cover
I think the general relations revealed in the CCA are reasonable, although not particularly useful for management prescriptions.
So, designed a new study… the 2008 Vermillion/Cannon River Bottoms (Pools 3 and upper 4) mentioned before. Three 10 min point counts, more detailed habitat measurements
I think the general relations revealed in the CCA are reasonable, although not particularly useful for management prescriptions.
So, designed a new study… the 2008 Vermillion/Cannon River Bottoms (Pools 3 and upper 4) mentioned before. Three 10 min point counts, more detailed habitat measurements
-4 -2 0 2 4 6PC1
-4
-2
0
2
4PC
2 BATree height
Box elder IV
Silver maple IV
Elm IV # tree species
Phalaris cover
UMR
Cannon
Vermillion
Habitat PCA (3 axis account for 58% of variation)
19.1
% o
f var
iatio
n
27.3% of variation
NMS of breeding bird assemblages Pool 3 and upper 4, 2008NMS of breeding bird assemblages Pool 3 and upper 4, 2008
Common YellowthroatIndigo BuntingRose-breasted GrosbeakBlack-capped Chickadee
High Phalaris
Common YellowthroatIndigo BuntingRose-breasted GrosbeakBlack-capped Chickadee
Low Phalaris
American RedstartGreat Crested Flycatcher
Low Phalaris
American RedstartGreat Crested Flycatcher
Diversity and evenness not different between high and lowPhalaris sites.Diversity and evenness not different between high and lowPhalaris sites.
What about the low ground cover? What about the low ground cover?
Due to prolonged flooding – Prothonotary Warblers very abundant but species diversity was lower than at other sites. Due to prolonged flooding – Prothonotary Warblers very abundant but species diversity was lower than at other sites.
To Review some general findings
General homogeneity of the floodplain forest breeding bird assemblages (NMS)
Breeding bird assemblages are dominated by about 7-10 species
Assemblage differences most pronounced along a latitudinal gradient
Rarity of “forest interior” species (Cerulean Warbler….)
No association of assemblage composition or species of conservation concern (CERW, PROW) with edge/interior
Forest width and breeding assemblage composition?
Detectable but small breeding assemblage shift related to lack of ground cover (extended spring flooding) {Prothonotary Warbler+, Common Grackle+, House Wren-, diversity-}
Detectable but small breeding assemblage shift with increased Phalaris cover and decreased basal area {Common Yellowthroat, Song sparrow, American Redstart, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbird}
To Review some general findings
General homogeneity of the floodplain forest breeding bird assemblages (NMS)
Breeding bird assemblages are dominated by about 7-10 species
Assemblage differences most pronounced along a latitudinal gradient
Rarity of “forest interior” species (Cerulean Warbler….)
No association of assemblage composition or species of conservation concern (CERW, PROW) with edge/interior
Forest width and breeding assemblage composition?
Detectable but small breeding assemblage shift related to lack of ground cover (extended spring flooding) {Prothonotary Warbler+, Common Grackle+, House Wren-, diversity-}
Detectable but small breeding assemblage shift with increased Phalaris cover and decreased basal area {Common Yellowthroat, Song sparrow, American Redstart, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Catbird}
To Review some things others have found
Red-shouldered Hawks and Cerulean Warblers (J. Stravers)Larger areas of mature floodplain forest near forested bluffs
Cerulean Warblers in general like large tall trees in mature forests with spreading branches near canopy gaps , generally considered area sensitive (Buehler et al. 2012 and refs therein)
Other species that require older trees because of their nesting/roosting habit or size: Brown Creeper, tree roosting bats, herons and egrets, Eagles, WODU and HOME
Young forests on the middle Mississippi River (Knutson et al. 2003):Lower species richness than mature forestdominated by Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Downy Woodpecker, Orchard Oriole
Shrub carr has high species diversity and abundance but not as high as floodplain forest: Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, American Redstart, etc. (Kirsch 1990’s data)
To Review some things others have found
Red-shouldered Hawks and Cerulean Warblers (J. Stravers)Larger areas of mature floodplain forest near forested bluffs
Cerulean Warblers in general like large tall trees in mature forests with spreading branches near canopy gaps , generally considered area sensitive (Buehler et al. 2012 and refs therein)
Other species that require older trees because of their nesting/roosting habit or size: Brown Creeper, tree roosting bats, herons and egrets, Eagles, WODU and HOME
Young forests on the middle Mississippi River (Knutson et al. 2003):Lower species richness than mature forestdominated by Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Downy Woodpecker, Orchard Oriole
Shrub carr has high species diversity and abundance but not as high as floodplain forest: Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, American Redstart, etc. (Kirsch 1990’s data)
To Review some things others have found
Knutson et al. 2006:Modeled productivity highest in floodplain forest type
Maple Mast Young Tree Swallow Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Wood PeweeAmerican Robin Rose-breasted Grosbeak Great Crested Flycat.American Redstart Black-capped ChickadeeYellow WarblerWarbling VireoBaltimore Oriole
Species with estimated λ < 1 in all floodplain forest and upland forests
American RedstartEastern Wood PeweeBlue-gray gnatcatcherProthonotary Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
To Review some things others have found
Knutson et al. 2006:Modeled productivity highest in floodplain forest type
Maple Mast Young Tree Swallow Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Wood PeweeAmerican Robin Rose-breasted Grosbeak Great Crested Flycat.American Redstart Black-capped ChickadeeYellow WarblerWarbling VireoBaltimore Oriole
Species with estimated λ < 1 in all floodplain forest and upland forests
American RedstartEastern Wood PeweeBlue-gray gnatcatcherProthonotary Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
Tree preferences of foraging birds during spring migration in Upper
Mississippi River floodplain forests&
Patterns related to spring weather and tree phenology
Eileen M. Kirsch and Mike Wellik
USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI
Tree preferences of foraging birds during spring migration in Upper
Mississippi River floodplain forests&
Patterns related to spring weather and tree phenology
Eileen M. Kirsch and Mike Wellik
USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI
Greater use of Oaks and Hackberry by transient migrants
Greater use of Maple by local breeding species
Conclusions:
Greater use of Oaks and Hackberry by transient migrants
Greater use of Maple by local breeding species
Implications for the UMR floodplain forests?
*Advanced phenology may reduce the importance of this forest for Transient migrants because they preferred oaks Which as a group are more common in upland forests in the warm years. (But Hackberry?)
*Risks to forest health with reduced bird foraging during leaf-out and increased likelihood of frost damage from early leaf development.
*Predicted increased frequency of summer storms with severe rainfall will influence flow regimes and hence, floodplain forest composition and structure.
Implications for the UMR floodplain forests?
*Advanced phenology may reduce the importance of this forest for Transient migrants because they preferred oaks Which as a group are more common in upland forests in the warm years. (But Hackberry?)
*Risks to forest health with reduced bird foraging during leaf-out and increased likelihood of frost damage from early leaf development.
*Predicted increased frequency of summer storms with severe rainfall will influence flow regimes and hence, floodplain forest composition and structure.
20 years later:
Surveying same sites (Pools 4, 8 and hopefully 13) with 3, 10 minute point counts tracking detections by minute
Detailed forest and ground cover sampling to compare with USACE forest inventory and relate to site elevations and to bird data and herbaceous species composition
Goals: Detect any trends in bird species abundance since the 1990’s
Assess detection and occupancy of selected species and relate these with new habitat variables (tree density, BA) and tree species gradients
20 years later:
Surveying same sites (Pools 4, 8 and hopefully 13) with 3, 10 minute point counts tracking detections by minute
Detailed forest and ground cover sampling to compare with USACE forest inventory and relate to site elevations and to bird data and herbaceous species composition
Goals: Detect any trends in bird species abundance since the 1990’s
Assess detection and occupancy of selected species and relate these with new habitat variables (tree density, BA) and tree species gradients
Acknowledgements:
Carl Korschgen Mike Griffin Kathy Carlyle Ryan PottingerPat Heglund Brian Collins Steve Houdek Lacy KochMelissa Meier Debi DeTranel Mike Wellik Jennifer SobiechColin Sveum Jim Nissen Kevin Markwardt Will Yandek Steve Houdek Eric Nelson Matt Groschek Chris PollentierChris Kochanney Walter Popp Kelly McKay Torre HovickJeff Dankert Kathleen Monson Robert ChapmanDoug Olsen Martin Murphy Terry GrimmSantiago GarciaBrian PancherEric ZeulkeLara HillCraig AnnenChis CusterTom Custer Brian GraySarah SuarezDouglas A. OlsonJim Rogala
Acknowledgements:
Carl Korschgen Mike Griffin Kathy Carlyle Ryan PottingerPat Heglund Brian Collins Steve Houdek Lacy KochMelissa Meier Debi DeTranel Mike Wellik Jennifer SobiechColin Sveum Jim Nissen Kevin Markwardt Will Yandek Steve Houdek Eric Nelson Matt Groschek Chris PollentierChris Kochanney Walter Popp Kelly McKay Torre HovickJeff Dankert Kathleen Monson Robert ChapmanDoug Olsen Martin Murphy Terry GrimmSantiago GarciaBrian PancherEric ZeulkeLara HillCraig AnnenChis CusterTom Custer Brian GraySarah SuarezDouglas A. OlsonJim Rogala