Effects of fuel reduction on bird density and reproductive success in riparian areas of mixed-conifer forest in southwest Oregon

Fire severity affects mixed broadleaf–conifer forest bird communities: Results for 9 years following fire

“…This has prompted fuel reduction and prescribed burning in western forests to reduce wildfire risk, techniques that have generally been successful, with few unintended consequences (Agee andSkinner 2005, Stephens et al 2012). Fuel-reduction treatments and prescribed low-intensity fire have had only modest effects on bird richness, abundance, and productivity (Alexander et al 2007, Hurteau et al 2008, Stephens and Alexander 2011, which suggests that although these management techniques may be effective in reducing risk of fire, they likely mimic only low-severity fire and will not create habitat for bird species that benefit from moderateand high-severity fire (Stephens et al 2012). An improved understanding of the response of bird communities and individual species to fire severity is needed to inform both fire-management policies and fuel-reduction programs.…”

Using culturally significant birds to guide the timing of prescribed fires in the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion

“…Researchers have investigated the indirect effects of fire on bird populations and communities, especially as related to changes in forest structure or food resources after wildfires and prescribed fires (e.g., Bagne & Purcell, 2009, 2011; Fontaine et al, 2009; Huff et al, 2005; Murphy et al, 2017; Russell et al, 2009; Seavy & Alexander, 2006, 2014; Stephens & Alexander, 2011; Stephens et al, 2015) and have documented that some species benefit from fire (e.g., Bagne & Purcell, 2011; Russell et al, 2009; Stephens et al, 2015). Thus, the absence of fire, including effects of fire exclusion on bird habitat quality and populations, is an additional and important concern when considering recovering declining bird populations.…”

“…Returning cultural burning that reflects tribal values and aims to benefit bird communities is supported by cooperative partnerships between tribal members, scientists, land managers, agencies, and other entities. Partnership examples include tribes and agencies working together for the purposes of protecting culturally important sites during fire suppression operations (Lake, 2011), planning for habitat restoration and harvesting of local resources (Lake et al, 2017;Senos et al, 2006), and local agencies working with scientists to understand the effects of fire management on birds (Alexander et al, 2004(Alexander et al, , 2017Stephens & Alexander, 2011;this study). Within this context, results from this research represent a unique coupling of long-term scientific bird monitoring and ITEK to inform an adaptive approach to prescribed fire and cultural burning (Clark et al, 2022).…”

Using Ecological Forestry to Reconcile Spotted Owl Conservation and Forest Management

“…Wildfire, prescribed fire, and vegetation management affect species in many different ways-positively and negatively-over space and time, and there are ecological tradeoffs for many species and values (e.g., Forsman et al 2010, Fontaine andKennedy 2012). Many other scientists recommend active management of various types to help conserve forest wildlife due to threats of uncharacteristic disturbance (e.g., Gaines et al 2010b, Kalies et al 2010, Stephens and Alexander 2011. For example, high fuel loading and ladder fuels can reduce foraging or nesting habitat quality for California spotted owls in Sierra Nevada forests (Roberts andNorth 2012, Keane 2013).…”