Forest Management for Favored Species:Songbirds and Cavity Users

摘要

In addition to squirrels, raccoons, and other mammals, about 85 North American bird species (including woodpeckers and wood ducks) feed, nest, or roost in dead or decaying trees (also called snags). To manage for these species, preserve snags and potential snags. Use uneven-aged timber harvest and regeneration systems, leaving some trees to grow beyond their usual rotation age. These old trees will eventually degrade and form snags. A one-fifth acre clump of uncut trees within each five-acre harvestarea will provide many wildlife species with snags of proper size (generally greater than nine inches DBH and six feet tall). Alternatively, you can create snags by girdling selected trees and spraying an appropriate herbicide into the girdled area to kill the trees. Cavity nesters also will use appropriately sized nest boxes.The wood duck is one of the most popular woodland cavity nesters. Encourage nesting cavities orplace nest boxes within one-half mile of a water source with good brood-rearing potential—generally, a wetland with emergent vegetation.