Biological Response to Post Boreal Forest Fire and Salvage Logging Practices: Preliminary Implications for Forestry Management

Scientists examined how birds nested, foraged and resided in their boreal forest habitat after fire and salvage logging disturbances. With greater understanding of multiple trait-habitat relationships, scientists will be better able to understand the impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on bird communities, and make recommendations to minimize harmful impacts.

Birds were found to respond to the severity of the burn. Bark insectivores preferred low to moderate burns, where insects are likely more available than in severe burns, which were preferred by cavity nesters, likely because of the habitat availability. Several cavity nesters are also bark insectivores, and may utilize both low and highly burned areas for foraging and nesting, respectively.

Also preferring severely burned sites were ground feeders likely due to favourable foraging conditions.

Ground and shrub nesters preferred severe burns that left patchy vegetation along aquatic edges, which would be important nesting habitat for these species.

Low severity burns were favoured by birds that eat insects found in foliage and in bark, and birds that nested in canopies. Severe burns were favoured by birds that nest on the ground or in tree stumps and shrubs, as well as ground foragers.

Leaving more residual trees standing was important for canopy-nesters and bark/foliage insectivores, but ground and shrub nesters preferred more bare salvaged areas.

However, the research team found many exceptions to these findings and proposes further study into trait-habitat relationships. This will help them to determine snag retention rates as well as where, when, and how often and severe to conduct burns/salvage efforts.