Forest stands often are managed to simultaneously achieve commercial, conservation, and recreational objectives. These management strategies often result in tradeoffs that require assessment. Scrub habitat in Ocala National Forest (ONF), Florida that was previously maintained by wildfire is now largely created by anthropogenic treatments (e.g., clearcuts, prescribed burning, roller chopping). These treatments are critical for harvesting pulpwood and creating early-successional scrub habitat, but it is unclear how they alter avian species occupancy. Our objective was to determine how time since disturbance, treatment, and snag density explain occupancy of six bird species of conservation concern in early-successional scrub habitat and assess the amount of early-successional scrub available. We conducted point counts during the 2018-2019 breeding seasons. We used single-species occupancy models to determine how species responded to stand age, snag density, and treatment.
Results/Conclusions
Three of the four species of conservation concern which had a relationship with stand age showed the highest occupancy probability in stands <8 years old. Snag density was in the top model for four of the six species and appeared to serve an important role in determining occupancy of the cavity-nesting species: American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), and Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Increasing snag density by just a few snags per hectare may help extend a stand’s longevity as suitable scrub habitat. Clearcuts that were burned may also provide suitable habitat for longer periods post-harvest than clearcuts alone. Leaving existing snags, creating new snags, and prioritizing retaining snags >25 cm dbh during clearcutting could increase the number of these cavity-nesting species. Current clearcutting methods may reduce snag density and long intervals between clearcutting (35-55 years) may limit the amount habitat available for these species.