Observations of Bird Numbers and Species Following a Historic Wildfire in Arizona Ponderosa Pine Forests

Abstract

The Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire, the largest in Arizona's history, damaged or destroyed ecosystem resources or disrupted ecosystem functioning in a mostly mosaic pattern throughout the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests exposed to the bum. Impacts of the wildfire on the occurrence of birds and their diversities were studied on two watersheds in the area, one burned by a high severity (stand-replacing) fire, while the other was burned by a low severity (stand-modifying) fire. This paper reports on the results of a five-year (2002–2007) evaluation of this wildfire on the bird species and numbers observed on these two watersheds to provide a record of the impacts of the historic fire on avifauna communities.