Breeding bird communities in a hardwood forest succession in Nova Scotia

Abstract

The response of breeding birds to hardwood forest disturbance and regrowth was examined using a chronosequence of 23 stands aged from 1 to 74 years. The avifauna of young, clearcut stands (.ltoreq. 12 years old) was distinct in both species and density from mature stands (.gtoreq. 20 years old). The most important species of young stands were Chestnut-sided Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Junco, and White-throated Sparrow, while older stands were dominated by Least Flycatcher, Hermit Thrust, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, and Ovenbird. As clearcut stands developed and began structurally to resemble a forest, especially with the establishment of a tall, relatively dense shrub canopy, species of birds more typically associated with closed stands began to invade. Bird species density, diversity, and richness levelled off in the transitional stage between recent clearcuts and young forests, and at this stage there was a mixture of open and closed canopy species. With further succession, species typical of young stands were eliminated from the avifauna. The overall effects of timber harvesting upon the avifauna of this hardwood forest were not severe, and were of limited duration.