Avian use of a lakeshore buffer strip and an undisturbed lakeshore in Maine

Abstract

Breeding bird density and species richness were lower in the buffer strip than in the undisturbed lakeshore. Of 35 species that nested in both study areas, 11 species nested only in the undisturbed lakeshore and 3 nested only in the buffer strip. A harvest index (HI) was developed. Birds associated with forest interiors were observed less frequently on sites with a high HI than on sites with a low HI. Species often found in cutover areas or edges were frequently counted on sites with a high HI. Eight species were found most frequently in lightly cut areas (low HI), 4 most frequently in moderate cuts, and 9 in greater HI. -from Authors