Strips of mature trees along intermittent or permanent streams, called
streamside zones (SZ), often are retained to protect water quality an
d accommodate wildlife when forest stands are harvested. We investigat
ed the effects on breeding birds of 3 SZ widths (narrow 15-25 m, mediu
m 30-40 m, and wide 50-95 m) in young pine (Pinus spp.) plantations in
eastern Texas. Bird abundance was generally positively related to SZ
width. Narrow SZ were inhabited mainly by species associated with youn
g brushy stands and habitat edge. Bird species frequenting the wide zo
nes were mostly those associated with mature pine-hardwood and bottoml
and hardwood stands in the South. Species found in the medium zones we
re a mix of species associated with narrow and wide zones, Retention o
f medium and wide SZ maintains species of birds in local communities a
nd benefits species associated with mature forest.