Scrub-successional bird community dynamics in young and mature longleaf pine-wiregrass savannahs

Public agencies are required to manage for threatened and endangered specie s and for biodiversity. However, at times, management for threatened and en dangered species precludes consideration of other species. We investigated how managing for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) and biodivers ity at the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina, affected communities of bird species that use early-successional scrub habitat thereafter, scrub -successional species). Management for red-cockaded woodpeckers at the SRS involved both (1) manipulating mature longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)-wireg rass (Andropogon spp.) stands via canopy thinning, removal of midstory tree s, and prescribed bunting; and (2) even-aged timber harvesting. The former management practice encouraged red-cockaded woodpeckers to establish new co lonies in previously unoccupied stands thereafter, "recruitment" stands). T he latter management practice is used to remove offsite planted pines and r eplant with preferred longleaf pines. We conducted a constant-effort mist n et study in recruitment and regenerating stands (stands clearcut and plante d with longleaf pine) during the breeding seasons of 1995-96. We hypothesiz ed that the scrub-successional bird community in recruitment stands would h ave greater species richness and higher survival and reproductive rates per species than in regenerating stands. However, recruitment stands always ha d fewer scrub-successional species (1995: 36 species: 1996: 31 species) tha n regenerating stands (1995: 54 species; 1996: 55 species), and all species that occurred in recruitment stands also occurred in regenerating stands. Species which commonly occurred in both recruitment and regenerating stands had similar adult:juvenile ratios (P > 0.15) and relative proportion of ad ults in breeding condition (P > 0.05). We detected no difference in surviva l rates of Bachman's sparrows (Aimophila aestivalis). indigo buntings (Pass erina cyanea), and of "combined" scrub-successional birds between stand typ es (P > 0.05). We found that even-aged forestry is an important management practice for maintaining and increasing avian biodiversity on public lands, as well as an acceptable management practice for red-cockaded woodpeckers.