Bird species diversity and nesting success in mature, clearcut and shelterwood forest in northern New Hampshire, USA

Bird species distribution and predation rates on natural and artificial nes ts were compared among unmanaged mature, shelterwood, and clearcut northern hardwoods forest to evaluate the effect of these practices on bird populat ions. Twenty-three of the 48 bird species detected during the study differe d significantly in abundance among unmanaged mature forest, shelterwoods, a nd clearcuts. Results of multiple regressions of bird abundance and habitat variables suggest that differences in bird species distribution among trea tments were the result of differences in habitat structure among treatments . Bird species diversity and species richness were significantly higher in shelterwoods than either mature forest or clearcuts, although there were bi rd species that occurred exclusively, or nearly so, in each of the three tr eatments. Predation rates on artificial nests were lowest in mature forest, and predation rates on natural nests was highest in mature forest, althoug h neither of these differences was statistically significant. We conclude t hat use of partial cutting exclusively would result in the decline of sever al species of mature forest and clearcut specialists, and, consequently, a decrease in species diversity at the landscape scale. The use of a variety of silvicultural techniques is recommended to maintain bird species diversi ty in forested landscapes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.