Conservation of disturbance-dependent birds in eastern North America

Populations of most bird species associated with grassland, shrub-scrub hab itats, and disturbed areas in forested habitats (hereafter all referred to as disturbance-dependent species) have declined steeply. However, a widespr ead perception exists that disturbance-dependent species are merely returni ng to population levels likely found by the first European explorers and se ttlers. The fact that many disturbance-dependent bird species and subspecie s are now extinct, globally rare, threatened, or endangered challenges that perception and raises the question of balance between conservation efforts for birds dependent upon disturbances and birds more closely associated wi th mature forests. An overall understanding of the status and trends for th ese disturbance-dependent species requires reconstruction of at least thous ands of years of Native American land use followed by 500 years of post-Eur opean settlement. Interpretations herein on how to manage for these disturb ance-dependent species should support efforts to conserve all landbirds in eastern North America.