Ten-Year Response of Riparian-Associated Songbirds to Implementation of Streamside Management Zones in Watershed-Scale Harvests in the Appalachian Mountains

Zachary J. Hackworth, John J. Cox, Jeffery L. Larkin, Wendy Leuenberger, Joshua M. Felch, Allison G. Davis, Christopher D. Barton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Streamside management zones (SMZs) are regulated components of actively managed forests in the eastern United States, but width and overstory retention requirements vary widely among states. Within watershed-scale harvests, we evaluated the relative abundances of three riparian-associated songbirds (Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens; blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius; and Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla) near Appalachian headwater streams receiving three SMZ treatments representative of a range of current state SMZ regulations in the eastern United States. Prior to harvest, all species were relatively abundant near all stream types, including ephemerals. Abundances of all species were largely similar among SMZ treatments at 3 years and 10 years postharvest and were higher along streams with greater residual canopy cover within 100 m. Forested SMZs as prescribed by current regulations can sustain these species in managed forests up to 10 years postharvest, but abundance appears to be driven largely by canopy cover retention in adjacent stands. Managing habitat for riparian-associated songbirds in harvested watersheds will require expanding the extent of focus beyond the local stream corridor to include consideration of silvicultural systems that retain greater canopy cover in surrounding forests. Where conservation of riparian-associated songbirds is a management objective, SMZ protection should be extended to all streams.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)383-397
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Forestry
Volume122
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of American Foresters. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • best management practices
  • Neotropical migratory passerine
  • riparian management zone
  • specialist species
  • stream buffer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Plant Science

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