Study

Forest restoration treatment effects on the nesting success of western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana)

  • Published source details Germaine H.L. & Germaine S.S. (2002) Forest restoration treatment effects on the nesting success of western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana). Restoration Ecology, 10, 362-367.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use prescribed burning on pine forests

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Use prescribed burning on pine forests

    A controlled study in 1998-2001 on Mt. Trumbull, Arizona, USA (Germaine & Germaine 2002), found that western bluebirds Sialia mexicana were more likely to successfully fledge young and fledged more chicks in restored ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa forest, compare to unrestored forest (75% of 56 nests in restored forest fledging young, with an average of 3 chicks/nest vs. 39% and 2 chicks in control stands). Clutch size and number of nestlings per nest were similar between treatments but an average of 91% of nests were infested with parasitic blowfly Protocalliphora spp. larvae in treated forest compared with 46% in unmanaged forest; any effects on post-fledging survival are unknown. Restoration treatments comprised tree thinning, slash manipulation (e.g. chopping) and burning.

     

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