Initial bird responses to alternative pine regeneration methods in Arkansas and Oklahoma: preliminary findings

Abstract - We studied spring songbird communities in a predominantly forested landscape in the Ouachita Mountains of west-central Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Relative bird abundance, species richness, diversity, and evenness values are presented for the first, third, and fifth years following harvesting in four replications of four regeneration treatments (clearcut/plant, shelterwood, single-tree selection, and group selection), plus mature, untreated "controls." Within clearcut and shelterwood stands, relative abundance, species richness, and diversity of birds increased dramatically from the first to the third year, with smaller increases from the third to the fifth year. Single-tree and group selection stands followed this same pattern for species richness and diversity, but not for relative bird abundance. Within years, differences in response to harvesting generally were not significant, but group selection stands typically had the lowest values for the four harvesting treatments. Of the five treatments, controls typically had the lowest response variable values.