Title
Ecological factors affecting response of Dark-eyed Juncos to prescribed burning
Author(s)
Sperry J.H., George T.L., Zack S.
Published
2008
Publisher
Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Abstract
We compared abundance, daily survival rate, nest site characteristics, food availability, nest activity, and nestling size of Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hymenalis) between burned and unburned mechanically-thinned ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest units. Dark-eyed Junco territory density, number of detections in point counts, and daily nest survival were similar between treatments. Average bare ground was 4.8 times higher and litter cover was 2.6 times lower at nest sites in burned units compared to unburned nest sites. However, there was 28% less burned area around nests compared to random points in burned units, indicating that juncos placed nests in unburned portions of burned units. They also selected non-traditional nesting sites in burned units such as root holes and in trees. Arthropod abundance was higher in burned units 1-year post burn although numbers were similar in the second-year post burn. Nest attentiveness and feeding rates were three times higher in burned units, possibly in response to increased food availability. The potentially negative effect of prescribed burning through reduction of litter and increase in bare ground was offset by novel nesting strategies and increased food availability.
Keywords
abundance; food availability; nest site; passerine; prescribed burning; reproductive strategy; survival; Arthropoda; Junco (Aves); Junco hyemalis; Pinus ponderosa
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PUB12048