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Habitat Distribution of Birds Wintering in Central Andros, the Bahamas: Implications for Management

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Habitat Distribution of Birds Wintering in Central Andros, the Bahamas: Implications for Management Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol. 41, No. 1, 75-87, 2005 Copyright 2005 College of Arts and Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagu¨ez Habitat Distribution of Birds Wintering in Central Andros, The Bahamas: Implications for Management DAVE CURRIE1,JOSEPH M. WUNDERLE JR.2,5,DAVID N. EWERT3,MATTHEW R. ANDERSON2, ANCILLENO DAVIS4, AND JASMINE TURNER4 1 Puerto Rico Conservation Foundation c/o International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Sabana Field Research Station HC 0 Box 6205, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773, USA. 2 International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Sabana Field Research Station HC 0 Box 6205, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773, USA. 3 The Nature Conservancy, 101 East Grand River, Lansing, MI 48906, USA. 4 The Bahamas National Trust, P.O. Box N-4105, Nassau, The Bahamas. 5 Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT.—We studied winter avian distribution in three representative pine-dominated habitats and three broadleaf habitats in an area recently designated as a National Park on Andros Island, The Bahamas, 1-23 February 2002. During 180 five-minute point counts, 1731 individuals were detected (1427 permanent residents and 304 winter residents) representing 51 species (29 permanent and 22 winter residents). Wood warblers (Family Parulidae) comprised the majority (81%) of winter residents. Total number of species and individuals (both winter and permanent residents) were generally highest in moderately disturbed pine- dominated habitats. The composition of winter bird communities differed between pine and broadleaf habitats; the extent of these differences was dependent broadleaf on composition and age in the pine understory. Fifteen bird species (nine permanent residents and six winter residents) exhibited significant habitat preferences. There was no significant difference in the degree of habitat specialization between permanent and winter residents. Most species occurred across a range of habitats; only three species were found in one habitat type. Intra-specific variation in detection of permanent and winter residents is discussed in relation to diet, habitat structure, and disturbance regime. Avian distribution in pine forest is also dis- cussed in relation to fire frequency. KEYWORDS.—Avian habitat use, Dendroica kirtlandii, fire ecology, fire management, Geothlypis rostrata, Nearctic, Neotropical migrant birds, pine forest, Saurothera merlini. INTRODUCTION (White 1998). Neotropical and nearctic mi- grants are documented as comprising up to The importance of the Bahamas archi- 50% of terrestrial birds species during the pelago, which comprises more than 700 is- winter (Wunderle and Waide 1993; Lee lands, cays and rocks from just off Florida 1996a, b), one of which, the Kirtland’s war- south to Cape Haiten (Saunders 1988), for bler Dendroica kirtlandii, overwinters exclu- birds is well documented. The Bahamas ar- sively in the archipelago (Mayfield 1972; chipelago is listed as both an Important Sykes and Clench 1998; Haney et al. 1998). Bird Area (IBA) and an Endemic Bird Area Although comprehensive bird lists have (EBA; Stattersfield et al. 1998): more than been compiled for many of the islands in 300 species have been recorded in the ar- the archipelago (White 1998 and references chipelago, more than 200 birds regularly therein), quantitative data on bird distribu- occur, and the 109 breeding species include tions and densities within and between three endemics and 34 endemic subspecies habitats is scarce (e.g., Grand Bahama, Emlen 1977; Andros, Baltz 1993; New Providence, Great Inagua, Wunderle and ms. received September 27, 2004; accepted January Waide 1993; Abaco, Lee 1996a, b). Given 24, 2005 the high rate of deforestation/development 75 76 DAVE CURRIE ET AL. in the Caribbean, including The Bahamas of mixed warbler chips was conducted for (Lanly 1982; Wunderle and Waide 1993), five minutes after the five minutes of si- quantifying baseline bird distributions and lence. An additional two min were used to identifying important habitats for both mi- identify any species that responded to the grants and residents, especially threatened tape. Total sampling time per point was 12 migrant species and regional endemics, is min. At each point an observer recorded: crucial for developing conservation policy. (1) the number of individuals of each spe- In this paper we characterize winter bird cies detected (seen or heard) within a 25 m communities and habitat distribution of in- radius, (2) the number of individuals of dividual species in six habitats on Andros each species detected beyond the 25 m ra- Island within the boundaries of a recently dius but still within the designated habitat, designated national park. We discuss find- and (3) any species detected by the ob- ings from this study relevant to park man- server walking between points not detected agement, in particular the use of fire in pine during the point counts themselves. The habitats. latter contributed to the completeness of the species list for a given habitat, but were METHODS AND MATERIALS not used in any of the analyses. All bird Study site names follow Raffaele et al. (1998). Points were at least 150 m apart, and a The Bahamas are low-lying sub-tropical minimum of 50 m from a habitat edge. islands (maximum elevation 64 m asl). The Counts were conducted between 0700 and wettest months are May to November and 1000 EST. Playback of Kirtland’s Warbler northern islands have higher rainfall than chips, calls and song was played while the southern islands. The study was con- walking between points, but was stopped ducted on central Andros Island (Fig. 1), 30 m from the subsequent point. In dense the largest island in The Bahamas archi- habitats (e.g., short coppice) point counts pelago, from 1 to 23 February 2002. As with were conducted along trails and narrow most of the northern islands in the archi- unpaved roads. Point counts were not con- pelago, the dominant vegetation type is ducted during winds or rain. Caribbean Pine, Pinus caribaea. Thirty point counts were conducted in Point counts each of the following six habitats: (i) Shrubby field—Abandoned or fallow agri- A fixed-radius point count method cultural fields with grasses, herbs, shrubs, (Hutto et al. 1986) was used to sample birds and saplings; (ii) Pine with poisonwood/ in six common terrestrial habitats. Playback palmetto understory (PMP)—An even- aged stand of approximately 20-30 year old Caribbean pine with a mixed understory of poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), and various small shrubs. The sabal palm is an indicator of wet pine woodlands, as this species grows where the water table (fresh water) is near the ground surface; (iii) Pine with fern un- derstory (PF)—An even-aged stand of ap- proximately 20-30 year old Caribbean pine with a bracken fern (Pteridium sp.) under- story often less than 1 m tall; (iv) Pine with shrub understory (PC)—An even-aged stand of approximately 20-30 year old Ca- ribbean pine with a 2-3 m shrubby under- story; (v) Short Coppice—Broadleaf wood- FIG. 1. The Bahamas archipelago showing our study land <4.6 m in height; and (vi) Tall Cop- area on central Andros Island (arrow). pice—Broadleaf woodland >4.6 m in height. ANDROS WINTER BIRD DISTRIBUTION 77 FIG. 2. Foliage height profiles for six habitats in which birds were sampled during 1-23 February 2002 in central Andros, The Bahamas. Each foliage height class includes all foliage present in categories greater than the first height value of each respective height class. Mean values are shown separately for pine and broadleaf foliage. Vegetation measurements 0.03 ha circle. Density was determined by an observer walking along the transects We used two 20-m diameter circular plots and counting all woody stems (<3 cm) (0.03 ha) to quantify vegetation (modified af- touching the observer’s body and out- ter Wunderle and Waide 1993) in each of the stretched arms at breast height; broadleaf six habitats. Placement of plots was deter- shrubs and young pines were recorded mined by randomly selecting a point count separately. site in the first 15 sites and another in the last We determined foliage height profiles at 15 sites. Plots were centered on the randomly 20 points at 2 m intervals along the north, selected points. Within each plot, we mea- south, east, and west radii of the circular sured the diameter of all trees at 1.3 m above plot (after Schemske and Brokaw 1991). A the ground with diameter greater than 3 cm pole of 3-m length and 2.0 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) and recorded each marked at 0.5 m intervals was placed ver- within the following diameter classes: >3-8 tically at each sample point. The presence cm, >8-15 cm, >15-23 cm, >23-38 cm, and >38 or absence of foliage touching the pole cm DBH. Trees were classified as broadleaf within each height class was recorded. For or pine. height intervals above3mwesighted Shrub density at 1.3 m height was esti- along the upright pole and recorded the mated along four 8-m transects running in presence/absence of foliage in each of the the cardinal directions centered within the following estimated height intervals: >3-4, 78 DAVE CURRIE ET AL. >4-6, >6-8, >8-10, >10-12, >12-15, >15-20, the field. Therefore, these species were and >20-25 m. Percent cover was calculated treated as permanent residents in our by dividing the number of points in which analyses, but we recognize that some indi- foliage was present in that interval by the viduals may represent wintering birds. total number of sample points (n = 20) and Birds were classified into diet guilds based multiplying by 100. Heights of the five tall- on Emlen (1977). est canopy trees were estimated by refer- We calculated a Similarity Coefficient ence to the 3 m pole.
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