Birds with Silviculture in Mind Birder’s Dozen Pocket Guide for Massachusetts Foresters Identification tips, ecological information, and management options for 12 priority forest bird species. Adapted from Vermont’s Foresters for the Birds Project Adapted by Mass Audubon from Birds with Silviculture Editors/Contributors TABLE OF CONTENTS in Mind: Birder’s Dozen Pocket Guide for Vermont Foresters. Fletcher Clark Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation ©2011 with permission and assistance from Audubon [email protected] 2 Introduction Vermont. Mike Downey Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation 3 The Birder’s Dozen Mass Audubon [email protected] 4 How to Use this Guide 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 Wendy Sweetser Ferris Massachusetts Woodlands Institute wferris@ 10 Black-and-white Warbler 781-259-2100 franklinlandtrust.org 12 Black-throated Blue Warbler www.massaudubon.org Jennifer Fish Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation 14 Black-throated Green Warbler [email protected] [email protected] 16 Canada Warbler In partnership with Pete Grima Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation 18 Chestnut-sided Warbler Massachusetts Woodlands Institute [email protected] 20 Eastern Towhee PO Box 450, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 Doug Hutcheson Massachusetts Department of Conservation and 22 Eastern Wood-Pewee 413-625-9151 Recreation [email protected] 24 Ruffed Grouse Joshua Morse Franklin Land Trust [email protected] http://www.masswoodlandsinstitute.org/ 26 Veery Wayne Petersen Mass Audubon [email protected] And 28 White-throated Sparrow Margo Servison Mass Audubon [email protected] 30 Wood Thrush Massachusetts Department of Conservation Scott Sylvester Private Consulting Forester [email protected] 32 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Recreation Joan Walsh Mass Audubon [email protected] 34 Stand-level Habitat Associations Amherst Regional Headquarters, PO Box 484 Alison Wright-Hunter Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Amherst, MA 01004 Recreation [email protected] 35 Table of Massachusetts Nesting Dates 413-545-5993 36 Cool Facts www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/ 38 Key to Symbols [email protected] b Copyright © 2014 by Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. 40 Key to Habitat Feature Icons Introduction The Birder’s Dozen This guide is designed to assist foresters who are Audubon, the Massachusetts Department of The Birder’s Dozen is 12 of the 40 mature and young forest interested in silviculture that integrates timber and Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts breeding birds that have been identified by National songbird habitat management in Massachusetts. Woodlands Institute. Audubon as being high priorities for protection in the Information provided here is intended to support Northern Forest and the Eastern Deciduous Forest Regions In this guide, we provide considerations and tips for both the creation of Stewardship and Current Use (page 44). These 12 species were selected because they: silvicultural options that have the potential to benefit the (Ch61, Ch61A, Ch61B) forest management plans and Birder’s Dozen species, along with information on bird Are relatively simple to identify by sight and/or sound. subsequent implementation of on-the-ground, stand-level identification and habitat requirements. This guide is Collectively use a wide range of forest types and management activities that can benefit breeding bird intended to be used in conjunction with its two conditions for feeding and for breeding. populations while producing timber products. companion documents: Forest Bird Habitat Assessment Are common in Massachusetts forests. This guide has been adapted from the Vermont and Silviculture with Birds in Mind. Have a significant portion of their global population Foresters for the Birds Project in consultation with We assume users of these documents have experience breeding in the Northern Forest Region or the Eastern Audubon Vermont. The original Vermont Foresters in silviculture for timber production and an interest Deciduous Forest Region. for the Birds Toolkit was a collaborative project in managing for bird habitat as well. Our purpose is between the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, The Birder’s Dozen is a great starting place for novice to provide relevant bird information and guidance on and Recreation and Audubon Vermont. This document birders. It is also an excellent focal point for those who are integrating bird habitat management concepts with was created for use in Massachusetts by staff at Mass interested in managing forests in MA with birds in mind. accepted and widely applied silvicultural treatments. 2 3 How to use this guide This guide is designed to be a quick field reference that ID Tips Habitat Territory is small enough to fit in your pocket and can be used Describes the most distinctive and identifying field Describes the preferred, highest quality, breeding Refers to the area a male defends during the breeding during forest inventory, timber harvest, and operations. marks for males of the species during breeding season. habitat of the species where it is likely to have season. Territory size is often dependent on the quality It is not a comprehensive field guide or a complete guide Note that coloration and patterning often varies between the greatest reproductive success. Birds often use of the habitat with smaller territories being possible in to the life history of these twelve species. This is also not males and females, juveniles and adults, and breeding lower quality habitat when high quality habitat higher quality habitat. During the breeding season, some a silvicultural guide. Instead, it is intended to provide and non-breeding adults. is not available. Species may also change their species may restrict their movements to staying entirely a concentrated dose of bird-by-bird information that habitat preferences during different life stages and within their territories. However, most species require is of interest and value to those who manage forests in Song seasons, such as after fledging, before and after a larger area than their territory for foraging. Although Massachusetts and want to do so with birds in mind. Describes the most common male song that is used breeding, and during migration. potentially very useful for making management decisions, during breeding season to attract a mate and/or defend these area requirements are often difficult to calculate Drawings of habitat features important to each species a territory. Birds often sing more than one song, and since they are dependent on so many variables. are provided, along with a simple breeding habitat individuals may have their own personal variations or schematic that highlights important attributes for a regional dialects. Males and females also often have quick visual reference. A key to these habitat icons other vocalizations or calls that can be recognized with can be found at the end of the guide on pages 42-43. additional practice. 4 5 How to use this guide Food Silvicultural Considerations Notes on Massachusetts edition Refers to the main diet and foraging habitats and habits Although birds are affected by both the landscape and The Massachusetts team altered the Vermont Birder’s of the species during the breeding season. Birds’ diets and stand-level changes and management choices, this guide is Dozen list by adding Black-and-white Warbler, foraging habits often vary during different life stages and intended to inform choices made by foresters at the stand- Ruffed Grouse, and Eastern Towhee to the dozen and seasons, such as after fledging, before and after breeding, level only. The Desired Condition describes the forest removing American Woodcock, Scarlet Tanager, and and during migration. habitat condition that is most desirable for each species Blue-headed Vireo. The information for these new and is followed by a table of tips and considerations for species was developed in the same manner as the silvicultural options that have the potential to create or information for the species in the original Vermont enhance habitat for the species. When it exists, a reference Birder’s Dozen. The silviculture options Clearcut with number to the corresponding Silviculture with Birds in retention and Clearcut with Reserves were also added Mind option (e.g. 1A) is provided, along with a rough to the Massachusetts document in the silviculture section estimate of when and for how long the desired condition of any of the birds that would benefit from it. is likely to persist post-treatment. This section is meant to be used as a quick reference for foresters in the field who would like ideas for how to protect or enhance habitat for particular species or are wondering how a particular treatment may impact a species. 6 7 How to use this guide References Non-Native Invasive Plant Species Acknowledgements Hagenbuch, S., K. Manaras, J. Shallow, K. Sharpless, J. integration and application of current research in the Non-native, invasive plants, such as bush honeysuckles, Funding for adapting this publication to Massachusetts was Shallow, and M. Snyder. 2011. Birds with Silviculture disciplines of bird habitat requirements and silviculture, buckthorn, autumn olive, and Japanese barberry, present provided through the DCR Working Forest Initiative. Thanks in Mind: Birder’s Dozen Pocket Guide for Vermont along with our personal knowledge in these areas that a variety