bird-friendly bmp’s for bottomland forest in the carolinas birds and people on common ground
Post on 15-Jan-2016
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Bird-Friendly BMP’s for Bottomland Forest in the Carolinas
Birds and People on Common Ground
Typical Hardwood Management
Historically we’ve left as is… or done large harvests followed by natural regeneration
Small Patch Clearcut
2-10 acres with <10% of entire bottomland in regenerative stateFeathered edges necessary if thinning does not accompany clearing
“String of Pearls”
Spokes of a Wheel
Example – Silver Bluff Audubon Center• 90 acre stand• Homogenous stand condition• 25 year old stand• Mature forest function – 95% canopy closure
• Prescription • Regenerate 10% of stand using patch cut(s)• 15 year entry cycle• 135 year rotation
Feathered edge of a small patch opening
Brown-headed Cowbird
All things equalThickets as far
interior as possible
Prolific! One female can Lay as many as 40 eggs a season
In other birds nests!
Nest parasites that grow largerAnd compete for adoptamom’s resources
Thicket example 1
Thicket example 2
Hardwood thinning
Ideally we want to thin down to 60-70% canopy closureTree selection can be done to leave better species composition for economics or mast production
95% Canopy Closure
60% Canopy Closure
60% Canopy Closure
Epicormic Branching
Is a problem that can occur when too much sunlight is allowed into a stand.While epicormic branching can hinder log quality, we feel that a conservative thinning will close canopy quickly enough to avoid this concern.
So how do we decide where?
Often times it is best to mimic mother nature!
Consider invasive species
Tornado Damage
Hurricane Damage
Ideal Silver Bluff Location
Since we get to choose where we put our thickets, we can pick places that naturally grow the types of understory we want!
Ideal Four Holes Swamp Location
Ironwood, Sweet Gum, Palmetto, Loblolly Pine, Water and Swamp Chestnut Oaks, Green Ash, American Elm, Hawthorne, Switch Cane, and Persimmon
Higher… less flooded areas
“Flippable” Ground Litter
HoodedWarbler
Bird survey
Swainson’sWarbler
1989 post tornado this species wasPrevalent on the S.B. Island and has sinceMoved on due to lack of habitat
National Audubon is telling me to cut
TREES??? And hunt DEER???
Brandon HeitkampResource ManagerSilver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary803-522-2299
Norman BrunswigExecutive DirectorAudubon South Carolina843-462-2150
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