Avian population trends in the vulnerable montane forests of the Northern Appalachians,USA |
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Authors: | David I King J Daniel Lambert John P Buonaccorsi Leighlan S Prout |
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Institution: | (1) Northern Research Station, US Forest Service, 203 Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;(2) Vermont Institute of Natural Science, PO Box 1281, Quechee, VT 05059, USA;(3) Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;(4) White Mountain National Forest, 719 North Main St, Laconia, NH 03246, USA |
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Abstract: | Declines in bird populations are an important issue facing conservationists. Although studies have documented bird declines
in a variety of lowland habitats, montane habitats are generally under represented in these investigations. Nevertheless,
montane habitats are vulnerable because of their restricted geographic distribution as well as their exposure to environmental
stressors such as atmospheric deposition and climate change. We surveyed birds at 768 points on 42 transects in montane spruce-fir
forests the White Mountains of New Hampshire from 1993–2003. We detected 17,479 individuals of 73 species during this period,
of which 10 were abundant enough for analyses. Of these 10 species, three exhibited significant population declines during
the survey period: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia). Two of these species (Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Bicknell’s Thrush) are considered ecological indicator species for
montane spruce-fir forest. Declines in these species are an indication that recent concern on the part of conservationists
about montane spruce-fir forest and the birds that inhabit them are justified. Our observation that these trends were not
reflected in the National Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) analyses, and that one high priority species, the Bicknell’s Thrush,
did not occur on BBS routes in New Hampshire during the survey period, argues for the importance of continued efforts to monitor
these habitats. |
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Keywords: | Bird Chemical deposition Climate Recreation Spruce-fir |
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