A land manager's guide to conserving habitat for forest birds in ...

nurse crop — any tree, shrub, or plant species used to protect,
or enhance the growth of a more sensitive species by providing
shelter, shade, and moist environments. Pine plantations may act
as a nurse crop for hardwood species such as red maple.
offspring — a new organism produced by one or more parents.
old growth forest — a type of forest that has no evidence of
human disturbances and has reached a great age and so exhibits
unique biological features. Old-growth forest typically contains
large and old live trees, large dead trees, and large downed logs.
organic layer — the top layer of soil, also known as humus, that
is located just below the leaf litter and just above the mineral soil.
It consists of decaying organic material (dead plants and animals).
organism — any living plant or animal.
output — any result, product, or service that is produced.
overstorey — the uppermost layer of the forest, formed by tree
crowns, also called the main canopy.
partial harvesting — any harvesting method that retains a
portion of the mature trees on the site. Group selection, diameterlimit,
single tree selection, and the shelterwood system are
classified as partial harvesting systems.
passerine — a group of birds known as perching birds. More
than half of all bird species belong to this group, and many
are songbirds.
permanent resident — any organism that does not migrate,
thereby remaining in the same region year round. The Pileated
Woodpecker is a permanent resident of southern Ontario forests,
spending both the winter and summer in the same area.
pest — any unwanted insect, plant, or animal capable of
causing injury or damage and is detrimental to human resources
(trees, crops, livestock, etc.).
pit and mound topography — rolling terrain
produced when old trees fall down. Pits or depressions are
created when the roots and clinging soil are pulled up from
the ground, exposing the mineral soil, mounds are created when
root mat decays.
plantation — a stand composed primarily of trees established by
planting or artificial seeding, typically in even spaced rows.
point count — a method of counting birds (census) in which the
observer identifies all birds heard and seen during a certain
period of time (usually 10 minutes) at a given point or location.
pollinators — any animal or insect that provides an important
service for plants by moving pollen from a male flower to a
female flower to enable seed plants to reproduce. Wind pollinates
some plants.
population — a group of organisms of a particular species whose
members breed mostly or solely among themselves, usually as a
result of physical isolation, although biologically they could
breed with any members of the species.
population sustainability — the continued existence of a given
population over time without interruption, weakening, or loss of
valued qualities.
population trends — quantifies changes in the number of
individuals in a population of a particular region or across the
species entire range over a designated time interval. Values
indicate increasing, decreasing, stable, or unknown.
post-breeding period — the period of time after the breeding
season, and prior to migration (if applicable).
predator — an organism that hunts and kills another for food.
preparatory cut — an initial, optional cut to enhance conditions
for seed production, used in the shelterwood system. Removal of
undesirable trees creates space for future seed trees to expand
their crowns and improve conditions for seed production and
natural regeneration.
prescribed burn — the deliberate and controlled burning of an
area, such as a forest or prairie, to stimulate the regeneration of
fire-dependent plants, reduce hazardous fuel levels that could
result in intense and uncontrolled fires, control unwanted
vegetation, favour desired vegetation, and improve wildlife habitat.
prescription — a site specific course of management
action written up for a particular area after specific assessments
and evaluations have been made. A prescription describes the
objectives, measures, conditions to be met, and other specific
operational strategies to be implemented when harvesting
that stand.
primary cavity nester — a bird capable of excavating their own
cavities, or hole for nesting purposes. Woodpeckers, such as the
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, are primary cavity nesters.
productivity — a measure of the capacity of a biological system.
Forest productivity refers to a forest ecosystem’s natural capacity to
capture energy, sustain life, and produce forest resources. You can
measure productivity for specific components: leaves, wood, above
ground, or below ground components. Bird productivity refers to
the number of offspring produced.
range — the geographical area or extent, where a species
occupies an area. Changes to habitat or environmental conditions
can result in the range of a given species increasing in area (range
expansion) or shrinking (range contraction).
recruitment — in silviculture, recruitment is the process of
maintaining, restoring, or increasing the seedling and sapling
components of a stand. Wildlife recruitment is the addition of
individuals to a population from all causes (i.e., reproduction
and immigration).
reforestation — the natural or artificial establishment of forest
cover after the trees are cut.
regeneration — the renewal of tree cover by establishing young
trees naturally or artificially. Regeneration usually maintains the
same forest type and is done promptly after the previous stand or
forest is removed. Also refers to the young crop of seedlings.
Glossary of Terms 95