Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the U.S. - American Bird ...

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20Northwest RainforestA T A G L A N C E :Priority Species: Marbled Murrelet,Spotted Owl, Hermit Warbler, BandtailedPigeonThreats: Resource extraction, forestfragmentationGeographical area: BritishColumbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon,CaliforniaPhoto: stock xchngThe coastal temperate rainforestsof the Pacific Northwestepitomize the dynamicinterplay between the conservation ofnatural resources and the sustainabilityof timber harvest. From Kodiak Island,Alaska to the fog-enshrouded redwoodforests of northwestern California, amild, maritime climate with staggeringamounts of rain supports rapidvegetation growth including highlyproductive conifer forests dominatedby majestic trees such as Sitka spruce,redwood, Douglas fir, western andmountain hemlock, Pacific silver andnoble fir, and western red cedar. Thesebiologically diverse ecosystems supportmore biomass than any other foresttype in the world. The high productivitythat results in some of the biggesttrees in the world has also resulted in avaluable commodity—lumber—making these among the most intensivelymanaged forests in the world.The heart and soul of the PacificNorthwest is old-growth conifer forest.A walk through an old-growth rainforestis like a step back in time. Treesover 200 feet tall tower over multilayeredcanopies and subcanopies, impenetrableshrubby understories, andforest floors carpeted with the remainsof ancient fallen trees and mats ofmosses and ferns. Perhaps the quintessentialnorthwest rainforests occur onthe Queen Charlotte Islands, known totheir original inhabitants, the Haida,as “Haida Gwaii” which translates into“place of wonder,” an appropriate descriptionfor the lush forests of spruce,hemlock, and cedar, some of whichare over 1,000 years old. Elsewhere, inthe “panhandle” of southeast Alaska,thousands of fjords cut deep into steepcoastal mountains, and the forest mixeswith cliffs, streams, and glaciers rightdown to the edge of the sea. In northwesternCalifornia, massive redwoodtrees reach into the low clouds andcoastal fog to create an ethereal, cathedral-likesetting, and the constant dripsof moisture provide the sustenance onwhich the trees thrive.Birds further the sense of awe thatthese forests inspire. Deep in the heartof an old-growth forest, time standsstill when you hear the hauntingand ventriloquial song of the VariedThrush, the primordial blast of thePileated Woodpecker’s call, or thelong, echoing song of the Winter Wrenfrom the forest floor. The dawn anddusk forays to the ocean and back byMarbled Murrelets add to the mystery.Page 8 of 48
However, the beauty and wonder ofthese forests are threatened by thevalue of trees as a commodity. AfterEuropean arrival, these highly productiveforests helped supply the lumberneeds for the growing settlements ofthe Pacific Northwest. Once rail andboat transportation became established,this seemingly endless timberresource became an important exportthat provided not only for the growingpopulation of the United States, butalso the rest of the world. Decades ofexploitation of the timber resource,especially in the early years when itseemed inexhaustible and there waslittle concern for reforestation, resultedin thriving local economies, especiallyin the small mountain communitiesthroughout the region.By the 1980s, there was growingrecognition of the ecological andrecreational values of these forests,along with an increasing awareness thatBand-tailed Pigeon: Ashok Khoslatimber extraction in old-growth forestswas not sustainable at existing levels.The species that became emblematic ofold-growth and eventually the centerof controversy over the impacts of loggingwas a moderate-sized, unassumingowl. The Spotted Owl became thefocus of an acrimonious debate thatpitted the conservation communityagainst the wood products industry,and more broadly, environmentalismagainst economics. After 15 years ofresearch, public rhetoric, accusations,and a series of lawsuits, the NorthwestForest Plan was completed in 1994to guide future management of theseforests.Sadly, there is still debate over whetherimportant areas of old-growth forestshould be conserved. Even whenthere is agreement on this need, thecomplex issue of sustainable forestmanagement continues to be a challengeamidst ever-increasing demandsfor timber. Efforts have been focusingon more selective harvesting andmanagement to retain or accelerateold-growth characteristics in youngerforests, especially on public lands.Some promising results are emerging,but we are still early in the process inan ecosystem that requires at least 200years to reach old-growth status.HABITAT CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHTBird conservation in the temperate rainforests of the PacificNorthwest is primarily about forest management, especiallydevelopment and maintenance of old-growth forest, butsome level of land protection and reserve creation is alsoneeded. Large areas of government lands (both managed andunmanaged) and large tracts of single-owner private industrial forestland (intensively managed) dominate the landscape. Consequently,the best approach to bird conservation in this habitat type is toincorporate bird conservation objectives into the plans and policiesof these larger ownerships. Some examples include retention or creationof varying amounts of large dead trees for Pileated Woodpeckerand Vaux’s Swift, and maintaining a mosaic of age classes of forestpatches for Northern Goshawk and Band-tailed Pigeon.Within the context of forest management, bird conservation is justone of many objectives that have to be considered. This balancingof objectives is not only between what is good for birds and the needfor forest products and services, but also between specific bird conservationpriorities. ABC Green List species such as the Willow Flycatcherprefer younger forests, but others such as the Hermit Warblerand Spotted Owl need older forests. One of the highest priority birds,the Olive-sided Flycatcher, actually finds the most suitable habitat atthe juxtaposition of young and old forest. The Townsend’s Warbler,Varied Thrush, and Winter Wren all display a strong affinity for olderforest, but each has unique needs within that forest type. So, thecomplexities of bird conservation, both among bird species and inrelation to other forest management objectives, require considerableforethought and planning at both small and large scales.To support the avian component of sustainable forest management,Partners in Flight bird conservation plans provide specifics on whatbirds need and how forest management affects their populations.ABC has been working with the Pacific Coast Joint Venture and severalfederal agencies to establish biological objectives for forest birdsand to have those objectives incorporated into the plans, processes,policies, and projects of various partners. Further guidance formanagement, specifically of young forests, will be provided in a soonto-be-completedABC and U.S. Geological Survey publication onBreeding Bird Habitat in Young Conifer Rainforests. The implementationof the objectives found in the Partners in Flight plans and therecommendations in this guide will provide the best opportunitiesto ensure that bird populationsare maintained and can thrivewithin the context of forestmanagement.—ABC’s Bob AltmanMarbled Murrelet: G. Van Vliet/USGSPage 9 of 48
Page 2 and 3: Table of ContentsMap of the Top 20
Page 4: Wetlands photo: USDA Natural Resour
Page 7: The Economic Contribution of BirdsM
Page 11 and 12: Hooded Warbler: Barth Schorrewhen t
Page 13 and 14: Historically, oak savannah was afir
Page 15 and 16: Williamson's Sapsucker: Peter LaTou
Page 17 and 18: lower and wetter ground for less an
Page 19 and 20: Grasshopper Sparrow: Bill Hubickpro
Page 21 and 22: While the northernmost chaparralhab
Page 23 and 24: esident and migratory bird species,
Page 25 and 26: It is not simply habitat loss that
Page 27 and 28: The Prairie Potholes are rightfully
Page 29 and 30: in longleaf. Likewise, many species
Page 31 and 32: Many endemic plants and animalsevol
Page 33 and 34: The large mammals, such as bison,an
Page 35 and 36: of miles of varied shoreline, inclu
Page 37 and 38: conditions for John Deere’s newly
Page 39 and 40: significant role in maintaining rip
Page 41 and 42: limestone bedrock that forms thepla
Page 43 and 44: dense layer of shrubs. Early ranche
Page 45 and 46: Introduced ungulates can be asdevas
Page 47 and 48: emained. From the seed-eating Palil

Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the U.S. - American Bird ...

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