a 

Un~ted States 

Department of Fourth Meeting of 

Agr~culture the Southeast 

Forest Servfce 

Southern Forest 

Management 

Experiment Station Working Group 

New Orleans, dl 

Louisiana 

General Technical Report 

SO-95 

August 1993 

November 12-1 4,1992 

E. J. Meeman Biological Station 

Memphis, Tennessee 
ABSTRACTS 

Fourth Meeting of the 

Southeast Management Working Group 

Partners in Flight 

Edited and Compiled by 

Winston Paul Smith 

Research Wildlife Biologist 

Southern Hardwoods Laboratory 

USDA/FS Southern Forest Experiment 

Station 

Stoneville, MS 38776 

November 12-1 4,1992 

E. J. Meeman Biological Station 

Memphis State University 

Memphis, Tennessee 
AGENDA 

SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT WORKING 

GROUP 

PARTNERS IN FLIGHT 

NOVEMBER 12-14,1992 

E. J. hilEEMAN BIOLOGICAL STATION 

MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY 

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 

11 :00 

WELCOME 

Ron Escano, Chair Southeast Managenlent Working Group, 

USDA Forest Service 

11 :10 

WELCOME TO TENNESSEE 

Gary Myers, Executive Director, Tennessee Wildlife Resources 

Agency 

11 :25 

THE E. J. MEEMAN BIOLOGICAL STATION 

Michael Kennedy, Director, Biological Station 

11 :40 

PARTNERS IN FLIGHT IN TENNESSEE 

Bob Ford, President, Tennessee Ornithological Society 
TECHNICAL PAPER SESSION 

1 :30 

HURRICANE EFFECTS ON NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS 

AT A SOUTH CAROLINA BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD 

SITE. 

John Cely, D. Patrick Ferral, and Bryan A. Glover. 

1 :45 

POINT COUNT RESULTS FROM 9 BOTTOMLAND 

HARDWOOD SITES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 

John Cely and Bryan A. Glover. 

2:OO 

BIRD BANDING AT HILTON POND: MONITORING AND 

MANAGING FOR NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS IN 

SOUTH CAROLINA'S PIEDMONT REGION. 

Bill Hilton, Jr. 

ABSTRACT ONLY 

EFFECTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ON POPULATION PARAMETERS AND HABITAT USE OF WOOD 

THRUSHES. 

Michael J. Conroy and David G. Krernentz. 

2:15 

INFLUENCE OF RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER 

HABITAT MANAGEMENT ON THE ABUNDANCE OF 

NEOTWOPTCAL MIGRANT BREEDING BIRDS IN TWO 

LOBLOLLY PINE FORESTS OF MISSISSIPPI: STUDY DESIGN AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS. 

Leonard A. Brennan, Kathleen E. Lucas, Bruce D. Leopold, 

and George A. Hurst. 
WHAT EFFECT WILL, MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 

FOR THE GYPSY MOTH WAVE ON NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS? 

Robert J. Cooper. 

2:45 

NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD POPULATIONS IN 

BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY: DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND PRODUCTIVITY. 

Robert J. Cooper, Paul B. Hamel, Robert P. Ford, and Winston 

P. Smith. 

3:00 BREAK 

POINT COUNTS OF LANDBIRDS EN BOTTOMLAND 

HARDWOOD FORESTS 0 

F THE MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY: HOW LONG 

AND HOW MANY? 

Winston P. Smith, David A. Wiedenfeld, Paul B. Hamel, Daniel 

J. Twedt, Robert P. Ford, and Robert J. Cooper. 

SAMPLING BIRD COMMUNITIES IN BOTTOMLAND 

HARDWOOD FORESTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY: NUMBER OF POINTS VISITED VERSUS 

NUMBER OF VISITS TO A POINT. 

Daniel J. Twedt, Winston P. Smith, Robert J. Cooper, Robert P. 

Ford, Paul B. Warnel, and David A. Wiedenfeld. 

3:45 

SPECIES RICHNESS AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF 

BREEDING BIRDS IN FORESTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI 

ALLUVIAL VALLEY. 

Curtis O. Nelms, Daniel J. Twedt, Robert J, Cooper, and Winston P. Smith. 
D. 

4:OO 

SEASONAL DIFFERENCE IN THE EFFECTS OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION ON WEST TENNESSEE BIRD 

COMMUNITIES. 

Paul B. Harnel, Robert P. Ford, and Winston P. Smith. 

4:15 

CERULEAN WARBLER: ktODEL SPECIES FOR FOREST 

FRAGMENTATION STUDIES? 

Paul B. Hamel, Robert J. Cooper, Robert P. Ford, and Winston 

P. Smith. 

PARTNERS IN FLIGHT SLIDE SHOW 

TEXAS PARTNERS IN FLIGHT VIDEO 

5:OO DINNER 

7:OO 

LATEST POPULATION TREND DATA AND IMPLEMENTING SURVEY, MANAGEMENT, MONITORING, AND RESEARCH ACTIONS AT LOCAL LAND MANAGEMENT 

UNITS-A GROUP DISCUSSION. 

Chuck Hunter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

9:00 ADJOURN 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 

8:OO 

OVERVIEW AND FUTURE DIRECTION 

Ron Escano, Chair, Southeast Management Working Croup, 

USDA Forest Service 
890 

PHYSIOGRAPHIC AREA AND GROUPICOMMITTEE 

REPORTS 

Area Coordinators, ComrnitteeIGroup Chairs 

11:30 LUNCH 

1 :00 

THE TENNESSEE NEOTROPICAL BIRD PROGRAM-A 

PILOT FOR EASTERN STATES. 

Gary Myers, Bob Hatcher, and Bob Ford. 

200 

FORUM FOR DISCUSSING STATE PARTNERS IN 

FLIGHT INITIATIVES 

3:OO 

BUSINESS MEETING WITH TOPICS INCLUDING: 

SUMMARY OF ESTES PARK WORKSHOP 

IDENTIFYING "HIGH-PROFILE" INITIATIVES FOR 1993 

ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE 

JOINT INITIATIVES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE WEST 

INDIES 

* REVIEW OF CHARTER AND WORKPLAN 

LOGO AND LETTERHEAD FOR THE SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP 

CHANGING OF THE GUARD-THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR 1993 

NEXT REGIONAL MEETING 
5:00 ADJOURN 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 

6:OO 

BIRDING FIELD TRIPS 

Tennessee Ornithological Society, Anderson-Tully Company, 

U .S. Fish And Wildlife Service 

12:oo 

RETURN TO FIELD STATION 
Hurricane Effects on Neotrspieal iwigrants at a South 

Carolina Bottomland Hardwood Site 

John E. Celyy South Carolina Wiidlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, SC 29202 

D. Patrick Ferral, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, SC 29202 

Bryan A. Glover, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, SC 29202 

An 8-ha (20 acres) breeding bird census plot was established in 1980 at an 

old-growzh bottomland hardwood site in the Congaree Swamp National Monument. Four bird censuses, using the spot-mapping method, were conducted in 

1980, 1951, 1982, and 1984. In September, 1989, Hurricane Hugo, a category 

four storm, damaged or destroyed six billion board feet of standing timber in 

South Carolina. Forest damage was most evident in parts of the outer Coastal 

Plain where 75-100 percent of the canopy was removed, but inland sites such 

as Congaree, 144.8 kin 190 miles) from the coast, here also altered. About 16 

percent of the canopy (30.5 cm 112'7 dbh) at the Congaree census plot was 

removed. Eleven old-growth trees (91.4 cm 136'7 dbh, 30.5 m [lo0 feet] high) 

were blown down on the 8-ha plot; the large canopy gaps created thick patches 

of cane and shrub vegetation in the understory within two growing seasons. 

In 1991 a MAPS breeding bird-banding station was initiated at this bird 

census plot. Five neotropical migrants not recorded previously during the four 

spot-mapping censuses were banded: Indigo Bunting, Kentucky Warbler, 

Swainson's Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. The 

first three species occurred regularly in 1991-92 and have been found in 

breeding condition with established singing territories on the plot while the 

latter two were uncommon and possibly visitors only. Shrub thickets and openings created by Hurricane Hugo were considered responsible for the presence 

of at least four of these species: Indigo Bunting, Kentucky Warbler, Swainson's 

Warbler, and Eastern Wood Pewee. Two Neotropical Migrant Bird species 

present in small numbers on the plot before Hugo, White-eyed Vireo and 

Hooded Warbler, have shown dramatic increases in number with the creation 

af new thickets. 

The influence of hurricane canopy removal on avian predators and parasites 

(cowbirdr, crows, jays, and grackles) at the Congaree plot is unknown at this 

time. Before Hugo, all detrimental species had been recorded only as rare to 

uncommon visitors-none Rere considered to be breeders in the immediate 

vicinity, aIthough it is possible that nest-seeking female cowbirds escaped detection during census points. In 1992, the first cowbirds (two females) were 

banded orn the plot. 
Point Count Results from Nine Bottomland Hardwood 

Sites in South Carolina 

John E, CeIy, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resiources Department, 

GoIumbia, SG 29202 

Bryan A. Glover, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia, SC 29202 

Forty-one breeding bird point counts were established in 1992 at nine 

coastal South Carolina bottomland hardwood locations with various silvicultural histories. Counts were 10 minutes long and had a point radius of 50 meters; 

29 counts were repeated about 10 days later. Twenty Neotropical migrants 

(NTMB), 50 percent of the total land birds present, were recorded as probable 

breeding species. White-eyed Vireo was the most frequently occurring species 

(76 percent of all counts), followed by Northern Parula Warbler (71 percent), 

Acadian Flycatcher (68 percent), Blue-gray G natcatcher (66 percent), and 

Red-eyed Vireo (63 percent). The most abundant NTMB species was the 

Acadian Flycatcher (n = 45), followed by Northern Parula Warbler (n = 421, 

White-eyed Vireo (n = 41), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (n = 321, and Red-eyed 

Vireo (n = 32); Northern Cardinals were the most abundant bird (n = 60), 

followed by Carolina Wren (n = 52). Twenty-eight counts were in mature forests 

or those that had been selectively logged 15 years ago; 13 counts were in forests 

that had been clearcut within the past 5-15 years. Obvious differences in 

stand-age preferences were noted for some NTMB, but uncommon species at 

all sites were Summer Tanager (n = 8), Kentucky Warbler (n = 8), Swainson's 

Warbler (n = 71, Yellow-throated Warbler (n = 7). Yellow-throated Vireo (n 

= 41, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird (n = 6). The Wood Thrush was found 

at only one count, but beyond the 50-m circle. Swainson's Warbler, the highest 

ranking warbler for NTMB action in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain, was 

found in about equal abundance between older selective cut forests and 

younger forests with some canopy. Total numbers of avian predators and 

parasites (PPJ (cowbirds, grackles, crows, and jays) correlated with three different logging treatments (8 counts per treatment): mature, uncut (1 PP); 

mature, selective cut (10 PP); and clearcut (13 PP); cowbirds were the most 

abundant PP. Variation among point counts at the same site was often high, and 

frequently exceeded variation between sites. The highest total number of birds 

per count was twice as likely to occur during the first visit (about the third week 

in May) as the second visit (about the first week in June); 75 percent of the 

species were recorded during the first visit. 
Bird Banding at Hilton Pond: Monitoring and 

Managing for Neotropical Migrants in South CaroIina's 

Piedmont Region 

Bill HiIton, Jr., Nilton Pond, Vork, SC 29745 

More than 22,000 birds from 114 species have been banded since 1982 at 

Hilton Pond, a private nature sanctuary near York, South Carolina (Lat 

34"50'N, Long 81"10W, elevation 213.4 m [700 feet]); it is the onlypermanent 

banding station in the state's centrai Piedmont region. The rolling 4.5-ha 

(1 1-acre) tract includes many of the sub-habitats typical of the southern Piedmont: a house and 0.2-ha lawn; small old fields (0.2-1.2 ha [0.5-3 acres]) 7-13 

years into succession after intensive farming or grazing; mixed hardwood stands 

and scattered pines; privet, honeysuckle, and trumpet creeper thickets; brush 

piles; and 0.8-ha (2-acre) Hifton Pond, with a small outlet stream flowing west 

through moist wooded bottomland into a second larger pond partly on the 

property. Adjoining to the north is a pine plantation; south and east are cattle 

pastures and hardwood stands. Hilton Pond, built in 1955, is rimmed by alders 

and new tree growth and by old field. Groomed trails meander about the 

property that-except for a controlled burn area-is otherwise left natural. 

Feeders at the house are stocked all year with black sunflower, whole or cracked 

corn, thistle, and/or white millet; hummingbird feeders are filled mid-March 

through November; platform feeders also serve as winter trap stands, Mist nets 

sample all habitat types on the property; unless weather is mild, nets are not 

deployed December through February when traps are the main capture 

method. Traps include McCamey, Potter, dove (ground), Wharton, thistle-funnel, "government sparrow," and various pull-string devices. As of 10 October 

1992, about 47 percent (n = 10,438) of all birds banded at Hilton Pond have 

been from just four temperate zone species-House Finch (15.9 percent), 

Purple Finch (14.4 percent), American Goldfinch (10.1 percent), and Pine 

Siskin (6.7 percent)-but many others have been neotropical migrants that 

either breed in the Piedmont or pass through during spring or fall migration. 

Of particular interest are 1,014 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds banded since 

1984, some of which have returned from the wintering grounds for up to 4 

consecutive breeding seasons. The banding station at Hilton Pond is valuable 

for several reasons: 1) it has been in near-continuous operation for 10 years, 

allowing for possible trend analysis; 2) it samples the Piedmont, a seriously 

under-studied southeastern physiographic providence; 3) it may provide information about the relationship between early vegetation succession and neotropical migrants, as well as techniques for management of Piedmont locales for 

those migrants; 4) it is the only southern Piedmont site providing information 

about hummingbirds, which may be a good neotropical migrant indicator 

species; 5) it offers a permartent site for training non-game personnel in the use 

of bird banding as a monitoring technique. 
]Effects of Forest Management nn Population 

Parameters and Habitat Use of Wood Thrushes 

Michael J, Conroy, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit 

University of Georgia, Athens, CA 30602 

David C. Krernentz, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Southeast Field 

Station, School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 

30602 

The cause of declines in populations of Neotropical migrant birds may include 

fragmentation of breeding forests through forest lost or silviculturafpractices. Most 

investigations of the causes of these declines have not directly addressed underifying 

factors. Until the relationships between density, reproduction, dispersal, survival 

rates and habitat use and the vegetative mosaic are understood, managers will not 

be able to determine whether changes in silvicultural practices would benefit 

songbird populations. We propose to investigate the population response of Wood 

Thrush to experimental silvicultural treatments (regeneration cutting, thinning, and 

burning). Specifically, we will investigate thrush population responses as measured 

by density, reproduction, dispersal, survival rates and habitat use. To insure that we 

are investigating the desired treatment effect, the population dynamics from both 

control sites (little or no recent cutting or burning) and treatment sites (cutting and 

burning on up to 30 percent of a forest compartment) will be studied. Study sites 

will be located on the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR) and Oconee 

National Forest (ONF) in north-central Georgia. Both forests are predominantly 

lobiolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleaf (P. echtnata) pine. Hardwoods are scattered 

throughout both forests and are usually not harvested. Management on both 

forests is based on the compartment (about 400 ha) level. Typically, only a few 

(percent) of the many available stands are cut at one time, resulting in a mosaic of 

stands of different age and composition at the compartment level. Five paired 

compartments will be chosen, three pairs on ONF and two pairs on PNWR. 

Treatment compartments will undergo silviculture after the second year of study 

(September 1994-March 1995, after fall and before spring migration). Control 

compartments will have little or no silviculture over the term of the experiment (4 

years). Starting Spring 1993,50 wood thrushes (fcompartmentlyear) will be mistnetted and marked with aluminum leg bands to estimate return rates for 1994, 

1995, and 1996 (1 pre-treatment and 2 post-treatment years). In 1994-1996 

thrushes will also be marked with individual visible markers in order to estimate 

survival and dispersal within a season through re-sighting; a sub-sample will be radio 

tagged for estimation of daily and habitat-specific mortality risk. Constant effort 

mist netting and plot mapping will be used to monitor densities on compartments 

and stands within compartments. Nests will be systematicaUylocated and monitored 

at 3-5 day intervals to estimate nesting success. At day 10, nestlings will be weighed 

and banded to estimate juvenile recruitment (survival and return of fledged young). 

Density, survival, reproductive success, and dispersal will be compared between the 

treatment and control compartments, with 1994 (pre-treatment) data allowing us 

to account for any baseline (non-treatment-related) differences between paked 

compartments, and 1995-96 (post-treatment) data allowing inferences about the 

effects of silviculture on population parameters. Cooperators were U .S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Game and Fish Division. 
Influence of Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat 

Management on the Abundance of Neotropical Migrant 

Breeding Birds in. Two toblolly Pine Forests of 

Mississippi: Study Design and Preliminary Results 

Leonard A. Brennan, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, MS 39762 

Kathleen E. Lueas, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, MS 39762 

Bruce D. Leopold, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State 

University, MS 39762 

George A. Hurst, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State 

University, MS 39762 

We initiated a study to assess the impact of Red-cockaded Woodpecker 

(RCW) habitat management on breeding neotropical migrant birds (NTMB) 

in loblolly pine forests of east-central Mississippi. The two study areas were: 1) 

Bienville National Forest, and 2) Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Study 

design involved using point counts to compare abundance of NTMBs in forest 

stands managed for RCWs and similar-aged stands that were not managed for 

or occupied by RCWs. 

At Bienville, we identified 14 species of NTMBs in stands managed for 

RCWs. Three species (Great-crested Flycatcher. Indigo Bunting, and Yellowbreasted Chat) are apparently favored by RCW habitat management, whereas 

Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Summer Tanager were most frequently detected in stands not managed for RCWs. At Noxubee, 14 species of 

NTMBs were detected in stands managed for RCWs. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 

Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Indigo Bunting, and Yellowbreasted Chat were most abundant in RCW stands. Black-and-white Warbler, 

Hooded Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush, and Yellow-throated Vireo were detected most frequently in mature pine stands that 

were not managed for RCWs at Noxubee. 

Differences in breeding NTMB communities at Bienville and Noxubee may 

in part be a function of intensity of RCW management. At Noxubee, high 

intensity RCW habitat management has resulted in little (8 percent) overlap in 

structure of pine stands managed and not managed for RCWs, At Bienville, a 

lower intensityof RGW management has resulted in larger (24 percent) overlap 

in the structure of pine stands managed and not managed for RCWs. Although 

these results are based on only one year of survey data, they suggest that RCW 

habitat management influences the abundance of certain NTMB species. 
What Effect will Management Strategies for the Gypsy 

Moth Have on Neotropical Migratory Birds? 

Robert J. Cooper, Biology Department, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152 

The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) has become the most important insect 

pest of eastern deciduous forests; eventually it wilf invade most southeastern 

deciduous forests. Management strategies to control damage caused by gypsy 

moths wilt directly affect forest birds. We studied the effects of three gypsymoth 

management strategies (no action, pesticide, and silvicultural options) on Neotropical migrant bird populations in West Virginia. After 2 years pre-defoliation 

and 5 years of partial or complete defoliation, untreated forests exhibited a 40 

percent loss in basal area. Six species of deep-forest Neotropical migrant birds 

showed significant declines during that period, while five species increased. 

many open-habitat species increased in number. Nest predation also was higher 

in gypsy moth-infested areas. Responses were similar to those of the same bird 

species to forest thinnings. There was no significant difference in abundance of 

12 species of Neotropical migrant birds among areas treated with the pesticide 

Dimilin and untreated areas. Although Dimilin significantlyreduced availability 

of some types of arthropod prey, reproduction of several species of NeotropicaI 

migrants was not affected. Results suggest that gypsy moth populations may 

negatively affect deep-forest bird populations by opening up sections of contiguous forest. Pesticides can counter that effect but have other negative 

environmental effects. Although the gypsy moth eventually will invade most of 

the Southeast, virtually no published research has been done on effects on 

interactions with Neotropical migrants, especially long-term effects. Neotropical migrant monitoring efforts, which are currently being established throughout North America, provide an opportunity to examine long-term responses of 

birds to several gypsy moth strategies over a wide region. 
Neotropical Migratory Bird Populations in Bottomland 

Hardwood Forests of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley: 

Distribution, Abundance, and Productivity 

Robert J. Cooper, Biology Department, Memphis State University, Mernphis, TN 38152 

Paul B. Hamel, Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment, 

Nashville, TN 37243 

Robert I? Ford, Tennessee Conservation League, Nashville, TN 37209 

Winston Paul Smith, USDA Forest Service, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Stonevilie, MS 38776 

In spring 1992, a project was initiated to monitor Neotropical migratorybird 

populations in bottomland hardwood forests of the lower Mississippi Alluvial 

Valley. Collaborators include Memphis State University, U.S. Forest Service, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Conservation League, Louisiana 

Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Nature Conservancy, and the Anderson-Tully 

Company. Study objectives are to relate population parameters (e.g., density, 

distribution, productivity, survivorship) of Neotropical migrant birds to forest 

habitat characteristics. In particular, the effect of forest management strategies 

and forest fragmentation on Neotropical migrants will be studied. The first field 

season involved establishing protocols for point count monitoring and measurement of vegetation. Surveys were mostly conducted on public lands (seven 

national wildlife refuges, Delta National Forest, Meeman-Shelby State Park), 

and some on private lands owned by Anderson-Tully. In addition, a study was 

initiated to investigate the population ecology of a species of special concern, 

the Cerulean Warbler. In 1992, two study plots were established in western 

Tennessee and one in eastern Arkansas to estimate territory size, spatial pattern, density, and productivity of Cerulean Warblers, and to assess habitat use 

on several geographic scales. In 1993, the study will be expanded to include 

public and private lands from Louisiana to Tennessee. Reproductive success 

also will be monitored for selected bird species in some study areas. 
~aiht Counts of Landbirds in Bottomland Hardwasd 

Forests of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley: How Long and 

How Many? 

Winston Paul Smith, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, 

S toneville, MS 38776 

David A. Wiedenfeld, Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, 

Baton Rouge, LA 70803 

Paul B. Hamel, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 

Nashville, TN 37243 

Danief J. Twedt, National Wetlands Research Center, U.S. Department of the 

Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Vicksburg, MS 39180 

Robert P. Ford, Tennessee Conservation League, Nashville, TN 37209 

Robert 

TN 38 3 

J. Cooper, 

.52 

Biology Department, Memphis State University, Memphis, 

To quantify efficacy of point count sampling in bottomland hardwood forests, 

we examined the influence of point count duration on corresponding estimates of 

number of individuals and species recorded. To accomplish this we conducted a 

totalof 82 point counts 7 May-16 May 1992distributed among three habitats (Wet, 

Mesic, Dry) in each of three regions within the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley 

(MAV). Each point count consisted of recording the number of individual birds (all 

species) seen or heard during the initial three minutes and per each minute 

thereafter for a period totaling ten minutes. In addition, we included 384 point 

counts recorded during an 8-week period in each of 3 years (1 985-1987) among 56 

randomly-selected forest patches within the bottomlands of western 'Tennessee. 

Each point count consisted of recording the number of individuals (excluding 

migrating species) during each of four, 5 minute intervals for a period totaling 20 

minutes. To estimate minimum sample size, we determined sampling variation at 

each level (region, habitat, and locality) with the 82 point counts from the lower 

(MAV) and applied the procedures of Neter and Wasserman (1974:493; Applied 

linear statistical models). Neither the cumulative number of individuals nor number 

of species per sampling interval attained an asymptote after 10 or 20 minutes of 

sampling. For western Tennessee bottomlands, total individual and species counts 

relative to point count duration were similar among years and comparable to the 

pattern observed throughout the lower MAV. Across the MAV, we recorded a total 

of 1,62 1 birds distributed among 52 species with the majority (8721'1621) representing 8 species. More birds were recorded within 25-50 m than in either of the 

other distance categories. There was significant variation in numbers of individuals 

and species among point counts. For both, significant differences between region 

and patch (nested within region) occurred; neither habitat nor interaction between 

habitat and region was significant. For = 0.05 and L3 = 0.10, minimum sample size 

estimates (per factor level) varied by orders of magnitude depending upon the 

observed or specified range of desired detectable difference. For observed regional 

variation, 20 and 40 point counts were required to accommodate variability in total 

birds (MSE = 9.28) and species (MSE = 3.79), respectively; 25 percent of the mean 

could be achieved with 5 counts per factor level. Corresponding sample sizes 

required to detect differences of rarer species (e.g., Wood Thrush) were 500; for 

common species (e.g., Northern Cardinal) this same level of precision could be 

achieved with 100 counts. 
* 

Sampling Bird Communities in Battornland Hardwood 

Forests of the Mississippi Alluvial VBlIey: Number of 

Points Visited Vitrsus Number of Visits to a Point 

Daniel J. Twedt, Vicksburg Field Research Station, National Wetlands Research Center, T3.S .Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Vicksburg, MS 39180 

Winston P. Smith, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, 

S toneviIle, MS 38776 

Robert J, Cooper, Department of BioIogy, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152 

Robert P. Ford, Tennessee Conservation League, Nashville, TN 37209 

Paul B. Hamel, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 

Nashville, TN 37243 

David A. Wiedenfeld, Museum of Natural History, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 

Within each of 4 forest stands on Delta Experimental Forest (DEF), 25 points 

were visited 5 to 7 times from 8 May to 21 May 1991, and 6 times from 30 May to 

12 June 1992. During each visit to a point, all birds detected, visuallyor aurally, at 

any distance were recorded during a 4-minute interval. Using these data, our 

objectives were to recommend the number of point counts and the number of visits 

to a point which provide the greatest efficiency for estimating the cumulative 

number of species in bottomland hardwood forest stands within the Mississippi 

Alluvial Valley, and to ascertain if increasing the number of visits to points is 

equivalent to adding more points. Because the total number of species detected in 

DEF were different between years, 39 species in 1991 and 55 species in 1992, we 

considered each year independently. Within each stand, we obtained bootstrap 

estimates of the mean cumulative number of species obtained from all possible 

combinations of six points and six visits (i.e., 36 means/stand). These bootstrap 

estimates were subjected to ANOVA; we modelled cumulative number of species 

as a function of the number of points visited, the number of visits to each point, and 

their interaction. As part of the same ANOVA we made an a priori, simultaneous 

comparison of the 15 possible reciprocal treatments (i.e., 1 point-2 visits vs. 2 

points-1 visit, etc.). Results of analyses for each year were similar. Although no 

interaction was detected between the number of points and the number of visits, 

when reciprocals were compared, more points visited yielded significantly greater 

cumulative number of species than more visits to each point. Significant differences 

were detected among both the number of points visited and among the number of 

visits to a point. Scheffe's test of differences among means indicated that the 

cumulative number of species increased significantly with each added point, 

through five points, but six points did not differ from five points in 1991. Similarly, 

the cumulative number of species increased significantlywith each revisit, up to four 

visits, but four visits did not differ significantly from five visits. Starting with one 

point, which yielded about 33 percent of the total species pool when averaged 

among one through six points, each subsequent point resulted in an increase of 

about 9 percent, 5 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent, respectively. Each sequential 

increase in the number of visits, however, only resulted in increases of 7 percent, 4 

percent, 2 percent, and 2 percent of the total species pool. 
spedes Richness and Relative Abundance of Breeding 

Birds in Forests of the h2ississippi Alluvial VBlley 

Curtis 0. Nelms, National Wetlands Research Center, U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Fish and byildlife Service, Vicksburg, MS 39180 

Daniel J. Twedt, National WetIands Research Center, U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Vicksburg, MS 39180 

Robert J. Cooper, Department of Biology, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152 

Winston P. Smith, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, USDA Forest Serviee, 

S toneville, MS 38776 

In 1992, the Vicksburg Field Research Station of the National Wetlands 

Research Center initiated research on the ecology of migratory birds within forests 

of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). The MAV was historically a nearly 

contiguous bottomland hardwood forest, however, only remnants remain. These 

remnants are fragmented and often influenced by drainage projects, silviculture, 

agriculture, and urban development. Our objectives are to assess species richness 

and relative abundance, and to relate these to the size, quality, and composition of 

forest stands. Species richness and relative abundance were estimated for 53 

randomly selected forest sites using 1 to 8 point counts per site, depending on the 

size of the forest fragment. However, statistical comparisons among sites will be 

restricted to an equal number ofpoint counts within the sites being compared. Point 

counts, lasting five minutes, were conducted from 11 May to 29 June 1992, 

foltowing Ralph, Sauer, and Droege (Point Count Standards; memo dated 9 March 

1992). Vegetation was measured at the first three points on each site using a 

modification of the methods employed by Martin and Roper (Condor 90: 5 1-57; 

1988). During 252 counts, 7 1 species were encountered, but only 62 species were 

encountered within a 50-m radius of point center. The mean number of species 

encountered within 50 m of a point, was 7.3 (s.d. = 2.7) and the mean number of 

individuals was 11.2 (s.d. = 4.2). The mean number of species detected at any 

distance was 9.6 (s.d, = 2.8) and the mean number of individuals was 15.6 (s.d. = 

7.9). The most frequently encountered warblers in the MAV were Prothonotary 

Warbler and Northern Parula. Rarely encountered warblers were American Redstart and Worm-eating Warbler. The genera, Quercus, Ulmus, Carya, and Celtis 

were each encountered at 80 or more of the 152 points at which vegetation was 

sampled. Species most frequentlyencountered were: sugarberry (Celtis laevagata), 

water hickory (Caqa aquatica), American elm (Ulmus arnericana), sweetgum 

(L iquidant bar s~raclflua), and willow oak (Qu~rcus pftellos The mean basal area k of all trees 10 cm diameter-at-breast height (dbh) was 28 m ha (range 7-70). The 

mean canopy cover was 87 percent, mean canopy height was 20 m, ground cover 

was 60 percent, and vegetation density(2-7 m) was 47 percent. The most frequently 

encountered understory species were sugarberry, ash (Fraxinus spp.), maple (Acer 

spp.), and elm (Ulnrus spp.). A cooperative GIs effort among the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Arkansas is currently classifying forested habitats within the MAV. This effort will provide information on stand size and topology which will be used in concert with our current 

data, and data from visits to additional forest stands in 1993, to assess the relationship between the size, quatity, and composition of forests within the MAV and their 

breeding bird community. 
Seasonal Differences in Effects of Forest Fragmentation 

on West Tennessee Bird Communities 

Paul B. Hamel, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 

Nashville, TN 37243 

Robert Ford, Tennessee Conservation League, Nashville, TN 37209 

Winston P. Smith, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, 

S toneviiIe, MS 38773 

Recent advances in technology for handling geographic data, coupled with 

declining numbers of certain North American birds, present opportunities to 

investigate the role of landscape-scale phenomena in determining the distribution and abundance of birds. The role of tract characteristics, such as size, 

shape, and connectedness, as determinant of population distribution has become a central issue in this area. We sampled birds for 2 years on 60 carefully 

chosen sites in tracts of west Tennessee bottomland hardwood forest (size range 

41 ha to 25,670 ha). We examined data on frequency and abundance of birds 

in relation to tract size, to season, and to species and guild membership of the 

avifauna. Our effort-standardized bird sampling design permitted determination that, for tracts of the sizes sampled, species richness and total density of 

birds are not significantly related to tract size, contrary to published results of 

others. However, composition of the bird communities, in both breeding and 

winter seasons, is related to tract size. Especially is this true for Neotropical 

migrant birds and for forest interior species in the breeding season, which are 

more commonly found in larger tracts; cavity nesters are more frequent in 

larger tracts in the winter. The relatively more common occurrence of tract 

sensitivity in the breeding season implies that explanations for tract size effects 

be sought among factors operative in the breeding season. 
Cerulean Warbler: Model Species for Forest 

Fragmentation Studies? 

Paul B. Hamel, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, 

Nashville, TN 37243 

Robert J. Cooper, Biology Department, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152 

Robert P. Ford, Tennessee Conservation League, Nashville, TN 37209 

Winston Paul Smith, Southern Hardwoods Labarotory, USDA Forest Service, Stoneville, MS 38776 

Cerulean warbler numbers have experienced drastic declines of perhaps as 

much as 50 percent rangewide in the past 25 years, as estimated from Breeding 

Bird Survey data. Similarly, human population growth in the winter grounds is 

very rapid and likely is eliminating habitat for the birds. Popular birdwatching 

wisdom is clear on the habitat utiIization of the species as dependent on tall, 

large trees. Recent survey work on forest fragments in several locations in the 

Southeastern United States indicates that the species is unlikely to be found in 

tracts other than the largest ones available. Initial observations of behavioral 

ecology of the birds reinforced the common wisdom of birders about the 

preference of the species. We have undertaken the present work in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee in an effort to relate 

the biology of the species to landscape factors at local and regional scale. After 

a single year of fieldwork, we report on prelinlinary examination of data from 

three 50-ha study grids in Tennessee and Arkansas. We made detailed observations of behavior and habitat utilization by the birds on these study grids. 2 Breeding densities ranged from 16-40 pairs/km , territory sizes from 0.5-5 

ha/territorial male, and parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds was present in 

Cerulean warbler nests as far as I km from the nearest road right-of-way. We 

have also undertaken work to study the birds on the winter grounds on the 

eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS 

The Fifth Southeast Management Working Group Meeting 

will be held in Charleston, South Carolina, September 23-24, 

with field trips on September 25. Contact John Cely, South 

Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, P.O. 

Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, for further information. 
Smith, Winston Paul, ed. 1993. Proceedings of the 4th meeting of the 

Southeast Management Working Group: abstracts: partners in flight; 1992 

November 12-14; Memphis, TN. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-95. New Orleans, 

LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest 

Experiment Station. 20 p. 

Twelve abstracts give an overview of avian research done by members of 

the Southeast Management Working Group of Partners In Flight. 

Keywords: Avian co~nmunity structure, forest management, habitat loss, 

Mississippi Alluvial Valley, monitoring protocol, neotropical migrants, 

Southeastern United States.