Massachusetts Foresters for the Birds Intro Working Forest Initiative Capital money that is used to fund landowner programs that focus on active forest management and land conservation. Many of you may be familiar with the Forest Stewardship Program, which in MA is funded through this Initiative. In 2014 we collaborated with Vermont dept of forest parts & rec and Audubon Vt. To adapt their program to the northern hardwood region of massachusetts. Since then we have further adapted the program for 3 major ecoregions in massachusetts and expanded their original birders dozen to a group of focal 17 priority bird species. Are any of you birders? My first experience….. Passionate group to say the least

Massachusetts Foresters for the Birds Based on the Vermont Program DCR MassAudubon Mass Woodlands Institute Easy way to add habitat components to a field inventory Guidance on how silvicultural systems favor certain birds Tweaks that can be employed to enhance bird breeding and foraging habitat

Why Foresters for the Birds

National Woodland Owner Survey Subset of Reasons for Owning Forest (10+ acres) in Massachusetts Why FORESTERS for the Birds? All maybe familiar with the National Woodland Owners Survey The National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) is the official census of forest owners in the United States conducted by the USFS on an annual basis. It is aimed at increasing our understanding of woodland owners who are the critical link between forests and society. 67.8% 17.4% About 26% of landowners have a forest management plan Butler et al 2016

Certification Certification Procedure Attend 1 DCR sponsored classroom/field training Conduct a field visit and prepare a written habitat assessment jointly with a Massachusetts Audubon ornithologist (regular cost-share rates apply) Individually conduct a field visit and prepare a written habitat assessment to be reviewed jointly by DCR service forester and a Massachusetts Audubon ornithologist

Why birds? Forest birds as indicator species Easy to monitor Use a wide range of habitat conditions Sensitive to environmental changes We know how they respond What’s good for them is generally good for many other species © Davey Walters © Davey Walters

Why Birds ? In this State of the Birds 2013 report, we focus on that segment of our birdlife for which we arguably bear the greatest responsibility, namely, our breeding birds. These species depend on the land, water, and people of Massachusetts for rearing their young. They are uniquely affected, for good or ill, by the changes we have brought to our state's landscapes and atmosphere. #10? Timber Develop tools for both foresters and farmers to encourage bird-friendly management options on their lands

Wood Thrush Tall canopy Diversity of hardwood species Many species, particularly native birds including some woodpeckers, warblers, and thrushes, have been shown to reach greater abundance in forests with old-growth characteristics such as large trees with cavities. Tall canopy Diversity of hardwood species Moderate mid-story and understory closure Thick leaf litter

Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 - 15 year old hardwood forest Dense shrubs and saplings (3-10 ft. high) <30% canopy cover Territory 2 – 2.5 acres

Young Forest Birds 41 species in Northeast 75% of species in decline Habitat quantity Habitat for wildlife – which provide its own range of ecosystem goods and services.

Early Successional Habitat Massachusetts >90% habitat loss Schlossberg and King 2007 One group of conservation concern is birds that breed in young regenerating forests, termed early successional habitat, such as the Chestnut-sided Warbler and Eastern Towhee. Broadly defined as areas with an open canopy, and a high density of shrubs and saplings, Massachusetts has lost more than 90% of our early successional habitat since 1950, largely contributing to the decline of many species that require it for breeding.

Focal Birds Priority birds Descriptions for ID by sight and sound Habitat Attributes Silvicultural Options that favor each bird

Habitat Assessment EVALUATING A PROJECT MAKING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS STEP 1: IDENTIFY REGIONAL CONSERVATION NEEDS STEP 2: DETERMINE LANDSCAPE CONDITION FOR BIRDS STEP 3: ANALYZE STAND LEVEL CONDITIONS MAKING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS   

STEP 1 When analyzing an ecoregion, consider the following: IDENTIFY REGIONAL CONSERVATION NEEDS When analyzing an ecoregion, consider the following: 1. What are the resident Focal Birds ? NOTE: Some species are included in all three ecoregions; others are limited to only one or two. 2. How densely populated is the region?   Species Regions Mature Forest Black-and-white Warbler SE C W Wood Thrush Black-throated Green Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Veery Eastern Wood-pewee Canada Warbler Young Forest Eastern Towhee Chestnut-sided Warbler Brown Thrasher Mourning Warbler White-throated Sparrow Mosaic American Woodcock Ruffed Grouse Northern Bobwhite Cavity Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Atlantic coastal pine barrens xeric, disturbance based Northeastern Coastal Zone heterogeneous, oak-mixed hardwood, oak-pine, dry sandy, fragmented Northeastern highlands northern hardwoods, mixed hardwood, spruce fir, higher elevations, richer soils Area sensitive species Wood thrush – medium patches if full crown closure large patches if not Black throated blue Black throated green

STEP 2: DETERMINE LANDSCAPE CONDITION FOR BIRDS Representation of Forest Age Classes Amount of Forest Cover and Large Patches Proximity of Patches and Surrounding Land Use Stony Brook ~300 ac Continuous forest (1,000ac patches) punctuated by young regenerating forest – mosaic of successional stages across the landscape Size and proximity of patches, age class distribution Type of development Bird dispersal distance Bird will more readily move through low density residential than high density commercial this zone has a high density of human settlement and cities, and forest birds are highly dependent on the remaining tracts of forest.

STEP 3: ANALYZE STAND LEVEL CONDITIONS Forest Edge Layers – Overstory Midstory Vegetation Understory Vegetation Soft Mast Non-native Invasive Plant Species Forest Floor - Deciduous Leaf Litter Coarse and Fine Woody Material Snags, Cavity Trees and Large Diameter Trees Native Species Diversity Softwood Inclusions Water and Wetland Features SPECIAL CONSIDERATION: young forest and deer impacts

Putting it all together! MAKING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS Once you have evaluated a property by completing steps 1-3, ask yourself the following questions before making your management decisions: What are the bird habitat strengths and deficiencies across the ecoregion, landscape, and property? What birds are presently benefiting? What birds could or should be here? Is there unique habitat on the property? In the landscape? A stark lack of certain habitat, like young, early successional forest? Are there opportunities to leverage existing quality habitat to improve nearby deficiencies? Are there timber management priorities that can be used to leverage habitat creation, or that can be adjusted to maintain habitat elements? Does the habitat need to be enhanced? Doing nothing may be the most appropriate action.

What does habitat management look like? Conscious decision to do something specifically for wildlife Tweaking the Silviculture you were planning anyway to be more wildlife friendly

Complex Vertical Structure Kelly Colgan Azar Kelly Colgan Azar Charles J Sharp Diseases, Native Americans Fyn Kynd

Complex Vertical Structure Tom Paradis Many species, particularly native birds including some woodpeckers, warblers, and thrushes, have been shown to reach greater abundance in forests with old-growth characteristics such as large trees with cavities.

Complex Vertical Structure Diseases, Native Americans

Minimize the amount of edge relative to area. Circles are best

Cost-share Cost-Share Reimbursement rates: 10-20 acres = $300 $600 NEW EXISTING 10-20 acres = $300 $600 21-50 acres = $400 $800 50+ acres = $500 $1,200

How are we doing? Total = 93 plans Total = 9279 acres 2013 report from Vermont’s program. FEATURED in two RCPPs Heritage RCPP – Healthy Forest Reserve Program also permanently protects land Total = 93 plans Total = 9279 acres

Accomplishments 56 Foresters trained 2-3 Workshops per year Slowly changing workshop focus from forester training to landowner based Implementation 20% have done a commercial timber sale for bird habitat ?? NRCS practices or other habitat improvement work NEXT STEPS Continued outreach Monitoring for bird response Better tracking of implementation

QUESTIONS????