Conclusions - Avian response to forest management and military training at Fort Benning, Georgia

CONCLUSIONS

		Our objective was to determine if the abundance of selected avian species indicates disturbance in mixed pine-hardwood stands that differ in military and forestry practices. These stands, which were burned in 2000 or 2002, have disturbance features such as roads and clearcuts. The combination of burning and heavy land use can alter habitats and may increase abundance of early successional species and/or pine grassland species.

		Abundance for only two species, Northern Bobwhite and Indigo Bunting, differed among the four land use treatments, and these differed only between the treatment extremes: both species were more abundant in recently burned, heavy use sites (2002H) than in light use sites burned in 2000 (2000L). This suggests that these species respond positively to the open conditions created by both burning and heavy military use. However, differences in abundance were not found for other early successional or open site species.

		Disturbance likely influences occurrence of most of the selected avian species across the Ft. Benning landscape. Abundance of the selected species, however, may not be a suitable indicator of current land use because these species may not discriminate finely over a landscape and region that reflects a long history of natural disturbances and intensive land use. An intensive study of avian abundance across Ft. Benning may better define distribution and population patterns, and would likely show that early successional species are positively affected by management practices.