AVIAN RESPONSE TO FOREST MANAGEMENT AND MILITARY TRAINING ACTIVITIES AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA
Lisa Duncan*, John Dilustro, and Beverly Collins
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
P.O. Drawer E -1 Aiken, SC 29802
*Corresponding author (duncan@srel.edu)
ABSTRACT
Evaluating intensity and effects of land use disturbance is difficult,
especially in sites with multiple land use. We conducted point counts
to deter- mine if abundance of bird species could be used to assess military
training and forestry management practices at Fort Benning, Georgia. We
evaluated heavy and light use sites in the 1st growing season after pre-
scribed fire and in the 3rd growing season postfire. Results focus on
species common to early successional habitats and pine-grasslands and
on forest species and habitat generalists. In the 3rd growing season postfire,
Indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) and northern bobwhites (Colinus
virginianus) were more abundant in recently burned heavy use sites
than in light use sites. Conversely, red-eyed vireos (Vireo olivaceus)
were more abundant in light use sites in the 3rd growing season post-fire
than in recently burned, heavy use sites. Further study could help determine
if these species are indicators of disturbance.
SREL Reprint #2786
Duncan, L., J. Dilustro and B. Collins. 2004. Avian response to forest management and military training activities at Fort Benning, Georgia. Georgia Journal of Science 62:95-103.
