Avian community response to fire and mechanical shrub control in south Florida

Abstract

Effects of prescribed fire and roller chopping applied in 2 seasons on woody vegetation and the associated avian community of a southwestern Florida former dry prairie were studied. There were 5 vegetation treatments with 2 replications of each; treatments were control, winter burn, winter chop, summer burn, and summer chop. Percent shrub cover was sampled with line intercept transects. Birds were censused 25 times using the variable circular plot method. Burning in either season reduced shrub cover temporarily; chopping in either season reduced shrub cover significantly and it remained reduced throughout the 15 months of this study. Bird species richness and abundance were similar in control and burn plots. Birds were not seen in summer chop plots up to 5 months posttreatment. Bird species richness and abundance remained low in both winter and summer chop plots. Bird species that were observed in chop plots were mostly open country, grassland inhabitants, indicating a trend toward prairie restoration.