Forestry for Birds and Other Wildlife

This workshop is geared to forest landowners interested in observing how different harvesting and management practices influence the species composition, growth, and development of the forest and subsequently how these practices influence the habitat for birds and other wildlife.

The Bartlett Experimental Forest is listed as a birding hotspot. Please bring your binoculars and dress for the field.

Registrants will receive links to pre-recorded presentations to review prior to participating.  These recorded presentations will provide background information that will be helpful for the field program.

Space is limited, and registration is required.

The Bartlett Experimental Forest encompasses approximately 5,800 acres of land within the White Mountain National Forest that is dedicated to the long-term study of forest wildlife relationships.  For the past eight decades, researchers have conducted a variety of timber harvesting operations throughout the forest, tracking the vegetation and wildlife responses to these actions. The forest also contains reserve (no-cut) areas that continue to grow without intervention.   

Research plots established in 1931-2 allow researchers to track how this northern hardwood forest (beech, birch and maple) has developed based on different management practice including selection (cutting individual trees), group selection (removing trees in groups), clear cuts, shelter wood harvests, and unmanaged control areas. Wildlife studies have tracked how these vegetation changes have impacted wildlife use.  Visit the Bartlett Experimental Forest story map for more information:  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ac8cad4c6222418fa107208e668cf2e0

During this program, we will visit a number of sites in the forest, discuss past management activities and how those actions impact a variety of wildlife.  We hope to have the opportunity to see and hear a variety of different bird species using these habitats, and learn about the characteristics of the forest that are important to them.

Presenters:

Mariko Yamasaki, Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Forest Sciences Laboratory, Retired

Chris Costello, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Bartlett Experimental Forest, Retired

Matt Tarr, Extension State Specialist, Wildlife Habitat

Sean Ashe, Forester, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Bartlett

Coeli Hoover, Research Ecologist, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Wendy Scribner, Natural Resources Field Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension

If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Wendy Scribner, at Wendy.scribner@unh.edu or 603-447-3834, prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.