Short-Term Effects Of Low-Intensity Wildfire On Breeding Birds In Southern Appalachian Old-Growth/Pre-Settlement Forests

Avian declines in the southern Appalachians are some of the most severe in North America. These declines may be the result of reductions of both late- and early-successional habitats via industrial logging and fire suppression. Many conservationists recommend restoring these habitats and their associated bird communities by restricting logging in some areas while reintroducing fire and silviculture in others. However, little is known about the relative importance of these habitats or the effects of fire on wildlife in the southern Appalachians.