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Publication Date

6-1-2003

Abstract

Encroachment of woody plants into grassland-savanna ecosystems is a growing concern of natural resource managers and a likely factor in the recent decline of grassland bird species. Prescribed fire is an economical method of managing woody vegetation and enhancing rangeland productivity. Most prescribed burning is conducted during the winter months when burning conditions are less volatile. With the increasing interest in biodiversity and ecosystem management, more attention is being focused on summer burns, which reflect the timing of natural fires. The South Texas Plains is a fire-dependent ecosystem; yet, little data are available on the effects of fire on South Texas wildlife. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of winter and summer fire on wintering and breeding birds in the South Texas Plains. The study area is the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in Dimmit and LaSalle Counties. Vegetation is dominated by the honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)-mixed brush shrublands characteristic of South Texas. Two rangeland sites subjected to 2 burns during the dormant season in 1997 and 1999, 2 sites burned during winter 1997 and summer 1999, and 2 nontreated sites were selected for study. Wintering birds were surveyed along belt-transects during January 2001 and 2002. Breeding bird diversity and abundance was estimated with point counts in late spring 2001 and 2002. Preliminary data analyses indicate higher breeding bird diversity on burned sites. Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina), Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), and Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) were more commonly encountered on burned areas, whereas, Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) appeared more abundant on control sites. Burning appears to have little effect on wintering birds.

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