Sustained forests; sustained profits

[ HOME | Lasting Forests Home | Table of Contents | The Finder | Glossary ]

An Overview of Potential Studies to be Sponsored by
The Owls Group

Many hundreds of hectares are being surface mined, heavily grazed, burned (prescribed burns or wildfire), and, when reclaimed, these become excellent areas for dense populations of grassland-related animal species. These may be food for raptors. As Whitmore and Hall (1978) observed, "what was once a mixed hardwood forest supporting 40-50 breeding passerine species [sparrow-like birds] becomes a space grassland supporting 1-8 species." They reported that by 1972, over 43,000 hectares of new grasslands were created by reclamation of surface mined areas. Densities of grasshopper sparrows, once rare, were observed by Whitmore and Hall (1978) to be 17 pairs in a 10l6 hectare area.

Yearsley and Samuel (1980) observed that "since Yeager (1942) first speculated that older surface mines in Illinois constituted better red fox (Vulpes fulva) habitat than did intensively farmed areas surrounding the mines, there has been no further study of predators on surface-mined areas." This lack of information leaves the reclamation specialists (whether for mines, rangeland recovery, or reforestation) and their wildlife management advisors in the dark. We believe that several hypotheses, in the fact of such ignorance, are almost equally tenable.

1. That avian predation reduces small mammals and small bird populations and reduces or prevents their harmful effects on the rate of mined-land re-vegetation.

2. That raptors, especially around perches, provide unique plant colonization sites due to calcium and nitrogen availability to plants, and thus they accelerate re-vegetation.

3. That avian predation reduces the soil building and seed dispersal of small birds and mammals and thus retards re-vegetation.

The birds and rodents of these grasslands are, in themselves, interesting but they are of interest also as prey for many raptors. Samuels (1978) reported studies by Mindell (1978) finding "small animal populations at least as abundant on reclaimed mines as in adjacent old field and woods habitat. Associated with high use by small mammals was heavy use by red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaiconsis). Immature birds of this species made heavy use of insect populations on reclaimed mines in summer." The following are representative of research topics the Owls Group will see to address and solve over the years:

  1. Species relations to ages of forest and grassland communities
  2. Species relations to vegetative island size and distribution (Whitmore (1980) recommends greater than 40 hectares).
  3. Diversity, density, evenness, and richness change over time.
  4. Nesting habitats: topographic correlates
  5. Nesting habitats: parasite relationships costs of habitat overpopulation techniques
  6. Silvicultural and raptor relations; prey densities and maximum predation
  7. Nesting mortality
  8. Perch use
  9. Energetics of birds of prey over seasons
  10. Heavy metal concentrations in birds of prey
  11. Basal area and stem-density relations to owl predation in forests
  12. Range finders and technology for determining location and flight speeds
  13. Rodent protection from predation: The role of avian cover
  14. Competition between snakes and raptors for rodents and shrews
  15. Home range theory
  16. Techniques for changing public interest in hawk migrations
  17. Maximum hawk and owl densities
  18. Changing human attitudes and behaviors to birds of prey
  19. Applications and expansion of radio telemetry work
  20. Bobcat-raptor relations
  21. Accidents as a mortality factor
  22. Pond relations to hawks and owls
  23. The role of hawks in life-lists of members: importance, frequency, and willingness to pay
  24. Hawk conspicuousness
  25. Hawk and owl identification: accuracy and aids to effective observation
  26. Food habits: preference, availability, and digestibility
  27. Automated pellet analyses
  28. Use of night-vision technology
  29. Behavior as effected by lunar forces.
We propose to create an owl research area where long-term, on-going studies will overcome past piece-meal work. The people at the center can and will be expected to participate in all of the Owls Group work for which they are qualified and can assist. Studies will be funded from conventional sources augmented by memorials, honoraria, and membership contributions and organized events.

A key concept remains: There must be a test of whether the owls of the world can be preserved and managed better under a profit-motivated, long-term entrepreneurial system than under the present system. The assertion is that it can. The question will remain: was the success (or failure) due to The Owls Group management or to the concept?

Estimated development costs for initial studies ....$155,000

Literature Cited

Max. T.A., R.A. Souter, and K.A. O'Halloran. 1990. Statistical estimators for monitoring spotted owls in Oregon and Washington in 1987. U.S.D.A. For. Serv. Pacific Northwest Research Station, Research Paper PNW-RP-420, Portland, OR, 13 pp.

Mindell, D.P. 1978. Habitat use by red-tailed hawks in surface mined areas. M.S. Thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown, 85 pp.

Whitmore, R.C. and G.A. Hall. 1978. The response of passerine species to a new resource: reclaimed surface mines in West Virginia. Amer. Birds 32(1): 6-9.

Whitmore, R.C. 1980. Reclaimed surface mines as avian habitat islands in the eastern forest. Amer. birds 34(1): 13-14.

Return to the top.

Other Resources:
[ HOME | Lasting Forests (Introductions) | Units of Lasting Forests | Ranging | Guidance | Forests | Gamma Theory | Wildlife Law Enforcement Systems | Antler Points | Species-Specific Management (SSM) | Wilderness and Ancient Forests | Appendices | Ideas for Development | Disclaimer]
Quick Access to the Contents of LastingForests.com

This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.