Helena National Forest

Elkhorns Wildlife Management Unit

Elkhorns: Elkhorns and Fire: Warm Springs Habitat Enhancement Project Birds & Burns

THE REST OF THE STORY
Jodie Canfield, Wildlife Biologist and Elkhorn Coordinator 1991- 2005

The Rocky Mountain Research Station is leading the effort to determine the most productive habitats for cavity-nesting birds among three fire conditions (prescribed fire, wildfire, and fire exclusion) in the intermountain west. In 2003, they approached the Helena National Forest about including our ponderosa pine thinning and prescribed burning project in the northern Elkhorn Mountains in their 8-state study.

So we rolled up our sleeves and went to work collecting information about the structure of the forest in 2 areas – a treatment area and a control area. We found that the younger trees in the forest were shading out the shrubs and grasses, making it tough for many wildlife species to find food. The delicatessen of this forest is its aspen groves, which need to be periodically rejuvenated by fire.

For the past 4 years, contract biologist Lisa Bate and wildlife technicians have taken on the task of documenting all the birds that live in the 2 areas, and following cavity-nesting birds until they found their nest trees. They tracked down 25 woodpecker nests last summer – all located in aspen groves. Then the fun began. Using a peeper camera, they were able to look into the nest cavities and count the eggs and then the hatchlings. In this way, they collected data on mortality rates through the nesting season. How do eggs disappear and young birds die? Lisa suggested that they become a menu item for our chatty red squirrel friends while woodpecker parents are busy finding insects for their hatchlings. Cavity-nesters are important because they eat bugs and control the levels of insects that attack the forest.

These efforts are all part of the Warm Springs Habitat Enhancement Project that is designed to address the restoration of diverse wildlife habitats in the Elkhorn Mountains. In addition to providing valuable research data that will help us better manage our forests, we hope to attain healthy aspen stands, a unique wildlife niche of open grown ponderosa pine forests, and to create areas more resilient to natural processes including high intensity wildfires.

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Warm Springs Habitat Enhancement Project

USDA Forest Service - Helena National Forest
Last Modified: Monday, 18 April 2011 at 17:20:09 EDT