oregon birds · another oregon birdin recorg d wa ses t on 14 may 1986 by denni rogerss . ......

OREGON BIRDS Volume 12 Number 2,1986

Special issue on old-growth forests


OREGON BIRDS is a quarterly publication of Oregon Raid Ornithologists. OREGON BIRDS is printed at the University of Oregon Press. Articles apppearing in OREGON BIRDS may be reprinted with permission of l ie author or the Editor, and must credit the source as OREGON BIRDS. Membership in Oregon Field Ornithologists is on an annual basis and includes a subscription to OREGON BIRDS. For advertising policy and rates, please write to the Editor.

Editor Owen Schmidt

Issue Editors Lynn Herring Rick Brown

Assis tant Edi tor Sha ron K. Blair Copy Edi tor J i m Johnson

Staff for this i ssue : J i m Car lson, Harry Neh ls , T o m Crabt ree, J o e Evan ich , Jeff Gi l l igan

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS President A l a n Cont reras, E u g e n e (1987)

Secretary P a m N e u m a n n , Por t land (1987) Treasurer T o m Mickel , E u g e n e (1987) Directors Barb Bell in, S a l e m (1985-87)

Dav id Fix, Idleyld Park (1986-88) Roger Robb, E u g e n e (1985-87) Larry Thornburgh , Nor th B e n d (1986-88)

OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE Secretary Clar ice Watson , E u g e n e (1986)

Members J i m Car lson, E u g e n e (1985-86) T o m Crabt ree, B e n d (1986-88) Jeff Gi l l igan, Por t land (1984-86) S teve Heinl , E u g e n e (1986-88) Dav id Irons, E u g e n e (1984-86 ) Larry M c Q u e e n , E u g e n e (1985-87) Harry Nehls, Por t land (1985-87) O w e n Schmidt , Por t land (1985-87) S teve S u m m e r s , K l a m a t h Falls (1986-88)

Al ternates J o e Evanich, Por t land Dav id Fix, Idleyld Park Mat t Hunter, Rosebu rg K e n Knitt le, Gl ide R ichard Smi th , Por t land

OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, OR 97440

TABLE OF CONTENTS OREGON BIRDS, Volume 12 Number 2,1986

NEWS BRIEFS 63

SHORT NOTES Y E L L O W - B I L L E D C U C K O O SURVEY 70

H a r r y Nehls

V O L U N T E E R S FOR BREEDING BIRD SURVEY 71 Br ian Sharp

W E S T E R N BLUEBIRD S I G H T I N G S 71

Elsie Eltzroth

E R R A T U M 72

I N M E M O R I A M : T o m M c C a m a n t 72 B i n g Francis

OFO MEETINGS 1986 A N N U A L M E E T I N G 73

Roger Robb

O F O H I G H DESERT W E E K E N D : 74 L a r r y T h o r n b u r g h

ARTICLES BIRDS O F T H E O L D - G R O W T H FOREST 77

L y n n H e r r i n g Rick B r o w n

E C O L O G Y O F O L D - G R O W T H D O U G L A S - F I R FORESTS 79 Jerry F. Frankl in Thomas A . Spies

E C O L O G I C A L V A L U E O F D E A D TREES T O C A V I T Y -N E S T I N G BIRDS I N N O R T H E A S T E R N O R E G O N 91

E v e l y n L . Bul l

I

OREGON BIRDS 12(2).6l, 1986

BIRDS OF T H E O L D - G R O W T H FOREST 100 H a r r y Nehls

A REVIEW O F T H E RECENT RESEARCH O N T H E N O R T H E R N SPOTTED O W L 105

R.J. Gutierrez

N A T I O N A L A U D U B O N SOCIETY'S SPOTTED O W L A D V I S O R Y P A N E L : A S U M M A R Y REPORT 118

Danie l Taylor

O D F W O N T H E SPOTTED O W L 123

R E C O M M E N D E D R E A D I N G 124

SITE G U I D E S WHERE T O F I N D A SPOTTED O W L I N O R E G O N . . . . . . 127

Rick B r o w n

F I E L D N O T E S EASTERN O R E G O N , A u g u s t - N o v e m b e r 1985 129

Steve Summers

WESTERN O R E G O N , Summer 1985 133 Steve H e i n l

CENTER OFO B O O K C A S E MEMBERSHIP A P P L I C A T I O N

C O V E R I L L U S T R A T I O N b y Joe Evanich

OREGON BIRDS 12(2*62,1986

NEWS BRIEFS

O r e g o n Field Ornithologists has publ ished the n e w 28-page OFFICIAL CHECKLIST OF OREGON BIRDS. I t features space for state and county lists, and designates species considered "review species" b y the Oregon B i r d Records Commit tee . The checklist is based o n the records of the OBRC a n d uses current names a n d taxonomic sequence. Price is $1 postp a i d . To o r d e r a copy, see the O F O Bookcase i n the center pages of this issue, or w r i t e to the OFO Treasurer, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440.

T h e Oregon "B ig Day" record was broken again this year. Jeff Gi l l igan , Dave Irons , Steve H e i n l , a n d Dave Fix, w h o set the Oregon Big Day record i n 1985 at 199 species, broke their o w n record o n 10 M a y 1986 at an a m a z i n g 212 species! See OREGON BIRDS 12(1):14, 1986, for an account of their 1985 Big D ay . This is also a record for any Big Day i n M a y i n N o r t h America .

A n o t h e r O r e g o n b i r d i n g record w a s set o n 14 M a y 1986 b y Dennis Rogers. Dennis is the f i rs t b irder i n O r e g o n to see over 100 species i n al l 36 Oregon counties . The record was set at 7:30 a m w i t h a R o u g h - w i n g e d Swal low i n Jefferson Co. I t was 1985 before a l l counties i n Oregon even had at least 100 species reported i n t h e m (see OREGON BIRDS 11(2&3): 110,1985.

A l b i n i s t i c b i r d in format io n is requested. "Occasionally f ie ld observations, i n m a n y cases merely a n o ta t io n of date, place, species, and brief descr ipt ion o f the b i r d , are r e p o r t e d to me; h o w e v e r , I w o u l d l i k e to submit this i n f o r m a t i o n to an interested par ty . A s best I can ascertain, the last comprehensive list of a l b i n i s m i n N o r t h A m e r i c a n b i rds was com p i l ed b y A . O . Gross i n 1965." Send data to Elsie E l tzroth , 3595 N . W . Roosevelt D r i v e , Corvall is , O R 97330.

Brant a long the Oregon coast w i l l be pic tured o n the 1986 Oregon M i g r a t o r y W a t e r f o w l Stamp. Income f r o m sale of the stamp supports w a t e r f o w l management and habi ta t programs , a n d income f r o m the sale of l i m i t e d e d i t i o n p r i n t s has gone t o w a r d habi ta t restoration. L i m i t e d e d i t i o n p r i n t / s t a m p sets w i l l be avai lable t h r o u g h ar t galleries and other outlets. The s tamp goes on sale i n July.

Ethen and M a r y Perkins, past directors of the M a l h e u r Field Station, have taken a n e w posit ion i n I o w a . The n e w Executive Director is Lucile H o u s l e y , w h o is "an active a n d l o n g t ime s u p p o r t e r of the F i e l d

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):63,1986

Station." Policy a n d management of the Field Station is n o w the responsibi l i ty of a newly-establ ished independent b o a r d of directors. Goals of the n e w b o a r d inc lude d i rec t admin is t ra t ion of the membership p r o g r a m , i m p r o v e d operat ion , a n d capital r e n o v a t i o n . Oregon b i rders us ing the facilities of the M a l h e u r Field Station a n d appreciat ing its conveniences, s h o u l d consider m e m b e r s h i p i n the Field Station. There w e r e over 200 members of the "Friends of Malheur , " w h i c h is n o w d i s b a n d e d . M e m b e r s of the Field Stat ion receive a newsletter, discounts o n l o d g i n g a n d meals, discounts o n store merchandise, and news of special events. W r i t e to the M a l h e u r F ie ld Station, P.O. Box 260 E, Princeton, OR 97721.

P o r t l a n d A u d u b o n Society's M a l h e u r A d o p t i o n Commit tee is seeking volunteers for landscaping, b i r d nesting pair counts, t i m e behavior studies o n Sandhi l l Cranes, a n d b i r d b a n d i n g . N o special expertise is r e q u i r e d , they say. "Here is y o u r o p p o r t u n i t y to g ive to M a l h e u r as i t has g iven to y o u . " Contact M a u r i t a S m y t h , A c t i n g Chair of the M a l h e u r A d o p t i o n C o m m i t t e e , 6261 S.W. 47th Place, P o r t l a n d , OR 97221, (503)246-5890 ( H ) , or 246-7870 (message).

I f y o u have "convenient access" to the ornithological journals Osprey or Raven, the A m e r i c a n Ornithologists ' U n i o n needs y o u r help as an abstractor. Contact the Editor of Recent Orni thologica l Literature, Fred E. Lohrer, A r c h b o l d Biological Station, Venus, FL 33960.

Robert S. A r b i b a n d Susan Roney Drennan, editors of AMERICAN BIRDS, shared the 1985 A r t h u r A . A l l e n A w a r d presented b y the Laboratory of O r n i t h o l o g y of Cornel l Univers i ty . They were commended for w o r k i n g "effect ively as a team to m a i n t a i n a s t rong l i n k between amateur and professional orni thologis ts . " A r b i b a n d D r e n n a n were credi ted for i m p r o v i n g the value of the Breeding B i r d Census and the W i n t e r B i rd P o p u l a t i o n Study, a n d for p u b l i s h i n g the Blue List , an e a r l y - w a r n i n g system for dec l in ing species. The annual a w a r d is named for A r t h u r A . A l l e n , w h o taught o r n i t h o l o g y at C o r n e l l for nearly 50 years.

T h e Sanderling Project continues. The 1986 M i d - W i n t e r Census f o u n d 47 Sanderlings per k i lometer i n Oregon (compared to 39 a n d 33 birds per k i lometer i n W a s h i n g t o n and C a l i f o r n i a respectively). T w o Sander-l ings banded i n O r e g o n i n M a y 1984 w e r e seen at H u m b o l d t Bay. Banded birds seen i n Oregon s h o u l d be reported to The Sanderling Project, P.O. Box 247, Bodega Bay, C A 94923.

T h e January M i d - W i n t e r Bald Eagle Survey f o u n d populat ions u p i n 20 states. N o survey was conducted i n O r e g o n this year according to a 13

OREGON BIRDS 72(2*64, 1986

December 1985 news release f r o m the Nat ional W i l d l i f e Federation, 141216th Street N . W . , Washington, D.C. 20036-2266.

T h e Oregon Department of Fish and W i l d l i f e "is raising red-legged partridges for spr ing release i n that state's h i l l country , " according to the A p r i l 1986 NEWSJOURNAL OF THE N A T I O N A L A U D U B O N SOCIETY. Red-legged Partr idge (Alectoris rufa) is nat ive to France a n d Spain. They are similar to C h u k a r ( A chukar).

Oregon's "Catch a W i l d l i f e T h i e f program, handled b y the Oregon State Police a n d Oregon Department of Fish a n d W i l d l i f e , has been converted to the " T u r n i n Poachers" (TIP) p r o g r a m . T I P is u n d e r the d irec t ion of the Oregon H u n t e r s Associat ion. A r e w a r d system is u n d e r development . I n the m e a n t i m e , continue to repor t w i l d l i f e l a w violations at 1-800^52-7888.

T h e U.S. Fish a n d W i l d l i f e Service is beginning preparat ion of a n e w programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) that examines the operat ion of the N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge System. The process includes several steps to p r o v i d e the publ i c o p p o r t u n i t y to raise concerns a n d express v iews . The FWS is n o w scoping the EIS and w o u l d l ike to k n o w w h a t issues y o u w a n t to see analyzed. To send i n y o u r comments a n d suggestions, a n d to get y o u r name o n the m a i l i n g l is t , w r i t e to N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge EIS Team, U.S. Fish a n d W i l d l i f e Service, R o o m 2343 M I B , Was h in gto n D.C. 20240.

T h e U.S. Fish a n d W i l d l i f e Service has publ i shed a "Prel iminary Survey of Contaminant Issues of Concern o n Nat ional W i l d l i f e Refuges," d o c u m e n t i n g efforts to i n v e n t o r y the presence of p o ten t ia l ly h a r m f u l contaminants o n N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuges. O n l y 1 Refuge i n Oregon — M a l h e u r — is l i s ted. M e r c u r y , arsenic, a n d b o r o n are b e i n g leached i n t o H a r n e y Lake f r o m i r r i g a t i o n r u n o f f . " M e r c u r y levels i n f ish recently collected i n H a r n e y Lake exceed standards for h u m a n c o n s u m p t i o n , " according to the repor t . A c t i o n at this t ime includes analysis of w a t e r b i r d l iver tissue; an A c t i o n Plan w i l l be devised. For a copy of the repor t , dated A p r i l 1986, w r i t e to the FWS, W a s h i n g t o n , D.C. 20240.

Ferruginous a n d Swainson's H a w k s have been color banded i n an effort to estimate surv iva l a n d to s tudy p h i l o p a t r y . Since 1984, 378 Ferruginous a n d 515 Swainson's H a w k s have been e q u i p p e d w i t h a r e d or blue b a n d o n the r i g h t a n d FWS b an d o n the left leg . Engraved o n each b a n d are 3 sets of 2 w h i t e l e t t e rs /numbers . The 2 h o r i z o n t a l l y -placed l e t t e r s / n u m b e r s are read f r o m b o t t o m to to p . Each b i r d can be ident i f i ed i n d i v i d u a l l y b y c o m b i n a t i o n of species, b a n d color, a n d


l e t ter /number . Please send any i n f o r m a t i o n to Josef K. Schmutz, Department of B io logy , U n i v e r s i t y of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 0W0, Canada.

T h e small breeding popula t ion of Lesser Snow Geese i n the Prudhoe Bay area of Alaska has been s tudied for the past 7 years. Several thousand b i r d s have been tarsus-banded a n d neck-collared w i t h blue a n d w h i t e a l p h a - n u m e r i c bands. Send any i n f o r m a t i o n to Snowgoose Project, A t t n . : D . M . T r o y , L G L Alaska Research Associates, 505 W . N o r t h e r n Lights B l v d . , Suite 501, Anchorage, A K 99503.

A course o n nature i l lustrat ion w i l l be taught i n July b y Bess Merr ick , an independent exhib i t designer c u r r e n t l y prepar ing graphic designs for the Aquat ic B i o l o g y H a l l of The O a k l a n d M u s e u m . For more infor m a t i o n , w r i t e to the Biology D e p a r t m e n t of San Francisco State Univers i ty .

Y o u say you're ready to go b i r d i n g i n Kenya b u t f irst y o u need a checklist of the b i r d s of that country? L o o k i n g for a copy of James Bond's Birds of the West Indies? N e e d one of H a r d y ' s b i r d sound recordings? Can't f i n d Gulls: A Guide to Identification at the local bookstore? Y o u need the bookstore catalog f r o m the Los Angeles A u d u b o n Society. T h e y list m a n y of the b i r d books n o w i n p r i n t , as w e l l as a variety of checklists and b i r d i n g paraphernal ia . W r i t e to L . A . A u d u b o n at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, C A 90046.

A n o t h e r useful b i r d book catalog is publ i shed b y Corne l l University's Crow's Nest Bookshop. The recordings o f the Laboratory's L ibrary of N a t u r a l Sounds are available, as is a v a r i e t y of paraphernal ia such as posters, mobi les , a n d b u m p e r stickers, a n d more serious th ings l ike home s t u d y courses i n o r n i t h o l o g y a n d s l ide duplicates f r o m a collection of over 500 species. W r i t e to The C r o w ' s Nest Bookshop, Laboratory of Orni thology , Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca, N Y 14850.

O r e g o n birders h e a d i n g south of the border w i l l be interested i n a new book b y Jean R i c h m o n d , BIRDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. I t contains 72 detai led site guides r a n g i n g as far south as the Monterey Peninsula, the M t . Pinos condor area, a n d Yosemite N a t i o n a l Park, w i t h special emphasis o n the San Francisco Bay area. M a n y of the site guides inc lude m a p s . A "Where the B i rds A r e " section includes Greater Roadrunner a n d Y e l l o w - b i l l e d M a g p i e . For a copy , send $10 to M t . Diablo A u d u b o n Society, P.O. Box 53, W a l n u t Creek, C A 94596.

A new "bioacoustics research center" has been established at Cornell University 's Laboratory of O r n i t h o l o g y . Charles Walcott is the

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):66, 1986

Executive Director. "The center w o u l d contain the latest computer e q u i p m e n t w h i c h can t r a n s f o r m sounds into d i g i t a l records that t h e n can be ana lyzed or m o d i f i e d b y the researcher," according to W a l c o t t w r i t i n g i n the Living Bird Quarterly 5(2):23, 1986. Digital sound recording is the latest audio technology a n d Cornell 's L ibrary of N a t u r a l Sounds m a y become the central focus for f u t u r e b i r d c o m m u n ication studies. For mo r e i n f o r m a t i o n w r i t e to Corne l l U n i v e r s i t y , Laboratory of O r n i t h o l o g y , 159 Sapsucker W o o d s Road, Ithaca, N Y 14850.

Parabolic reflectors for f ie ld recording are for sale starting at $60. For f u l l descriptions and order ing i n f o r m a t i o n , w r i t e to Eleanor Pugh, 3050 Coyote Creek Road, W o l f Creek, OR 97497.

T h e N a t u r e Sounds Society's second annual f i e ld recording w o r k s h o p w i l l be h e l d 13-16 June 1986 at the Sierra Nevada Field Campus of San Francisco State U n i v e r s i t y . The p r o g r a m w i l l i n c l u d e nature s o u n d recording o p p o r t u n i t i e s , f i e l d t r ips , a n d general camaraderie. Regist ra t ion is $20. M e m b e r s h i p i n the NSS is $6 per year. For w o r k s h o p regis trat ion f o r m s and m e m b e r s h i p i n f o r m a t i o n , w r i t e to N a t u r e Sounds Society, The O a k l a n d M u s e u m , One Thousand O a k Street, O a k l a n d , C A 94607.

A pelagic t r i p o u t of San Diego o n Saturday 6 September 1986 is sponsored b y Western Field Ornithologists . The New Seaforth , a large f ishing vessel, w i l l explore the ocean waters between San Diego a n d San Clemente Is land. Expect P ink- footed , Sooty, a n d Black-vented Shearwaters, Black, Least, a n d Leach's Storm-Petrels, Craveri 's M u r r e l e t , a n d Cassin's A u k l e t . Red-bi l led T r o p i c b i r d is a poss ib i l i ty . For more i n f o r m a t i o n , w r i t e to Ginger Johnson, 4637 D e l M a r A v e n u e , San Diego, C A 92107 ((619)223-7985).

B i r d s of paradise are being s tudied i n Papua N e w Guinea. Field research assistants are needed for the Au gu s t to December 1986 p e r i o d . Field w o r k invo lves behaviora l observations a n d radio telemetry, is strenuous, a n d is carried o u t i n v e r y remote areas, they say. N o salary. But a l l expenses are p a i d i n c l u d i n g r o u n d - t r i p a ir fare. Send resume, statement o f purpose , and 2 letters of reference to S.G. Pruett-Jones, Depar tment of Biology, C-016, U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a at San D i e g o , La Jo l la ,CA 92093.

OREGON BIRDS 12(21-67,1986

MEETINGS

Set aside the weekend of 26-28 Sept. 1986,. for the M a l h e u r Field Station. Oregon Field Ornithologists w i l l sponsor a second 1986 meet ing that w i l l be f ie ld or iented. M o r e details w i l l be m a i l e d out to the membership b y 1 A u g .

The Amer ican B i r d i n g Association w i l l h o l d its 1986 convention 28 July-3 August i n Tucson, Ar izona . M a n y birders consider s u m m e r - the rainy season - to be the best t ime to b i r d i n A r i z o n a a n d the convent ion provides perfect pretense to v is i t the Sonoran desert i n s u m m e r . There w i l l be w o r k s h o p s o n h u m m i n g b i r d s , o w l s , a n d sparrows, a n d o n f ie ld guides, b inoculars , scopes, and b i r d sound recording . Fie ld t r ips w i l l look for those southeast A r i z o n a specialties. W r i t e to A B A Convent ion 1986, P.O. Box 4335, A u s t i n , TX 78765.

The One H u n d r e d and Fourth Stated Meet ing of the American Ornithologists ' U n i o n w i l l convene 18-21 Augus t 1986, at Mississippi State U n i v e r s i t y . There w i l l be scientific sessions, f i e l d t r ips , and social events. Contact the Local C o m m i t t e e o n Arrangements , Dr . Jerome A . Jackson, Depar tment of Biological Sciences, Box Z , Miss iss ippi State Univers i ty , Miss i ss ippi State, M S 39762. Several Marcia Brady Tucker Travel A w a r d s are available to he lp defray expenses of o u t s t a n d i n g students w i s h i n g to present a poster or lecture at the meet ing. To a p p l y , send for deta i led i n f o r m a t i o n to Francesca J. Cuthbert , D e p a r t m e n t of Fisheries a n d W i l d l i f e , 200 H o d s o n H a l l , Univers i ty of Minnesota , St. Paul , M N 55108. The A O U ' s One H u n d r e d and F i f th Stated M e e t i n g w i l l be h e l d i n San Francisco 10-13 August 1987.

The International Counci l for B i r d Preservation w i l l h o l d its XIX W o r l d Conference at Queen's Univers i ty , Kingston, Ontar io , Canada 15-21 June 1986. Symposia include w i n t e r i n g habitats a n d m i g r a t o r y b irds i n the Western Hemisphere , b i r d s as a socio-economic resource, conservation of b i r d s i n steppe a n d steppe-like habitats , disease and management of threatened b i r d popula t ions . W r i t e to ICBP, 219c H u n t i n g t o n Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, England.

The 19th International Orni thologica l Congress w i l l take place i n Ottawa, Canada-22-29 June 1986. W r i t e to Secretary-General Henr i Ouellet, XIX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologicus, National M u s e u m of N a t u r a l Sciences, N a t i o n a l Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Canada K 1 A 0 M B .

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):68, wse

T h e Cooper Ornithological Society w i l l h o l d its 56th annual meeting K 13 September 1986 at the Univers i ty of Cal i fornia at Davis. W r i t e to Charles V a n Riper I I I , DES/CPSU, W i c k s o n H a l l , Univers i ty of Cal i fornia , Davis , C A 95616.

T h e Western B i r d Banding Association w i l l h o l d its annual meeting 10-12 October 1986 at the Santa Barbara N a t u r a l H i s t o r y M u s e u m , Santa Barbara, C A . The p r o g r a m w i l l h i g h l i g h t b a n d i n g demonstrat ions a n d w o r k s h o p s a n d w i l l i n c l u d e f i e l d tr ips . W r i t e to D a v i d F. DeSante, Point Reyes B i r d Observatory , 4990 Shoreline H i g h w a y , Stinson Beach, C A 94970.

T h e Pacific Seabird G r o u p w i l l meet 9-14 December 1986 at the Univers idad A u t o n o m a de Baja Cal i fornia Sur, La Paz, Baja Cali fornia.

Black-footed Albatross. Photo by Owen Schmidt.

OREGON BIRDS U(iy69,1986

SHORT NOTES

YELLOW-BILLED C U C K O O SURVEY

The Yel low-bi l led Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) has a lways been considered a rare b i r d i n Oregon. I t was , however, regular enough i n the Wi l lamet te a n d C o l u m b i a River bo t tom l ands that m o s t early birders were famil iar w i t h t h e m a n d some nests were f o u n d . A b o u t 50 years ago reports of cuckoos west of the Cascades decreased.

The Oregon Depar tment of Fish a n d W i l d l i f e N o n g a m e Program is p l a n n i n g an a l l -out ef fort this s u m m e r to locate and record nest ing sites a n d occurrences of the Y e l l o w - b i l l e d Cuckoo t h r o u g h o u t the state, especially west of the Cascades. T h e y are requesting the help of f i e ld observers and birders i n this effort .

Y e l l o w - b i l l e d Cuckoos prefer w i l l o w s w i t h a c o t t o n w o o d overstory, par t i cu lar ly large o l d - g r o w t h stands. They feed p r i m a r i l y h i g h i n the cot tonwoods a n d are usual ly secretive a n d quiet . T h e i r calls are l o u d a n d dist inct ive t h o u g h and they are most often noted b y their response to taped calls.

They respond best w h e n the recorder is p layed v e r y l o u d . Play the calls once a m i n u t e for about 10 m i n u t e s then m o v e about 200 yards and repeat. They respond d u r i n g the p e r i o d of 20 June to 1 A u g u s t , and the later i n the season the better the response. Cuckoos are not over ly terri torial and even w h e n active respond only about half the t ime.

I f y o u locate a Ye l low-b i l l ed Cuckoo this summer, report y o u r f i n d to

- Bi l l H a i g h t , Oregon Department of Fish and W i l d l i f e ,

P.O. Box 59, Por t land, OR 97207,

a n d

- the Oregon B i rd Records Commit tee , P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440

Harry Nehls, 2736 S.E. 20th Ave., Portland, OR 97202, (503)233-3976

REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR BREEDING BIRD SURVEY

The U.S. Fish and W i l d l i f e Service Breeding B i r d Survey is the p r i n c i p a l , o f ten on ly , source of i n f o r m a t i o n o n p o p u l a t i o n t rends of nongame b i r d s i n the N o r t h Amer ica . H o w e v e r , of the 64 routes designated i n Oregon, o n l y 30 to 35 are be ing r u n i n any one year, a n d some routes have never been r u n . The a b i l i t y of the survey to detect p o p u l a t i o n changes is w e a k e n e d to the extent a l l routes are n o t r u n every year.

Volunteers are therefore needed to r u n vacant routes. R u n n i n g a r o u t e entails r e c o r d i n g numbers o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d species of b i r d s seen a n d heard at 50 three-minute stops spaced hal f a m i l e apart a long a d r i v e n route . The survey starts at d a w n and takes about 4 hours , p l u s t rave l t ime to the route location. Each route is r u n once a year d u r i n g the m o n t h of June. Requirements are an ab i l i ty o n the par t of the vo lunteer to be able to i d e n t i f y b y s ight a n d sound the species of b i rds l i k e l y to be encountered o n the route, a n d g o o d hearing.

If anyone is interested i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n this i m p o r t a n t e f for t to gather data o n Oregon's b i r d s , contact H a r r y N e h l s , State C o o r d i n a t o r , 2736 S.E. 20th, Port land, OR 97202.

Brian Sharp, Nongame Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lloyd 500 Building Suite 1692, 500 N.E. Multnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232

REQUEST FOR WESTERN BLUEBIRD SIGHTINGS

Nest l ing Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) o n the A u d u b o n Society of Corval l i s Bluebird Tra i l have been banded w i t h U.S. FWS n u m b e r e d bands since the project began i n 1976. I n a d d i t i o n to these bands, i n 1983 and 1984, t w o auxi l ia ry plastic color bands w e r e placed o n the opposi te leg to f u r t h e r ident i fy those f l e d g i n g f r o m specific sites. Of the 198 b irds b a n d e d i n 1983,40 were seen or nested "on the t r a i l " i n 1984.

I w o u l d appreciate reports of s ightings of color-banded Western Bluebirds. Please t r y to d e t e r m i n e the p o s i t i o n of the bands a n d note w h i c h leg they are o n , the le f t or r i g h t . A f e w hand-raised b i r d s h a d a

ORECON BIRDS J2C2).7J. 7986

OREGON BIRDS 12(1)70,1986

w h i t e band above the U.S. FWS band. Other i m p o r t a n t in format ion w o u l d inc lude sex of the b i r d , place a n d date of s i g h t i n g , and the activity of the b i r d especially if i t is a breeding or nesting i n d i v i d u a l .

Elsie Eltzroth, 3595 N.W. Roosevelt Dr., Corvalis, OR 97330.

ERRATUM

Red-legged K i t t i w a k e should be deleted f r o m the "species recorded" list at OREGON BIRDS 12(D:23, 1986. This species was not i n fact seen b y "Team Eugene" as they set the Big Day record for Oregon o n 11 M a y 1985. The Editor regrets the error.

In Memoriam

Tom McCamant

Oregon's orni thologis ts lost a l o n g - t i m e f r i end a n d ardent observer w h e n T o m M c C a m a n t d i e d A p r i l 8 t h . Tom's b i r d w a t c h i n g started i n 1914 and he never s topped. H i s hea l th prevented h i m f r o m gett ing in to the f ie ld for the past 2 years w h e n he was conf ined to the Heal th Care U n i t of Capi ta l M a n o r , Salem, his h o m e for the past 7 years. Even t h o u g h he was conf ined he c o n t i n u e d "watch ing the b i r d s " as they gathered a r o u n d the feeder his w i f e Ginger h a d h u n g i n the tree outside his w i n d o w . H i s service a n d dedicat ion to b i r d i n g has been recognized b y his b e i n g carried o n the ro l l s as H o n o r a r y Vice President of the Salem A u d u b o n Society, w h i c h he helped organize i n 1969. A complete story of Tom's b i r d studies can be f o u n d i n an article about h i m i n OREGON BIRDS 7(l):45-47,1981.

Bing Francis, Capital Manor Apt. 331, P.O. Box 5000, Salem, OR 97304.

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):72, 1986

OFO MEETINGS

1986 ANNUAL MEETING

Roger Robb, 2949 Gilham Road, Eugene OR 97401

I hope y o u a l l enjoyed O r e g o n Field Orni tho log is t s ' Seventh A n n u a l Meet ing . The meet ing was a success due to the ef forts and cont r ibut ions of the O F O membersh ip . First , special thanks are due to f i e l d t r i p leaders J i m Carlson, A l a n Contreras, Steve G o r d o n , M a t t H u n t e r , T o m M i c k e l , a n d D o n Schrouder; w o r k s h o p leaders Jeff G i l l i g a n , M a t t H u n t e r , L a r r y M c Q u e e n , Eleanor P u g h a n d O w e n Schmidt; a f te rnoon speakers Jon A n d e r s o n , A l a n Contreras, Steve G o r d o n and K i t Larson; and to a l l those w h o c o n t r i b u t e d to a fine d i s p l a y of avian art. I w o u l d also l i k e to g ive special thanks to D r . John C r a w f o r d for h i s f ine presentat ion o n "Sage Grouse i n Oregon" . F i n a l l y , thanks to a l l of y o u w h o at tended OFO's Seventh A n n u a l M e e t i n g m a k i n g i t a g r a n d success.

Dr. John Crawford, Professor of Wildlife Science at Oregon State University, spoke at the evening program on Sage Grouse in Oregon.

OREGON BIRDS 12(2).-73,1986

The 1986 Oregon Field Ornithologists Board of Directors: seated I. to r. Alan Contreras (President), Matt Hunter (past President), Pam Neumann (Secretary), Roger Robb (Director); standing I to r. Barb Bellin (Director), Larry Thornburgh (Director), and Tom Mickel (Secretary). Not pictured, David Fix (Director).

OFO High Desert Weekend

Larry Thornburgh, 2109 Oak, North Bend, OR 97459

I n a new p h i l o s o p h y for 1986, O F O w i l l sponsor a second meet ing that w i l l be " f i e l d " or iented. Reserve the weekend of Sept. 26-28 for a t r i p to M a l h e u r . D o r m a t o r y a n d d i n i n g h a l l facilities have been reserved a n d f i e ld t r i p s to var ious localit ies w i l l be scheduled for those w h o w i s h . j f l t Ear ly fa l l f i n d s at M a l h e u r a n d Fields the last several years have i n c l u d e d Chestnut-s ided W a r b l e r , Black-throated Blue Warbler , Blackpol l Warbler , M o u r n i n g W a r b l e r and Canada W a r b l e r . This sport makes no guarantees, b u t w i t h the a d d i t i o n a l eyes i n the f i e l d chances i m p r o v e for l i s t ing the unusual .

OREGON B/RDS 1Z(2):74,1986

Shorebirds were d r a w n i n unusual numbers last year and should continue to be th is year. Due to the receding of the u n u s u a l l y h i g h water levels vast expanses of m u d f l a t s are exposed. Sol i tary and Baird's Sand pipers were a m o n g the m o r e sought-after b i r d s . Perhaps even some s traying jaegers may make their appearance again this year.

A n d N O MOSQUITOS! ! I f this b i r d i n g o p p o r t u n i t y appeals to y o u r adventuresome nature, set aside the dates o f 26-28 Sept. M o r e details w i l l be m a i l e d out to the membership o n 1 A u g .


ARTICLES

OREGON BIRDS 1HDJ6, 1986

Illustration courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

BIRDS OF THE OLD-GROWTH FOREST

The o p p o r t u n i t y to ed i t th i s issue of O r e g o n Birds p r o m p t e d the decis ion to focus o n the status a n d trends of Oregon's o l d - g r o w t h coniferous forests and associated av ian residents.

O l d - g r o w t h forests represent not o n l y an exceptional b io logica l heritage, b u t also a p a r t i c u l a r l y d i f f i c u l t set of social, po l i t i ca l , a n d economic questions. For m o r e t h a n a decade, there has been g r o w i n g concern a m o n g conservationists over the f u t u r e of o l d - g r o w t h forests, a n d the issue has b r o u g h t together a very b r o a d coal i t ion of groups i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t . There is increasing interest and i n v o l v e m e n t f r o m nat ional conservation groups as w e l l .

The N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l has been the most p r o m i n e n t representative of the o l d - g r o w t h forest ecosystem, b u t the complexit ies to be dealt w i t h far exceed the b io logy o f a n y one species.

Concern for the p l i g h t of the N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l began to be heard i n the ear ly 1970's, a n d i n 1973 the f irst recommendat ions o n Spotted O w l management were m a d e b y a state a n d federal interagency taskforce. Over the years, management d i r e c t i o n has lagged b e h i n d scientific research, necessitating a series of appeals b y conservationists. C u r r e n t l y the Spotted O w l management guidel ines f r o m U.S. Forest Service Region 6 (Oregon a n d Washington) have been successfully appealed, a n d the Forest Service is p r e p a r i n g a Supplementa l E n v i r o n m e n t a l Impact Statement (SEIS) o n habitat management for Spotted O w l s .

The SEIS is due for release i n dra f t f o r m i n early summer 1986. The f i n a l vers ion of the SEIS w i l l a t tempt to d e t e r m i n e the fate of o l d -g r o w t h forests for the 13 N a t i o n a l Forests i n O r e g o n a n d W a s h i n g t o n that are inhabi ted b y Spot ted O w l s . W h e t h e r management w i l l cont inue to fa i l to keep pace w i t h research remains to be seen, b u t evidence is m o u n t i n g that w e have reached a crit ical juncture i n d e t e r m i n i n g the future of the o l d - g r o w t h forest ecosystem.

I n the f i rs t article i n this issue, Jerry F r a n k l i n a n d T o m Spies describe the o l d - g r o w t h forest ecosystem and o u r c h a n g i n g perception of its values. Gone are the days ( w e hope) w h e n o l d - g r o w t h stands were v i e w e d as relicts of decadence a n d disease, f i t best for r a p i d convers ion to t h r i f t y y o u n g stands of r a p i d l y g r o w i n g w o o d f iber. One of the m o r e cr i t ical components discussed b y F r a n k l i n a n d Spies is large dead trees.

OREGON BIRDS limn. 1986

Both as s tanding snags and as fa l len logs, dead trees p r o v i d e essential habitat for a w i d e variety of organisms.

I n her paper , E v e l y n B u l l h i g h l i g h t s the use of dead trees b y b i r d s , those that excavate nest cavities, those that use cavities made b y others, a n d those that feed o n insects f o u n d i n dead w o o d . H a r r y N e h l s then expands o u r v i e w to i n c l u d e a var ie ty of other b i r d s that d e p e n d o n habitats i n o l d - g r o w t h forests for their survival .

Drift Creek, Siuslaiv National Forest. Photo by Nancy Peterson.

I n the f i n a l t w o papers, the focus comes back to the Spotted O w l . First, Rocky Gut ier rez br ings us up- to -date o n recent research o n the ecology o f Spotted O w l s . D a n Taylor t h e n detai ls h o w the N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n Society responded to the issue b y f o r m i n g a panel of scientists to r e v i e w the ecology a n d management o f Spotted O w l s . The f i n d i n g s a n d recommendat ions of this pane l s h o u l d be v e r y i n f l u e n t i a l i n d e t e r m i n i n g f u t u r e management f o r Spotted O w l s a n d the i r o l d - g r o w t h forest habitat.

Lynn Herring, Issue Editor, Portland Audubon Society Conservation Committee, 1090 Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Rick Brown, Issue Editor, Portland Audubon Society Conservation Committee, 3425 S.W. 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201


THE E C O L O G Y OF OLD-GROWTH DOUGLAS-FIR FORESTS*

Jerry F. Franklin, Chief Plant Ecologist, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experimental Station, Corvallis, OR 97330

Thomas A. Spies, Research Forester, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experimental Station, Corvallis, OR 97330

I N T R O D U C T I O N

O l d - g r o w t h forests i n the Douglas- f i r r e g i o n are d i s t inguished p r i m a r i l y b y several s t ruc tura l characteristics i n c l u d i n g a w i d e range of tree sizes a n d ages, a deep m u l t i l a y e r e d c r o w n canopy, large i n d i v i d u a l trees, a n d accumulat ions of coarse w o o d y debr is i n c l u d i n g snags a n d d o w n logs of large d i m e n s i o n . O l d - g r o w t h forests are c o m p o s i t i o n a l l y diverse a n d inc lude m a n y species for w h i c h i t is o p t i m u m habitat . O l d -g r o w t h forests are p r o d u c t i v e a l t h o u g h the b u l k of the energy is used for resp i ra t ion . W o o d accumulat ions tend to be stable, w i t h g r o w t h at least ba lanc ing m o r t a l i t y . N u t r i e n t losses a n d erosion are general ly l o w i n o l d - g r o w t h watersheds. The large trees, snags, a n d logs are the key s tructural features of o l d - g r o w t h .

I n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t , o l d - g r o w t h forests connote stands of 250-750 years o l d that conta in variable n u m b e r s of large D o u g l a s - f i r (Pseudotsuga menziesii). O u r objective is to p r o v i d e a more specific w o r k i n g de f in i t ion of o l d - g r o w t h Douglas-f ir forests using i n f o r m a t i o n at h a n d . C u r r e n t f i e l d w o r k is reveal ing i n f i n i t e variat ions i n o l d -g r o w t h forests, yet some general characteristics of c o m p o s t i o n , s tructure , f u n c t i o n , a n d age of the ecosystem can be used to p u t l i m i t s o n this diverse concept.

* This article has been adapted by the authors for this issue of OREGON BIRDS from the following original publications: (1) Franklin, Jerry F. & Thomas A. Spies. 1983. Characteristics of Old-Growth Douglas-fir Forests. In: New Forests for a Changing World. Proceedings of the 1983 Society of American Foresters' National Convention; and (2) Franklin, Jerry F., et al. 1981. Ecological characteristics of old-growth Douglas-fir forests. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-118, 48 pp., Pac. Northwest For. and Range Exp. Stn., Portland, OR.

OREGON BIRDS 12<2):79,1986

O u r scope is confined to the Douglas- f i r region of the Pacific N o r t h w e s t -areas at l o w to moderate elevations west of the Cascade Range where Douglas- f i r is or can be a d o m i n a n t species. I t is i m p o r t a n t to remember that o l d - g r o w t h forests i n other regions have their o w n characteristic compos i t ion , s tructure , a n d f u n c t i o n . O l d - g r o w t h forests of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) or Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), for example contrast sharply w i t h those of the Douglas-f ir region.

HOW M U C H O L D - G R O W T H F O R E S T IS T H E R E I N T H E D O U G L A S -FIR REGION?

The Douglas - f i r reg ion had about 15 m i l l i o n acres of o l d - g r o w t h forest i n the ear ly 1800's. This f igure is based o n an est imated 25 m i l l i o n acres of commerc ia l forest l a n d , 60-70 percent of w h i c h were characterist ical ly i n o l d - g r o w t h based o n age class d i s t r i b u t i o n s i n M t . Rainier a n d O l y m p i c N a t i o n a l Parks. The Society of A m e r i c a n Foresters' Task Force estimates a r o u n d 5 m i l l i o n acres of this o l d - g r o w t h remains.

A p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 m i l l i o n acres of o l d - g r o w t h forest are reserved i n western W a s h i n g t o n and O r e g o n w i t h i n N a t i o n a l Parks, Wilderness Areas, a n d Research N a t u r a l Areas. M u c h of th is acreage is subalpine forest at h igher elevations, so there is considerably less than 1 m i l l i o n acres of o l d - g r o w t h Douglas- f i r . M o s t of the o l d - g r o w t h forests are reserved i n western W a s h i n g t o n i n the O l y m p i c , M t . Rainier, a n d N o r t h Cascade N a t i o n a l Parks, a n d i n the Glacier Peak and A l p i n e Lakes Wilderness Areas.

A D E F I N I T I O N OF O L D - G R O W T H FORESTS I N T H E D O U G L A S -FIR R E G I O N

I t is clear that a s imple, precise d e f i n i t i o n of o l d - g r o w t h forest is u n l i k e l y . I t is necessary to use a var ie ty of characteristics or cr i ter ia because there is w i d e v a r i a b i l i t y i n values for a g i v e n characteristic. A n i n t e r i m d e f i n i t i o n of o l d - g r o w t h Dougla s - f i r i n the Western Hemlock zone ( O l d - g r o w t h D e f i n i t i o n Task Force 1986) is:

1 . T w o or ( c o m m o n l y ) m o r e tree species w i t h a w i d e range i n size a n d age a n d often i n c l u d i n g a l o n g - l i v e d serai d o m i n a n t ( for example, Douglas - f i r ) a n d shade-tolerant associate (for example , Western H e m l o c k , Tsuga heterophylla);

2. I n d i v i d u a l l ive Douglas- f i r trees (more than 8/acre) that are either o l d (>200 years) or have become large (>32 i n . d.b.h.) ;

3. Relat ively h i g h dens i ty of shade-tolerant associates (>12/acre) of m e d i u m size (>16 i n . d.b.h.) ;


4. A deep, mul t i l ayered canopy; and

5. Significant coarse w o o d y debris , i n c l u d i n g snags (>4/acre w h i c h are >20 i n . d . b . h . a n d over 15 f t . ta l l ) and d o w n e d logs (>15 tons/acre i n c l u d i n g 4 pieces > 24 i n . diameter a n d > 50 f t . long) .

O l d - g r o w t h stands also have a number of other attributes, such as a r i c h d i v e r s i t y of p lants a n d animals , some of w h i c h are f o u n d p r i m a r i l y i n o l d - g r o w t h forests.

A g e alone is often an unsatisfactory c r i t e r i o n of o l d - g r o w t h condi t ions , because s tructural features characteristic of o l d - g r o w t h stands deve lop over d i f ferent amounts o f t i m e , d e p e n d i n g o n site condit ions a n d stand h is tory . For example , large l ive trees can g r o w relat ively r a p i d l y o n high-s i te lands. D ouglas - f i r site I l a n d i n the Oregon Coast Ranges m a y p r o d u c e trees of 40 inches i n diameter i n 100 years, a l t h o u g h the trees m a y lack decadence (for example, b r o k e n tops). O n p o o r sites, trees that large m a y take 200 years to deve lop and overa l l stand characteristics m a y d e v e l o p even more s l o w l y . O n Douglas - f i r site I I I lands, o l d - g r o w t h tree a n d stand characteristics emerge at a r o u n d 200 years o l d , ± 50 years.

Stand history also plays an i m p o r t a n t role . Understocked stands p r o d u c e larger trees earlier , other site c o n d i t i o n s be ing equal . Stands d e v e l o p i n g after c learcut t ing w i l l t y p i c a l l y take longer to deve lop a p p r o p r i a t e levels of snags a n d d o w n e d logs since f e w , i f any , are carr ied over f r o m the p r i o r stand. This is i n m a r k e d contrast to stands destroyed b y natural disturbances, such as f ire a n d w i n d .

M o s t o f the o l d - g r o w t h stands i n the Douglas- f i r r e g i o n have deve loped over 250-750 years since their o r i g i n . The most c o m m o n age classes are probably be tween 400 a n d 500 years i n the Cascade Range. Stands w i t h Douglas - f i r trees over 1000 years o l d are occasionally encountered, however ( H e m s t r o m a n d F r a n k l i n 1982). Senescence m a y appear i n some o l d - g o w t h forests, a l t h o u g h i t appears that o l d - g r o w t h stands of Douglas- f i r t y p i c a l l y r e m a i n intac t for 700 to 800 years. O n the other h a n d , some stands m a y break u p at 500 years, w h i l e others last w e l l over 1000 years.

O L D - G R O W T H F O R E S T S ARE C O M P O S I T I O N A L L Y D I V E R S E ECOSYSTEMS

Suggestions have been m a d e i n the past that o l d - g r o w t h forests lack b io logica l d ivers i ty . T h e y were sometimes t e r m e d "biological deserts,"

OREGON BIRDS I2f2):4% 1986

perhaps because of past emphasis o n game species. Recent research has clearly s h o w n , however , that o l d - g r o w t h forests have substantial d i vers i t y i n plants , vertebrate a n d invertebrate animals , a n d aquatic organisms.

The d i v e r s i t y of o l d - g r o w t h forests is w e l l i l lus t ra ted w i t h vertebrate animals. I n the Douglas-f ir r e g i o n , m a n y species m a ke p r i m a r y use o f o l d - g r o w t h forests (Harr is , Maser , a n d McKee 1982); 16 species of b i r d s and m a m m a l s f i n d o p t i m u m habitat i n such forests (Frankl in , a n d others 1981). Several of these species are u n u s u a l , i n c l u d i n g the fo l iage-feeding Red Tree Vole (Arborimus longicaudus) (Harr is 1984). Occurrence of several species is h i g h l y correlated w i t h o l d - g r o w t h forest. The N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l (Strix occidentalis caurina) is the best k n o w n example.

Research s t r o n g l y indicates tha t Spotted O w l s are dependent o n o l d -g r o w t h f o r s u r v i v a l (Gutierrez 1985). The issue of dependency o n o l d -g r o w t h habitat continues to be a major topic of research for the Spot ted O w l a n d other species. The re lat ively h i g h overa l l d ivers i ty a n d strong association of some species w i t h o l d - g r o w t h forest is characteristic of other groups of organisms i n a d d i t i o n to vertebrates.

The major p o i n t is that o l d - g r o w t h forests are b io logica l ly d iverse ecosystems. F r o m a b io logica l s tandpoint , such a conclusion s h o u l d have been o b v i o u s f r o m the b e g i n n i n g . W i t h the large areas of o l d -g r o w t h forest i n existence for such l o n g t i m e per iods , i t is logical to assume that a s ignif icant n u m b e r o f species have become adapted to such habitat . I t is also reasonable to expect that some of these species have become dependent o n the specialized cond i t io ns asssociated w i t h o l d - g r o w t h for their survival .

F inal ly , i t is i m p o r t a n t to note that the most b io lo g ica l ly diverse stage of succession i n the Douglas - f i r reg ion is usua l ly the open, cutover , o r b u r n e d site p r i o r to closure of the tree canopy. The least b io lo g ica l ly diverse stage is the f u l l y stocked y o u n g forest, that is , f r o m closure o f the canopy to near culminat ion o f mean annual increment.

O L D - G R O W T H FORESTS A R E P R O D U C T I V E

O l d - g r o w t h forests are t y p i c a l l y p r o d u c t i v e ecosystems i n terms of the total q u a n t i t y of energy f ixed per u n i t area per u n i t t ime (for example , per acre per year) . O l d - g r o w t h forests cou ld be v i e w e d , a long w i t h a n y other stage i n forest succession, as healthy, v i t a l ecosystems, f i x i n g a n d processing large amounts of solar energy.

OREGON B/RDS U(2):82,1986

I t is i m p o r t a n t to d is t inguish here between p r o d u c t i v i t y as measured by ecologists a n d b y foresters. Gross p r o d u c t i o n i n ecological terms is equivalent to the a m o u n t of energy f ixed photosynthet ica l ly per u n i t area per u n i t t ime . Ecologists def ine net p r i m a r y p r o d u c t i o n as the biomass increment p l u s m o r t a l i t y , i n c l u d i n g l i t ter fa l l a n d materials r e m o v e d b y grazing. A forester's d e f i n i t i o n o f p r o d u c t i v i t y ( w o o d increm e n t ) is , therefore, general ly l i m i t e d to o n l y a p o r t i o n of the ecologist's net p r o d u c t i v i t y a n d c o m m e n t s o n the l o w p r o d u c t i v i t y of o l d - g r o w t h forests rea l ly refers to the re la t ive ly l o w levels of n e w w o o d p r o d u c t i o n .

I t is logical to conclude that o l d - g r o w t h forests tend to be stable i n terms of their biomass or board- foot accumula t ion . Foresters have l o n g recognized the basic s tab i l i ty of w o o d accumulat ions i n o l d - g r o w t h forests, hence the expression "s tor ing w o o d o n the s t u m p . " W e have also b e g u n to realize that s igni f icant tree a n d forest g r o w t h goes o n w e l l b e y o n d c u l m i n a t i o n of m e a n annual increment ( W i l l i a m s o n a n d Price 1971). Indeed , b y c u t t i n g forests at c u l m i n a t i o n , w e are rea l ly c u t t i n g t h e m as they make the t rans i t ion f r o m ecologically y o u n g to ecological ly mature forests; g r o w t h a n d biomass accumulat ion are far f r o m complete at such a stage.

W o o d accumulat ions i n o l d - g r o w t h forests are usual ly stable over the l o n g r u n . Stands general ly w i l l not disappear i n decades o r even centuries as a result of m o r t a l i t y a n d diseases.

O L D - G R O W T H FORESTS A R E C O N S E R V A T O R S

Probably m o r e data are avai lable o n the protec t ive f u n c t i o n i n g of o l d -g r o w t h forests than a n y other funct ional aspect. This w o u l d i n c l u d e their role i n m a i n t a i n i n g water q u a l i t y a n d conserving n u t r i e n t s a n d soi l . O l d - g r o w t h forest systems are h i g h l y retentive of n u t r i e n t s . Large amounts are t ied u p i n l i v i n g a n d d e a d organic mater ia l a n d are released o n l y s l o w l y . I n t e r n a l recycl ing is r a p i d . N u t r i e n t levels leaching i n t o g r o u n d w a t e r a n d appear ing i n streams are, therefore, v e r y l o w (Sollins a n d others 1980). Soil erosion is also t y p i c a l l y l o w c o m p a r e d to the earliest stages i n forest succession. The c o m b i n a t i o n of l o w losses of dissolved n u t r i e n t s a n d of par t i cula te matter expla ins the h i g h q u a l i t y of water characteristic o f o l d - g r o w t h watersheds (Swanson and others 1982a).

O l d - g r o w t h forests also affect water y i e l d , b u t a recent s tudy indicates the effect m a y not be as s i m p l e or obvious as p r e v i o u s l y supposed. I n an earlier synthesis of o l d - g r o w t h characteristics (Frankl in a n d others 1981), o l d a n d y o u n g forests were assumed to have s imilar effects o n water cycles, for example o n t ranspira t ion losses. H a r r (1982) recent ly

ORECON BIRDS 12(2):83,1986

r e m i n d e d us of the importance of c loud a n d f o g condensation i n tree canopies i n some regions. I n a p o r t i o n of the B u l l R u n watershed for the c i ty o f P o r t l a n d , Oregon, f o g d r i p f r o m the n a t u r a l forest cover m a y contr ibute u p to 30 percent (35 ins.) of the measurable prec ip i ta t ion per year. This was discovered after c learcut t ing some experimental watersheds resulted i n reduced rather than increased water y ie lds . Since o l d - g r o w t h forests t y p i c a l l y have deep, m u l t i l a y e r e d canopies a n d h i g h leaf areas, w e can expect t h e m to be m o r e effective than y o u n g forests at condensing a n d p r e c i p i t a t i n g m o i s t u r e a n d atmospheric particulates.

A f i n a l c o m m e n t o n the protec t ive funct ions o f o l d - g r o w t h forests concerns their role i n insect, disease, a n d f i re contro l . O l d - g r o w t h forests are sometimes descr ibed as insect- a n d disease-ridden ecosystems that are a hazard to adjacent m a n a g e d forests, or as forest systems that increase f i re r isks. I n the Dougla s - f i r region, o l d - g r o w t h forests ra re l y appear to p r o v i d e reservoirs o f pathogens hazardous to managed stands. I n general , contrast ing forest condi t ions have d i f ferent arrays o f insects and diseases. Those that m i g h t be c o m m o n i n the o l d -g r o w t h stands (for example , d w a r f mistletoes or shoestring root r o t ) can either be isolated or have l o w rates of spread. Intensively-managed y o u n g forests are p r o v i n g to have a number of pest problems b u t f e w are l ike ly to have their source i n adjacent na tura l forests. S i m i l a r l y , f i re risks are v e r y l o w i n o l d - g r o w t h Douglas- f i r forests because of several factors, i n c l u d i n g the t y p e o f microc l imate created w i t h i n the forest. Once f ires are ign i te d i n o l d - g r o w t h forests, h o w e v e r , they are d i f f i c u l t to c o n t r o l because of heavy f u e l l o a d i n g a n d a b u n d a n t snags that he lp spread the f ire .

O L D - G R O W T H FORESTS A R E S T R U C T U R A L L Y DIVERSE

Structura l d ivers i ty is the characteristic w h e r e the greatest contrasts are f o u n d between intens ive ly-managed comm e r c ia l t imber stands a n d u n m a n a g e d forests, i n c l u d i n g o l d - g r o w t h . W i d e ranges i n tree size, dense a n d deep forest canopies, a n d abundant d e a d w o o d are c o m m o n structural features of o l d - g r o w t h stands (Franklin a n d others 1981).

O l d - g r o w t h canopies are c o m m o n l y m u l t i s t o r i e d or cont inuous to near g r o u n d level . Dead w o o d i n the f o r m of snags a n d d o w n e d logs is general ly c o m m o n or abundant . A l t h o u g h a notable part of o l d - g r o w t h stands, such mater ia l is ac tual ly c o m m o n i n u n m a n a g e d stands i n a l l successional stages i n the Douglas- f i r region.

The o b v i o u s s tructural elements characteristic of the o l d - g r o w t h forest are the large l ive trees, large snags, a n d large d o w n e d logs o n l a n d a n d jn_streams. This is i m p o r t a n t because m a n y o f the special features of

OREGON BIRDS 12(2)M, 1986

composi t ion and f u n c t i o n f o u n d i n o l d - g r o w t h forests relate to these s t ructura l elements. Managers can use these structural features as cr i t ical elements i n d e v e l o p i n g a n d a p p l y i n g management schemes. I t is n o t e w o r t h y that 2 of the tree structures (snags a n d logs) are composed of d e a d w o o d . Dead w o o d plays extremely i m p o r t a n t roles i n natura l ecosystems.

L i v e o l d - g r o w t h trees are c o m m o n l y 40-60 ins. i n diameter a n d 160-270 f t . t a l l . L o n g - l i v e d serai species, such as Douglas- f i r or Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata), p r o v i d e structures of more funct ional value than d o some cl imax species, such as Western Hemlock a n d Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis). The c l imax species d o not attain comparable sizes or persist as l o n g as snags a n d d o w n e d logs.

A s befi ts their a n t i q u i t y , l ive o l d - g r o w t h trees t e n d to be i n d i v i d u a l i s i t c w i t h large branch systems a n d deep c r o w n s a n d often have m u l t i p l e or dead tops a n d heart rots. A l l of these characteristics contr ibute to their v a l u e as habitat for animals and other plants (Frankl in and others 1981).

M a n y of the dis t inct compos i t iona l features of o l d - g r o w t h f o r e s t s -plants a n d a n i m a l s - a r e related to the tree canopies. A l m o s t every surface of an o l d - g r o w t h Douglas- f i r is occupied b y e p i p h y t i c plants . M o r e than 100 species of mosses and lichens f u n c t i o n as these epiphytes .

The canopy of an o l d - g r o w t h Douglas- f i r forest harbors large numbers of invertebrates of m a n y species. A single stand may have m o r e than 1500 species. A m i n o r i t y of species spend their entire cycle i n the canopy: Araneida , A c a r i n a , H o m o p t e r a , Col lembola , N e u r o p t e r a , Thysanoptera , a n d Psocoptera. Other species of L e p i d o p t e r a , H y m e n o p t e r a , D i p t e r a , a n d Coleoptera occur as eggs, larvae, a n d pupae i n the canopy. B u t the adults can a n d d o m o v e o u t of the canopy. The m a j o r i t y of species encountered i n the canopy are adults that spend their i m m a t u r e stages o n the forest f loor or i n streams.

Several vertebrates d e p e n d heavi ly o n the o l d - g r o w t h canopy as sites for nest ing, feeding, a n d protect ion . W e l l - k n o w n examples are the N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l , N o r t h e r n H y i n g Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), a n d Red Tree Vole. The Vole m a y l ive for m a n y generations i n the same tree. The ro le that the large branch systems a n d organic accumulat ions p l a y i n p r o v i d i n g suitable habitat s h o u l d not be over looked.

Large snags are best k n o w n for their value as w i l d l i f e habi tat b u t are also i m p o r t a n t i n carbon a n d n u t r i e n t cycles. Large, h a r d snags (>24 ins. i n d iameter a n d 50 f t . ta l l ) are p a r t i c u l a r l y valuable sites for p r i m a r y

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):8S,1986

cavity excavators. Snags i n the Blue M o u n t a i n s of Oregon a n d W a s h i n g t o n are p r i m a r y locat ions for cavities that are used b y 63 species o f vertebrates—39 b i r d s a n d 24 m a m m a l s (Thomas and others 1979). Uses inc lude sites f o r nest ing and o v e r w i n t e r i n g , locations f o r courtship r i tuals , and food sources.

Thomas a n d others (1979) indica te a direct corre la t ion between n u m b e r s of snags a n d related p o p u l a t i o n s since suitable nesting sites are general ly t h o u g h t to l i m i t popula t ions . M a n n a n a n d others (1980) c o n f i r m this f o r hole-nesting b i r d s i n western O r e g o n . The large, h a r d snags r e q u i r e d b y p r i m a r y excavators, such as the Pileated Wo o d pe cke r (Dryocopus pileatus), are especially important . Such snags w i l l be hard to perpetuate i n managed stands (because of smaller trees a n d programs for salvaging w o o d a n d reduc ing f i re a n d safety hazards) . Yet such snags are also sui ted to other w i l d l i f e species a n d w i l l p r o d u c e soft snags t h r o u g h the process of deter iorat ion. Snags representing a variety of decay classes are needed i n a stand to meet the d i f f e r i n g requirements of vertebrates since not a l l use the same material . O n e special a t t r i b u t e of o l d - g r o w t h a n d large (natural ) second-growth stands is that they p r o v i d e the necessary array of snags w i t h v a r y i n g levels of decay, whereas y o u n g stands o n cutover areas d o not.

Large, d o w n e d logs serve m a n y i m p o r t a n t ecological funct ions o n b o t h u p l a n d a n d i n streams. O n l a n d , d o w n e d logs f u n c t i o n as w i l d l i f e habitat , as sources of organic mat ter , carbon, a n d nutr ients , as sites for n i t rogen f i x a t i o n , as nurse logs for p lant r e p r o d u c t i o n , a n d as i m p e d i m e n t s to erosion. Logs p r o v i d e essential habitat for a var ie ty o f invertebrates ( D e y r u p 1975) a n d vertebrates (Maser a n d Trappe 1984). They are used as sites for lookouts , feeding, and reproduct ion , protect ion and cover, sources and storage o f f o o d , and b e d d i n g . The h i g h m o i s t u r e content of logs makes t h e m par t i cu lar ly i m p o r t a n t as habitat f o r amphibians.

Maser a n d others (1979) r e p o r t e d that 178 vertebrates use logs i n the Blue M o u n t a i n s - 1 4 amphib ians a n d repti les, 115 b i rds , a n d 49 mammals . T h e y tabulated use b y l o g decay classes for each species. Logs are considered i m p o r t a n t i n ear ly successional stages as w e l l as i n o l d - g r o w t h forests. The persistence of large logs has special importance i n p r o v i d i n g w i l d l i f e w i t h habitat c o n t i n u i t y over l o n g periods a n d t h r o u g h major disturbances.

Logs m a y contr ibute s ign i f i cant ly to reestablishment of a n i m a l popula t ions b y p r o v i d i n g p a t h w a y s a long w h i c h smal l m a m m a l s can venture i n t o clearcuts a n d other bare areas. This has relevance to the reestablishment of tree seedlings o n bared areas since s u r v i v a l a n d g r o w t h of n e w trees depends o n d e v e l o p m e n t of appropr ia te


mycorrh iza l associations. Surprisingly, fungal symbionts apparently disappear f r o m cutover areas short ly after their host trees are r e m o v e d ( H a r v e y a n d others (1976), and the sites must be reinocculated w i t h their spores. M a n y m y c o s y m b i o n t s have u n d e r g r o u n d f r u i t i n g bodies a n d complete ly d e p e n d o n animals for d isseminat ion of spores. Small m a m m a l s are the vectors. They consume the fungus and carry spores to n e w areas, thereby inoccu la t ing tree seedlings (Maser a n d others 1978a, 1978b; Maser & Trappe 1978).

I n streams, d o w n e d logs f u n c t i o n (Swanson a n d others 1982b; Tr iska and others 1982) as: components and creators of habitat (and consequently, b io log ica l d ivers i ty ) ; dissipators of s tream f l o w energy, reduc ing channel c u t t i n g a n d other erosion; sites for n i t rogen f i x a t i o n ; and re tent ion devices to h e l p trap a n d h o l d p lant l i t ter a l o n g stream reaches u n t i l i t can be used b y stream organisms.

I n smal l a n d intermediate streams i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t , large debr is m a y be the p r i n c i p a l factor d e t e r m i n i n g the characteristics of aquatic habitats. The i m p o r t a n t role of debris i n creat ing habitat for f i sh has been r e v i e w e d b y N a r v e r (1971), H a l l a n d Baker (1975), and others. The w o o d itself is a habitat or substrate for m u c h biological ac t iv i ty b y microbial , invertebrate, and vertebrate organisms.

N O T A L L O L D - G R O W T H FORESTS ARE AS A B O V E

General features of o l d - g r o w t h are s imi lar i n m a n y other western forest t y p e s - t h e presence o f re la t ive ly large trees a n d of dead w o o d , for example . Details o f s tructure , c o m p o s i t i o n , and age v a r y w i d e l y , however .

O l d - g r o w t h forests of coastal Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)^estern H e m l o c k have a var ied composit ion i n w h i c h the Spruce, Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), and Western Redcedar, p r o v i d e the larger trees a n d longer- l ived d e a d - w o o d structures. O l d - g r o w t h spruce-hemlock forests t y p i c a l l y have a better developed u n d e r s t o r y of herbs a n d shrubs than y o u n g e r stands, of great importance for w i l d l i f e (Alaback 1982). The r a t i o of snag to d o w n e d l o g v o l u m e is general ly l o w e r than i n Douglas-f ir o l d - g r o w t h forests.

Pine forests p r o b a b l y d i f f e r most m a r k e d l y f r o m Douglas - f i r i n o l d -g r o w t h characteristics. W i t h Ponderosa Pine, large l ive o l d - g r o w t h trees a n d large snags are i m p o r t a n t , b u t levels of d o w n e d logs are t y p i c a l l y l o w because of frequent fires. O l d - g r o w t h Lodgepole Pine forests m a y lack large trees, relative to other types. Snags a n d d o w n e d logs m a y be abundant b u t small i n size, re f lect ing m a x i m u m tree sizes t y p i c a l of the site. Senescence and de ter iora t ion occur m u c h earl ier and

OREGON BIRDS 12<2):87,1986

more c o m m o n l y i n Lodgepole Pine than i n the other o l d - g r o w t h conifer types discussed.

O l d - g r o w t h forests i n the eastern Uni ted States also share m a n y characteristics w i t h w e s t e r n o l d - g r o w t h forests. H i g h levels of b iological d ivers i ty , s t ruc tura l heterogeneity, a n d func t iona l v i t a l i t y are characteristic of o l d - g r o w t h , deciduous, h a r d w o o d forests. Large , i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c l ive trees a n d ma jor accumulat ions of dead w o o d i n the f o r m of snags and logs are c o m m o n . Residual trees carried over f r o m earlier stands m a y be i m p o r t a n t as cavity trees.

C O N C L U S I O N S

O l d - g r o w t h forests i n the Douglas - f i r reg ion appear to p r o v i d e h i g h l y specialized habitats that are neither u n p r o d u c t i v e ecosystems n o r biological deserts. There are major contrasts i n co m po s i t io n , f u n c t i o n , a n d s t ruc tura l features be tween o l d - g r o w t h a n d managed y o u n g - g r o w t h stands. Differences between o l d - g r o w t h stands a n d unmanaged y o u n g -g r o w t h stands are of ten one o f degree because m u c h s tructural m a t e r i a l , such as large snags a n d logs, is carried over f r o m the o l d stand to the new stand. Management schemes for o l d - g r o w t h forests can be keyed to 3 s t ructura l components : large l ive trees, large snags, a n d large d o w n e d logs.

W h e n the objective is p e r p e t u a t i o n of an o l d - g r o w t h forest ecosystem, a m i n i m u m a m o u n t of d is turbance should be a l l o w e d . Snags a n d logs p e r f o r m i m p o r t a n t funct ions a n d are essential structures. For m u l t i p l e -use objectives, an increased awareness of the nature a n d no nt im be r va lue of i n d i v i d u a l trees is i m p o r t a n t , fo r example, as potent ia l or c u r r e n t habitat for ep iphyt i c c o m m u n i t i e s and w i l d l i f e . The ecological roles of s t andi ng dead trees a n d logs i n the f u n c t i o n i n g a n d p r o d u c t i v i t y o f the forest m u s t also be recognized i f w e are to d o a better job of l a n d stewardship.

L I T E R A T U R E C I T E D

Alaback, Paul B. 1982. D y n a m i c s of unders tory biomass i n Sitka spruce-western hemlock forests of southeast Alaska. Ecology 63(6): 1932-1948.

D e y r u p , M . A . 1975. The insect c o m m u n i t y of d e a d a n d d y i n g Douglas -f i r . I . The Tymenoptera . Coni ferous For. B iome B u l l . 6, 104pp. U n i v . Wash., Seattle.

F r a n k l i n , J.F., K . Cromack Jr., W . Denis ion l a n d others] . 1981. Ecological characteristics of o l d - g r o w t h Douglas - f i r forests. Gen. Tech.

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Rep. PNW-118. Por t land, OR: U.S. Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest a n d Range Exper imenta l Stat ion; 48 p p .

Gut ierrez , R.J. 1985. A n o v e r v i e w of recent research on the spot ted o w l . In: Ecology a n d management of the spotted o w l i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t , R.J. Gutt ierrez and A.B . Carey, tech. ed. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-185 , P o r t l a n d , OR: U.S. D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest a n d Range Exper imenta l Stat ion; 119 p p .

H a l l , J.D. & C O . Baker. 1975. Biological impacts of organic debris i n Pacific N o r t h w e s t streams. Debris i n Streams W o r k s h o p N o . 1 , Sept. 1975,13 p p . Oregon State U n i v . , Corval l is .

H a r r , R .D. 1982. Fog d r i p i n the B u l l R u n m u n i c i p a l watershed, Oregon. Water Resources Bul le t in 18(5): 785-789.

H a r r i s , L a r r y D . 1984. The Fragmented Forest. U n i v . Chicago Press 2 1 1 p p .

H a r r i s , L . D . , C. Maser, & A . W . McKee . 1982. Patterns of o l d - g r o w t h harvest and impl icat ions for Cascades w i l d l i f e . In: Transactions 47th N o r t h Amer ican w i l d l i f e and natural resources conference. Washi n g t o n , D . C : W i l d l i f e Management Inst i tute ; p p . 374-392.

H a r v e y , A .E . , M . F . Jurgenson, & M . H . Larsen. 1976. In tens ive fiber u t i l i z a t i o n a n d prescr ibed f ire : Effects o n the m i c r o b i a l ecology of forests. In: U S D A Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-28 , 46 p p . In termt . For. and Range Exp. Stn., Ogden , U t a h .

H e m s t r o m , Mi les A . & J. F r an k l i n . 1982. Fire a n d other disturbances of the forests i n M o u n t Rainier N a t i o n a l Park. Quaternary Research 18: p p . 32-51.

M a n n a n , R.W., E . C M e s l o w , & H . M . W i g h t . 1980. Use o f snags b y b i r d s , Douglas- f i r forests, western O r e g o n . J. W i l d l i f e M a n a g . 44(4): 787-797.

Maser , C , R. A n d e r s o n , K . Cromack Jr., J.T. W i l l i a m s , & R.E. M a r t i n . 1979. Dead and d o w n w o o d y material . Chap. 6. In: W i l d l i f e Habitat i n Managed Forests: The Blue M o u n t a i n s of Oregon and Washington . J.W. Thomas, tech. ed. U S D A A g r i c u l t u r e H a n d b o o k , 553 p p . , 78-95.

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Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest and Range Experiment Station; 56 p p .

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O l d - g r o w t h D e f i n i t i o n Task G r o u p . 1986. I n t e r i m Def in i t ions for O l d -g r o w t h Douglas- f i r a n d M i x e d Conifer Forest i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t a n d C a l i f o r n i a . Research N o t e P N W - . Por t land , OR: U S D A Forest Service ( in press).

Sollins, P., C.C. Grier , F . M . M c C o r i s o n , K . C r o m a c k Jr., R. Fogel, & R.L. Fredr iksen. 1980. The i n t e r n a l element cycles of an o l d - g r o w t h Douglas -f i r ecosystem i n western Oregon. Ecological M o n o g r a p h s 50(3): 261 -285.

Swanson, F.J., R.L. Fredriksen, & F . M . M c C o r i s o n . 1982a. M a t e r i a l transfer i n a western Oregon forested watershed. In: Analys is of coniferous forest ecosystems i n the western U n i t e d States. E d m o n d s , R.L. ed . U S / I B P Synthesis Series 14. S t r o u d s b u r g , P A : H u t c h i n s o n Ross Publ ishing Co.; 233-266.

Swanson, F.J., S.V. Gregory , J.R. Sedell & A . G . Campbel l . 1982b. Landwater interactions: the r i p a r i a n zone. In: Analysis of coniferous forest ecosystems i n the western U n i t e d States. Edmonds, R.L. ed. U S / I B P Synthesis Series 14. S t roudsburg , P A : H u t c h i n s o n Ross Publ i sh ing Co. ; 267-291.

Thomas, J.W., tech. ed . 1979. W i l d l i f e habitats i n managed forests: the Blue M o u n t a i n s of O r e g o n a n d W a s h i n g t o n . A g r i c . H a n d b o o k 553. Washington , D . C : U.S. Department of A g r i c u l t u r e . 512 p p .

Tr iska , F.J., J.R. Sedell & S.V. Gregory . 1982. Coni ferous forest streams. In: Analys i s of coniferous forest ecosystems i n the western U n i t e d States. E d m o n d s , R.L. ed . U S / I B P Synthesis Series 14. S troudsburg, PA: H u t c h i n s o n Ross Publ ishing Co.; 292-332.

W i l l i a m s o n , R.L. & F.E. Price. 1971. I n i t i a l t h i n n i n g effects i n 70- to 150-year-old Douglas-f ir—western Oregon a n d Washington . Res. Pap. PNW-117 . Por t land, OR: U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest a n d Range Exper imenta l Stat ion; 15


E C O L O G I C A L V A L U E OF D E A D TREES T O CAVITY-NESTING BIRDS I N NORTHEASTERN O R E G O N

Evelyn L. Bull, Wildlife Biologist, USDA Forest Service, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, La Grande, Oregon 97850

M a n y forest b i r d s of northeastern O r e g o n depend o n d y i n g , dead, and d o w n e d trees for nest ing and f o r a g i n g . A m o n g these b i r d s are the woodpeckers , called primary cavity nesters because they excavate cavities i n trees (usual ly dead ones) for nesting. Species that cannot excavate their o w n cavities b u t use n a t u r a l cavities or vacated woodpecker cavities are termed secondary cavity nesters. Secondary cavi ty nesters are largely dependent o n the cavities created b y woodpeckers for nest sites because n a t u r a l l y - o c c u r r i n g cavities are u n c o m m o n i n coniferous forests.


There are 10 species of woodpeckers and 29 species of secondary cavity nesters i n Oregon. A l l c a v i t y nesters d e p e n d largely o n dead or d y i n g trees for nest sites, except tha t nest boxes can be used b y some secondary cavi ty nesters. Woodpeckers rarely use nest boxes.

M a n y of the woodpeckers that forage for insects i n dead or d o w n e d trees feed m a i n l y o n bark beetles (Dendroctonus spp.) , forest insects capable of k i l l i n g thousands of trees. Some of the secondary cavity nesters (such as chickadees, Pants spp. , a n d nuthatches, Sitta spp.) feed extensively o n the Western Spruce B u d w o r m (Choristoneura occidentals) a n d the Douglas- f i r Tussock M o t h (Orgyia pseudotsugata); b o t h are insects that cause severe defol iat ion i n conifer forests.

Large-diameter dead trees (those greater t h a n 15 to 20 inches i n d iameter ) are preferred b y woodpeckers a n d u s u a l l y occur i n m a t u r e or o l d - g r o w t h forest stands. A s a stand gets older , the n u m b e r a n d d iameter of d y i n g trees increase. Stands classified as over -mature or as o l d - g r o w t h generally p r o v i d e o p t i m u m condi t ions for cavi ty nesters. W h e n a stand becomes ov e r -m ature , the rate of g r o w t h a n d the v i g o r i n the i n d i v i d u a l trees decl ine. Consequently, incidence of w o o d decay a n d insects (carpenter ants, Camponotus spp. ; bark beetles; a n d w o o d -b o r i n g beetles, Buprestidae a n d Cerambycidae) increases. The result is n u m e r o u s large-diameter d y i n g , dead, a n d d o w n e d trees c o n t a i n i n g insects a n d decay w h i c h are components essential to woodpeckers for b o t h nest ing a n d f o r a g i n g . The large-diameter (greater than 20 inches i n d iameter ) dead trees are b i g enough to conta in cavities for a n y of the w o o d p e c k e r species, a n d there is a pos i t ive correlat ion be tween the n u m b e r of dead trees a n d the n u m b e r of cav i ty nesters ( u p to the p o i n t of excess).

D Y I N G TREES

N u m e r o u s factors cause the death of trees. Se ldom is death as s i m p l e as a l i g h t n i n g strike or f i re . M o r e of ten, a c o m b i n a t i o n of c l imate , m o i s t u r e , decay, a n d insects stress the tree t o a p o i n t of reduced v i g o r a n d death fo l lows .

The d y i n g trees used b y woodpeckers have some w o o d decay, u s u a l l y either c o m i n g u p f r o m the roots (root ro t ) i n t o the l o w e r t r u n k or w o r k i n g i n the tree t o p . F u n g i that cause decay infect trees t h r o u g h w o u n d s i n the tree. Ei ther the f u n g i are carr ied b y w o o d - f e e d i n g insects or they g r o w through the soil a n d attack the roots of the tree.

Characteristics of trees w i t h decay include a d e a d or broken top , lack of v i g o r , a n d fungal f r u i t i n g bodies o n the t r u n k . M a n y woodpeckers r e a d i l y select these trees as nest sites because the decayed w o o d OREGON BIRDS 12(2):92,1986

facilitates the excavation of a cavity. O n l y the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) can excavate i n s o u n d coniferous w o o d . The other woodpeckers excavate o n l y i n decayed w o o d .

Wil l iamson's Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) are the most frequent nesters i n the decayed tops of d y i n g trees greater than 20 inches i n diameter. The t r u n k m u s t be large enough to h o l d the cavi ty where the decay occurs. M o u n t a i n Chickadees (Parus gambeli) and nuthatches frequently nest i n the same trees as the Wil l iamson's Sapsuckers and either use o l d cavities or excavate new ones.

Williamson's Sapsucker. Photo by Evelyn L. Bull.

H a i r y (Picoides villosus), Black-backed (P. arcticus), White-headed (P. albolarvatus), a n d Three-toed (P. tridactylus) Woodpeckers occasionally take advantage of the decayed w o o d i n the t r u n k of a tree w i t h root rot a n d excavate a cavi ty w i t h i n 3 to 5 feet o f the g r o u n d . Because these nests are close to the g r o u n d , the threat of p r e d a t i o n is probably greater. Bluebirds (Sialia spp.) a n d wrens (Troglodytes spp.) q u i c k l y occupy the cavities after the woodpeckers have left.


Lewis ' Woodpeckers (Melanerpes lewis) are c o m m o n along some rivers and i n o l d burns i n eastern Oregon. They of ten nest i n the tops of d y i n g Ponderosa Pine or c o t t o n w o o d along the r i v e r banks. They are p o o r excavators, as evidenced b y their f lycatching ha b i t of forag ing , a n d use exis t ing cavities i n a d d i t i o n to excavating the i r o w n i n extensively decayed w o o d .

D y i n g trees eventual ly succumb, a l t h o u g h i t m a y take years. The dead tops m a y be b l o w n o u t o f the trees b y w i n d , a n d trees w i t h root ro t have a tendency to break at the g r o u n d because of the decay-weakened w o o d structure. These trees serve as valuable habi tat for cavi ty nesters, par t icular ly i n areas d e v o i d of dead trees.

D E A D TREES

A l l dead trees are not created equal , at least as far as the w o o d p e c k e r (beating its head against t h e m ) is concerned. Some dead trees are never suitable for use b y c a v i t y nesters; others are suitable for o n l y a short t ime; a n d s t i l l others are suitable for m a n y years. To a woodpecker , the su i tab i l i ty of a dead tree depends o n a v a r i e t y of factors i n c l u d i n g decay condi t ion , species, diameter , height, a n d locat ion.

W h e n a tree dies, i t m a y o r m a y not have decayed w o o d . General ly , a tree that has just d i e d a n d has no decay w i l l start to decay i n the s a p w o o d (outer w o o d ) a n d later w i l l decay i n the h e a r t w o o d ( inner w o o d ) . W i t h t ime the branches f a l l , the t o p snaps off , a n d the ba r k loosens a n d sloughs off . W h e n the dead tree becomes p a r t i c u l a r l y o l d , i t loses its usefulness as a nest site because the w o o d is too decayed or wet to suppor t a cavity, b u t i t can stil l funct ion as a feeding site.

The species of tree pre ferred b y a woodpecker depends o n the decay process, w h i c h i n t u r n depends o n the p h y s i o l o g y , c l imate , a n d local i ty . For example, p ines have a greater p r o p o r t i o n of s a p w o o d to h e a r t w o o d than other conifers do . Because the s a p w o o d is so th ick i n large-diameter Ponderosa Pine, woodpeckers w i l l excavate their ent ire cavi ty i n the s a p w o o d ( w h i c h decays f i rs t ) a n d a v o i d the harder hea r two od.

The size of tree a w o o d p e c k e r w i l l use depends o n the size of cav i ty the b i r d needs a n d the p r e f e r r e d nest ing height . For example , the Pileated Woodpecker excavates a c a v i t y 8 to 10 inches w i d e a n d 20 to 24 inches deep a n d usua l ly nests h i g h e r than 30 feet. O n l y trees greater t h a n 20 inches i n diameter near the base are large e n o u g h to conta in their cavi ty at this height, a n d the b i r d s usual ly select trees 25 to 40 inches i n diameter i f those trees are available.


Large-diameter dead trees have several advantages as nest sites: they are large enough to conta in cavities o f a n y w o o d p e c k e r species; they s tand far longer t h a n smaller trees; they conta in e n o u g h w o o d to encompass the c a v i t y a n d to p r o v i d e g o o d thermal i n s u l a t i o n and p r o t e c t i o n f r o m predators t r y i n g to break in to the cavi ty ; m o r e than one species can nest i n the tree s imultaneously ; a n d the tree can be used repeatedly over the years.

The locat ion of a dead tree relative to forest stands a n d openings influences w h a t species use i t . Some b i r d s prefer nest ing i n denser stands a n d others i n m o r e o p e n stands or o n the edge of an opening . M a n y dead trees harbor ba r k beetles, w o o d - b o r i n g beetles, a n d carpenter ants, w h i c h some w o o d p e c k e r s prey o n extensively. The dead trees p r o v i d e i m p o r t a n t foraging strata throughout the year.

Pileated Woodpeckers nest i n large-diameter dead trees i n f a i r l y dense forest stands, p a r t i c u l a r l y of G r a n d Fir . The species sometimes excavates cavities i n comple te ly sound w o o d , a l t h o u g h the b i r d s m a y


also use decayed w o o d . I n northeastern Oregon, they generally use dead trees w i t h b r o k e n tops, f e w branches, a n d l i t t l e bark . They prefer trees that have been dead at least 10 years. Pileated Woodpeckers p r e y m a i n l y o n carpenter ants tha t l i v e i n large-diameter dead or d o w n e d trees. These woodpeckers reach their highest densities i n o l d - g r o w t h stands w h e r e dead a n d d o w n e d trees are a b u n d a n t and can p r o v i d e ampl e nest sites and prey.

Vacated Pileated W o o d p e c k e r cavities are readi ly occupied b y N o r t h e r n Saw-Whet O w l s (Aegolius acadicus), F lammulated O w l s (Otus flammeolus), and A m e r i c a n Kestrels (Falco sparverius). N o r t h ern F l y i n g Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) a n d Red Squirrels (Tamia-sciurus hudsonicus) are perhaps the most c o m m o n residents of o l d Pileated Woodpecker cavities a n d w i l l occupy a cavity short ly after y o u n g b i r d s have f ledged. C o m m o n Mergansers (Mergus merganser) a n d W o o d Ducks (Aix sponsa) have also been reported to use these cavities, par t i cu lar ly those adjacent to r i p a r i a n areas.

W i l l i a m s o n ' s Sapsuckers f r e q u e n t l y nest i n the same g r a n d f i r stands as Pileated Woodpeckers , b u t they nest i n a d i f f e r e n t type of dead tree. Because they are weak excavators, they select a large, recently dead tree w i t h extensive decay a n d w i t h branches a n d bark r e m a i n i n g . Chickadees a n d nuthatches are frequent neighbors of this sapsucker. Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) nest i n similar trees b u t generally choose to be near r i p a r i a n areas.

H a i r y , Black-backed, Three- toed, and Whi te -headed Woodpeckers can use smaller dead trees for nes t ing than the species m e n t i o n e d above can because they nest l o w e r to the g r o u n d . A l l these species select trees w i t h decay a n d generally select trees that have been dead less t h a n 10 years. The f i rs t 2 species u s u a l l y nest i n ponderosa p i n e or mixed-coni fer stands. White-headed Woodpeckers nest a n d forage almost exclusively i n stands of Ponderosa Pine, excavating cavities l o w (less than 15 feet above g r o u n d ) i n dead Ponderosa Pines. Three-toed Woodpeckers usua l ly nest i n Lodgepole Pine stands a n d use f a i r l y small dead trees. A l l these b i r d s feed extensively b y c h i p p i n g bark of f trees to f i n d the bark beetles and their larvae i n the c a m b i u m . Whi te -headed Woodpeckers also f requent ly feed b y searching for insects i n the cracks a n d fissures of the bark of large-diameter Ponderosa Pine ( o l d - g r o w t h stands) or feed o n the cones of these large pines.

The cavities of the H a i r y , Black-backed, Three-toed, a n d W h i t e -headed Woodpeckers are re la t ive ly s imi lar i n size, a n d b lue b i r d s , wrens , Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), and occasionally chickadees are the c o m m o n occupants of the cavities. These secondary


cavi ty nesters prefer the open stands a n d relatively l o w nest height selected b y these 4 woodpecker species.

The N o r t h e r n Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is probably the most adaptable woodpecker i n Oregon, i f not i n N o r t h America . This species w i l l excavate a n e w c a v i t y each year or use an exis t ing one. They nest i n a var ie ty of forest stands a n d dead trees, a l t h o u g h decayed w o o d m u s t be present for excavation. General ly trees greater t h a n 12 inches i n diameter are selected for nest sites.

»

Northern Flicker. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildife Service.

The most c o m m o n secondary cavity nesters that use N o r t h e r n Hicker cavities inc lude N o r t h e r n Saw-Whet , F l a m m u l a t e d , a n d N o r t h e r n P y g m y - O w l s (Glaucidium gnoma), b luebirds , European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), as w e l l as squirrels.

The D o w n y Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) is f o u n d i n deciduous forests where i t nests i n small-diameter dead trees w i t h decay.


Smaller secondary cavi ty nesters ( l ike the Black-capped Chickadee, Parus atricapillus) can use their vacated holes.

I n s u m m a r y , dead trees are an essential component of the forest ecosystem for cavity-nest ing b i r d s because the dead w o o d p r o v i d e s nest a n d forage sites. Some resource p a r t i t i o n i n g has apparent ly e v o l v e d w i t h the woodpeckers so that each species uses a d i f ferent t y p e of forest s tand or a d i f ferent t y p e of dead tree w i t h i n the same forest type . I n a d d i t i o n , a l l these species use d i f f e r e n t fo rag ing strategies. They ei ther feed o n d i f fe rent prey or they forage i n d i f ferent forest habitats. This mechanism of p a r t i t i o n i n g m a y reduce c o m p e t i t i o n a m o n g the 10 species of woodpeckers that nest i n cavities a n d feed o n insects.

DOWNED TREES

L i v e a n d dead trees, weakened b y insects a n d decay that des t roy the w o o d structure , eventual ly succumb to the p u l l of g r a v i t y or to the force of w i n d s a n d topple to the earth. The decay process continues i n the d o w n e d trees, aided b y the mois ture acquired f r o m the g r o u n d w h i c h encourages decay. The d o w n e d trees harbor m a n y insects, p a r t i c u l a r l y carpenter ants and w o o d - b o r i n g beetles, that p r o v i d e the m a i n d ie t of the Pi leated Woodpecker . Because i t is the strongest excavator, this species is the on ly w o o d p e c k e r that feeds extensively o n insects i n the in ter ior o f dead w o o d . The Pileated W o o d p e c k e r uses d o w n e d trees extensively i n the snow-free m o n t h s b u t m u s t forage o n s t a n d i n g trees once s n o w covers the g r o u n d .

D o w n e d trees also serve as r u n w a y s , as h i d i n g cover, or as sites for r e p r o d u c t i o n for a var ie ty of smal l m a m m a l s a n d for repti les a n d a m p h i b i a n s . The small m a m m a l s i n t u r n , serve as prey for m a n y o f the raptors , par t i cu lar ly the o w l s . D o w n e d trees are an integral p a r t o f the n u t r i e n t recycl ing process a n d r e t u r n nutr ients b o r r o w e d m a n y years before.

As w i t h the d y i n g a n d d e a d trees, d iameter of the d o w n e d tree is of u t m o s t importance . The largest d o w n e d trees (greater than 15 inches i n d iameter ) p r o v i d e carpenter ants w i t h homes a n d g ive the best t h e r m a l protec t ion for the invertebrates a n d vertebrates ins ide . The large d o w n e d trees also f u r n i s h the best protec t ion f r o m predators a n d p r o v i d e the most re turn of nutr ients to the soil .


S U M M A R Y

D y i n g , dead, a n d d o w n e d trees are an integral par t of the forest ecosystem. Each phase of the decay process and of insect invasion serves a purpose a n d is i m p o r t a n t to a var ie ty of b i r d s a n d mammals . Woodpeckers are beneficial because they prey o n forest insects a n d p r o v i d e cavities for secondary c a v i t y nesters, m a n y of w h i c h also prey o n forest insects. The woodpecker species have p a r t i t i o n e d the habitat a n d thus reduced the c o m p e t i t i o n f o r p r e y a n d nest sites. The secondary cavi ty nesters have not e v o l v e d th i s same degree of resource p a r t i t i o n i n g because di f ferent species use the same cavi ty i n di f ferent years and even d u r i n g the same year b u t at d i f f e rent t imes. Consequently, c o m p e t i t i o n for nest holes can be fierce w h e n cavities are scarce.

I f the habitat requirements of w o o d p e c k e r s are p r o v i d e d a n d f a i r l y dense popula t ions of woodpeckers are s u p p o r t e d , the secondary cavi ty nesters w i l l also have nest sites. T h i s s i tua t ion occurs most f requent ly , b u t not exclusively, i n stands of o l d - g r o w t h forests where the dens i ty of large d y i n g , dead, a n d d o w n e d trees is highest .

Pileated Woodpecker. Photo by Evelyn L. Bull.


BIRDS OF THE OLD-GROWTH FOREST

Harry Nehls* 2736 S.E. 20th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202

N o r t h A m e r i c a n Indians se ldom ventured in to the dense extensive forests that covered m u c h of the Pacific N o r t h w e s t west of the Cascade m o u n t a i n s . I t w a s dangerous a n d d i f f i c u l t travel and the l a n d conta ined l i t t l e of va lue to t h e m . Early pioneers a n d natural ists f o u n d i t easier to f o l l o w the r ivers and streams, a n d i f necessary to pass q u i c k l y t h r o u g h the forests o n age-old game a n d I n d i a n trails.

N o r m a Seaman ( I n d i a n Relics of the Pacific N o r t h w e s t , B i n f o r d s & M o r t , P o r t l a n d , OR, 1967) s u m m e d u p the feelings of these early travelers: "There was b u t l i t t l e i n the b i g t i m b e r that was of use to the I n d i a n . A l l game p r e f e r r e d the burns or o p e n c o u n t r y . Some years back, before the great forests of Douglas f i r were cut , i t was possible to travel a l l d a y i n their darkness a n d see perhaps o n l y a couple of snakes, a few toads o r frogs, and occasionally hear a w r e n s i n g i n g . W h e n one came o u t into a b u r n , i t teemed w i t h l i fe . "

Indeed , to the early v is i tors the energetic a n d vociferous l i t t l e W i n t e r W r e n was the voice a n d s o u l of the great forest. L i v i n g o n the forest f loor w o r k i n g i n a n d o u t of the d o w n e d w o o d a n d l i t ter , i t was the o n l y f o r m of l i f e that r e g u l a r l y met the explorer . T o d a y a vis i t to a n o l d g r o w t h forest w o u l d s h o w l i t t l e has changed. The l i t t le W i n t e r W r e n is s t i l l the d o m i n a n t b i r d voice b u t i f a person stops to l isten, the sounds of other b i r d s can be heard . The 'ank-ank-ank' of the Red-breasted N u t h a t c h , the m o u r n f u l calls of the V a r i e d T h r u s h , the w h i s p e r of a f lock o f G o l d e n - c r o w n e d Kinglets or Chestnut-backed Chickadees, perhaps a warbler 's song or the t a p p i n g of a woodpecker . M a t u r e coniferous forests are quiet areas b u t they contain m u c h h i d d e n l i fe .

T H E Y O U N G FOREST

W h e n a forest dies, expos ing the bare g r o u n d to the s u n , grass, w i l d f l o w e r s a n d other s m a l l plants soon cover the g r o u n d a n d h i d e the dead remnants of thousands of years of g r o w t h . Soon patches o f bushes, small trees, a n d saplings i n v a d e the area p r o v i d i n g food and cover for m y r i a d f o r m s of p l a n t a n d a n i m a l l i f e . Somet ime later the y o u n g conifers p u s h their w a y above the s u r r o u n d i n g cover.

* Harry Nehls is author of Familiar Birds of the Northwest and the monthly "Field Notes " column in the Warbler, both published by the Portland Audubon Society.


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Birdl i fe is abundant i n these open a n d semi-open areas a n d many species penetrate a short distance i n t o the adjacent o l d g r o w t h forests i n search of f o o d a n d shelter. Sparrows, s w a l l o w s , thrushes, h u m m i n g b i r d s , f lycatchers, and m a n y other b i rds use the area and Blue a n d Ruf fed Grouse a n d M o u n t a i n Q u a i l reach their peak n u m b e r s i n this habitat . Red-tai led H a w k s , Great H o r n e d O w l s a n d other predators regular ly forage t h r o u g h the brushlands a n d into nearby o p e n forests.

A s the y o u n g conifers m a t u r e their ever -expanding branches i n t e r t w i n e f o r m i n g a canopy over the g r o u n d a n d t r a p p i n g the s u n i n their c rowns . The bushes a n d smal l trees soon d i e a n d the plants a n d most of the animals leave the forest f loor . The c r o w n s of the trees soon are al ive w i t h w i l d l i f e . B o t h plants a n d animals t h r i v e i n the b r i g h t s u n o n the branches a n d leaves far above the forest f loor . O n steep slopes, o n r idges , a n d o n g r a v e l l y g r o u n d w h e r e trees d o not g r o w w e l l , the grasses a n d bushes r e m a i n , a l l o w i n g smaller p o p u l a t i o n s of the o p e n b r u s h l a n d b i r d s to thr ive . I n other areas maples , alders, a n d other dec iduous trees take h o l d creating some divers i ty i n the coniferous forest.

A s the forest ages, m a n y of the trees d i e , o p e n i n g the canopy i n places a l l o w i n g the s u n to reach the forest f l o o r again. I n these sunl i t areas grasses a n d bushes again take h o l d a n d soon small trees again appear. A f t e r m a n y years the forest takes o n the look of the o l d g r o w t h ecosystem w i t h a f i n e col lect ion of tree species of var ious sizes a n d ages, w i t h m u c h dead w o o d b o t h s t a n d i n g a n d l i t t e r i n g the forest f loor . W i l d l i f e is s t i l l c lustered o n the r e m a i n i n g canopy b u t smaller trees a n d bushes f o r m i n g the u n d e r s t o r y are al ive w i t h a c t i v i t y , and the forest f loor , p i l e d h i g h w i t h forest debr is , hides m a n y interest ing l i fe f o r m s i n c l u d i n g the vociferous W i n t e r W r e n . Over m u c h of the forest t h o u g h , b i r d l i f e is w e l l scattered a n d f o r m s o n l y a s m a l l par t of the w i l d l i f e present.

T H E O L D FOREST

I n the m a t u r e a n d o l d g r o w t h forest, k inglets , w a r b l e r s , vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, crossbills, f inches a n d m a n y other insect a n d seed eat ing b i rds use the forest canopy w h i l e nuthatches, creepers, chickadees, woodpeckers , a n d flycatchers are f o u n d o n the t r u n k s a n d branches be low the s u n l i t c rowns . P y g m y O w l s a n d Spotted O w l s are the m a i n predators here w i t h Great H o r n e d O w l s a n d Goshawks occasionally m a k i n g forays t h r o u g h the forest.

Trees g r o w o l d a n d d i e , t u r n in to g i a n t snags or l i t ter the forest f loor , s l o w l y r o t t i n g i n t o the g r o u n d . But the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem continues f o r thousands of years before f i re , disease, or other disasters destroy

OREGOH BIRDS n(2):101,1986

the forest, and the grass, brush, and tree cycle returns. Isolated small stands of o l d trees, great snags, a n d the l i t t e red forest f l o o r of ten r e m a i n a n d can be f o u n d a m o n g the n e w forest of y o u n g trees. By the t i m e the trees reach m a t u r i t y m u c h of the o l d g r o w t h ecosystem w i l l a lready be i n place.

The o l d g r o w t h ecosystem is a complex of habitats f o r m i n g a d i s t inc t ive w h o l e , b u t m a n y of these habitats are f o u n d i n other ecosystems. M a n y of the b i r d s us ing the adjacent m e a d o w l a n d s o f ten penetrate the forest for protec t ion a n d nes t ing t h o u g h they m a y prefer smal l w o o d l o t s or d e c i d u o u s bot tomlands . M o s t of the species i n h a b i t i n g the forest canopy m a y also be f o u n d i n more open s i tuat ions i n y o u n g e r forests or even c i t y parks. There is a g r o u p of b i r d s , however , that r e q u i r e o l d -g r o w t h situations to survive .

B I R D S O F T H E O L D - G R O W T H

N o b i r d is as dependent o n the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem as the Spotted O w l . I t no t o n l y requires large trees a n d snags for nesting a n d the forest canopy for f o o d , b u t the dense forest p r o v i d e s protec t ion f r o m its m a n y enemies. The a d u l t o w l s , once established, se ldom leave the o l d g r o w t h , b u t the y o u n g b i r d s w h e n o n their o w n leave the nes t ing area a n d w a n d e r l o n g distances i n search o f mates and n e w nest ing terr i tories . Foraging over clearcuts a n d m e a d o w l a n d s a n d w a n d e r i n g t h r o u g h open younger forests, the y o u n g o w l s expose themselves to m a n y dangers. The m o r t a l i t y rate is h i g h a n d o n l y a f e w s u r v i v e to mate a n d set u p terr i tor ies . Predat ion apparent ly prevents any successful reproduct ion outside of dense o l d g r o w t h forests.

The Pileated Woodpecker is dependent o n a s u p p l y of large s t u m p s and snags. Th i s supply can o n l y come f r o m o l d - g r o w t h situations. T h i s large w o o d p e c k e r is w i d e l y scattered t h r o u g h the o l d - g r o w t h forests. Its abundance is d i rec t ly re lated to the a m o u n t of snags a n d d e a d w o o d available. W h e n an o l d - g r o w t h forest disappears u n d e r n a t u r a l condi t i ons , the snags a n d dead w o o d r e m a i n a n d the new forest g r o w s u p a r o u n d t h e m . The Pileated Woodpecker w i l l cont inue to use the new forest u n t i l the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem is re-established. I f the snags a n d dead w o o d disappear the Pileated W o o d p e c k e r w i l l be unable to r e m a i n i n the forest.

F o r a g i n g i n and o u t of the d o w n e d trees a n d the accumulated l i t t e r o n the forest f loor , the W i n t e r W r e n is at h o m e . D u r i n g the w i n t e r m o n t h s this l i t t l e b i r d m a y m o v e to l o w e r elevations or even to s imi lar habitat w i t h i n dec iduous groves, b u t i t must r e t u r n to the d a m p d a r k forest f loor to nest. I f the forest f l o o r remains l i t t e red after the o l d g r o w t h forest


disappears, the species w i l l r e m a i n - h i d i n g i n w h a t d a r k spots i t can f i n d u n t i l the canopy of the n e w forest darkens the d u f f a n d fal len trees. I f the d u f f a n d d o w n e d trees are cleared f r o m the forest , W i n t e r W r e n popula t ions w i l l be drast ica l ly reduced; h o w e v e r , the species m a y survive i n some isolated pockets.

Large tal l h o l l o w snags are preferred b y the Vaux's S w i f t for nesting. The b i r d s d o not s h o w any great preference for the o l d - g r o w t h forest b u t suitable nest ing trees are qui te rare a n d are usual ly f o u n d i n o l d - g r o w t h si tuations. There is a n increasing tendency for Vaux's S wi f t s to nest i n u n u s e d chimneys a r o u n d h u m a n habi tat ions . A t the present t i m e so f e w use these ar t i f i c ia l nest sites that the species w o u l d be i n serious trouble i f suitable h o l l o w snags were not available.

Studies have s h o w n that the N o r t h e r n G o s h a w k prefers to place its nest i n the crotch o f a l i m b h i g h i n large o l d trees s i tuated w i t h i n the cover of a dense forest. A p p a r e n t l y this species does n o t favor the h u m i d o l d - g r o w t h forests west o f the Cascades a n d is q u i t e rare there. Goshawks occur m o r e regular ly i n d r i e r o l d - g r o w t h forests to the south a n d east. N e w research m ay s h o w that other large b i r d s m a y need s imi lar si tuations f o r successful nest ing . Bald Eagles s h o w a decided preference for deep forests and large trees for their nes t ing territories. The i r need for p r i v a c y a n d security b r i n g s t h e m regular ly to o l d - g r o w t h situations.

Perhaps the most u n u s u a l species o f b i r d to nest a n d f i n d protec t ion i n the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem is the M a r b l e d M u r r e l e t , a seabird. A l t h o u g h qui te regular of f the coasts o f western N o r t h A m e r i c a a n d n o r t h e r n Asia , i ts b reed in g habits are almost u n k n o w n . I ts m a r b l e d

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):103.1986

b r o w n i s h plumage w o u l d p r o v i d e good camouflage among the d u f f o n the forest f loor. Local I n d i a n s c l a i m to have f o u n d i t nest ing i n such s i tuat ions b u t the v e r y f e w nests ever ac tua l ly recorded i n the o l d g r o w t h forests have been f o u n d a m o n g the branches h i g h i n the canopy. I t is d e f i n i t e l y a b i r d of the o l d - g r o w t h forest b u t its needs have yet to be s tudied.

There are a nu mber of b i r d s that nest i n cavities a n d holes i n dead trees that m a y be dependent o n the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem to a greater extent t h a n has yet been recognized. Buff lehead, Barrow's a n d C o m m o n Goldeneyes, some of the woodpeckers , o w l s , a n d smaller l a n d b i r d s m a y rely heavi ly on this source to insure a stable p o p u l a t i o n .

T H E F U T U R E FOREST

H a r v e s t i n g o l d - g r o w t h forests b y clear c u t t i n g is s imi lar to the destruct ion of the forest b y f i re , disease, or other natura l disasters. The m o d e r n practice of p r e p a r i n g the l a n d for reforestat ion b y r e m o v a l of the d u f f a n d dead w o o d a n d e l i m i n a t i n g most of the s tanding snags a n d s tumps removes the p r i m a r y o l d - g r o w t h components .

A t the present t i m e , o l d g r o w t h forests are b e i n g cut faster t h a n they are b e i n g replaced. M a n y of the b i r d species r e q u i r i n g o l d g r o w t h habitats are d e c l i n i n g o r s h o w i n g other signs o f distress. W i t h most forest management p lans ca l l ing for harves t ing the new forests at o p t i m u m size or at m a t u r i t y , the o l d - g r o w t h ecosystem w i l l be e l i m i n a t e d w i t h no replacement of large o l d trees or large snags or the accumulated d u f f a n d l i t t e r o n the forest f loor . I n the f u t u r e , stands of o l d g r o w t h forests m a y be restricted to wi lderness areas o r other established natural areas set aside for their preservation.

Extensive research has been conducted i n recent years o n the o l d g r o w t h ecosystem and successional stages of n a t u r a l a n d managed forests. Considerable i n f o r m a t i o n has already been accumulated b u t m u c h m o r e is needed to p r o p e r l y unders tand each c o m p o n e n t a n d its va lue to w i l d l i f e . M o d e r n forestry practices are also be ing s t u d i e d a n d modi f i ca t i on s are be ing suggested i n order to p r o p e r l y manage the forest resources to benefit not o n l y the t imber i n d u s t r y b u t also w i l d l i f e .


A REVIEW OF THE RECENT RESEARCH ON THE NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL*

R.J. Gutierrez, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Areata, CA 95521

I N T R O D U C T I O N

The N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n Society, N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Federation, a n d several other e n v i r o n m e n t a l g r o u p s are concerned about the biological fate of the N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l (Strix occidentals caurina). N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l s appear to be d e c l i n i n g w i t h cont inued logging of o l d - g r o w t h forests.

Since most of the r e m a i n i n g o l d - g r o w t h forests occur i n N a t i o n a l Forests, the p r i m a r y responsibi l i ty f o r m a n a g i n g hea l thy populat ions of these b i r d s rests w i t h the U.S. Forest Service. This federal agency is requi red b y the N a t i o n a l Forest M a n a g e m e n t A c t of 1976 ( Public L a w 94-588, 16 U.S.C. 1600) to m a i n t a i n v iab le popula t ions of a l l vertebrate species o n their lands.

The maintenance of v iable popula t ions requires extensive k n o w l e d g e of the species. The p r e d i c t i o n of p o p u l a t i o n persistence u n d e r extensive habitat (environmenta l ) change is ex t remely d i f f i c u l t w i t h o u t that k n o w l e d g e . I n a d d i t i o n , most of the l i tera ture i n this area of research a n d management is theoretical . I n order to evaluate Spotted O w l management plans , i t is i m p o r t a n t to unders tand the extent of o u r k n o w l e d g e of the species. Therefore, i n this article I w i l l summarize m u c h of the recent research o n N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l s .

I t is impor tant to remember that 2 other subspecies of Spotted O w l (S. o. occidentalis and S. o. lucida) occur i n the Sierra Nevada of Cali fornia, Southern Cal i fornia , the southwest, a n d Mexico. The controversy and concern for these latter 2 subspecies is no t as great as for the N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l . C u r r e n t studies o n this o w l i n the Sierra N e v a d a a n d i n A r i z o n a w i l l c lar i fy the p o p u l a t i o n status of these subspecies.

This article has been adapted by the author for this issue of OREGON BIRDS from his original article: Gutierrez, RJ. 1985. An Overview of Recent Research on the Northern Spotted Owl. In: Gutierrez, R.]., & Andrew B. Carey, tech. eds. 1985. Ecology and Management of the Spotted Owl in the Pacific Northwest. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-185, Portland, OR. USDA Forest Service, PNWForest and Range Experiment Station.

OREGON BIRDS I2(2).lfl5,1986

For the sake of bre v i ty , I a m exc luding most citations of relevant l i tera ture . I a m i n c l u d i n g a list of publ ica t ions a n d papers i n the r e c o m m e n d e d re ad i ng l is t ( p r i n t e d elsewhere i n this issue), w h i c h w i l l a l l o w the reader i n i t i a l access to the technical l i terature o n Spotted O w l s . H o w e v e r , I s h o u l d p o i n t out that I a m d r a w i n g h e a v i l y f r o m a p r e v i o u s review paper w h i c h can be f o u n d i n Gutierrez a n d Carey (1985). I n a d d i t i o n , I w i s h not to s l ight the excellent w o r k of m a n y Spotted O w l biologists . Therefore, I w i l l b r i e f l y s u m m a r i z e w h e r e the major o w l w o r k is occurr ing a n d the pr inc ipa l researchers.

D r . Eric Forsman's seminal w o r k i n O r e g o n has l a i d the f o u n d a t i o n for a l l other studies i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t . Forsman's major advisor at O r e g o n State, D r . Charles M e s l o w , has cont inued this w o r k either t h r o u g h Dr. Forsman or G a r y M i l l e r w h o has s tudied the dispersal of j u v e n i l e Spotted O w l s . H arr ie t A l l e n a n d Larry Brewer of the W a s h i n g t o n D e p a r t m e n t of Game have b e g u n extensive a n d excellent studies o n a variety of aspects of Spotted O w l ecology. Steve L a y m o n of the U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a has completed a s tudy of Sierran Spotted O w l s . M r . C a m e r o n B a r r o w s of the N a t u r e Conservancy has been s t u d y i n g t h e r m o r e g u l a t i o n a n d prey re lat ionships i n Spotted O w l s for a lmost 10 years.

Las t ly , m y students a n d I have been s t u d y i n g this b ird 's ecology since 1980. Several Master of Science students have completed (or have i n progress) their research o n Spotted O w l s : D a v i d Solis ( s u m m e r habitat ecology) ; C h u c k Sisco ( w i n t e r habitat ecology) ; W i l l i a m L a H a y e (nest site selection); Sam F i t t o n (vocal recogni t ion i n owls ) ; a n d Michae l Bias (Sierra Ne vada o w l p o p u l a t i o n dynamics ) . I n a d d i t i o n m y colleagues, A l a n F r a n k l i n a n d Patrick W a r d , have been s t u d y i n g p o p u l a t i o n dynamics a n d dispersal of Spotted O w l s .

N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y

Genera l comments . N a t u r a l history usual ly refers to a species' habits a n d actions that constitute its normal w a y o f l i v i n g . The Spotted Owl ' s f o o d , habitat , b r e e d i n g cycle, a n d social behavior are i m p o r t a n t aspects of its na tura l h i s t o r y . W i l d l i f e managers of ten a t t e m pt to m a n i p u l a t e a species' f o o d a n d habitat i n order to i m p r o v e i ts l i v i n g condi t ions . Thus w e can v i e w natural h i s t o r y i n f o r m a t i o n as practical because these species' a t tr ibutes are o f ten the objects of management strategies. W e can also v i e w natura l h is tory as i n f o r m a t i v e . M o s t magaz ine articles about animals , for example , concern the i r na tura l h is tory .

OREGON BIROS nm.106,1986

Prior to 1970, most observations a n d research o n Spotted O w l s had been anecdotal n a t u r a l h i s tory (Campbel l et a l . 1984), a n d the species w a s t h o u g h t to be rare a n d secretive. Eric Forsman was the f i rs t to record extensive n a t u r a l h is tory observations of the Spotted O w l a n d to summarize usable f i e l d s t u d y techniques. H i s w o r k was especially t i m e l y w i t h passage of the N a t i o n a l Forest Management A c t of 1976. I n the f o l l o w i n g n a t u r a l h is tory r e v i e w , I w i l l f irst present i n f o r m a t i o n o n vocal a n d m o r p h o l o g i c a l characteristics that have been f o u n d useful i n Spotted O w l studies. Then I w i l l summarize salient features of Spotted O w l habitat , home range a n d movements , and f o o d habits.

Vocal izat ions . Spotted O w l s are terr i tor ia l and actively defend their home range, par t i cu lar ly the nest grove. Thus, they can be located t h r o u g h i m i t a t i o n of their calls. Males can be d i s t inguished f r o m females b y the male's l o w e r - p i t c h e d , 4-note hoot . These b i r d s give a variety of hoots, 'barks , " whistles, a n d chatters as w e l l .

M o l t a n d sexual characteristics. The m o l t of the Spotted O w l is described b y Forsman (1981). O f part icular interest to biologists is the fact that 3 age classes can be d i s t i n g u i s h e d : juveniles can be i d e n t i f i e d b y the presence o f d o w n y p l u m a g e u n t i l about 3 m o n t h s pos t f ledging ; i m m a t u r e / s u b a d u l t b i r d s can be d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y the presence o f p o i n t e d , w h i t e - t i p p e d m i d d l e rectrices f r o m their t h i r d year; a n d adults have rectrices w i t h r o u n d e d t ips .

Females are, o n the average, larger t h a n males. H o w e v e r , the over lap i n weights be t we e n large males a n d smal l females does not a l l o w sexual d e t e r m i n a t i o n . S imi lar ly , juveni les are usua l ly at or near a d u l t w e i g h t soon after they are able to f l y . Thus w e i g h t cannot be used as a c r i ter ion for ei ther age or sex d e t e r m i n a t i o n . W i t h m o r e at tent ion to m o r p h o l o g i c a l d e t a i l , I suspect a n accurate m e t h o d for d i s t i n g u i s h i n g juvenile b i rds w i l l be f o u n d .

H a b i t a t . Perhaps the most i m p o r t a n t contr ibut ion of recent w o r k has been the analysis of habitat a n d h o m e range (the latter w i l l be discussed i n the next section). Th i s i n f o r m a t i o n has been crit ical to the del ineat ion of a p p r o p r i a t e habitat f o r Spotted O w l Management Areas ( S O M A s i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t Region, U S D A Forest Service), a n d Spotted O w l Terri tories (SOTs i n the Pacific Southwest Region).

A l l Spotted O w l research demonstrates a s ignif icant association of the o w l s w i t h o l d - g r o w t h forests. D a v i d Solis' w o r k is p a r t i c u l a r l y useful i n that i t describes no t o n l y a n a f f i n i t y for o l d g r o w t h , b u t also describes the forest s tructure i n d e t a i l . W i l l i a m LaHaye 's w o r k w i l l p r o v i d e a p r e d i c t i v e habitat m o d e l f o r nest sites. A l t h o u g h Douglas-

OR ECON BIRDS nay.vn, 1986

f i r o l d - g r o w t h is the most important habitat type, m u c h o l d - g r o w t h ( a n d m a t u r e , u n m a n a g e d conifer forests) be low the h i g h e levat ion subalpine conifers also is occupied by Spotted O w l s .

Several interest ing features of habitat use are e m e r g i n g f r o m the studies. First, a l t h o u g h Spotted O w l s can be f o u n d w i t h i n second-g r o w t h conifer forest, a n d i n other habitats , i t is u n k n o w n i f they are r e p r o d u c t i v e l y successful i n these habitats. This aspect needs fur ther research. Ne i ther presence-absence n o r abundance of o w l s alone s h o u l d be used as an indicator of habitat q u a l i t y . Fitness, w h e n measured as b r e e d i n g success, s h o u l d be used as one of the p r i m a r y cr i ter ia for the q u a l i t y of habitat. Second, not a l l o l d - g r o w t h stands appear to be equal ly used b y the o w l s . Use m a y be re lated p r o x i m a t e l y to habitat structure per se, or u l t i m a t e l y to food resources. T h i r d , i n nor thwestern Cal i fornia , male and female owls appear to be us ing habitat of di f ferent structure.

I n general , Spotted O w l s i n nor thwes tern Cal i fornia use o l d - g r o w t h forests that are characterized b y m u l t i s t o r i e d stands of large-diameter (>36 ins. i n diameter at breast he ight ) conifers w i t h h a r d w o o d understories . I n O r e g o n , the u n d e r s t o r y m a y be either h a r d w o o d or conifer . The stands i n Ca l i forn ia have h i g h canopy closure (about 80-90 percent) a n d they are o l d (>150 years) w i t h a h i g h degree o f stand decadence. Spotted O w l habitat i n W a s h i n g t o n appears to closely resemble Oregon Cascade habitats.

Decadence, forestry j a r g o n for the characteristics associated w i t h o l d age i n a tree or forest stand {e.g., s tanding dead or d y i n g trees—snags, fal len logs, broken t o p trees), plays a v e r y impor tant role i n Spotted O w l habitat . First, suitable cavi ty nests are f o r m e d as a resul t of the decay a n d aging process. I n a d d i t o n , snags, decadent a n d r o t t i n g trees, a n d d o w n e d w o o d y debr is may p r o v i d e cover and habitat fo r f l y i n g squirrels and w o o d rats, the Spotted O w l ' s m a i n prey.

R e m o v a l of w o o d y debr is a n d u n d e r s t o r y vegetat ion m a y alter the f o r a g i n g patterns of Spotted O w l s . A radio-telemetered b i r d i n C a l i f o r n i a foraged w i t h i n a she l terwood cut u n t i l the u n d e r s t o r y was b u r n e d as part of a s i l v i c u l t u r a l prescr ipt ion . The o w l d i d n o t forage i n this area after the prescr ibed b u r n u n t i l the unders tory vegetat ion re turned .

The pa t te rn of habitat use i n summer a n d i n w i n t e r is s imi lar . W i n t e r habitats resemble s u m m e r habitat s t r u c t u r a l l y i n spite o f a large increase i n w i n t e r h o m e range area. The o l d - g r o w t h habitats used b y Spotted O w l s are also the most valuable t i m b e r o n publ i c l ands i n the

OREGON BIRDS 32(2X108,1986

Pacific N o r t h w e s t . Therefore, one of the major questions that managers a n d biologists ask is whether the Spotted O w l is i n d e e d dependent o n o l d - g r o w t h . There are several aspects of their habi tat ecology that s t rongly indicate that Spotted O w l s are i n fact dependent o n o l d g r o w t h :

1. A l l habi tat use p a t t e r n studies thus far demonstrate the owl 's association w i t h o l d g r o w t h .

2. Spot ted O w l habitat characteristics demonstra te agreement between forest scientists a n d w i l d l i f e biologists that th is habitat is classified as o l d - g r o w t h (see discussion of these characteristics i n the article b y Spies a n d Frankl in elsewhere i n this issue of O r e g o n Birds).

3. H a b i t a t analysis demonstrates there is a statistical difference i n forest s tructure be tween intensively used o l d - g r o w t h a n d available habitat.

4. The decl ine of Spotted O w l p o p u la t io n s as o l d - g r o w t h is logged demonstrates an association between the o w l s a n d these particular forests.

5. There is a corre lat ion be tween h o m e range size and the a m o u n t of o l d - g r o w t h i n the range, d e m o n s t r a t i n g the importance of o l d -g r o w t h i n i n f l u e n c i n g home range size.

6. Spotted O w l behaviora l response to heat stress b y roost ing i n o l d - g r o w t h suggests the importance o f o l d - g r o w t h for th er m o r egu la t io n b y owls .

7. The general absence of Spotted O w l s o n heavi ly - logged lands demonstrates a qual i ta t ive , negat ive im p ac t o n o w l popula t ions w i t h loss of o l d g r o w t h .

Home range a n d movements. There are 3 key management issues that must be resolved i n order to predic t the perpetuat ion of w i l d popula t ions of Spotted O w l s : the t y p e a n d a m o u n t of habitat to be preserved; the d i s t r i b u t i o n of these habitat uni t s ; a n d the n u m b e r of habitat uni ts (i.e., n u m b e r of o wls ) . Studies of habitat a n d home range, movements a n d dispersal, a n d d e m o g r a p h y ( p o p u l a t i o n dynamics) , respectively, w i l l h e l p p r o v i d e the answers to those cri t ical management issues.

Pre l iminary answers to the t y p e o f habitat needed for o w l s came as a result of the habi tat studies discussed above. Several r a d i o telemetry


studies have been completed i n Washington , Oregon, and Cal i fornia to address the question of h o w m u c h habitat was used b y Spotted O w l s .

Spot ted O w l home ranges are large a n d the i r size seems related to the a m o u n t of o l d g r o w t h i n the owl 's range. H o m e ranges appear to be largest i n W a s h i n g t o n a n d smallest i n C a l i f o r n i a . O r e g o n o w l home ranges average 4282 acres i n size w i t h a n average 2200 acres of o l d -g r o w t h habitat. Even the "smal l " h o m e ranges i n Ca l i forn ia average 1962 acres. Inc identa l ly , Cal i forn ia h o m e ranges are underest imates of the i r t r ue size because the b i rds were observed for a re la t ive ly short t i m e p e r i o d . A s ye t u n d e t e r m i n e d is the m i n i m u m a m o u n t of o l d -g r o w t h that w i l l adequately s u p p o r t the maintenance a n d r e p r o d u c t i v e needs of a pair of o w l s . I n any event, i t appears that Spot ted O w l s require large amounts of o l d - g r o w t h .

Food habi ts . A l t h o u g h Spotted O w l s capture a var ie ty of prey, n u m e r o u s food habit studies show that m a m m a l s are their major food resource-part icular ly flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), and w o o d r a t s (Neotoma spp.) . H y i n g squirrels probably predominate i n the die t of o w l s l i v i n g i n mesic habitats and woodrats probably p r e d o m i n a t e i n m o r e xeric envi ronments . Habi ta t s tructure a n d f o o d a v a i l a b i l i t y w i t h i n these habitats m a y also influence w h i c h prey species is most abundant .

C a m e r o n Barrows suggests that Spotted O w l s m a y breed i n years w h e n the i r larger prey are either more abundant or m o r e available. H i s idea is cer ta in ly plausible w h e n one observes the large talons these b i r d s possess. The large ta lons indicate e v o l u t i o n a r y selection for h a n d l i n g large p r e y . The ecology o f the Spotted O w l ' s major p r e y is no t w e l l u n d e r s t o o d b u t m a y u l t i m a t e l y be i m p o r t a n t i n p r e d i c t i n g r e p r o d u c t i v e b i o l o g y a n d d e m o g r a p h y of the Spotted O w l .

L I F E H I S T O R Y

Li f e h i s t o r y characteristics are those features of an animal ' s ecology that are the reflection of adaptat ion to p a r t i c u l a r env i ronments . Some of these features are rate o f r e p r o d u c t i o n , c lutch size, age at f i rs t r e p r o d u c t i o n , l i fe span, a n d s u r v i v a l a n d m o r t a l i t y schedules. V i e w e d pract ica l ly they are the b io logica l at tr ibutes f r o m w h i c h biologists can m a k e predic t ions about the perpetuat ion of a p o p u l a t i o n . For example , s tudies o f p o p u l a t i o n d y n a m i c s require construct ion of l i fe tables w h i c h require k n o w l e d g e of s u r v i v a l a n d m o r t a l i t y . Li fe tables a l l o w us to predic t the rate of g r o w t h or decline i n a p o p u l a t i o n .

OREGON BIRDS 12f2J.U0,1986

D r . Russell Lande of the Univers i ty of Chicago has w r i t t e n a m u c h -discussed r e p o r t about the d e m o g r a p h y of Spotted O w l s . I believe his paper's p r i m a r y effect is to cal l o u r at tent ion to the potential for p r e d i c t i n g o w l p o p u l a t i o n v i a b i l i t y t h r o u g h demographic ( l i fe h is tory) analysis . I t is evident that w e k n o w l i t l e a b o u t this owl 's l i fe history patterns.

Reproduct ive b i o l o g y . W e have evidence that there is substantial yearly a n d geographic variat ion i n the p r o p o r t i o n of a n o w l popula t ion that breeds. Fur thermore , there is v a r i a t i o n i n r e p r o d u c t i o n between i n d i v i d u a l pa i r s of owls . I t remains to be seen w h e t h e r or not this latter re la t ionship is a f u n c t i o n of habitat q u a l i t y , weather, or i n d i v i d u a l b r e e d i n g experience. I t also appears that f e w Spotted O w l s , if any, breed successfully i n second g r o w t h habitats.

C l u t c h size. Spotted O w l s lay f r o m 1-3 eggs b u t 2 eggs are the n o r m i n Oregon. There is probably l i t t l e renesting i n the w i l d , a l though Eric Forsman's capt ive b i r d s have l a i d 2 clutches i n 1 season. Because the b i r d s are p h y s i o l o g i c a l l y and genet ical ly capable of l a y i n g 2 clutches, fa i lure to renest m a y be related to f o o d a v a i l a b i l i t y or some other factor.

Because males feed their i n c u b a t i n g mates, females are dependent o n the male's f o r a g i n g ab i l i ty . W h e n f o r a g i n g condi t ions are poor a n d the female is forced to leave the nest t o search for f o o d , the c lutch may b y lost. Poor f o o d resources probably d o not i m p r o v e soon enough to a l l o w a female to renest.

A g e at f i r s t r e p r o d u c t i o n . Several w o r k e r s have observed second-year females breeding . Long- term p o p u l a t i o n studies w i l l determine the p r o p o r t i o n o f second-year b i r d s b r e e d i n g . U l t i m a t e l y the age at f i r s t reproduct ion w i l l be impor tant i n assessing the d e m o g r a p h y of owls .

S u r v i v o r s h i p a n d m o r t a l i t y . Juvenile o w l s have a l o w first-year survivorship . Y o u n g owls die for m a n y documented reasons, such as av ian p r e d a t i o n , s tarvat ion, accidents, a n d h u m a n p r e d a t i o n . Y o u n g Spotted O w l s are especially v u l n e r a b l e f o l l o w i n g f l e d g i n g a n d d u r i n g early dispersal.

Forsman a n d h is colleagues (1984) suggest that Spot ted O w l s are l o n g -l i v e d . Data o n a d u l t d e m o g r a p h y w i l l be s low i n a c c u m u l a t i n g a n d w i l l require extensive b a n d i n g a n d m o n i t o r i n g to de termine a d u l t s u r v i v a l rates. W e suspect that a d u l t s are susceptible to predat ion , s tarvat ion, disease, a n d accidents, b u t the inf luence of these forces o n survival rates is u n k n o w n .

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):lll, 1986

D e n s i t y . Few studies attempt to census Spotted O w l s a l t h o u g h this i n f o r m a t i o n is crit ical to predic t ing the impact of management plans on o w l s . P o p u l a t i o n boundar ies need to be del ineated to a r r i v e at some area suitable for census. I w o u l d p r e d i c t Spotted O w l densities are l i k e l y to vary substant ia l ly w i t h geography , and habi tat q u a l i t y and quant i t y .

Dispersa l . Dispersal ecology is the subject of recent intensive research. Pre l iminary results f r o m California s h o w that juveni le Spotted O w l s are capable of m o v i n g l o n g distances. For example, f igures for 1983 average 28 miles . Yet they do not appear to be p a r t i c u l a r l y successful i n establishing a b r e e d i n g te r r i tory . A s dispersal data cont inue to accumulate , managers w i l l ga in a cr i t i ca l piece of i n f o r m a t i o n for spatial ly d i s t r i b u t i n g Spotted O w l territories.


H Y P O T H E S E S O N O L D - G R O W T H D E P E N D E N C E

Recent research has led to some interest ing hypotheses concerning the Spotted O w l ' s dependence o n o l d - g r o w t h forests. These hypotheses have been suggested as fol lows:

1. Nes t ing hypothesis; 2. Thermoregulat ion hypothesis; 3. Predation hypothesis; 4. Prey hypothesis; a n d 5. A d a p t a t i o n hypothesis.

I combine the 2 hypotheses o n p r e y u n d e r 1 category because they are often interre la ted. The i m p l i c a t i o n s of these hypotheses for management w i l l be discussed as w i l l their potent ia l for expla in ing the evo lut ionary relat ionships of Spotted O w l s a n d o l d - g r o w t h forests. I t is u n d o u b t e d l y a combinat ion of factors that have l e d to the Spotted Owl ' s role of dependence o n o l d - g r o w t h forests.

N e s t i n g h y p o t h e s i s . Spotted O w l s , l ike most other owls , d o not construct their o w n nests. They depend o n the natura l occurrence o f suitable nes t ing sites w i t h i n their habitat . The locat ion , structure, a n d type of nest ing sites used b y Spotted O w l s are t y p i c a l l y f o u n d i n o l d , decadent forests. T h e y are general ly h i g h above the g r o u n d , i n cavities or b r o k e n - t o p snags, a n d i n large d iameter trees. O l d - g r o w t h forests are often decadent a n d p r o v i d e the greatest n u m b e r of trees suitable for nesting sites.

I t is u n l i k e l y that the need for nes t ing sites is the e v o l u t i o n a r y force b e h i n d the dependence of Spotted O w l s o n o l d - g r o w t h forests for the f o l l o w i n g reasons. First, Spotted O w l s d o nest i n abandoned stick nests b u i l t b y other b i r d s a n d i n accumulat ions of organic debr is i n the tree canopy. B o t h o f these condi t ions can occur i n younger -aged forests, a l t h o u g h accumulat ions of organic debris p r o b a b l y occur m o r e f requent ly i n o l d - g r o w t h forest. Second, res idual , decadent trees are of ten left b e h i n d after f ires o r other n a t u r a l env i ronmenta l per turbat ions . Yet, Spotted O w l s a p p a r e n t l y se ldom use these res idual o l d - g r o w t h trees i n younger forests. F inal ly , open-canopied h a r d w o o d stands w i t h i n o l d - g r o w t h areas o f ten p r o v i d e p r e s u m a b l y suitable structural nest sites b u t are rarely used b y Spotted O w l s .

T h e r m o r e g u l a t i o n hypothesis . Spotted O w l s choose cool and shady microclimates that presumably p r o v i d e relief f r o m h ig h ambient temperatures (Forsman 1976; Solis 1983). Because n a t u r a l selection has

OREGON BIRDS 12(2):11.3,1986

favored the e v o l u t i o n of a p lumage that is adapted to wi ths tand w i n t e r condi t ions , i t is possible that use of the cool microc l imate , w h i c h m u l t i s t o r i e d o l d - g r o w t h forests p r o v i d e , is the counterbalance to th is dense p l u m a g e . There are, h o w e v e r , several n a t u r a l h is tory observations that suggest that even t h o u g h selection for o l d - g r o w t h r o o s t i n g sites m a y be an indica t ion of dependency o n o l d - g r o w t h forests, i t p r o b a b l y does n o t explain the dependency o n large tracts of o l d -g r o w t h . For example , several w o r k e r s bel ieve that the p o s i t i o n an o w l chooses w i t h i n the fol iage is as i m p o r t a n t as the selection of actual roost ing habitat.

O l d - g r o w t h forests are s t i l l the most i m p o r t a n t habitats for Spotted O w l s w h e n heat is n o t a factor. A l t e r n a t i v e l y , o l d - g r o w t h forests m a y p r o v i d e mo r e p r o t e c t i o n f r o m inc lement weather a n d thus may be i m p o r t a n t for w i n t e r thermoregulat ion.

Predat ion hypothes is . Great H o r n e d O w l s (Bubo virginianus) and N o r t h e r n Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) w i l l prey o n juveni le Spotted O w l s . Presumably, Spotted O w l s are m o r e vulnerable i n open habitats t h a n i n the forests. The m a n y observations of juveni le Spotted O w l s m o v i n g t h r o u g h o p e n areas (that is , grasslands, savannas, clearcuts, a n d oak w o o d l a n d s ) suggest that the potent ia l for p r e d a t i o n does not , i n general, deter these b i rds f r o m u s i n g open areas w h e n they are juveniles.

Several researchers suggest that a d u l t Spotted O w l s m a y also be p r e y e d u p o n b y Great H o r n e d O w l s . Yet Great H o r n e d O w l s are f o u n d t h r o u g h o u t the range o f Spotted O w l s a n d often occupy areas adjacent to or o v e r l a p p i n g Spotted O w l h o m e ranges w i t h l i t t l e predat ion occurr ing . I have recorded Spotted O w l s t e m p o r a r i l y a v o i d i n g an area w h e n a Great H o r n e d O w l vocal ly established its presence, b u t the b i r d s again used the area at some later date. I believe that predat ion has probably occurred o p p o r t u n i s t i c a l l y at l o w levels for a d u l t s a n d at h igher levels a m o n g juveni le Spotted O w l s . Thus p r e d a t i o n pressure has probably n o t been strong e n o u g h to expla in the Spotted O w l ' s association w i t h o l d - g r o w t h forests.

Prey hypothesis . Some researchers suggest that Spotted O w l s forage i n o l d - g r o w t h forests because their prey is either more abundant or more available for capture i n these areas. There is a b u n d a n t p r e y i n clearcuts, yet they o f t e n are so densely vegetated that Spotted O w l s probably cannot capture them. The ecology of w o o d rats a n d f l y i n g squirrels w i t h i n Pacific N o r t h w e s t forests is not w e l l u n d e r s t o o d . I f their popula t ions f luc tuate asynchronously , or b y habitat t y p e a n d age, then i t w o u l d h e l p e x p l a i n not o n l y the f o r a g i n g of o w l s w i t h i n large

OREGON BIRDS uay.lU, 1986

areas but alsothe owl ' s use of a var ie ty of stands greater than 150 years of age.

The prey hypothesis is p r o b a b l y the most i m p o r t a n t hypothesis for managers because i t may expla in the Spotted O w l ' s use of large tracts of o l d - g r o w t h forest. I f the o w l ' s major prey is geographical ly variable i n abundance, d i s t r i b u t i o n , or ava i lab i l i ty , Spotted O w l s m a y have to forage w i d e l y t h r o u g h the year to f i n d adequate prey populat ions . T h u s the increased energy needed to explo i t habitat patches i n a f ragmented forest m a y negatively affect reproduct ive o u t p u t . The interre la t ionship be tween prey , t e r r i t o r y size, a n d foraging patterns needs to be invest igated to p r e d i c t the impact o f habitat f ragmentat ion o n the species.

A d a p t a t i o n hypothes i s . This hypothesis proposes that Spotted O w l s have coevolved w i t h o l d - g r o w t h forest and thus are behaviorally or phys io logica l ly adapted to these forests. I n rea l i ty , this hypothesis is a c o m b i n a t i o n of a l l other hypotheses a n d u n k n o w n n a t u r a l selection forces.

Biologists c o u l d engage i n endless discussion over the coevolut ion of Spotted O w l s a n d o l d - g r o w t h forests. Spotted O w l s m a y have even invaded o l d - g r o w t h forests, a l t h o u g h this is u n l i k e l y . Nevertheless, there is considerable data that o l d - g r o w t h is i m p o r t a n t , i f not cr i t ica l , for t h e r m o r e g u l a t i o n , nesting, a n d forag ing . A l t h o u g h ecologists are current ly engaged i n serious debate concerning the n a t u r e of compet i t ion , one potent ia l factor i n the re la t ionsh ip of o l d - g r o w t h a n d Spotted O w l s m a y be the compet i t ive re la t ionship w i t h the larger, m o r e widespread, a n d aggressive Great H o r n e d O w l . O n e potent ia l w a y of avo i d i ng compet i t ion is through di f ferent ia l habitat use.

The Spotted O w l ' s historic success i n us ing o l d - g r o w t h m a y have favored a d a p t i v e responses to o l d - g r o w t h habi ta t ion regardless of the or ig ina l selection pressure to use o l d g r o w t h . Forest f ragmenta t ion i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t m a y also f a v o r the spread of a potent ia l competitor i n the Barred O w l (Strix varia). The interaction of these closely related species is n o w be ing studied i n Washington . The i n t r o d u c t i o n o f compet i tors , as w e l l as loss of cr i t ica l habitat , c o u l d have serious consequences for Spotted O w l s . Studies of Spotted O w l s and their r e p r o d u c t i o n under v a r y i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l condi t ions w i l l help t r e m e n d o u s l y i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g the nature of the Spotted O w l ' s adaptabi l i ty i n a changing w o r l d .

OREGON BKDsi2(Zfcll5,1986

C O N C L U S I O N S

W i l d l i f e biologists have gained a great deal more i n f o r m a t i o n o n the n a t u r a l h is tory t h a n o n the d e m o g r a p h y of the N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l . There are several reasons for this. First , natura l h i s t o r y data are needed to establish a research f o u n d a t i o n . Second, n a t u r a l h is tory features are m o r e easily observed i n nature a n d often require o n l y direct observat ion. T h i r d , na tura l his tory i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e s the manager w i t h the r a w data for management . M a n y l i fe h i s t o r y features, p a r t i c u l a r l y d e m o g r a p h i c a n d , to a lesser extent, dispersal i n f o r m a t i o n , take a great deal of t ime, energy, a n d m o n e y to quant i fy .

O l d - g r o w t h forests p r o v i d e the f o o d a n d cover essential for the s u r v i v a l a n d b r e e d i n g success of N o r t h e r n Spotted O w l s . The impact of habi tat loss t h r o u g h l o g g i n g over t i m e m u s t be assessed b o t h i n terms of n a t u r a l a n d l i f e h i s t o r y characteristics. Clear ly habitats w i t h k n o w n , consistently r e p r o d u c t i v e pairs m u s t be chosen as the S O M A . The u l t i mate numbers of o w l s to be m a i n t a i n e d w i l l depend u p o n demographic a n d dispersal i n f o r m a t i o n that is, at present, lacking. First order app r o x i m a t i o n s are possible b u t w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y change o u r understanding of the Spotted O w l increases.

B I B L I O G R A P H Y

Barrows, C a m e r o n W . 1981. Roost selection b y spot ted o w l s : an adaptat ion to heat stress. Condor 83(3): 302-309.

C a m p b e l l , R. W a y n e , Eric D . Forsman, & Brigi t ta M . V a n Der Raay. 1984. A n annotated b i b l i o g r a p h y of l i tera ture o n the spotted o w l (an o l d - g r o w t h d e p e n d e n t species). V i c t o r i a , BC: B r i t i s h Columbia Provincial M u s e u m ; L a n d Manag. Rep. N o . 24,116 p p .

Forsman, Eric D . 1976. A p r e l i m i n a r y invest igat ion of the spotted o w l i n Oregon. C o r v a l l i s , OR: O r e g o n State Univers i ty ; M.S . dissertation. 127pp.

Forsman, Eric D . 1980. Habi ta t u t i l i z a t i o n b y spotted o w l s i n the west-central Cascades o f Oregon . Corva l l i s , OR: Oregon State U n i v e r s i t y ; Ph .D dissertation. 95 p p .

Forsman, Eric D . 1981. M o l t of the spotted o w l . A u k 98(4): 735-742.

Forsman, Eric D . 1983. M e t h o d s a n d materials f o r locat ing a n d s t u d y i n g spotted o w l s . Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-162. P o r t l a n d , OR: U.S.

OREGON BIRDS 12(2).M6,1986

Department of Agr i cu l tu r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest and Range Experiment Station. 8 p p .

Forsman, Eric , E. Charles M e s l o w , H o w a r d W i g h t . 1984. D i s t r i b u t i o n and B io logy of the Spotted O w l i n Oregon. W i l d l i f e M o n o g r a p h 87, Supplement to Journal of W i l d l i f e Management 48(2): A p r i l , 1984. Th e W i l d l i f e Society, Washington, D . C .

G o u l d , G o r d o n I . , Jr. 1979. Status a n d management o f elf and spot ted owls i n Cal i fornia . In: Schaeffer, Phi l ip P., Ehlers, Sharyn M . , eds. Proceedings of the Nat iona l A u d u b o n Society's s y m p o s i u m o n o w l s o f the West: the i r ecology a n d conservat ion. 20 January 1979. San Francisco, C A . T i b u r o n , C A : N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n Society, Western Education Center, p p . 86-97.

Gutierrez , R.J., A n d r e w B. Carey, tech. eds. 1985. Ecology a n d management of the spotted o w l i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t . Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-185 . P o r t l a n d , OR: U.S. Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , Forest Service, Pacific N o r t h w e s t Forest a n d Range E x p e r i m e n t Station. 118 p p .

Gutierrez , R.J., D a v i d M u n o z Solis & Charles Sisco. 1984. H a b i t a t ecology o f the spotted o w l i n n o r t h w e s t e r n C a l i f o r n i a : impl ica t ions f o r management. Irv Proceedings of the annual convent ion of the Society o f American Foresters; 16-20 Octoberl983; Port land, OR. Bethesda, M D : Society of A m e r i c a n Foresters; p p . 368-373.

Solis, D a v i d M . , Jr. 1983. S u m m e r Habi ta t Ecology of spotted o w l s i n n o r t h w e s t e r n Cal i forn ia . Areata , C A : H u m b o l d t State U n i v e r s i t y ; M.S. dissertation. 168 p p .

OREGON BIRDS 12f2).ll7,1986

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY'S SPOTTED OWL ADVISORY PANEL: A SUMMARY REPORT

Daniel Taylor, Regional Representative, National Audubon Society, Western Regional Office, 555 Audubon Place, Sacramento, CA 95825

B A C K G R O U N D

I n recent years, the Spotted O w l (Strix occidentals) has achieved a notor ie ty i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t that contrasts sharply w i t h its inconspicuous na ture . This stems f r o m the owl ' s close association w i t h o l d - g r o w t h Douglas - f i r forest i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t a n d the decline i n this species as t i m b e r operations reduce the avai lable o l d - g r o w t h habitat .

The p r i n c i p a l r e m a i n i n g o l d - g r o w t h Douglas- f i r forests i n Oregon, W a s h i n g t o n , a n d n o r t h w e s t Ca l i forn ia l ie o n federal lands , m a i n l y those i n the N a t i o n a l Forests. C u t t i n g these forests w i t h o u t consider ing Spotted O w l habitat c o u l d mean ext inct ion for the b i r d .

Concern for the species developed i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t i n the early 1970's. I t i n i t i a l l y focused o n the O r e g o n p o p u l a t i o n , t h e n came to i n c l u d e the b i r d s i n W a s h i n g t o n state. I n response to recommendat ions o f the Interagency O r e g o n Endangered Species Task Force and subsequently of the Spotted O w l Subcommittee o f the Oregon-W a s h i n g t o n Interagency W i l d l i f e C o m m i t t e e , management directions f o r the Spotted O w l o n N a t i o n a l Forests were d e v e l o p e d , s tart ing i n 1976. These d i rec t ions w e r e revised over the next f e w years, as more i n f o r m a t i o n about this b i r d became available.

The 1981 U S D A Forest Service Pacific Regional G u i d e w a s a benchmark i n the management e f for t . I t r e c o m m e n d e d numbers o f Spotted O w l pairs and r e q u i r e d that d i s t r i b u t i o n be evaluated d u r i n g Forest p l a n n i n g . This d r a f t also i n c l u d e d , i n an appendix , the February 1981 p r o p o s e d revis ion of the Oregon Interagency Spotted O w l Management P lan . P lanning direc t ions to the N a t i o n a l Forests for Spotted O w l s f o l l o w e d the 1981 D r a f t Regional P lan. I n M a y 1984, the U S D A Forest Service publ i shed the Final Regional G u i d e and Final E n v i r o n m e n t a l Impac t Statement for the Pacific N o r t h w e s t Region.

T h e y specified a pre fe r red al ternative for m a i n t a i n i n g 375 pairs of Spotted O w l s o n N a t i o n a l Forest l ands i n Oregon a n d Washington . Suff ic ient o l d - g r o w t h habitat areas of 1000 acres each, based o n the

OREGON BIRDS 1K2):11S, 1986

estimate contained i n the 1981 revision of the Oregon Interagency Spotted O w l Management P lan , w e r e to be p r o v i d e d to achieve this goal. Each o f the nat ional forests i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t w a s assigned the p o r t i o n of the 375 pairs of o w l s for w h i c h i t w o u l d be responsible. A s the land management plans of the forests deve loped , the Forest Service proposed m a i n t a i n i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 550 Spotted O w l habitat areas of 1000 acres each.

The Final Regional G u i d e a n d F ina l E n v i r o n m e n t a l Impact Statement (EIS) was f o l l o w e d i n October 1984, b y an appeal f i l e d b y the N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Federat ion, The O r e g o n W i l d l i f e Federat ion, the Lane C o u n t y A u d u b o n Society, a n d the Oregon N a t u r a l Resources C o u n c i l . This appeal cal led the management provis ions for the Spotted O w l inadequate for assuring l o n g - t e r m v i a b i l i t y o f the b i r d i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t Region. Representatives of the t i m b e r i n d u s t r y in tervened i n the appeal . They c la imed that the Forest Service was protec t ing more habitat t h a n was required for a viable p o p u l a t i o n of o w l s .

The Secretary's Off ice of the D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e reversed the Chief of the Forest Service's dec is ion concerning the Final Regional Guide a n d F ina l EIS. A s a result , the Forest was r e q u i r e d to prepare a Supplemental EIS. These act ivi t ies have b r o u g h t matters concerning the Spotted O w l i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t in to a n e w a n d crit ical phase w i t h in tens i f i ed interest o n the part o f the t i m b e r i n d u s t r y , conservation g r o u p s , and var ious governmenta l agencies as to the f u t u r e of the o w l a n d the o l d - g r o w t h forests.

T H E A U D U B O N A D V I S O R Y P A N E L O N T H E S P O T T E D O W L : B A C K G R O U N D A N D O P E R A T I O N S

A s the c o n t r o v e r y concerning the N o r t h e r n Spot ted O w l g r e w , a n anonymous g i f t a l l o w e d the N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n Society to create a n A d v i s o r y Panel o n the species. The Presidents of the A m e r i c a n Orni thologis ts ' U n i o n and the Cooper O r n i t h o l o g i c a l Society selected the members o f the Panel. The A d v i s o r y Panel's members a n d professional af f i l iat ions include:

W i l l i a m R. D a w s o n , D.E.S. B r o w n Professor o f Biological Sciences a n d Director of the M u s e u m of Z o o l o g y , The U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n , (Panel Chairman)

J. D a v i d L i g o n , Professor of Biology, Univers i ty of N e w Mexico

Joseph R„ M u r p h y , Professor Emeri tus of Z o o l o g y , Br igham Y o u n g Univers i ty

OREGON BIRDS 12(2). 119,19S6

J.P. M y e r s , Associate Curator of O r n i t h o l o g y , A c a d e m y of Natura l Sciences of Phi ladelphia

D a n i e l S i m b e r l o f f , Robert O . L a w t o n Dist inguished Professor, Florida State Univers i ty

Jared V e m e r , Research Ecologist, Pacific Southwest Forest a n d Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of A g r i c u l t u r e .

The A d v i s o r y Panel was composed of d i s t inguished orni thologis ts and ecologists k n o w n for their a c k n o w l e d g e d expertise, unquest ionable in tegr i ty , a n d independence as biologists . N o n e have spoken prev ious ly o n the complex matters of Spotted O w l conservat ion. The N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n Society asked the Panel to assess the status and prospects of the Spotted O w l insofar as current i n f o r m a t i o n a l lows , to specify pr ior i t ies f o r fu ture research, a n d to i d e n t i f y management strategies that w o u l d assure maintenance of a viable p o p u l a t i o n over the l o n g t e r m . The Panel began i ts w o r k i n late f a l l 1985, about the same t ime the Supplementa l EIS w a s to be p u b l i s h e d . Consequently, the Panel's t h o u g h t s and recommendat ions w e r e a i m e d t o w a r d assessing the effectiveness of the Spotted O w l management alternatives o u t l i n e d i n that document .

The A d v i s o r y Panel has approached i ts tasks k n o w i n g that w o r k w i t h the Spotted O w l invo lves a special set of concerns. W h i l e the long-range v i a b i l i t y o f the species i n the n o r t h w e s t e r n p a r t o f i ts range is at r i sk i f present rates of l o g g i n g i n o l d - g r o w t h Douglas - f i r forests cont inue , p r o m p t i n i t i a t i o n of p r u d e n t management efforts af fords a reasonable prospect of assuring the f u t u r e of the b i r d i n this area. Management practices w i l l prove to be p r u d e n t o n l y i f they serve b o t h i m m e d i a t e a n d longer range goals. T h e y must no t o n l y benefi t Spotted O w l s i n the near - te rm b u t also of fer a suff ic ient range o f opt ions for f u t u r e management plans as i n f o r m a t i o n o n the b i r d ' s p o p u l a t i o n , genetics, demography , a n d reproduct ive b io logy develops fur ther .

The A d v i s o r y Panel has rel ied o n v a r i e t y of sources to develop this report . The Panel cal led for i n f o r m a t i o n o n the Spot ted O w l f r o m a broad spectrum of interested i n d i v i d u a l s a n d organizat ions . The documents received i n c l u d e articles p u b l i s h e d i n the o p e n l i terature , reports, posit ion statements, administrat ive directions, a n d memos.

I n December 1985, the Panel conducted a series of hearings i n Sacramento, C a l i f o r n i a , and Vancouver , W a s h i n g t o n , i n w h i c h Spotted O w l researchers, p r i v a t e citizens, as w e l l as representatives of governmenta l agencies, the t imber i n d u s t r y , a n d conservat ion groups


presented statements and responded to questions. The hearings were supplemented b y a February 1986 meet ing i n B o u l d e r , Colorado, w i t h representatives of the Forest Service presenting i n f o r m a t i o n o n w i l d l i f e matters. F i n a l l y , the Panel r e v i e w e d current l i t e ra ture o n p o p u l a t i o n genetics, d e m o g r a p h y , a n d the b i o l o g y of ext inct , threatened, a n d endangered species to better in terpre t the i n f o r m a t i o n available o n the Spotted O w l .

In dea l ing w i t h the Spotted O w l i n W a s h i n g t o n a n d Oregon , the Panel ident i f i ed a general issue: the importance of th i s b i r d m a y w e l l transcend i ts p o s i t i o n as a s ingle vertebrate m e m b e r of a b iological c o m m u n i t y . Its close l inkage w i t h o l d - g r o w t h D o u glas f i r forests appears to m a k e i t a sensitive ind ica tor of the c o n d i t i o n and extent of this i m p o r t a n t p l a n t g r o u p . O l d - g r o w t h Douglas f i r forests p r o v i d e t imber, recreat ion, scenery, habi ta t for an assortment of w i l d l i f e , as w e l l as stable a n d p r o d u c t i v e watersheds. O l d - g r o w t h forests also support a n a r r a y of ecological processes that are of fu n d am en ta l a n d long- term i m p o r t a n c e to the e n v i r o n m e n t of the r e g i o n . The Spotted O w l i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t is th u s a metaphor f o r a m u c h broader set of environmenta l concerns.

As the Panel began its act ivi t ies , i t dec ided to inc lude i n its examinat ion the populat ions of Spot ted O w l s i n n o r t h w e s t Cal i fornia and i n the Sierra Nevada . The f o r m e r p o p u l a t i o n resembles those i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t w i t h i ts close ties to o l d - g r o w t h forest. The latter, w h i c h occurs i n the forests of the Sierra N e v a d a f r o m the foothi l l s u p to a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8,000 feet at the s o u th er n end of this m o u n t a i n range, apparent ly d i f f e r s f r o m these o ther b i r d s ; i t is n o t r i g i d l y d e p e n d e n t o n o l d - g r o w t h forests. The Panel has n o t dealt w i t h the Spotted O w l s i n Colorado, U t a h , A r i z o n a , N e w M ex ic o , or Texas. N o r d i d they consider the b i r d s of coastal centra l a n d southern California (i.e., i n Monterey, San L u i s Obispos, a n d Santa Barbara Counties south) o w i n g to a lack of i n f o r m a t i o n o n their habitat requirements , a lack of any data o n d e m o g r a p h y a n d their probable isolat ion f r o m m o r e n o r t h e r n p o p u l a t i o n s . C u r r e n t estimates indicate that this coastal c e n t r a l / s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a n p o p u l a t i o n contains o n l y about 300 i n d i v i d u a l s . W h i l e n o t as threatened b y t i m b e r harvest ing as their m o r e n o r t h e r n counterparts , these b i r d s m a y be confronted b y other h u m a n impacts . Their s i tua t ion thus requires c o n t i n u i n g surveillance.

S U M M A R Y A N D SYNOPSIS O F R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

The Panel has deve loped a set o f recommendat ions o n m a i n t a i n i n g the v i a b i l i t y of the Spotted O w l i n Oregon , W a s h i n g t o n , nor thwes t

OREGON BIRDS 12(2).12l, 1986

Cal i fornia , and the Sierra N e v a d a . Some of these deal w i t h the n u m b e r of b i r d s r e q u i r e d , their d i s t r i b u t i o n , a n d area of their home ranges. The r e m a i n d e r concern i m p l e m e n t a t i o n a n d m o n i t o r i n g of management plans , a n d research needed to increase the prec is ion of the management e f for t . The approach d i f fers f r o m that used b y the agencies, no tab ly the Forest Service. The Panel's approach emphasizes n u m b e r of b i r d s rather than n u m b e r o f habitat areas, a n d i t deals w i t h a na tura l segment of the Spotted O w l ' s d i s t r i b u t i o n i n the Pacific states rather than a single admi n i s t ra t i ve j u r i s d i c t i o n of a p a r t i c u l a r agency. T w o considerations p r o m p t e d this or ienta t ion : b io logica l real i ty a n d the need to i n v o l v e i n the management effort a l l o f the agencies a d m i n i s t e r i n g l a n d conta in ing suitable habitat for these o w l s i n the Pacific Nor thwes t , nor thwest Cal i fornia , a n d the Sierra N e v a d a .

The Panel recommends that:

1) the management p r o g r a m for Spot ted O w l s i n O r e g o n , W a s h i n g t o n , nor thwes t C a l i f o r n i a , a n d the Sierra N e v a d a s h o u l d be directed to m a i n t a i n a total o f at least1500 pairs o f these birds ;

2) the current geographic d i s t r i b u t i o n o f the Spotted O w l s i n Oregon, W a s h i n g t o n , n o r t h w e s t Cal i forn ia , a n d the Sierra N e v a d a should be m a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h a habitat n e t w o r k system l i k e that u n d e r deve lopment b y the U S D A Forest Service i n cooperat ion w i t h other agencies;

3) agencies d iscard f r o m their management f o r m u l a t i o n s the v i e w that a n effective b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n o f 500 pairs w i l l a l w a y s suffice to m a i n t a i n suff ic ient genetic v a r i a b i l i t y for subsequent e v o l u t i o n i n a changing environment ;

4) 4500 acres of o l d - g r o w t h forest s h o u l d be retained as h o m e ranges for pa i rs of Spotted O w l s i n the W a s h i n g t o n p o r t i o n of the n e t w o r k , 2500 acres of o l d - g r o w t h s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d as home ranges i n Oregon a n d n o r t h w e s t C a l i f o r n i a , a n d 1400 acres of o l d - g r o w t h (based o n the available data) s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d as home ranges i n the Sierra Nevada ;

5) agencies s h o u l d i m p r o v e the i r procedures for guaranteeing accountabi l i ty of agency personnel responsible for m a i n t a i n i n g viable populat ions of Spotted O w l s ;

6) a wel l -des igned m o n i t o r i n g system s h o u l d be i m p l e m e n t e d o n a sample basis; a n d

OREGON BIRDS 12I2M22.1986

7) a wel l -des igned p r o g r a m of intensive and extensive research s h o u l d be undertaken as soon as possible.

The Panel believes these measures w o u l d p r o v i d e a reasonable chance of m a i n t a i n i n g a viable p o p u l a t i o n of Spotted O w l s i n O r e g o n , Washington , nor thwest C a l i f o r n i a , a n d the Sierra Nevada over the near-term. The Panel fur ther believes that a w i d e var ie ty of opt ions should be re ta ined u n t i l research can p r o v i d e a m o r e precise basis f o r management practices. I n the j u d g e m e n t of the Panel, the case of the Spotted O w l i n nor thwest C a l i f o r n i a a n d the Pacific N o r t h w e s t involves m o r e t h a n the wel fare o f a single vertebrate species. This b i r d has great va lue as an indica tor o f the c o n d i t i o n a n d extent of o l d -g r o w t h Douglas - f i r forest. A n d i t m a y w e l l faci l i tate protect ion o f some basic f u n c t i o n a l re la t ionship i n this p lant assemblage that c o u l d be v i ta l to the overal l ecology of the Pacific Nor thwes t .

ODFW O N T H E SPOTTED OWL

The O r e g o n Depar tment of Fish a n d W i l d l i f e has a p p r o v e d a staff pos i t ion o n the breeding a n d habitat requirements for l o n g - t e r m s u r v i v a l o f the Spotted O w l i n O r e g o n , according to the May-June 1986 issue of OREGON WILDLIFE. "The Department o f Fish a n d W i l d l i f e is required b y state l a w 'to prevent the serious deple t ion . . . " of w i l d l i f e species i n O r e g o n . Based o n extensive research, d e p a r t m e n t biologists believe the 400 nest ing p a i r m i n i m u m a n d 2,200 acre habi tat requirement per pa i r w i l l prevent possible deplet ion."

OREGON BIRDS 32(2).123,1986

R E C O M M E N D E D R E A D I N G

B I R D S OF T H E O L D - G R O W T H FOREST

Baker, Dean. 1986. " V i r g i n Forests Under Fire." In: "National W i l d l i f e " , February-March, p p . 4-10. The Nat iona l W i l d l i f e Federat ion, Washington D .C .

B r o w n , E. Reade, technical edi tor . 1985. Management o f W i l d l i f e a n d Fish Habitats i n Forests of Western O r e g o n a n d W a s h i n g t o n . (Parts 1 a n d 2) U S D A Forest Service, P N W Region, P o r t l a n d , OR. Publ icat ion N o . : R6-F7WL-192-1985.

Forsman, Eric, E. Charles M e s l o w , H o w a r d W i g h t . 1984. D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d Biology of the Spotted O w l i n Oregon . W i l d l i f e M o n o g r a p h 87, Supplement to Journal of W i l d l i f e Management 48(2): A p r i l , 1984. The W i l d l i f e Society, Washington , D.C.

F r a n k l i n , J.F., K . Cromack , Jr., W . Denison , A M c K e e , C. Maser, J. Sedell, F. Swanson, a n d G. Juday. 1981. Ecological Characteristics of O l d - G r o w t h Douglas-F ir Forests. U S D A Forest Service P N W Region, Port land OR. General Technical Report PNW-118.

Gutierrez, R.J., a n d A . B . Carey, technical editors . 1985. Ecology a n d Management of the Spotted O w l i n the Pacific N o r t h w e s t . U S D A Forest Service, P N W Region, P o r t l a n d , OR. General Technical Report PNW-185.

H a r r i s , L a r r y D . 1984. The Fragmented Forest. U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago Press, Chicago, I L .

Heinr ichs , J. 1983. O l d G r o w t h Comes of Age . I n "Journal of Forestry", December, p p . 776-779. Society of A m e r i c a n Foresters, Bethesda, M D .

K e l l y , D a v i d , p h o t o g r a p h y b y G a r y Braasch. 1986. The Decadent Forest. In: " A u d u b o n " , March , p p . 46-73. Nat iona l A u d u b o n Society, N e w York, N . Y .

M a h l e i n , D . 1985. The Spotted O w l and O l d - G r o w t h Forests: a Polit ical Gamble . Cascade Hol i s t i c Economic Consultants , Eugene, OR. C H E C Research Paper N o . 16.

Maser, C , J .M. Trappe , a n d D . C . U r e . 1978. I m p l i c a t i o n s of Small M a m m a l M y c o p h a g y to the Manage m e nt of Western Coni ferous Forests. I n Transactions of the 43rd N o r t h A m e r i c a n W i l d l i f e a n d N a t u r a l

OREGON BIRDS 12<mu, 1986

Resources Conference. T h e W i l d l i f e M a n a g e m e n t I n s t i t u t e , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C .

Maser, C . a n d J . M . T r a p p e . 1984. The F a l l e n T r e e ~ A Source o f D i v e r s i t y . I n N e w Forests f o r a C h a n g i n g W o r l d . Proceedings o f the Society o f N a t i o n a l Foresters N a t i o n a l Conference . Society o f A m e r i c a n Foresters, Bethesda, M D .

Maser, C . a n d J . M . T r a p p e , t echnica l e d i t o r s . 1984. T h e Seen a n d U n s e e n W o r l d o f t h e Fal len Tree . U S D A Forest Service, P N W R e g i o n , P o r t l a n d , O R . General Technical R e p o r t P N W - 1 6 4

M e e h a n , W . R . , T.R. M e r r e l l , Jr., a n d T . A . H a n l e y . 1984. F i sh a n d W i l d l i f e Re la t ionsh ips i n O l d - G r o w t h Forests. Proceedings o f a S y m p o s i u m H e l d i n Juneau, A l a s k a , A p r i l , 1982. A m e r i c a n I n s i t u t e o f Fishery Research Biologists . A v a i l a b l e f r o m J o h n W . Reintjes; Rt . 4 , Box 85; M o r e h e a d C i t y , N C 28557, pr i ce $20.

Society o f A m e r i c a n Foresters. 1984. Cha l lenges f o r W i l d l f e a n d F i s h -The O l d - G r o w t h Ecosystem i n M a n a g e d Forests. R e p r i n t e d f r o m N e w

Forests f o r a C h a n g i n g W o r l d , Proceedings o f the 1983 C o n v e n t i o n o f the Society o f A m e r i c a n Foresters, October , 1983. Society of A m e r i c a n Foresters, Bethesda, M D .

T h o m a s , J .W., tech. e d . 1979. W i l d l i f e H a b i t a t s i n M a n a g e d Forests: the B lue M o u n t a i n s o f O r e g o n a n d W a s h i n g t o n . U S D A Forest Service , P N W R e g i o n , P o r t l a n d , OR. U S D A H a n d b o o k 553.

Y u s k a v i t c h , J. 1985. O l d G r o w t h : A Q u e s t i o n o f Values . I n " A m e r i c a n Forests", M a r c h , p p . 22-25, 34, 46-49. A m e r i c a n Forestry A s s o c i a t i o n , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C .

Photo by Nancy Peterson.

OREGON BIRDS12(2):125, 1986

OREGON BIRDS name, me

SITE GUIDES

Where to find a Spotted Owl in Oregon: H J . Andrews Experimental Forest, Lane/Linn Cos.

Rick Brown, 3425 S. W. 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201

Spotted O w l s have p r o v e d elusive for m a n y b i rders . K n o w n nes t ing sites are u s u a l l y (and a p p r o p r i a t e l y ) kept secret. One approach to f i n d i n g Spot ted O w l s m a y be t o s t u d y the S O M A s (Spotted O w l Management Areas) m a i n t a i n e d b y the p u b l i c l a n d managers. Contact your local B L M or Forest Service office.

One g o o d place to f i n d Spotted O w l s is the H.J. A n d r e w s Exper imenta l Forest, located i n the W i l l a m e t t e N a t i o n a l Forest 40 miles east o f Spr ingf ie ld , Oregon . I t was established i n 1948 as a site for research o n forest management . Elevations range f r o m 1500 to 5000 feet, as the forest encompassess the ent ire 15,000 acre L o o k o u t Creek drainage. The forest is w e l l - r o a d e d a n d contains m a n y clearcuts, b u t also inc ludes some o u t s t a n d i n g examples o f o l d - g r o w t h Douglas-f ir forest.

Direct ions to the H . J. A n d r e w s : f o l l o w state H i g h w a y 126 (McKenz ie River H i g h w a y ) east f r o m S p r i n g f i e l d , to a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 mi les past the t o w n o f Blue River. T u r n n o r t h o n Forest Service Road 15; the s ign there reads "Blue River Reservoir." Go 3 miles , a n d t u r n r i g h t o n r o a d 1506, w h i c h takes y o u into the heart of the experimental forest.

Headquarters are at the Blue River Ranger Dis t r i c t , Blue River , OR 97413; (503) 822-3317. Direc tor of the scientific p r o g r a m at the H.J . A n d r e w s is D r . A r t McKee , Forest Sciences Lab, Oregon State U n i v e r s i t y , Corva l l i s , O R 97330; (503) 757-4395. Cal l for h e l p i n locating Spotted O w l s o n the forest.

OREGON BiRDsnay.w, me

FIELDNOTES

FIELDNOTES: EASTERN O R E G O N , August - November 1985

Steve Summers, 1009 Merryman Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97603

C o m m o n Loons m i g r a t e d t h r o u g h i n their usual smal l numbers . A g r o u p of 6 o n K r u m b o Res., H a r n e y Co. , 11 N o v . was a g o o d count for one east-c m Oregon location. A Pacific L o o n o n K r u m b o Res. 2 N o v . was o n l y the third record for Malheur N . W . R . ( M A ) . This l o o n is a rare m i g r a n t through eastern Oregon.

Single Red-necked Grebes w e r e o n W a l l o w a L . o n 8 A u g . a n d 15 Oct . (FC). Three Clark 's Grebes at W i c k i u p Res. 25 Sept. p r o v i d e d Deschutes Co. w i t h a f irst record , at least since b i r d e r s have been l o o k i n g lor this " n e w " species there (TC) . Six W h i t e Pelicans were at W a l l o w a I , . 10 Sept. (FC).

A very rare f i n d for U n i o n Co. was a Great Egret o n 1 Sept. at E l g i n (DL). A Great Egret was also a l o n g Ochoco Cr . 6 mi les east of Pr inevi l l e in early Oct . where they are rare ly seen ( N a n c y M c D o n a l d ) . S n o w y ligrets p r o d u c e d an estimated 410 y o u n g at M a l h e u r N . W . R . this year. Three Catt le Egrets were n o r t h of M a l h e u r L . 28 A u g . and at least 2 pairs nested i n the Basin. White- faced Ibis c o n t i n u e d to make n e w s after their g o o d s h o w i n g i n June a n d July. O n 7 A u g . , 146 were c o u n t e d between A d e l a n d Plush, Lake Co. , 26 were juvenals of the year (BP). O n 8 Sept., 2 were i n a f i e l d near Joseph, W a l l o w a Co. for the second sight ing th is year there (FC). A n d at M a l h e u r N . W . R . ibis p r o d u c e d a record 3318 y o u n g !

Tundra S w a n m i g r a t i o n was r a p i d this f a l l . A t M a l h e u r they a r r i v e d 22 Oct. a n d w e r e gone b y 27 N o v . I n the W a r n e r V a l l e y no large f locks were seen w h e r e there u s u a l l y are some ( K V ) . O n e p a i r at Shirk Ranch, I .ake Co. 22 A u g was very ear ly (BP). A T r u m p e t e r Swan was repor ted I rom S u m m e r L . , Lake Co. i n Oct . ( C M ) . A t M a l h e u r the Snow Goose migrat ion was repor ted the same as swans, r a p i d a n d cover ing about the same t ime.

OREGON BIRDS 12(2>.-129,1986

Three male W o o d Ducks were f o u n d 7 A u g . , 8 miles northeast o f Frenchglen a n d 1 male was 5 m i l e s northeast of Frenchglen 22 Oct . Mal la rds w e r e the only species o f d u c k to concentrate at M a l h e u r N . W . R . this f a l l . Other than this no concentrations of ducks occurred a n d this fall 's w a t e r f o w l m i g r a t i o n was considered the wors t i n recent h is tory (Refuge report ) . O n l y 2 Eurasian W i g e o n were reported, 1 o n 25 Oct . at the D A W m i l l p o n d i n Bend ( C M ) and 1 at Flagstaff L . , Lake Co. 17 N o v . (BP). H a r t M t . N . W . R . recorded its f i r s t breeding R i n g -necked D u c k o n 10 A u g . w h e n a female w i t h 4 y o u n g was f o u n d at Warner P o n d (BP). The o n l y Greater Scaup repor ted was 1 o n Lake Ewauna, K l a m a t h Falls 10 N o v . (SS).

A female O l d s q u a w p r o v i d e d W a l l o w a Co. w i t h i ts second record w h e n 1 was f o u n d o n W a l l o w a L . 10 N o v . I t stayed for several days (FC). Surf Scoters are a sparse but regular m i g r a n t t h r o u g h the reg ion . This f a l l 11 were repor ted between 15 Oct . a n d 10 N o v . f r o m H a r n e y , Deschutes, Jefferson, a n d K l a m a t h Cos.

Steve G o r d o n r e p o r t e d an interest ing N o r t h e r n G o s h a w k experience. O n 15 A u g . he w a t c h e d an a d u l t at Shel ton St. Park, Wheeler Co. catch a M o u n t a i n Chickadee and take i t i n t o a stream w h e r e i t proceeded to h o l d i t u n d e r water . Is this n o r m a l behavior? Elsewhere Goshawks were repor ted f r o m several expected areas t h r o u g h o u t the region. T w o Bald Eagles at W a l l o w a L . 11 Oct . were considered early for the location (FC). Three Ferruginous H a w k s were i n the Fort Rock basin, Lake Co. N o v . 30 for a late record ( C M ) . Rough- legged H a w k s a r r i v e d i n good n u m b e r s d u r i n g Oct. as u s u a l , b u t 1 near Burns 21 a n d 28 A u g . was extremely ear ly ( M A ) . M e r l i n s w e r e reported i n usual numbers . A Peregrine Falcon was observed e a t i ng a Chukar 26 N o v . east of A d e l , Lake Co. ( K V ) .

Sandhi l l Cranes departed earlier t h a n n o r m a l f r o m M a l h e u r N W R . A mass m i g r a t i o n peaked on 25 Sept. a n d b y 6 Oct. al l were gone.

Three Semipalmated Plovers at M a l h e u r N W R 14 Oct . were late for there. A p a i r of Greater Ye l lowlegs f ledged y o u n g at D o w n y L . , W a l l o w a C o . f o r Oregon's nes t ing record (FC). That's a l l the i n fo rmat ion that was p r o v i d e d o n this significant record.

Usual n u m b e r s of scattered Sol i tary Sandpipers were reported f r o m 13 A u g . to 20 Sept. A g r o u p of 3 at T u m a l o Res. 17 A u g . was a nice f i n d for this usua l ly so l i tary species (TC) . Single M a r b l e d G o d w i t s were at W a l l o w a L . a n d K i n n e y L . , W a l l o w a Co. 2 A u g a n d 8 Sept. (FC). O n e was at the N a r r o w s , M a l h e u r N . W . R . 22 Sept. (SH) and 3 w e r e reported f r o m Rajneeshpuram 1 Oct. (Deva Rashid). T w o Black

ORF.CON BIRDS nay.130, ws6

Turnstones were reported f r o m Ochoco Res. 8 Sept. (DL) . If correct this is a remarkable i n l a n d Oregon record; no details were submitted. A Red Knot w a s at Ochoco Res. 1 Sep. (BC). This species is a sparse i r r e g u l a r m i g r a n t t h r o u g h eastern O r e g o n . A Sander l ing was at Ochoco Res. 6 Sept. ( D L ) a n d M a l h e u r N . W . R . hosted smal l n u m b e r s f r o m 28 A u g . to 15 Sept. A peak of 18 was o n the n o r t h shore of Harney L. 6 Sept. Semipalmated Sandpipers have p r o v e n to be rare b u t regular m i g r a n t s t h r o u g h O r e g o n i n the last f e w years. This f a l l eastern Oregon recorded 3 at the Joseph sewage p o n d s 8 A u g . (FC) a n d 2 at the N a r r o w s , M a l h e u r N . W . R . 24 A u g . (SH) . Baird's Sandpipers passed t h r o u g h i n regular n u m b e r s b u t 35 at H a t f i e l d L . 18 A u g . (TC) a n d 30 at Borax L . , Harney Co. 25 A u g . (SH) were n o t e w o r t h y . A late record for this species w a s p r o v i d e d b y 2 at M a l h e u r N . W . R . 14 Oct. (refuge repor t ) . Pectoral Sandpipers were recorded f r o m 9 Sept. u n t i l 15 Oct . Concentrat ions were f o u n d as f o l l o w s : 16 Sept., 32 south of K l a m a t h Falls, 22 Sept., 50+ at Ochoco Res. a n d b y the e n d of Sept., 70+ at Ochoco Res. A S t i l t Sandpiper was at the Joseph sewage lagoons 21 A u g . for a f irst W a l l o w a Co. record (FC) a n d 3 were at Hat f i e ld L . 19 A u g . (TC) . Short -bi l led D o w i t c h e r s are a p p e a r i n g to be regular b u t sparse m i g r a n t s t h r o u g h eastern Oregon . T h i s fa l l at least 15 i n d i v i d u a l s were reported f r o m early A u g . to 20 Sept. f r o m W a l l o w a , Harney, a n d K l a m a t h Cos. Red-necked Phalaropes were repor ted i n usual numbers . A Red Phalarope was reported 1 A u g . f r o m the Joseph sewage lagoons (FC).

Most u n u s u a l this f a l l was the appearance o f u p to 15 Parasitic Jaegers at H a r n e y L . , M a l h e u r N . W . R . They were easi ly observed b y m a n y birders f r o m 8 Sept. to the e n d of the m o n t h . A f e w of th em were d a r k -phased b i r d s . Bonaparte's G u l l s were n o t e d i n their usual smal l numbers t h r o u g h o u t . A s usua l K l a m a t h Falls h a d the highest n u m b e r w i t h 500+ o n 10 Oct. A Sabine's G u l l spent a week starting 16 Sept. at W a l l o w a L . (FC). A rare C o m m o n Tern was reported f r o m M a l h e u r L . 22 Oct. (refuge report) .

A surpr i s ing f i n d was a Y e l l o w - b i l l e d C u c k o o at Haystack Res., Jefferson C o . 3 Sept. (BC). A most exciting " y a r d b i r d " was a Great Gray O w l at a house i n La Pine 9 N o v . . A N o r t h e r n Saw-whet O w l was at Malheur N . W . R . H Q 12 N o v .

A Black S w i f t f o u n d dead i n Frenchglen 11 Sept. p r o v i d e d a southeastern Oregon first (Refuge report) . Black-chinned H u m m i n g birds w e r e seen 9 A u g . at a feeder i n Burns ( M A ) a n d 12 Sept. at M a l h e u r N . W . R . H Q (Refuge report ) . A L e w i s ' Woodpecker at M a l h e u r H Q 21 A u g . established that Refuge's earliest fal l a r r i v a l date for that species. Red-breasted Sapsuckers w e r e seen at M a l h e u r H Q 26-27 A u g . and 26 Sept.

OREGON BIRDS I2C2M31,1986

A possible f a m i l y g r o u p of 4 Black-capped Chickadees o n the L i n k R., K l a m a t h Falls 3 A u g . p r o v i d e d K l a m a t h Co. w i t h a rare s u m m e r s ight ing . A Bewick 's W r e n at Fields 25 A u g . p r o v i d e d H a r n e y Co. w i t h another record for this species (SH). A n A m e r i c a n D i p p e r was seen 2 miles u p s t r e a m o n C o t t o n w o o d Cr . i n the Pueblo M t s . 21 Sept. (MS). This species is v e r y rarely r e p o r t e d f r o m southeastern O r e g o n . A Red-eyed Vireo w a s captured a n d b a n d e d 25 A u g . at M a l h e u r H Q and one was seen there 11 Sept. (refuge report ) .

A N a s h v i l l e W a r b l e r 2 A u g . at M a l h e u r H Q established a new f a l l a r r iva l date for the refuge ( M A ) . A female Townsend 's Warbler was seen feeding y o u n g at Suttle L . , Jefferson Co. 14 A u g (SG). A Blackpol l Warbler was at M a l h e u r H Q 22 Sept. (MS). This species is t u r n i n g i n t o a regular vagrant at M a l h e u r . N o r t h e r n Water thrushes were seen 3 Sept. at Haystack Res. (BC) a n d 21 Sept. at Fields (MS) . The one at Haystack was probably a Jefferson Co. first .

A n A m e r i c a n Tree Sparrow w a s seen at M a l h e u r 11 N o v . and 1 was eaten b y a N o r t h e r n Shrike 27 N o v . at H a r t M t . (BP). O n 17 N o v . late C h i p p i n g , Brewer's , and L a r k S p a r r o w were r e p o r t e d f r o m Sunriver , Deschutes Co. (Dave Danley) . A Sage Sparrow w a s i n a Joseph, W a l l o w a C o . y a r d 16 Sept. (FC). The o n l y W h i t e - t h r o a t e d Sparrow reported was one at M a l h e u r H Q 27 Sept. (TC). H a r r i s ' Sparrows were a r o u n d i n h igher than usual n u m b e r s . O n 27 O c t . , 1 w a s at M a l h e u r H Q ( M A ) , 1 was at H a r t M t . H Q f r o m 11-17 N o v . a n d 2 w e r e i n Plush, Lake Co. 22 N o v . (BP). Three L a p l a n d Longspurs were f o u n d o n Steen's M t . 20 Oct. ( M A ) . A n ear ly record of a Snow B u n t i n g was 14 Oct . near M a l h e u r L . ( M A ) .

Rosy Finches w e r e f o u n d f r o m m i d - N o v . i n H a r n e y Co. a n d at P lush , Lake Co. Pine Grosbeaks are v e r y rare ly f o u n d i n K l a m a t h Co. thus 5 at Crater Lake N . P . o n 6 Oct. was a nice f i n d ( M M ) . O n e was a nice male. A female Cassin's Finch 22 Oct . near Frenchglen was far f r o m its usual haunts. W h i t e - w i n g e d Crossbil ls staged a major i n v a s i o n in to the central Cascades f r o m late A u g . t h r o u g h Sept. A t least 60 i n a day c o u l d be f o u n d a r o u n d h i g h m o u n t a i n lakes i n n o r t h w e s t e r n K l a m a t h Co., i n eastern Lane, a n d southwestern Deschutes Co. d u r i n g this pre iod .

C o m m o n Redpol ls came south ear ly a n d i n unprecedented numbers d u r i n g N o v . F r o m 16-19 N o v . u p to 20 were i n Burns ( M A ) a n d 3 a r r i v e d at M a l h e u r H Q 19 N o v . By the e n d of the m o n t h 30 were there. I n W a l l o w a Co. large flocks s h o w e d u p 16 N o v . A l l - t i m e h i g h numbers were recorded for W a l l o w a C o . w h e n 400 were f o u n d i n O K G u l c h a n d 200 were seen at S w a m p Cr. (FC).

OREGON BIRDS 12(2;-132,1986

OBSERVERS

Merle & A n n e Archie Barbara Combs Frank Conley Steve G o r d o n Steve H e i n l Donna Lusthof f M a l h e u r N.W.R .

C r a i g M i l l e r Mar jor ie Moore Bi l l Pyle Mar tha Sawyer Steve Summers Ken Voget

FIELDNOTES: WESTERN OREGON, Summer 1985

Steve Heinl, 210 East 3rd Apt. C, Eugene, OR 97401

L O O N S - H E R O N S

A f i rs t -summer Y e l l o w - b i l l e d L o o n w i t h a large f ish lure stuck i n its breast was f o u n d at the south jetty of Yaquina Bay 20 July ( M H , SH). The b i r d washed ashore a l ive o n the 25th, the h o o k was r e m o v e d , a n d

Yellow-billed Loon, 20 July 1985, south jetty of Yaquina Bay, Lincoln Co. Photo by Matt Hunter.

OREGON BIRDS I2(2W33,1986

the b i r d was released. Unfor tunate ly i t on ly s u r v i v e d a few more weeks a n d was f o u n d dead o n 15 A u g . (MSC personnel ; f ide RB). This was o n l y the second summer record for the state. The first B r o w n Pelican r e p o r t of the season was a g r o u p of 9 at Cape Meares 29 June (JG). Large n u m b e r s were present b y the end of the p e r i o d w i t h a h i g h percentage of i m m a t u r e birds noted b y many observers.

A L i t t l e B l u e H e r o n seen f l y i n g across the 1-5 freeway 22 June was probably the same b i r d f o u n d near Buena Vista last M a y (BC). I t must have taken a great deal of ski l l to keep f r o m causing an accident.

W A T E R F O W L - R A P T O R S

Brant were f o u n d at 3 locations i n June. Singles w e r e at Siletz B A y 2 June (JM), Seal Rocks 8 June (Dale Snow) , a n d the SJCR 15 June ( D K ) . G r e e n - w i n g e d Teal began a r r i v i n g o n the coast i n m i d - J u l y a n d 18 were at B.O.S. 24 July ( H N ) . Three N o r t h e r n Pintai l were f o u n d s u m m e r i n g at T i l l a m o o k 16 June. ( H N ) , a n d the first fa l l m i g r a n t appeared at Horence 15 July ( M M ) . A Ring-necked D u c k at the C a n y o n v i l l e P o n d 1 June p r o v i d e d an unusual summer record ( H N , OS).

O n l y 2 Black-shouldered Kites w e r e reported . One w a s i n the Rogue V . near M e d f o r d 21 June, where they are suspected o f nest ing (Dave H o f f m a n n ) . The other Kite was at the Smith River estuary (Douglas Co.) 22 June (Claude Plunkett ) . A Red-shouldered H a w k i n n . Eugene 18 July was a g o o d f i n d (Doland N i c h o l s ) . This is no t t o t a l l y unexpected t h o u g h as 1 to 3 have been f o u n d i n the Eugene area every w i n t e r for the past 8 years a n d i t was inevi table that they start s h o w i n g u p d u r i n g summer months . A Peregrine of the peali race was i n the Ti l lamook area al l s u m m e r (JG).

S H O R E B I R D S

T w o Semipalmated Plovers were at Yaquina B. 4 June ( H N ) . M i g r a t i o n of ad. Semis peaked i n late July w i t h 1000 at B.O.S. 27 July ( M H , SH) . There were 2 reports of ye l lowlegs i n June. Three Greaters were at the SJCR 17 June, a n d a Lesser w a s at Meares Lake 25 June ( H N ) . For the f i f t h year i n a r o w a Solitary Sandpiper was f o u n d at G o l d Lake Bog near the W i l l a m e t t e Pass (Lane Co.) ( m o b . ) . A s u s u a l i t d i sp layed terr i tor ia l behavior and harrassed anyone w h o w a s i n the area. A W i l l e t at C a n n o n Beach 25 June w a s unusua l b o t h for the locat ion a n d the t ime of year ( D K ) . A W h i m b r e l was at N e w p o r t 4 June ( H N ) . A Long - b i l l ed C u r l e w was at B a n d o n 27 July, one of their regular locations (VT). B a n d o n is also a f o v o r e d locat ion of R u d d y Turnstones w i t h 50

OREGON BIRDS 12C2J.134,1986

there 30 July (TC). A flock of 200 Surf birds was at Ecola State Park 22 fuly ( D K ) . Large flocks are of ten encountered at this t ime of year.

A n ad . Semipalmated Sandpiper at B.O.S. 12 July was the f irs t of the fall m i g r a t i o n (SH, M H ) . U p to 15 were r e p o r t e d , by the end of the p e r i o d , w i t h the first juvenals a r r i v i n g at the e n d of July (m.ob. ) . M i g r a t i o n of ad . Western Sandpipers peaked near the end of the p e r i o d w i t h 1100 at the SJCR 17 July ( H N ) , and 10,000 at B.O.S. 27 July ( M H , SH). The f irs t few juvenals began a r r i v i n g at the end of the p e r i o d . A d u l t Least Sandpipers also peaked i n late July w i t h 700 at B.O.S. 21 July (JG). The first Baird's Sandpiper of the fa l l was a j u v . at T i l l a m o o k 21 July (TL, M K ) . A rare a d u l t w a s at the Siltcoos out le t 28 July ( M H , SH). One at N e h a l e m 21 July was the o n l y other repor t (JG). Also early was a D u n l i n at B.O.S. 24+ July (TL, M K ) .

The b i r d o f the summer was the C u r l e w Sandpiper f o u n d at Bandon 26 July - 4 A u g (Bill & Zanah Stotz). The b i r d , i n stunning alternate p lumage , was photographed b y m a n y for Oregon's f irst d o c u m e n t e d record. See OREGON BIRDS 11(2&3):83, 1985, for photo. Wilson's Phalaropes again appeared at D i a m o n d Lake M a r s h w i t h 2 there 12 June (MS) . Breeding is possible at that locat ion , however 4 near G l i d e 8 July w e r e probably transient ( K K ) . A Red-necked Phalarope at Ti l lamook 31 July was the f irst of the fa l l ( H N ) .

JAEGERS-GULLS

T w o jaegers were seen at the SJCR. A Pomarine was there 21 July (TB), and a Parasitic was there 28 July (Steve K o r n f i e l d ) . The f irs t Heermann's Gul ls of the season were 8 at the SJCR 3 July ( H N ) , a n d 500 passed the U m p q u a R. m o u t h 21 July (MS). A M e w G u l l was f o u n d s u m m e r i n g at N e w p o r t 22 June (JC). A s is usua l , smal l numbers of Black-legged Ki t t iwakes were f o u n d at the SJCR all s u m m e r (m.ob.).

C U C K O O - H U M M I N G B I R D S

Very rare i n recent t imes, a Y e l l o w - b i l l e d C u c k o o was reported f r o m West L i n n 31 July (Bill Wi lson) .

Further inves t igat ion i n t o last spring's H a m m u l a t e d O w l discovery near Toketee Ranger Stat ion revealed a pair of ca l l ing b i r d s 22 June (DF, M H , SH) . O n 25 June their nest was f o u n d i n a Ponderosa snag for w . Oregon's second breeding record (MS et al . ) . There were o n l y 4 reports o f Spotted O w l . O n e at Cascade H e a d 12 June was seen m a k i n g off w i t h a f l e d g l i n g W i n t e r W r e n (Bea V a n H o m e ) . The other reports were a l l f r o m the w . Cascades (m.ob.) . A Great G r a y O w l near H y a t t L .

OREGON BIRDS I2©:135,1986

(Jackson Co.) June 8 was i n an area of k n o w n occurrence (George A r n o l d ) . Poorwil ls were unreported away f r o m Roxie A n n Butte near M e d f o r d .

U p to 10 Black Swif ts were seen at Salt Creek Falls (Lane Co.) a l l June (m.ob.) . T h e y are surely nest ing here b u t i t w i l l be d i f f i c u l t to c o n f i r m . V e r y interes t ing were 6 Black-chinned H u m m i n g b i r d s at Saddle M t . State Park 3 July ( H N ) . Some interact ion was n o t e d and the area should be checked again i n the f u t u r e . Al len 's H u m m i n g b i r d s were f o u n d to be a b u n d a n t 3 June f r o m the Oregon-Cal i forn ia border to Cape Blanco ( H N ) . They far outnumber Rufous i n this zone.

W O O D P E C K E R S - P I P I T

T w o westside Red-naped Sapsuckers were repor ted . One was at G o l d L . June 23 ( M H , SH) , and another was near D i a m o n d L . July 6 (RM). A l s o o n the wests ide was a W i l l i a m s o n ' s Sapsucker at W i n d i g o Pass (Douglas Co.) June 23+ ( M H , S H , MS) . Four H o r n e d Larks o n their historic b r e e d i n g area at the P o r t l a n d a i rpor t 9 June was good news as they have not been reported there i n recent years (DB) . A Scrub Jay at Gleneden Beach ( L i n c o l n Co.) 8 June was the o n l y coastal report (JM). A Rock W r e n w a s o n Saddle M t . 10 June ( H N ) . Th is species has been t u r n i n g u p m o r e i n recent t imes as m o r e observers b i r d the Coast Range. A M o c k i n g b i r d w a s at the Pistol R. m o u t h 9 June (JG). A Water P i p i t at D i a m o n d Peak 4 July was i n the southern edge of th is species' Cascades breeding range ( T M , A M ) .

V I R E O - W A R B L E R

A pair of Red-eyed Vireos raised 1 to 2 broods of y o u n g at Scappoose A i r p o r t Co . Park (JG, PM) . A Red-eyed Vireo f o u n d i n alders 2 mi les west of Elsie 3-31 July was 1 of a f e w , i f any, records for the Coast Range ( H N ) . Oregon's f irst s u m m e r i n g B l a c k - a n d - w h i t e W a r b l e r was at Scoggins Val ley Park (Washington Co.) 6-8 July ( K h a n h Tran). I t w a s probably the same b i r d that w a s f o u n d there i n M a y . T w o to 3 N o r t h e r n Waterthrushes were f o u n d a l l p e r i o d at their Salt Creek Falls locat ion i n Lane Co. (m.ob. ) . A Yel low-breasted Chat, scarce i n the n . Wi l lamet te Val ley, was east of Port land 22 July ( M i k e Houck) .

E V E R Y T H I N G ELSE

A s inging L a z u l i - B u n t i n g o n Cascade H e a d 2 July was a r a r i t y o n the outer coast ( f ide RB). Green-tai led Towhees w e r e f o u n d i n clearcuts a long E m i g r a n t Pass (Lane Co.) , a n d at T h o r n Prair ie (Douglas Co.) a l l per iod (m.ob.) .

OREGON BIRDS 12(2).-136,1986

I f i e w e r ' s Sparrows surprised Lane Co. birders this summer w h e n 2 to 3 Singing b i rds were f o u n d i n clearcuts a long Emigrant Pass 23 June ( T M , A M ) . A n o t h e r b i r d was f o u n d o n a d i f ferent clearcut 30 June ( M H , SH), and o n 1 July a female w a s photographed o n the nest for the f i rs t Lane nesting record ( N B , PS). I t is interest ing to note tha t Brewer's Sparrows were f o u n d u n d e r s imi lar circumnstances d u r i n g the summers of 1974 and 1976 at an o l d b u r n west of Fish L . o n the u p p e r U m p q u a R. ( A m . B i r d s 28:943, 1974, a n d 30:996, 1976). I n a d d i t i o n to the above, 2 a d . a n d 4 i m m . w e r e f o u n d at Royal A v e . Fern Ridge Res. 29 July - 1 Sept. a n d i t is possible that they bred there, too ( M H , SH).

A Fox S p a r r o w of the d a r k b r o w n w i n t e r t y p e was on Parrot M t . s.w. of Portland 3 July (TL). A f u l l y alternate-plumaged male Chestnut -col lared L o n g s p u r was f o u n d at the SJCR 17 July to the end of the p e r i o d ( U N ) . I t was wel l -photographed (see OB 11(2&3):109) for o n l y the f o u r t h state record. A rare coastal Y e l l o w - h e a d e d Blackbird w a s near Siletz (L incoln Co.) 2 July (Bob McQueen).

OBSERVERS

l ) B - Dave Bailey N B - N o r m Barrett R B - Range Bayer I B - T i m Bidder |C- J im Carlson B C - Barb Combs T C - T o m Crabtree D F - D a v i d Fix JG- Jeff Gi l l igan S H - Steve H e i n l M H - M a t t H u n t e r D K - D u r r e l l Kapan

K K - K e n K n i t t l e J M - J im Mackie R M - Ron Maertz M M - Margaret M a r k l e y A M - A l l i s o n M i c k e l T M - T o m Micke l P M - P a t M u l l e r H N - H a r r y Nehls M S - Mar tha Sawyer PS- PaulSherr i l l OS - Otis Swisher V T - Verda Teale

OREGON BIRDS 12(21137, 1986


Deadline for the next issue of OREGON BIRDS -- Volume 12 Number 3 -- is 8 August 1986. The next issue should get to you by about 1 September 1986. Material can be submitted anytime, however, and the sooner the better. OREGON BIRDS is looking for material in these categories:

News Briefs on things of temporal importance such

as meetings, birding trips, announcements, news items, etc.

Short NOteS shorter contributions dealing with the biology of Oregon's birds. Short Notes typically cite no references, or at most a few in parentheses in the text. Author's name and address appear at the end of the text.

Articles longer contributions dealing with the biology of Oregon's birds. Articles cite references (if any) at the end of the text. Author's name and address appear at the beginning of the text.

Bird Finding Guides "where to find a in

Oregon" (for some of the rarer birds) and "where to find birds in the_ area" (for some of the better spots).

Reviews for published material on Oregon birds or

otherwise of interest to Oregon birders.

Photographs of birds, especially photos taken recently in Oregon. Please submit color slide duplicates or black-and-white glossies in 3 x 5 size. Label all photos with photographer's name and address, bird identification, date and place the photo was taken. Photos cannot be returned unless prior arrangements are made with the Editor.

I 'lease submit materials forthe next issue of OREGON BIRDS by 8 August 1986, to the Editor, 3007 N.E. 32nd Avenue, Portland, O R |7212 (503)282-9403.

Oregon Field Ornithologists O R E G O N BIRDS

P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, OR 97440

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ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED * FORWARDING AND RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

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oregon birds · another oregon birdin recorg d wa ses t on 14 may 1986 by denni rogerss . ......

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