Managing Forests for Birds (a five-part video series)
This new video series highlights the importance of proper forest management in improving a diversity of habitat for birds and other wildlife, and focuses on several Ohio private landowners detailing their experiences managing and improving conditions of their woodlands and the beneficial changes in the bird community following such actions.
With fewer sources of natural disturbances such as a forest fire, active management plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining early-successional forest, or young forests, on the landscape. When responsibly planned and implemented, such management activities can be a valuable tool for creating and improving habitat for birds.
– Matthew Shumar, OBCI Program Coordinator
Initiating changes to forest structure that create a more diverse and healthy forest can be daunting for woodland owners. Through this video series, landowners can learn critical information and access tools and resources needed to manage their property for wildlife.
Topics covered include creating early-successional habitat, using thinning and crop-tree release timber harvest methods, controlling invasive species, and how to work with wildlife and forestry professionals to ensure the best management practices. Though focused on landowners and properties in Ohio, the videos are a great educational resource for land managers and private landowners with a variety of forest structure and addressing numerous issues.
The video series was developed to further assist land managers in improving forest habitat for birds and illustrates recommendations from “Managing Forest Birds in Southeast Ohio: A Guide for Land Managers.” The guide was developed by OBCI and its partners and written by Amanda Rodewald, Director of Conservation Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and former faculty member at The Ohio State University. The management recommendations in the guide are based on research conducted in the forested landscapes of southeastern Ohio by The Ohio State University and Ohio Division of Wildlife. The guide includes recommendations for creating early successional habitat, planning shelterwood harvests, and managing mature forests to benefit birds.
Along with the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources–Division of Wildlife, ODNR–Division of Forestry, The Ohio State University, and The Nature Conservancy in Ohio were instrumental in the development of these videos.
Access all the videos in this series here:
The videos can be watched on YouTube or in the embedded player above.
If you are interested in getting started with forest management on your property, we recommend visiting the following resources first:
ODNR–Division of Forestry Service Foresters
http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/serviceforesters
Call Before You Cut
http://callb4ucut.com/
Phone (Ohio): 877-424-8288
ODNR–Division of Wildlife Private Lands Management
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/private-lands-management
Soil and Water Conservation District
http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/SWC/SearchLocalSWCD.aspx
These additional resources are also helpful for landowners:
Financial Assistance Opportunities
Natural Resource Conservation Service
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/oh/programs/financial/eqip/
Phone: 740-653-5320
USFWS–Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
https://www.fws.gov/partners/
Lori Stevenson, State Coordinator
lori_stevenson@fws.gov
National Wild Turkey Federation – Seed Subsidy Program
http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/article/seed-subsidy
Land Protection & Preservation
Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts
http://www.ohiolandtrusts.org/
Non-native Invasive Species
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
https://www.invasive.org/
Ohio Invasive Plants Council
http://www.oipc.info
Wildlife Management
ODNR–Division of Wildlife
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/private-lands-management
District 1 Private Lands Biologists, Phone: 614-314-1315
District 2 Private Lands Biologists, Phone: 419-898-0960 ext. 26
District 3 Private Lands Biologists, Phone: 330-889-3280
District 4 Private Lands Biologists, Phone: 740-589-9930
District 5 Private Lands Biologists, Phone: 937-372-9261, 937-347-0925
Wildlife Management Institute
https://wildlifemanagement.institute/project/woodcock-conservation-plan
National Wild Turkey Federation
http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/category/habitat
Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture list of private landowner resources
http://amjv.org/index.php/private_landowners
Working Lands For Wildlife
http://amjv.org/index.php/private_landowners/working-lands-for-wildlife
Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement Project
http://amjv.org/index.php/private_landowners/cerulean-warbler-appalachian-forestland-enhancement-project
Woodland Management
ODNR–Division of Forestry – Small Woodlot Assistance (2-10 acres)
http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/smallwoodlots
ODNR–Division of Forestry – Woodland Management Assistance (≥10 acres)
http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/landownerassistance
Phone: 877-247-8733
Rural Action Sustainable Forestry Program
http://ruralaction.org/programs/forestry/
Phone: 740-677-4047
American Tree Farm System
http://www.treefarmsystem.org
Woodland Owner Workshops & Classes
Ohio State University Woodland Stewards Program
http://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/
A Day in the Woods – 2nd Friday Series
https://u.osu.edu/apsley.1/