Habitat Management Resources

Managing forest birds in Southeast Ohio: A guide for land managers

Download a full copy of the guide HERE.
Download a summary of recommendations HERE.

OBCI has partnered with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Ohio State University (School of Environment and Natural Resources, and Terrestrial Wildlife Ecology Lab), The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, OSU Extension, and the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership to design and illustrate a guide written by Amanda Rodewald entitled “Managing forest birds in Southeast Ohio: A Guide for Land Managers”. A full- length guide and a summary of management recommendations are both available.

This guide is written for land managers seeking to improve habitat conditions for forest birds. Recommendations are based on research conducted in the forested landscapes of southeast Ohio by The Ohio State University and Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Contributors:

  • Author: Amanda D. Rodewald, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University
  • Reviews provided by: David Apsley, Greg Guess, Cotton Randall, Mike Reynolds, and Dan Yaussy
  • Printing made possible by The Nature Conservancy in Ohio
  • Printing assistance provided by Kathy Smith and Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension.

Suggested citation:

Rodewald, A. 2013. Managing forest birds in southeast Ohio: A guide for land managers. Unpublished report to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife. 33 pp.


Managing small forest patches for birds: a guide for Ohio landowners

Download a full copy of the guide HERE.
Download print-ready handouts HERE.

Guide authors:

  • Laura J. Kearns, Ph.D., ODNR-Division of Wildlife
  • Matthew B. Shumar, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative/The Ohio State University
  • Marne A. Titchenell, The Ohio State University
  • Amanda M. Duren, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture/American Bird Conservancy
  • Jennifer L. Thieme, University of Minnesota
  • Erin B. Cashion, Ohio History Connection
  • Stephen N. Matthews, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
  • John Mueller, ODNR-Division of Forestry
  • Christopher M. Tonra, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
  • Mark C. Shieldcastle, Black Swamp Bird Observatory

Suggested citation:

Kearns, L. J., M. B. Shumar, M. A. Titchenell, A. M. Duren, J. L. Thieme, E. B. Cashion, S. N. Matthews, J. Mueller, C. M. Tonra, and M. C. Shieldcastle. 2019. Managing small forest patches for birds: a guide for Ohio landowners. Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Columbus, OH.


Managing forests for birds video series

This 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.

More information on the video series can be found HERE.


Managing small forest patches for birds virtual workshop

This workshop is intended for land managers and property owners of small woodlots seeking to improve forest conditions for birds across their full annual life cycle: breeding, migration, and wintering. Recommendations are based on multiple research studies conducted in Ohio and similar “small patch” forest ecosystems through the Midwest and eastern North America. Whether you own half an acre or 100 acres of forest, we hope you’ll find these resources helpful so that you can make the best of your woods for birds.

The virtual course can be found on our website HERE.


Managing habitats for migrating land birds in the western Lake Erie basin

Download a full copy of the guide HERE.

In partnership with the Nature Conservancy, OBCI has produced a booklet for landowners in the Western Lake Erie Basin interested in managing their property as stopover habitat for migrating birds. This is a practical guide describing how private landowners and managers of corporate lands, city parks and other public areas can manage habitats to assist birds as they migrate through the Great Lakes region, especially around Lake Erie. Protecting habitat in the Lake Erie watershed will fill critical stopover needs of migratory birds because little of the natural landscape remains in this region. This guide focuses on land birds because populations of many species are declining, yet millions of these birds travel through the western Lake Erie basin during spring and fall.We encourage you to adopt these landscaping and land management suggestions so that the birds have safe harbor and can pass successfully through the Lake Erie region. More information on the guide, and TNC’s work can be found on their website, HERE.