| Objective |
To develop and test alternative forest harvesting techniques designed to benefit wildlife that utilize tree cavities (e.g., woodpeckers, red-breasted nuthatch, marten), and to monitor wildlife use of the harvested treatments at successive seral stages (i.e., approx. every 10 years) over the next 60 to 100 years.
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| Methods |
Within each of 3 treatment cut blocks in the Donna Creek drainage, 2 factors (stubs [3-m high stumps] and mature timber patches [~0.25 ha]) were retained in various combinations in the 4 quadrants of each cutblock to benefit cavity-dependent wildlife. One quadrant contained both factors, 2 quadrants contained 1 factor each, and 1 quadrant was clearcut with no factor retention. Old-growth forest and conventionally clearcut cut blocks were identified as controls to compare to treatment areas. Phase 1 monitoring (initial years post-treatment; 1996-1996) involved spring breeding bird surveys, cavity nest searches, winter furbearer surveys, stub-decay and patch-retention assessments, and vegetation surveys. Phase 2 monitoring (approx. 15 years post-treatment; 2006-2007) will include all but the furbearer surveys.
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