Monitoring Avian Community Response to Tropical Forest Management
Our project aims to understand the status and response of the forest bird community to habitat restoration and forest management. Using point counts, transects, and mist netting efforts we are monitoring the diversity, abundance and survival of birds at the FCAT preserve over time.
Photo: Ella Butler / Tulane
Research Question
Are management efforts at FCAT succeeding at restoring healthy primary forest?
Methods
Constant-sampling mist netting and banding, point counts, and transects within different forest management types — passive versus active management in different aged tracts, in addition to sampling in mature forest.
At least one sampling period in June–August, with more sampling as resources allow; 1–2 days of effort; typically 8 nets open for 5 hours.
Mist nets, poles, banding equipment, binoculars, etc.
Analysis via species accumulation curves, Preston plots, species diversity indices, and Hill numbers.
Key Findings
Data collection in progress; so far we are finding that bird communities are responding positively to forest restoration.
