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Western Forests
Western forests represent some of the last intact ecosystems in North America, providing essential habitat for many bird species. Western forests encompass roughly 269 million acres (13% of the land area of the contiguous 48 states), including pine and other conifer forests, pinyon-juniper woodland, and oak woodlands of the Pacific Coast. An additional 19 million acres of western forests extend into southeastern Alaska, 62% of which are in two National Forests. Including Alaska, 63% of western forests are publicly owned, with 41% in National Forests, 10% on BLM land, 5% on state lands, and 3% on NPS lands.
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| Average percentage of the U.S. distribution of 41 western forest-breeding bird species on public vs. nonpublic lands (left). Breakdown of bird distribution on public lands shown for each public agency (right). |
Western Forest Birds on Public Lands
Public lands have tremendous importance for western forest
birds, supporting 55% of the distribution of the 41 obligate breeding
species (34% in National Forests, 11% on BLM lands, 5% on state land,
and 3% on NPS lands).
Public lands support more than 70% of the U.S. distribution of Common
Black-Hawk, Whiteheaded Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Clark’s
Nutcracker, and Sooty and Dusky grouse. Seven western bird species have
50% or more of their distribution in National Forests. BLM forests
support significant distributions of Gray Flycatcher (37%),
Black-throated Gray Warbler (29%), and Pinyon Jay (27%). Crucial to the
long-term health of bird populations, public lands are often the
largest blocks of unfragmented forest in many regions.
California oak woodland specialists (Oak Titmouse, Nuttall’s
Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Magpie) have much smaller distributions on
public lands (10–25%). The lack of protections for oak woodlands in
Pacific states is a significant conservation challenge, affecting many
plant and animal species in addition to birds. The two most endangered
western forest species, Goldencheeked Warbler in Texas and Island
Scrub-Jay in California, have among the lowest percentages of U.S. bird
distributions on public land.
Conservation Successes
Riparian forest bird populations have increased dramatically in
response to restoration of 5,000 acres of riparian forest since 1998 on
the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent California
Fish and Game lands. In 1987, cattle were removed from portions of
BLM’s San Pedro River National Conservation Area in Arizona, resulting
in dramatic regeneration of riparian vegetation and increases in many
riparian forest bird populations.
Active management in National Forests has improved habitat for western
forest birds. For example, prescribed fire treatments implemented by
USFS in the Inland Northwest have created habitats for Black-backed,
American Three-toed, and White-headed woodpeckers in locations that
were previously unoccupied by these species. Silvicultural practices
that promote hardwood regeneration have benefited shrub-nesting birds
such as Wilson's and MacGillivray's warblers.
Conservation Challenges
Many western forest bird species depend on conifer seeds and are
threatened by the loss of pines, especially pinyon and whitebark pine,
due to spread of white pine blister rust, mountain pine bark beetle,
and other invasive pests. These threats are exacerbated by years of
fire suppression and by severe drought conditions attributed to climate
change.
Policies regarding fire suppression, thinning to reduce fuel loads, and
post-fire logging are especially important to many forest birds.
Restoration of natural fire regimes will benefit birds of high
conservation concern, such as White-headed Woodpecker, that are highly
dependent on public lands. Other public land policies that will benefit
birds in western forests include limiting fragmentation and clearing
for energy extraction, fencing and reduced grazing of riparian forests,
protecting remaining old-growth stands in the Pacific Northwest and
Sierra Nevada, and expanding protected areas in California oak
woodlands.
