A breeding bird and phenology study on two wildlife management areas in northeast Louisiana subjected to various silvicultural and hydrological practices

Breeding bird surveys were conducted in 2003 and 2004 on Ouachita (OWMA) and Russell Sage (RSWMA) Wildlife Management Areas which are primarily managed for game species through various forest management techniques. A total of 7,617 birds representing 36 species were detected. A nested design analysis of variance concluded that treatment type had no effect on the breeding birds detected on RSWMA but did have an effect on OWMA. Least square means contrast test indicated that significance existed between the younger and the more mature forested areas on OWMA. Canonical correlation analyses for both WMAs resulted in weak species-habitat relationships. Phenology surveys were conducted in conjunction with the breeding bird surveys and generated 160 different bird species on OWMA and 120 on RSWMA throughout the months. Results conclude that these forest management practices have an effect on not only the abundance of each species but also the diversity found within each WMA.