USING CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BIRDS TO GUIDE THE TIMING OF PRESCRIBED FIRES IN THE KLAMATH SISKIYOU BIOREGION

Linda L Long; US Forest Service, PSW Research Station; linda.l.long@usda.gov; Frank K. Lake, Jaime L. Stephens, John D. Alexander, C. John Ralph, Jared D. Wolfe

Historically, wildfire and tribal burning practices played important roles in shaping ecosystems throughout the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion of northern California and southern Oregon. While many bird species may benefit from habitat enhancements associated with wildfires, cultural burning, and prescribed fire, individuals may face direct or indirect harm. We used banding data collected between 1992 and 2014 to analyze the timing of breeding and molting in eleven species of culturally significant land birds across five ecologically distinct regions of northern California and southern Oregon to explore timeframes that these bird species may be vulnerable to wildland fires. We estimated that the selected species adhered to a breeding season from April 21-August 23 and a molting season from June 30-October 7. Given the temporal and spatial variability we found in these populations, we determined that spring fires that occur prior to April 21 and fall fires that occur after October 7 may reduce the potential for direct and indirect negative impacts on these culturally significant bird species across the Bioregion. Additional timing details by season and region will allow for greater flexibility in informing the timing of prescribed fires and cultural burning, or in estimating potential impacts of wildfires.

Birds II  InPerson Presentation