| I determined the influence of trails and roads used for recreation on forest breeding songbird communities and American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens), Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) nest survival in two large (4 228 ha and 2 164 ha) forests. I surveyed songbird communities using point counts on three widths of trails and off trail. I monitored nests to calculate daily nest survival as a function of proximity to trails with logistic-exposure modeling. The abundance of forest-interior songbirds declined with increasing trail width, while that of edge species increased. Recreational trails influenced nest survival for all species except American Robin. Nest survival was higher closer to trails for Eastern Wood-Pewee and Red-eyed Vireo, and lower closer to trails for Rose-breasted Grosbeak, The effects of trails on abundance and survival of birds are likely caused by a combination of altered habitat and recreational disturbance. Forest managers need to consider trail density and type when balancing recreational needs and forest bird conservation to ensure maintenance of forest bird communities and productivity.;Keywords: forest birds, bird communities, forest bird productivity, recreational trails, Ganaraska Forest, Northumberland County Forest, logistic-exposure, daily nest survival, American Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak... |
