Salvage logging effects on bird communities

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of forest management versus natural regeneration on the avifauna in a national park after a large scale wind-throw, caused by the hurricane Kyrill on January 18/19, 2007. The composition of the bird species was assessed by using standardized 1ha point counts in three different habitat types: (1) natural wind-throw (left undisturbed for unhindered regeneration), (2) managed wind-throw (removal of all broken, fallen and leaning trees), and (3) undisturbed high-montane forest (not affected by the windstorm). 30 bird species with a total of 742 individuals had been recorded during the five observation periods in spring 2010. The bird assemblage was statistically analyzed on species and on guild level in terms of species richness and abundance using a generalized linear model. Principal component analysis was used to visualize the response of the songbird community.