10. WOODLAND AND SCRUB

10.1 General

The objectives of this work are (a) to identify what factors determine the distribution and abundance of birds within woodlands, particularly in respect of how woodland is managed, (b) to document successional changes in birds of scrub habitats and effects of scrub management on birds. The main recent and current components of this research are detailed below. Work involves both analyses of existing CBC data and fieldwork by teams of volunteers.

Few single-species surveys have been carried out of woodland birds in recent years though an important exception is Nightingale which was surveyed by the BTO in 1999.

10.2 Woodland Management Systems

Comparisons have been made of bird populations associated with different systems both in commercial and semi-natural woodland. The main comparisons have been of: (a) coppice and broadleaved high forest and (b) coniferous and broadleaved high forest. A major emphasis has been on responses of birds to coppicing with the aim of providing conservation bodies with information about how to optimise coppice management for birds. Other work has been conducted on responses of birds to high forest management (clear-felling and group-felling) in broadleaved woods.

10.3 Grazing

An increasingly important issue in both the lowland and uplands. Work is being conducted on effects of deer grazing in coppice and has been undertaken on livestock grazing in upland birch and lowland high forest.

10.4 Scrub Expansion in the Uplands

If there was large-scale reduction in grazing in the uplands there would almost certainly be major expansion of scrub and ultimately of woodland. Already the process is starting on some Highland estates and nature reserves where there have been large reductions of Red Deer. The implications for upland birds are profound. Between 1996 and 1998, BTO undertook work on the responses of birds to the development of scrub and woodland at several locations in the central and eastern Highlands.

10.5 Scrub Bird Communities in the Lowlands

Work is being carried out to document variation in scrub bird communities in relation to geographical location, botanical type and successional stage. The aim is to provide information about (a) the conservation importance of scrub to birds and (b) effects of different management procedures on birds. The emphasis is on breeding birds but some work is also being conducted in winter.

10.6 Factors Influencing Bird Distribution Within Woodland and Scrub

Within woodland, the aim is to study how birds distribute themselves, in relation to both gross structure (such as edges and rides) and tree species composition. Analyses of existing CBC and other data show that, though the former has been regarded as more important by many workers, the latter is also important. Depending on funding, this work will be developed to provide further advice on how woodlands can best be managed for birds. Within scrub habitats the importance of mosaics and spatial heterogeneity is being examined.

Key References

Donald, P.F., Fuller, R.J., Evans, A.D. & Gough, S.J. (1998). Effects of forest management and grazing on breeding bird communities in plantations of broadleaved and coniferous trees in western England. Biological Conservation, 85: 183-197.

Fuller, R.J. (1995). Bird Life of Woodland and Forest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Fuller, R.J. & Green, G.H. (1998). Effects of woodland structure on breeding bird populations in stands of coppiced lime Tilia cordata in western England over a ten year period. Forestry, 71: 199-218.

Fuller, R.J., Henderson, A.C.B. & Wilson, A.M. (1999). The Nightingale in England - problems and prospects. British Wildlife, 10: 221-230.

Fuller, R.J. & Peterken, G.F. (1995). Woodland and scrub. In: Managing Habitats for Conservation (eds. W.J. Sutherland & D.A. Hill), pp. 327-361. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Fuller, R.J. & Warren, M.S. (1995). Management for biodiversity in British woodlands - striking a balance. British Wildlife, 7: 26-37.

Gillings, S. & Fuller, R.J. (1998). The breeding bird community of upland juniper scrub in eastern Scotland. Scottish Birds, 19: 231-238.

Gillings, S., Fuller, R.J. & Henderson, A.C.B. (1998). Avian community composition and patterns of bird distribution within birch-heath mosaics in north-east Scotland. Ornis Fennica, 75: 27-37.

Gough, S. & Fuller, R.J. (1998). Scrub Management for Conservation in Lowland England: Practices, Problems and Possibilities. BTO Research Report No. 194. BTO, Thetford.

Sitters, H.P., Fuller, R.J., Hoblyn, R.A., Wright, M.T., Cowie, N. & Bowden, C.G.R. (1996). The Woodlark Lullula arborea in Britain: population trends, distribution and habitat occupancy. Bird Study, 43: 172-187.

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