Effects of Prescribed Burning on Black-Capped Vireo Habitat, Territory Establishment, and Production

Prescribed burning has been used since 1979 on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (Area), Kerr County, Texas, to control regrowth of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). A result of this range management practice has been the redevelopment of a scrub-oak woodland containing vast numbers of live oak (Quercus virginiana) and white shin oak (Quercus durandii) mottes. Annual surveys conducted on the Area since 1986 show an increasing trend in the number of Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) territories established. Our objectives were to determine the effects of prescribed buming on Black-capped Vireo nesting habitat, territory establishment, and production. This study was conducted in the Rock and Doe Pastures of the Area. In 1993, the North Rock, Middle Rock, South Rock, North Doe, and South Doe Pastures were surveyed for Black-capped Vireo territories and volumetric data on motte size were collected on actual and prospective nesting sites. South Rock and North Doe were burned in February 1994; the result was a mean motte size reduction of 34.9% for South Rock and 7.3% for North Doe. The number of Black-capped Vireo territories increased in all pastures the first nesting season postburn except North Rock, which declined. An increase in territories from 17 to 23 in South Rock Pasture was the greatest. A prescribed burn in North Rock Pasture in January 1995 resulted in a mean motte size reduction of 51.5%. Production during the first nesting season postburn was similar in burned and unburned pastures with 2.9 young/active nest in burned pastures and 3.0 young/active nest in unburned pastures. Results of this study indicate prescribed burning may not diminish Black-capped Vireo habitat sufficiently to have detrimental effects on territory establishment and production by Black-capped Vireos.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

Southwest Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• O'Neal, Kevin G.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Baccus, John T.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Huffman, David G.
• Barnes, Paul W.

• prescribed burning
• wildlife habitat improvement
• black-capped vireo

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/20872

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/20872