Management of Bottomland Hardwood Forests for Nongame Bird Communities on Corps of Engineers Projects

This technical note is a product of the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) work unit titled Improved Methods for Ecosystem-Based Habitat Management at Corps Projects. The objective of the work unit is to provide appropriate technology on managing wildlife species and their habitats using ecosystem-based strategies. The emphasis is on methods that improve natural resources for a variety of animals rather than single species. Bottomland hardwoods represent an important natural resource associated with stream and river floodplains throughout the Southeastern United States. These forest systems support a complex array of plant and animal species that are uniquely adapted to flood conditions and alternating dry periods. Moreover, these habitats often support a higher diversity of avifauna than adjoining upland habitat and may act as sources for bird populations, which permits the maintenance of regional diversity in highly fragmented landscapes. Corps projects are often associated with lakeshores, rivers, and streams; thus, there are many opportunities to identify and - manage large areas of bottomland systems on Corps lands in the Southeast.