It's not always about the birds

What? Organisms other than birds are important to study? Shocking ;P

Really though, my project is about the birds, but just as importantly, it's about the trees. Eastern Hemlock trees to be precise. In order to understand the possible impacts of hemlock decline on LOWA, I need to know the condition of the trees in LOWA territories. Then, I can analyze LOWA territory length, habitat use, nesting success, and provisioning in reference to hemlock condition to look for patterns or possible relationships.

To categorize hemlock condition, I am using Forest Service protocol for crown-condition classification. Diameter at breast height (DBH), crown density, foliage transparency, branch dieback, and vigor (overall health) are the metrics recorded for 10 trees at each survey location. Hemlock surveys must be conducted in the fall/winter after deciduous leaves drop so the evergreen's needles can easily be viewed.

Jared (aka the most supportive bird-loving boyfriend ever) and I spent Thanksgiving in the Smokies kickstarting this season's hemlock surveys. We knocked out over half (whoohoo!) and volunteers will work to complete the rest. Without these dedicated volunteers, this research wouldn't be possible.

Here I am, measuring DBH on a hemlock in an untreated territory. This photo is courtesy of David Bryant, one of my wonderful volunteers who also happens to be a photographer!

 

Another non-avian focused aspect of the project are habitat surveys. LOWA is a riparian-obligate species; during the breeding season individuals relay on swift flowing mountain rivers like the Middle Prong River (pictured below) as well as small headwater streams and tributaries. In order to understand which habitat characteristics are important for LOWA, I am conducting surveys at the end of the breeding season (roughly June) throughout each territory and at nest sites recording canopy structure, ground cover, and basic stream morphology.

Here, my volunteer field tech Aaron and I are measuring stream width. It's a good thing the summer weather is warm, because that knee deep water is chilly!

 

Photo courtesy of David Bryant