Many Minnesotans enjoy private property with a bit – or a lot (if we’re lucky) – of forest. Even most city dwellers can quickly reach a nearby park or wilderness area to enjoy the physical and mental well-being of being with trees.
Across the state, some 18 million acres of forest are managed by private landowners and public land managers. Together, these lands – and our collective management efforts – shape the health and diversity of Minnesota’s forested landscapes.
Of course, those forests aren’t just for our enjoyment. Minnesota is home to 250 breeding bird species, with some 150 species building nests in the forests. Not only are birds fun to watch at our feeders or out on hikes, they serve important ecological functions – as prey, predators, pollinators, scavengers and seed dispersers – integral to natural food webs.
Birds rely on forests in ways that go far beyond our appreciation for their beauty or shade. A healthy, diverse bird community depends on a variety of habitat features. Old, decaying trees provide nesting and foraging sites for woodpeckers. A dense, shrubby understory is critical for species like the Canada Warbler. And fallen logs, tangled brush, and mature forest canopies each support different birds throughout their life cycles.
“‘Messy forestry’ provides habitat diversity to support a variety of wildlife,” said Alexis Grinde, NRRI avian ecology program leader. “What may look messy to us is often exactly what a diverse bird community needs.”
So it’s important to understand both birds’ habitat needs and forest management for the public and private lands across the state. And that collaboration resulted in a new guidebook, published in April.
Forestry for Minnesota Birds: A Guide to Improving Habitat for Minnesota’s Forest Birds was developed by a team of foresters and wildlife biologists. Christian Nelson, Lake States Coordinator for the Forest Stewards Guild, led the writing with contributions from numerous collaborators. Co-authors include Grinde and her NRRI colleagues Josh Bednar and Steve Kolbe, who brought expertise in avian ecology and habitat management to the project.
Canary in the Coal Mine
Forest bird populations across North America have declined by 1.2 billion birds since 1970. And like that proverbial canary, humans should pay attention. A decline in bird species doing their important ecological work has a cascading effect, leading to a decline in forest health and resilience.
Plus, birds and other wildlife are an economic driver in Minnesota, contributing nearly $600 million in economic benefit to the state each year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as part of a growing trend in wildlife watching.
Complexity Challenge
For the 150 bird species that seek nesting sites in Minnesota forests, there are potentially as many habitat preferences. Add to that, the state hosts four distinct geographical regions, each with specific climatic conditions, vegetation and animal life – the Laurentian mixed forest, the tallgrass aspen parklands, Eastern broadleaf forest and prairie parkland. To meet this challenge, the team chose 18 focal bird species, three in each forest cover type.
“That was a particularly fun challenge, but it was tough – like picking your favorite child,” Grinde added laughing. “We wanted species that were important and iconic, and are common enough for landowners to actually see them on their land.”
And some species were chosen because they are of conservation concern and the authors want to encourage more habitat for them.
Pine Warblers, for example, breed in mature coniferous forests that have dense canopy cover and contain large white and red pines. The Ruffed Grouse prefers hardwood or aspen stands with dense overstory cover, especially where there are patches of young forests within a landscape of mature forest. The Scarlet Tanager is sensitive to habitat fragmentation and requires large, intact forest blocks.
Grinde points to leaving older trees for cavity-nesting birds, like the Pileated Woodpecker. Or if you’re in an aspen stand, consider retaining more trees instead of clear-cutting, and creating softer edges with transitional zones between open and forested areas.
“Young birds need structural diversity within forests as they are learning to fly, offering places to forage and hide from predators,” she added.
For the Birds
“Forest management is generally done very well in Minnesota thanks to decades of open-mindedness and hard work by many people,” said Nelson. “This Guidebook was an opportunity to write forest management recommendations that capitalize on what’s been learned over the years.”
While the guide helps the 18 birds highlighted, it also provides recommendations that will help the other 130 or so forest dwelling birds and other wildlife, while staying practical and concise. It also includes information about Minnesota’s forest history, ecology, major forest types, and native plant communities, as well as suggestions for many other sources of information or assistance.
“We hope this appeals to an audience of professional foresters and land managers, people excited about what can be done on their own land, and bird lovers in the state,” Nelson added.
"If information shared in the guide encourages even a small change to support habitat for Minnesota’s birds and wildlife, that’s a meaningful and encouraging outcome for the Guild and all of the partners that worked on this resource.”
Steering with Science
The Avian Ecology Lab at NRRI has spent more than 30 years gathering data on Minnesota’s breeding bird species. That extensive, long-term dataset—spanning a wide range of species—proved invaluable in developing this guide. Collaborating with forestry professionals also sparked meaningful conversations about the future of Minnesota’s forests and how biodiversity goals can be integrated into forest management.
Meet the Avian Ecology Lab Team (4 minute video)
“People are naturally drawn to birds. We hope this translates research into practical guidance to inspire action,” said Grinde. “When someone manages forests with birds in mind and then sees a Veery flitting through the understory or an American Woodcock displaying at dusk, it’s a powerful reminder that small actions can lead to meaningful change.”
Next Steps
Workshops and outreach activities are being planned to share the guide with targeted audiences. It is also available online with additional resources to explore. A free PDF version is available at the Forest Stewards Guild website.
A free introduction to the Guidebook was held through the University of Minnesota Extension’s “Fridays with a Forester” series. The recording is posted on YouTube and linked on the Guild website.
PHOTO TOP: Scarlett Tanager (Credit: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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