5 forest practices that help birds thrive

It’s well and truly bird nesting season in Nova Scotia’s forests. Some birds have already fledged chicks and are raising their second brood! Many migratory birds also travel thousands of miles to nest here, and nesting success is critical to their survival.

The presence of these species can be a great indication of the health of our forests, but populations of some forest birds have plummeted in recent years. This decline highlights the growing importance of forest conservation in protecting vital nesting habitats and maintaining ecosystem balance.

While nesting birds are easily disturbed, there are some beneficial forest stewardship practices that can help them rear their young successfully. Let’s discuss 5 of them.

Time forestry activities carefully

If possible, avoid harvesting trees, clearing brush or doing major landscaping from May through July - the peak nesting season for most birds. This helps to prevent disturbance or destruction of active nests, eggs or fledglings.

Maintain habitat features that are important for nesting

Keeping a range of tree ages and species, shrubs and ground cover provides habitat for multiple species. Retain snags (dead trees), trees with cavities and dense thickets, as many birds use these features for nesting and shelter. Don’t remove all fallen deadwood, underbrush or leaf litter, as this may support ground-nesting birds and invertebrates that birds feed on.

Provide vegetated buffers around wetlands and watercourses

Wetlands, brooks and seasonal ponds are critical breeding and feeding grounds for many species. Avoid heavy machinery or construction near these sensitive habitats; leaving a vegetated buffer zone of at least 30 meters can help to prevent disturbance.

Control invasive species and promote native vegetation

Invasive plants can outcompete native shrubs and trees and may reduce nesting habitat and food for many species. Actively removing invasive species (outside of nesting season!) and encouraging the regeneration of native tree and shrub species in their place helps to restore native biodiversity and will benefit nesting birds.

Learn more about the birds around you

There are so many great resources to help you learn about birds.

Different bird species nest in different parts of the forest, and often in slightly different time frames. Birds Canada has developed a Nesting Calendar Enquiry Tool. If you’ve got birds on the brain, check out Partners in Flight and Cornell Lab’s All About Birds.

Small forest birds often go unnoticed, but healthy bird populations are closely linked to the long-term health of forest ecosystems. Supporting birds through thoughtful practices is an important part of forest conservation and the overall health of forest habitats.