Corollary: Sheet Piling bad for Songbirds.
The October issue of the Western North American Naturalist has published a new article by lead author Hilary Cooke who is finishing her dissertation at the Unversity of Alberta. The study was conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society and estabilished that beaver dams provide critical habitat for declining migratory bird populations.
“We found that increasing density of beaver dams was associated with abundant bird community and the wetland and streamside habitat these species depend on.” Translation: more dams mean more birds. Four dams mean 4xs more birds.”This habitat is critical to birds in semi-arid regions (CA) yet has been severly degraded or has been lost through much of the West. Our results suggest that management of beavers may be an important tool for restoring habitat and reversing bird declines.”
Yes in addition to helping frogs, salmon and drought, beavers help birds. No one who has stood at the dam and seen last winter’s scaup or this fall’s returning common yellow throats can be surprised. Although beaver populations have returned to the country overall, the article emphasizes how beaver influence is still missing from much of the watersheds of the west and are “very important to wildlife and reviving the natural function of streams.”
Beavers help birds. A timely reminder. This weekend Birds will return the favor as Worth A Dam will be providing information and education at the Wildbirds Unlimited 17 anniversary event. Beaver friends at Native Bird Connections will be there with an eagle and the audobon society will host its own build a nest contest for children. Stop by, and get the latest information about beavers and birds.
Oh and beavers are good for these guys too.
Western Pond Turtle sunning on lodge Friday.
