Breeding Birds of Soak Ash and Cattail Wetland Habitats in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Watson, J

Two key wetland habitats, Soak Ash and Cattail, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) are the focus of current restoration efforts by Resource Management staff. Degradation of these habitats through early settlement drainage, invasion of introduced plant species, and wild hog (Sus scrofa) rooting has led to decreases in species richness and wetland productivity and function within the park (Johnson 2007), possibly including avian species. Introduced and invasive plant species and wild hogs are currently being removed from these two wetlands, but restoration of wetland drainage patterns has not been implemented. Little is known of the bird species that inhabit these two wetlands in the GRSM. However, the unique nature of these habitats suggests that associated bird fauna may be unique as well. In an effort to measure the effect wetland restoration has on avian richness and obtain avian inventory, staff of GRSM identified the need to obtain a breeding bird survey in Soak Ash and Cattail wetland habitats. The data will assist park staff in the assessment of avian occurrence and relative density in the wetlands. Furthermore, should the surveys be continued, these additional data will provide measures of changes in breeding bird occupation and richness during the wetland restoration program and in subsequent years. This need for avian assessment and wetland restoration is in conjunction with the park’s implementation plan for invasive species removal at these sites and established goals identified in the Avian Conservation Implementation Plan developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with GRSM (USFWS 2005). Results of these surveys will assist the park in implementing conservation measures to meet park, regional, and national avian conservation goals. Specific objectives of the breeding bird survey are to: 1) provide a listing and relative abundance of breeding bird species occurring in each of these wetland areas, 2) identify any breeding birds of special conservation concern to GRSM management and North American Bird Conservation Initiative partners, 3) provide a final report on findings, 4) provide recommendations for future wetland restoration related to bird habitat conservation.

Breeding Birds of Soak Ash and Cattail Wetland Habitats in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Collections