Audubon New York

·	Habitat Management Decision Tree
·	Managing Habitat for Forest Birds
·	Managing Habitat for Grassland Birds
·	Managing Habitat for Shrub Birds

Birds & Science
Bird Conservation in the Hudson River Valley

Hudson Valley Habitat Management Decision Tree (for managing bird habitats):
Primarily Forested Landscape

Landscape that is >70% forested.

Step Forested-1: What is the current condition of the property?

Non-forested (grassland, crop field, old field, etc.); clearable by brush hog: Consider allowing the property to succeed into forest or actively restoring native forest tree and shrub species on the property if the property is <200 acres in size; consider managing for Grassland birds if the property is >200 acres in size.
Forested (enough trees present that brush hogging is not possible): Go to Step Forested-2

Step Forested-2: What is the size of the property to be managed?

Step Forested-3a: What is the condition of the adjacent properties?

<75% forested or primarily young (early-successional) forest: Consider managing for Early-successional Forest birds.
>75% forested with most in a relatively mature state: Consider managing for Mature Forest birds.

Step Forested-3b: What is the condition of the adjacent properties?

>50% “open” land uses (e.g., crops, pasture, hayfields, etc.): Consider managing the property for Shrubland and/or Early-successional Forest birds.
>50% forested, with most of the forest in a relatively mature state: Consider managing for birds that require Early-successional Forest habitat.
>50% forested, with most of the forest in a relatively young (i.e. early-successional) state: Consider managing for Mature Forest birds.

Step Forested-3c: What is the condition of the adjacent properties?

>50% “open” land uses (e.g., crops, pasture, hayfields, etc.): Consider managing the property for Mature Forest birds.
>50% forested, with most of the forest in a relatively mature state: Consider managing the majority of the property for birds that require Mature Forest habitat with smaller patches within the property managed for Early-successional Forest birds (3-25 acres each, their total not to exceed 25% of the property or in conjunction with other early-successional habitat in the landscape not to exceed10% of the landscape at one time).
>50% forested, with most of the forest in a relatively young (i.e. early-successional) state: Consider managing for Mature Forest birds.