Clone preference by nesting birds in short-rotation coppice plantations in central and western New York

Interest in short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) for bioenergy production has been increasing in the northeastern United States. The possibility that substantial farmland could be converted to bio-fuel production has increased the importance of evaluating how this type of habitat might affect the populations of birds typically found in agricultural landscapes. In this study, we identified 39 species that regularly used SRWC plantations, and of these at least 21 were confirmed breeding on 12 study plots. Breeding birds constructed nests highly non-randomly with respect to willow/poplar clone. Nests were built more frequently than expected by chance in certain clones (e.g. S25 and S365) while fewer nests than expected were built in other clones (e.g. S301). Observed preferences may have been related to clone-specific differences in growth structure, which may affect the stability of the nest and/or concealment from predators. Although we found no significant correlation between reproductive success and the choice of clone for a nest site, the mix of clones chosen for large-scale SRWC plantations may affect the attractiveness of these sites for some species. We tentatively conclude that planting S25 and particularly S365, and perhaps avoiding the use of S301, might benefit avian breeding populations, and increase avian species richness.