Improving Habitat for Scarlet Tanagers

Purpose and Use of Minimum-area Tables

The minimum-area tables can be used in a variety of ways to help improve habitat for breeding Scarlet Tanagers. The tables can be used as follows:

In conjunction with topographical maps, aerial photos, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to remotely identify forest patches with a high probability of supporting breeding tanagers. Identifying forest patches remotely allows managers to maximize their inventory and management efficiency by first focusing their efforts on sites with the greatest need for protection and management.
To predict the impacts of proposed management actions or land-use changes on the suitability of habitat for breeding tanagers.
To determine the degree of habitat enhancement (reforestation) needed to increase the probability of attracting tanagers to a given forest patch.
To develop long-term management plans at local, state, and regional levels.
To make planning and mitigation decisions when habitat loss and fragmentation are unavoidable.

In the minimum-area tables provided with each regional profile, acreage estimates are listed for three levels of habitat suitability. These are defined as follows:

High Suitability: Habitats of this size have the same probability of supporting breeding tanagers as an unfragmented forest.
Moderate Suitability: Habitats of this size are 25% less likely to support breeding tanagers relative to unfragmented forest.
Low Suitability: Habitats of this size are 50% less likely to support breeding tanagers relative to unfragmented forest.

To use the minimum-area tables, first estimate the percentage of forested land occurring in a roughly 2,500-acre (1,000-ha) block surrounding your area of interest. Then, read across the row to determine the minimum area required to achieve a desired suitability for tanagers. You can also use the tables to determine the suitability of your particular forest patch based on its size.