“Hey! Come back here with my marshmallows, you pesky little chipmunk!” Sound familiar? If so, you’ve probably spent time in a public campground or picnic area. We often encounter wildlife species in public campgrounds and picnic spots-the cute little chipmunk stuffing his chubby cheeks with discarded hot dog buns, the clever but pesky raccoon that raids your cooler every night after you’ve dozed off in your tent. Is it a coincidence that we encounter these animals while camping or picnicking? Or are wildlife communities around recreation areas somehow different from those in the surrounding landscape? That’s the question a new Birds in Forested Landscapes (BFL) recreation study seeks to answer.

The recreation study was born out of the Lab’s relationship with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and an overall need to learn more about the effects of human recreation activities on breeding birds. By working together, the Lab and the USFS can access a nationwide network of participants and recreation-based study sites.

Recreational development is intensifying on many public lands as state and federal agencies promote recreation in multiple-use areas. Although the effects of recreation on wildlife communities have been identified as an important research need within the USFS, they remain largely unknown. In addition to simply learning more about the effects of recreation, one goal is to develop guidelines that will shed new light on the location and design considerations of recreation sites nationwide.

During the 2000 breeding season, BFL staff and participants will pilot test a new protocol designed to evaluate the effects of recreational development and activities on selected forest birds and other wildlife. With the help of the USFS, the pilot test will be conducted at numerous USFS recreation areas throughout the United States. The aim of the study is to learn if habitat alterations and human activities associated with recreation areas affect forest-dwelling thrushes and accipiter hawks.

To create a recreation area, habitat must be changed, and this may disturb birds and other wildlife. Building roads can fragment habitat and increase edge. Forest openings are created as parking lots, picnic areas, and campgrounds are built. Presumably, forest fragmentation caused by recreation has the same negative impacts as fragmentation caused by other sources, such as powerline cuts or clear-cuts. Even recreational areas that preserve mature (overstory) trees can have a significant influence on the structure of forest vegetation. For example, small shrubs and trees in the forest understory are often removed to create a park-like setting. Vegetation in the understory provides birds with valuable nesting, resting, and escape cover, as well as food. The removal of low vegetation may limit the nesting and foraging opportunities for some bird species.

Recreation may also affect breeding birds indirectly by increasing populations of Brown-headed Cowbirds and nest predators such as chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, and jays. Populations of predators and cowbirds may respond positively to habitat change and human-introduced items such as food refuse, bird feeders, and nest boxes. Furthermore, disturbances associated with humans-walking, talking, radios, and pets-may discourage some bird species from using recreational sites and may disrupt the nesting activities of other species.

The study design is built around three types of study sites that have varying exposure to the effects of recreation. One study site (denoted as “R”) will be located near the geographical center of the recreation area. This site will be used to measure the full impact of recreational activities. A second site (“E”) will be located on the edge of the recreation area and will be used to measure the effects of recreation adjacent to the core recreation area. Finally, a control site (“C”) will be located at least one-quarter mile from the recreation area. The control site will be similar to the R and E sites in forest type, age, elevation, and hydrology. The control site will provide information on habitat and forest-dwelling birds in a comparable, but undisturbed, area. Data from each of these sites will be compared statistically to determine the relationships between recreation and the presence or absence of forest-dwelling birds.

As in previous BFL studies, participants will census for thrushes and hawks and record numerous habitat measures at each site. In addition, participants will note information on recreational disturbance at the time of their visit: Could you hear human-generated noise such as music? Did you see domestic pets? Were trash containers covered? Much of the information needed for the recreation study will be supplied directly by the USFS. For example, the agency will supply data on variables such as numbers of visitors per week, size of the recreation area (acres and/or number of campsites), and permitted recreational activities (hiking, boating, and so on) for each recreation area.

During the 2000 pilot test, the recreation study will be limited to participants recruited through the USFS. In subsequent years, the recreation study will probably be open to a wider audience. For now, simply enjoy a summer filled with no-strings-attached camping and picnicking. But be prepared, because next year we may ask you, to tell us a little more about the chipmunk that stole your marshmallows or the volume of your neighbor’s campfire music.