Avian Diversity 1

Estimates of Avian Diversity in Forest, Prairie, and Wetland Habitats

J. Corey Butler
Southwest Minnesota State University

Avian Diversity 2
It is generally accepted among biologists that species diversity is an important component
of the health of any ecosystem. Birds may have a particularly important place among species
because they are highly visible and also highly valued by humans. Like the proverbial canary in
a coal mine, birds may play a unique informational role in drawing public attention to the state
of the natural environment. Thus, the abundance and diversity of avian species in a specific
habitat could serve as a useful barometer of the ecological status of that habitat. Unfortunately,
there is a dearth of scholarly research on bird species in the southwest region of Minnesota. The
following study is a preliminary attempt to remedy this situation by examining bird populations
in their natural habitats in this area. The intention is to measure species diversity, compare
diversity across habitat, and also compare different methodologies for the assessment of diversity
in this region.
Southwest Minnesota is a former tall grass prairie ecosystem that is now almost entirely
dominated by the agricultural production of corn and beans. Nevertheless, fragments of natural
areas still remain in state parks and around rivers and marshes. The focal area of this study is a
selection of three relatively natural ecosystems sampled in and around Camden State Park. This
park is located in Lyon County, which is in the geographical center of the region of southwest
Minnesota. The areas of study include 1) a secondary growth, mixed riparian forest in Camden
Park, 2) a restored prairie and grassland area in the park near Brawner Lake and adjacent to a
busy state highway, and 3) Black Rush Lake, a restored marsh and Waterfowl Production Area
located just outside the park. These areas were selected because of their convenience and
proximity to Southwest Minnesota State University and because they are locally known to be
prime bird watching locations. They also represent the three major biotopes that predominated in
the original ecosystem of this region of Minnesota.

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Ornithologists frequently emphasize that forests have a greater variety of bird species
than any other biome (e.g. Pasquier, 1977) and research continues to support these assertions. In
a comparison of five different habitats which included open and scrub landscapes, Grundel and
Pavlovic (2007) found that forests have the greatest diversity of bird species. Another study
found that older forests and mixed forests have more diversity than younger, single-species,
managed forests (Jansson & Andren, 2003). Finally, a large scale study conducted across seven
different nations in Europe also found that bird species diversity is higher in areas with more
wooded habitats than other kinds of habitats (Billeter et al. 2008). Trees provide food, cover, and
nesting sites for birds. But water is also necessary for survival, both directly and also indirectly,
by facilitating plant and animal food sources. Consistent with these conjectures, studies have
found that riparian woodlands are associated with even higher levels of bird diversity than other
wooded environments, particularly during the spring and autumn (Mosley et al. 2006; Weibe &
Martin, 1998). Wetlands are also important for many species of birds. Indeed, according to one
study, measures of wetland integrity are directly correlated with the diversity of avian species
(Stapanian et al. 2004).
The central hypothesis of this study is that the riparian woodland of Camden State Park
will have the greatest species diversity, followed by the wetland area of Black Rush Lake,
followed in turn by the restored prairie and grassland area near Brawner Lake. In addition to
comparing diversity across biotopes, two methods of assessment will be examined. Specifically,
a point count will be compared to netting and banding. Because the latter method cannot catch
birds which avoid the net, or large high flying birds, it is presumed to be a poorer method of
assessing the entire population of birds. Thus a secondary hypothesis of the present research is
that point counting will lead to greater diversity estimates than banding.

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Method
The data for the study were collected from three separate sites near Camden State Park in
Lyon County, Minnesota. The sites have been labeled Camden Forest, Brawner Prairie, and
Black Rush Marsh. Camden Forest is a secondary growth, riparian forest composed of Oak,
Maple, Basswood, and Cottonwood in the Redwood River Valley. Brawner Prairie is a narrow
strip of grassland and partially restored prairie between State Highway 23 and Brawner Lake.
Black Rush Marsh is a spacious wetland that features large areas of sedges, reeds, and grasses, as
well as a significant amount of open water. The observations took place on six days between
May 13 and May 21 of 2009. A team of 12 student researchers led by a professional ornithologist
participated in the data collection.
We examined the relationship between birds and habitats with two separate assessment
methods. On the first day at each site, five 50 meter, fixed-radius point counts were made with
durations of 10 minutes. These counts took place between 6:30 and 8:00 am. Both birdsong and
visual cues were used to identify birds, and fly-overs were not counted unless the birds were
actually using the environment. The team was equipped with 7x35 Bushnell Falcons or
comparable binoculars. On the second day at each site, we used the banding method. Six mist
nets were used, with 30 mm mesh and dimensions of 2.6 m high x 12 m long. The nets were
open from 6:30 to 9:30 am, with the exception of the nets at Black Rush Marsh, which were
closed at 7:30 due to the threat of rain. Birds were captured, banded, and released within 30
minute intervals. They were given aluminum bands to prevent double counting and also to
provide information for future researchers in this area.
The data were analyzed with the assistance of Microsoft Office Excel 2007. The
dependent variables included Species Richness, which was defined as the average number of

Avian Diversity 5
species identified across observations, and the Shannon Wiener Diversity Index, which was
calculated with the formula, H1 = - Sum of pi*ln(pi).
Results
On the point counts, Species Richness was higher in Camden Forest (M=6.20, SD=2.39)
than in both Brawner Prairie (M=4.60, SD=2.41) and Black Rush Marsh (M=4.60, SD=.55). The
Shannon Diversity Index was also highest in Camden Forest (M=1.63, SD=.46). Brawner Prairie
was second highest (M=1.35, SD=.50), and Black Rush Marsh showed the lowest Shannon
Diversity Index (M=1.25, SD=.17).
The banding data yielded a different pattern of results. In Brawner Prairie, Species
Richness was 11 and the Shannon Diversity Index (H1) was 1.86. Birds per net-hour was 1.67
and species per net-hour was .61. In Black Rush Marsh, Species Richness was 7 and H1 was
1.77. Birds per net-hour was 2.83 and species per net-hour was 1.17. In Camden Forest, Species
Richness was 4 and H1 was 1.33. Birds per net-hour was .33 and species per net-hour was .27.
In addition to species diversity, different types of birds were observed in each habitat. In
Camden Forest, the most frequently observed birds during the point counts were Blue Jays
(Cyanocitta cristata), Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater), House Wrens (Troglodytes
adeon), and various Warbler and Swallow species. In Brawner Prairie, the Clay-colored Sparrow
(Spizella pallida) was predominant and comprised 30% of all point count observations and fully
47% of the banding observations. Swallow species were also frequently seen on the prairie. In
Black Rush Marsh, Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Yellow-headed Blackbirds
(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), and Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris) were the most
common species observed. For further details on the distribution of birds in each habitat, see
Tables 1-3.

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To provide a quantified comparison of point counts and banding, grand means were
calculated for both measures of diversity across all three biotopes. These yielded an average
Species Richness of 5.13 for point counts, compared to 7.33 for banding. On the Shannon
Diversity Index, the average for point counts was 1.41 and the average for banding was 1.65.
Discussion
This study was a preliminary investigation of avian diversity in southwest Minnesota.
The primary hypothesis was that diversity would be greatest in Camden Forest, intermediate in
Black Rush Marsh, and lowest in Brawner Prairie. A secondary hypothesis was that the point
count method would yield greater diversity estimates than the banding method. Neither of these
hypotheses was unequivocally supported by the data.
In regard to methodology, banding yielded greater diversity on average and across
habitats. The sole exception to this pattern was the Camden Forest data, which showed higher
Species Richness and Shannon Diversity Indices on the point counts. The superiority of banding
over point counts in this study is inconsistent with previous work on the measurement of avian
populations. In fact, Ralph and colleagues (1993) specifically recommend censusing methods
such as point counts over banding procedures because nets provide less data per unit of time. The
anomalous findings of the present study may be a result of the relatively short span of time over
which the study was conducted. The data were collected during a mere six day period, which is
considerably briefer than most research in this area. Other possible sources of error variation
include the low level of training of the student researchers, and the highly variable weather,
which was often unusually cold or windy during test days.
An interpretation of the primary hypothesis depends upon which source of data we wish
to utilize. If we trust the banding data, then the prairie provided the most bird diversity and the

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forest provided the least-- a complete reversal of our predictions. This interpretation, however, is
at odds with the normal recommended guidelines which emphasize point count censuses over
netting and banding methods (Ralph et al. 1993). If we follow these guidelines and utilize the
point count data, then our hypothesis is partially supported. Diversity was greatest in Camden
Forest and lower in Brawner Prairie and Black Rush Marsh. The Shannon Diversity Index was
lower in the marsh than in the prairie, which is inconsistent with our hypothesis, but this may be
due to the extreme wind on the day of the marsh point count.
The findings of this study are only preliminary and must be interpreted with caution.
Future research is needed in order to more accurately assess the bird populations of southwest
Minnesota and how closely these assessments relate to normative data found in other regions.
Additionally, more information is needed on the accuracy of counting versus banding for the
identification of species in the biotopes of this part of Minnesota. This type of research is
important for understanding not only birds, but the overall health and functions of the broader
ecosystem in this part of the state. Finally, because so much of the land in this region is devoted
to farming, it might be useful for future investigators to measure bird populations in agricultural
habitats as well as the relatively natural habitats covered by this study.

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Author Note
J. Corey Butler is Professor of Psychology at Southwest Minnesota State University, and
not an ornithologist. These data were obtained as part of an Advanced Ornithology class project,
under the supervision of Dr. Jackie Augustine, currently at The Ohio State University at Lima.
The author would like to acknowledge Dr. Augustines essential role in the data collection and
data analysis of this project.

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Literature Cited
Billeter et al. 2008. Indicators for biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: a pan-European study.
Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 141-150.
Grundel, R. & Pavlovic, N. B. 2007. Distinctiveness, use, and value of Midwestern oak savannas
and woodlands as avian habitats. The Auk 124: 969-985.
Jansson, G. & Andren, H. 2003. Habitat composition and bird diversity in managed boreal
forests. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 18: 225-236.
Mosley et al. 2006. Songbird diversity and movement in upland and riparian habitats in the
boreal mixedwood forest of northeastern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Forest Research
36: 1149-1164.
Pasquier, R. 1977. Watching birds: an introduction to ornithology. Houghton Mifflin Company,
Boston.
Ralph, C. J. et al. 1993. Handbook of field methods for monitoring landbirds. Pacific Southwest
Research Station, Albany, CA.
Stapanian et al. 2004. Rapid assessment indicator of wetland integrity as an unintended predictor
of avian diversity. Hydrobiologia 520: 119-126.
Weibe, K. L. & Martin, K. 1998. Seasonal use by birds of stream-side riparian habitat in
coniferous forest of northcentral British Columbia. Ecography 21: 124-134.

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Table 1
Aggregated point counts of birds at Camden Forest, Lyon County, MN.
Species

Percentage

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

12%

Swallow species

10%

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

8%

House Wren (Troglodytes adeon)

8%

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax Minimus)

8%

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

8%

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

6%

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla)

6%

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

6%

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

4%

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

4%

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

4%

Black and White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

2%

Empidonax Flycatcher (Empidonax species)

2%

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

2%

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

2%

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

2%

Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)

2%

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

2%

Woodpecker species (Picoides species)

2%

Notes. Total number of species = 20, total number of birds = 50, total number of counts = 5.

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Table 2
Aggregated point counts of birds at Brawner Prairie, Lyon County, MN
Species

Percentage

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

30%

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

13%

Swallow species

10%

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

7%

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

7%

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

3%

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

3%

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

3%

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

3%

Common Yellowthroat (Geothylpis trichas)

3%

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

3%

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

3%

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

3%

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

3%

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

3%

Notes. Total number of species = 15, total number of birds = 30, total number of counts = 5.

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Table 3
Aggregated point counts of birds at Black Rush Marsh, Lyon County, MN.
Species

Percentage

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

40%

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

25%

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

12%

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

9%

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

3%

Common Yellowthroat (Geothylpis trichas)

2%

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

2%

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

2%

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)

1%

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)

1%

Swallow species

1%

Notes. Total number of species = 11, total number of birds = 89, total number of counts = 5.