Great gray owl habitat use in southeastern Manitoba and the effects of forest resource management [master's thesis]

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Habitat at 119 winter great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) locations and 14 nest sites was examined throughout southeastern Manitoba. Forest inventory data were used to examine tree species composition, site class, cutting class, and crown closure characteristics of each specific location. In winter, owls were choosing softwood forests out of proportion to availability but not choosing a specific softwood type. Owls also did not choose a specific type of site class, cutting class, or crown closure. Owls did appear to concentrate in certain areas. Nest site data revealed tamarack, black spruce, and aspen as important species with tamarack and aspen often serving as nest sites. Differences were found in habitat characteristics of artificial versus natural nest sites. Trends in the amount of habitat since the early 1950s were investigated. At one time there was a decline in the amount of softwood habitat in the study area, but this trend has since been reversed. Tamarack has shown dramatic increases since the 1950s, in part due to recovery from severe larch sawfly infestations. Black spruce and aspen have remained fairly constant in abundance over time. Literature was reviewed to determine the impacts of logging activities on great gray owls. Unlogged mature or overmature forests are a common factor at many nest sites. Selectively logged and clearcut stands may not be detrimental to great gray owls under certain conditions. Recommendations for future research and habitat management for great gray owls are made.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation:
Bouchart ML. 1991. Great gray owl habitat use in southeastern Manitoba and the effects of forest resource management [master's thesis]. Winnipeg, Manitoba (CA): University of Manitoba, Natural Resources Institute. 79 p. [accessed 2013 Jan 13]. http://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/bitstream/handle/1993/22915/Bouchart_Grea....

Note: this document is numbered through page 92, but SWAP citations are [usually] not including the appendices when they are part of consecutively numbered pages.