Abstract
Two geographically separate units of Arkansas Post National Memorial were surveyed via fixed-radius plots to document songbird species composition, richness, and diversity by migratory status and nesting guild. At the Memorial Unit, 60 species vere recorded with the Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Cardinal being most common. individuals of these three species comprised 30% of the total number of birds recorded despite representing only 5% of the species encountered. About 2 1/2 times more resident birds were recorded than migratory birds. However, species richness and diversity of resident and migratory species were similar. The number of individuals, species richness, and diversity of canopy nesting species were greater than other nesting guilds. At the Osotouy Unit, 42 species were recorded with the most common species encountered being the Indigo Bunting, Carolina Wren, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Individuals of these 3 species comprised 30% of the total number of birds recorded despite representing only 7% of the species encountered. About 50% fewer resident birds were recorded than migratory birds. Migratory birds represented approximately 40% more species than resident birds. Likewise, diversity was greater for migratory species than for resident species. As in the Memorial Unit, the number of individuals, species richness, and diversity of canopy-nesting species were greater than other nesting guilds. No federal or state threatened or endangered species were documented, but 8 species currently tracked by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission were documented. These results have implications for future park management activities, particularly in respect to potential development plans at the Osotouy Unit.
Recommended Citation
Tappe, Philip A.
(2005)
"Songbird Inventory for Arkansas Post National Memorial,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 59, Article 23.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol59/iss1/23
