2.2. Stand selection
The original 17 stands were selected to minimize differences
in harvest size, age, vegetation type, slope, and aspect (Nichols,
1996). Point count stations in these old stands were
250m apart in unharvested stands and, when possible, in
harvested stands that contained two points. In 2005, we
placed point count stations in 12 additional stands, six young
2.3. Point count surveys
Relative abundance and species composition of breeding
birds were quantified using fixed-radius point counts (Ralph
et al., 1995). Between 21 May and 16 June of 2005 and 2006,
points were surveyed twice: once by each of two skilled
observers. The order in which points were visited varied each
round to account for within-morning variability in bird
detectability. We conducted surveys only in optimal weather
(i.e., no high winds, heavy fog, or rain), began at sunrise and
ended at 10 AM