Movements of male wood thrush in streamside management zones in working pine forests

In short-rotation, pine ( Pinus spp.) forest landscapes of the southern United States, vegetation retained in streamside management zones (SMZs) provides semi-permanent, mature forest cover within an otherwise dynamic landscape. SMZs are established as part of forestry best management practices for water quality, but have demonstrated co-benefits for wildlife, including disturbance-sensitive bird species. We examined Wood Thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina ), a regional species of conservation concern, use of SMZs, and adjacent forest stands in privately owned short-rotation loblolly pine ( P. taeda ) forests in north-central Mississippi, USA. We captured and tagged 16 individual males with GPS data loggers within SMZs during the breeding seasons (May – July) of 2023 and 2024. We recaptured nine individuals, derived use range sizes (ha) using autocorrelated kernel density estimates, quantified resource use, and examined associations with local composition (100 m) and landscape patterns (1500 m) using resource selection functions. We found that Wood Thrush with larger use range sizes occurred in smaller, narrower SMZs, suggesting wider SMZs may provide greater opportunities for food and cover resources in short-rotation pine landscapes. We also found strong positive associations with local composition of SMZs and late-rotation pine cover and negative associations with local composition of early-establishment forest stands. SMZ shape and low land cover diversity in the surrounding 1500 m landscape were also important factors in resource use. SMZs in southern, working pine forest landscapes may be instrumental for recovering declining Wood Thrush populations, especially when managed for wider areas of retained vegetation and proximity to other late-rotation forest. • Streamside management zones provide important resources for male Wood Thrush due to large amounts of stable canopy cover. • Male Wood Thrush had larger use range sizes and traveled further distances within narrower streamside management zones. • Male Wood Thrush selected forests with a greater degree of overstory canopy cover and tended to avoid open canopy stands. • Complex streamside management zones shape and more homogenous landscapes were selected more often by breeding male Wood Thrush. • Possible interannual site fidelity relationships may exist for male Wood Thrush in streamside management zones.