Tree and bird diversity in Colonial Point on Burt Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan.

Abstract

There have been many studies detailing the bird and tree species of Colonial Point in Cheboygan County, however little has been done in relating these two factors. In this study I attempted to discover whether tree species affected the population and diversity of birds in an area. Plots were sampled from various forest types in Colonial Point for their overstory, understory and groundcover woody plant species. These plots were then aligned with bird transects performed in 2005 (Dziedziec, 2005). It was found that some bird species (Black-capped Chickadee, Scarlet Tanager and the Brown Creeper) occupy areas regardless of the tree populations of that area. Other bird species (Pine Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart) tend to occupy areas with specific site conditions. These differences cannot be attributed to one specific factor but species' nesting habits, collector's experience or condition of certain tree stands could explain the findings.