foragers, such as yellow-rumped warbler and 

 western tanager. Therefore, we reiterate the re- 

 commendation of McClelland and Frissell (1975) 

 to leave, wherever possible, all snags and nonmer- 

 chantable timber including paper birch, quaking 

 aspen, and black cotton wood within cutting units. 



Additionally, we have observed a variety of 

 species of birds, including winter wren, Townsend's 

 solitaire, and dark-eyed junco, using unbumed slash 

 piles as perches, food sources, or nest sites (figs. 5 

 and 6). These piles may contribute substantially to 

 the quality of postharvest habitat for certain bird 

 and small mammal species. Further study is re- 

 quired to establish the importance of this potential 

 resource; nonetheless, measures should be taken 

 to retain some slash piles during and after site 

 treatments. 



It is beyond the scope and intention of this study 

 to provide quantitative recommendations regarding 

 the optimum number of snags, trees, or slash piles 

 to maintain the integrity of western larch/Douglas- 

 fir bird communities when harvesting timber. 

 Research in progress (Tobalske and others 1990) 

 suggests that harvests that mimic naturally occur- 

 ring habitat, such as an open, wooded meadow, 

 may be appropriate models. 



Figure 5 — Juvenile winter wrens perched 

 on a branch within a slash pile on the 

 Terrace Hill sale area. Slash piles may 

 provide important cover for several bird 

 species in clearcut and partial-cut stands. 



Figure 6 — Slash piles such as this were frequently used 

 as perching and foraging sites by several bird species 

 censused within clearcut and partial-cut stands on the 

 Terrace l-iill sale area. 



9 



