28 
THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY • Vo/. 124. No. 1. March 2012 
TABLE 3. Avian abundance (percent composition) on burned and unbumed mixed-grass plots associated with the East 
Amarillo. Texas Complex wildfires of 2006. 
Species 
Northern Bobwhite 
Lesser Prairie-Chicken 
(Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) 
Killdeer 
Mourning Dove 
Common Nighthawk 
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrcmnus tyrannus ) 
Scissor-tuiled Flycatcher 
Horned Lark 
Cliff Swallow 
Barn Swallow 
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) 
Dickcissel 
Cassin’s Sparrow 
Grasshopper Sparrow 
Lark Sparrow 
Western Meadowlark 
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 
Brown-headed Cowbird 
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus hullockii ) 
Totals 
Mixed-grass 
2007 
Burned (n = 5) Unbumed (n = 5) Burned (n = 5) 
1 (LI) 
0 
0 
0 
4 (4.5) 
0 
3 (3.4) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
3 (3.4) 
22 (24.7) 
9 (10.1) 
18 (20.2) 
25 (28.1) 
0 
4 (4.5) 
0 
89 
2 (1.5) 
0 
0 
3 (2.3) 
7 (5.3) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
5 (3.8) 
I (0.8) 
3 (2.3) 
28 (21.1) 
35 (26.3) 
19 (14.3) 
29 (21.8) 
0 
I (0.8) 
0 
120 
2(1.7) 
1 (0.8) 
2(1.7) 
2 (1.7) 
12 ( 10 . 0 ) 
I (0.8) 
2(1.7) 
0 
0 
1 ( 0 . 8 ) 
0 
0 
31 (25.8) 
23 (19.2) 
12 ( 10 . 0 ) 
29 (25.2) 
0 
2 (1.7) 
0 
133 
2008 
Unburned (« = 
5) Totals 
6 (4.3) 
11(2.3) 
0 
1 (0.2) 
0 
2 (0.4) 
16 (11.4) 
21 (4.4) 
7 (5.0) 
30 (6.2) 
0 
1 (0.2) 
3 (2.1) 
8(1.7) 
1 (0.7) 
1 (0.2) 
3 (2.1) 
3 (0.6) 
0 
6 (1.2) 
0 
1 (0.2) 
0 
6 (1.2) 
27 (19.3) 
108 (22.4) 
22 (15.7) 
89(18.5) 
12 (8.6) 
61 (12.7) 
30 (21.4) 
113(23.4) 
3 (2.1) 
3 (0.6) 
8 (5.7) 
15 (3.1) 
2(1.4) 
2 (0.4) 
140 482 
wildfire in Arizona (Bock and Bock 1992). High 
effect sizes indicate the higher densities of 
Western Meadowlarks on burned plots in 2007 
may have been biologically relevant, but were not 
statistically significant in our study. The above¬ 
ground plant biomass among burned and un¬ 
burned plots was similar bv 2008 (Rideout- 
Hanzak et al. 2011), likely providing similar 
nesting sites and foraging opportunities across 
burn conditions. Horned Larks prefer areas with a 
high percentage ol bare ground across their range 
(Beason 1995). Consistent with this general 
habitat association. Horned Larks decreased in 
density as burned areas were revegetated and 
more litter formed. 
The composition of avian communities difft 
on mixed-grass plots in 2007 despite siir 
diversity and evenness measures across t 
conditions. Abundances of Cassia's and Gr; 
hopper sparrows were higher on unburned t 
burned plots in mixed-grass areas. Howe’ 
ensities ol these species on burned plots w 
similar to unburned plots by 2008. Lark Spam- 
on both short- and mixed-grass plots decreased 
burned areas from 2007 to 2008. Long-term Li 
Sparrow abundance decreased along with i 
decrease in woody vegetation after a fire in 
sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) grasslands in Wash¬ 
ington State (Eamst et al. 2009). This suggests the 
avian community may have returned to densities 
similar to unbumed areas by the third breeding 
season alter the wildfires. A homogeneous 
landscape with plant biomass and structure similar 
to unburned areas 3 years after the wildfires 
(Rideout-Hanzak et al. 2011) may have promoted 
similar avian communities across the landscape. 
Historically, lire was a major ecological factor 
in both short- and mixed-grass ecosystems until 
intense livestock grazing and fire suppression 
altered vegetation and fuels so fires could not burn 
with historic frequency or intensity (Wright and 
Bailey 1982). Some areas of the Great Plains have 
seen lire return to the landscape in the form of 
prescribed fire. The EAC wildfires occurred 
during high winds and low humidity, different 
conditions than proscribed for prescribed fires. 
Prescribed tires appear to have similar influences 
on the avian community as the EAC wildfires 
despite ditterences in intensity and environmental 
conditions during the wildfire. 
Many ol the responses measured in our study of 
wildfire were similar to those observed following 
