uaetodaynews.com — Surprising connection between birds and forest fires discovered

Contrary to popular belief, forest fires do not always cause destruction. A study in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the US state of California found that many bird species not only adapt to the effects of fires, but also benefit long-term from them.

How fires help

Scientists observed 42 bird species in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks for 20 years. Comparing data with 35 years of fire history, they found that 28 species appeared to be more common in burned areas. Interestingly, 11 species maintained positive effects for more than 35 years. Only one bird species was actually affected by the fires.

Fires provide open feeding areas for insectivorous birds and dead wood for nesting. Birds benefit from the growth of vegetation of different heights and increased penetration of sunlight into the soil.

Ecologists emphasize that they mainly studied fires of low and medium intensity (97.5% of cases). High-intensity “megafires” may produce different results, writes Earth.com.

Controlled burns

Until the 1870s, low- and moderate-intensity fires were a natural part of the ecosystem. Indigenous peoples in the United States used controlled burns to manage the landscape. However, new fire suppression policies led to the accumulation of flammable materials, creating the conditions for modern “megafires.”

To restore the natural ecological balance, experts recommend introducing controlled burning, allowing trees to burn under certain conditions, creating “pyrodiversity” – a mosaic of burned areas of different ages. When properly managed, fire becomes not an enemy but a tool for biodiversity conservation, allowing many bird species to thrive for decades to come.

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Published on: 2025-10-23 20:29:00
Source: naukatv.ru