Controlled burn improves Alabama habitat for endangered woodpeckers
Alabama Power conducts a controlled burn on an island in Hatchet Creek on Lake Mitchell. The longleaf pine forest is an important habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker. (contributed)
Members of Alabama Power’s Forestry team recently put some friendly fire to a 15-acre island in Hatchet Creek on Lake Mitchell. The controlled burn was part of the annual red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) habitat management activities in Alabama Power’s Coosa Wildlife Management Area.
A controlled burn, also known as a prescribed burn, is a supervised fire set by professionals to maintain the health of a forest. Controlled burns can help prevent destructive wildfires, reduce pests and promote growth of native vegetation, improving the habitat for wildlife.
Alabama Power conducts periodic burns to benefit the forest and enhance habitat for the federally endangered RCW.
“Controlled burns are one of the most cost-effective management tools we have for forestry and wildlife habitat,” said Brian Seale, forestry and surveillance team leader for Alabama Power.
“Longleaf pine grows on the island on Lake Mitchell where the burn was conducted,” Seale said. “These trees are fire dependent, so we need to conduct burns for them to be able to flourish. They are very important to the local species.”
The longleaf pine ecosystem provides one of the richest species habitats in North America.
RCWs excavate nest cavities in longleaf pines that are usually more than 80 years old. The birds play a vital role in Southern pine forests and are considered a “keystone” species because animals like nuthatches, bluebirds, bees, wasps and other woodpecker species also use the nest cavities.
“Data from Alabama Power’s Lake Mitchell RCW monitoring program has shown that RCW breeding pairs have increased from nine to 11 and have remained relatively stable over the past eight years,” said Chad Fitch, an Environmental Affairs specialist for Alabama Power. “The increase and present stability of the RCW population observed in recent years is the result of aggressive habitat management. Prescribed fire is essential for successful RCW management to control hardwoods and midstory.”
Each year, the Forestry team and employees from Environmental Affairs work with contractors to perform controlled burns of around 700 acres.
In recent years, Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent company, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and other public and private partners, have provided grants to restore, enhance and protect longleaf pine forests across the Southeast.
