Logging, Conifers, and the Conservation of Crossbills

A survey of the forestry literature shows that as the age and area of coniferous forests decline, decreased conifer seed production and increased frequencies of cone failures can be expected. This would, in turn, cause declines in crossbills ( Loxia ), which specialize on the seeds held in conifer cones. In western North America, at least five different species of Red Crossbills ( L. curvirostra ) have recently been distinguished (Groth 1990); each specializes on a different species or even a single variety of conifer (Benkman 1993). Measures for conserving this diversity of crossbills include protecting mature and old-growth stands, and increasing rotation ages throughout the range of each of the required conifers. These recommendations are not unique to crossbills, but rather the loss of crossbill diversity is another reason to employ such measures.