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Presents a study that detailed the rates of cavity reuse for guilds and species of a diverse cavity-nesting bird community in mixed forest stands in central interior British Columbia. Relative rates of reuse among the guilds of cavity nesting birds; Characteristics of cavities, nest trees and forest stands that may influence reuse rates; Determination of whether there is a time lag in reuse of nest cavities.

To determine use of riparian habitats by birds in the northern coniferous forest of British Columbia, we censused birds and vegetation along 500 m transects placed parallel and perpendicular to three second-order streams. Censuses were conducted during spring, summer, fall, and winter to investigate how use of riparian habitat changed seasonally. Stream-side riparian zones were characterized by a dense understorey of deciduous vegetation not found in the upslope forest. Nine bird species preferred the riparian understorey for breeding, six preferred it only during migration. Neotropical migrants (16 of 46 species) were more closely associated with stream-sides than year-round residents (11 species). Some breeding birds (five species) were significantly negatively associated with riparian habitats. The density of riparian birds declined with distance upstream but did not decline up to250 m away from the stream. The more extensive riparian areas downstream supported a greater density of birds in all seasons compared to upstream areas, but more species only in spring and fall. Species that nested in non-riparian areas in summer used riparian habitat in fall, making riparian corridors in the northern coniferous forest important during migration. Maintaining both riparian and upslope habitats is necessary to preserve species diversity at the landscape level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]