Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Series
Prescribed Fire and Non-game Birds
Recorded Aug. 6, 2025
With several bird species facing steep population declines, this presentation will explore the relationship between prescribed fire and various bird species. We will touch on some broad themes that influence this connection and then dive into specific examples of how to use fire to restore habitat for birds.
PRESENTER

Tommy Gunn
Great Lakes Oak Ecosystem Forester, American Bird Conservancy
Tommy graduated from Southern Illinois University studying Forestry and has worked as a Forester for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, for the Colorado State Forest Service, and has also worked as a consulting forester. In Tommy’s role with ABC, he works in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a forester for the Oak Ecosystem Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). He provides technical knowledge and assistance to private landowners, foresters, and partners, improving oak ecosystems to benefit focal bird species. He brings his background as firefighter on wildfires and controlled burns throughout the Midwest and western US to the conservation work he does today.
MODERATOR

Jordan Winkenbach
Great Lakes Oak Ecosystem Coordinator, American Bird Conservancy
Jordan Winkenbach is a forester with the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) where her work focuses on oak ecosystem restoration on private lands in the Great Lakes Region. Jordan received her bachelor’s degree in Forest Ecosystem Restoration from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and continued to get her Master’s degree at the University of Kentucky. Her research focused on two long-term prescribed burning projects in the Daniel Boone National Forest looking at how repeated fire, midstory mastication, and a prolonged fire-free interval impacted the development of oak regeneration. Prior to joining ABC, Jordan has worked with a variety of federal, state, county, and private agencies to implement ecological restoration and return fire back to the landscape.
Additional Resources
Continuing Education
This webinar series has been pre-approved for the following:
- 18.0 Society of American Foresters (SAF) Cat. 1 CFEs (1.5 CFEs per webinar)
- 12.0 SER Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) CECs (1.0 CEU per webinar)
- 12.0 Wisconsin DNR Cooperating Forester CEUs (1.0 CEU per webinar)
If you would like a Certificate of Completion for a webinar, please send your request to wfc@uwsp.edu. Certificates are sent only by request.This webinar has been pre-approved for the following:

Resources
Prescribed Fire and Non-game Birds – Gunn
2025 State of the Birds Report – North American Bird Conservation Initiative
Forestry for the Birds Pocket Handbook for Landowners – The Nature Conservancy
Certified Burn Boss Program – Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Burn Boss Academy – Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council





