Fire and Non-game Birds

Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Series

August 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.

Recording Available Soon

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.