The US Endangered Species Act has enabled species conservation but has differentially impacted fire management and rare bird conservation in the southern and western US. In the South, prescribed fire and restoration-based forest thinning are commonly used to conserve the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis; RCW), whereas in the West, land managers continue to suppress fire across the diverse habitats of the northern, Californian, and Mexican spotted owls (Strix occidentalis subspecies; SO). Although the habitat needs of the RCW and SO are not identical, substantial portions of both species’ ranges have historically been exposed to relatively frequent, low-to moderate-intensity fires. Active management with fire and thinning has benefited the RCW but proves challenging in the western US. We suggest the western US could benefit from the adoption of a similar innovative approach through policy, public–private partnerships, and complementarity of endangered species management with multiple objectives. These changes would likely balance long-term goals of SO conservation and enhance forest resilience.

中文翻译：

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火是“给鸟用的”吗？两种稀有物种如何影响美国的火灾管理

《美国濒危物种法案》使物种保护成为可能，但对美国南部和西部的火灾管理和珍稀鸟类保护产生了不同的影响。在南部，规定的火灾和基于恢复的森林间伐通常用于保护濒临灭绝的红冠啄木鸟（Picoides borealis；RCW），而在西部，土地管理者继续在加利福尼亚北部的不同栖息地灭火和墨西哥斑点猫头鹰（Strix occidentalis 亚种；SO）。尽管 RCW 和 SO 的栖息地需求并不相同，但历史上这两个物种的大部分栖息地都暴露于相对频繁的中低强度火灾中。火和间伐的积极管理使 RCW 受益，但在美国西部证明具有挑战性。我们建议美国西部可以通过政策、公私伙伴关系以及具有多个目标的濒危物种管理的互补性，从采用类似的创新方法中受益。这些变化可能会平衡 SO 保护的长期目标和增强森林恢复力。