Human Interaction

EFFECTS OF HUMAN ENCROACHMENT

Habitat Loss: 

Very little is known or even delved into as far as Pacific Wrens are concerned. There have been no attempts to hunt or eradicate them since they pose no threat to humans. In fact, they are an integral component in keeping pest bugs away due to their year round living in most places (in PNW) and their diet consists mainly of insects. With this in mind, their populations are rather stable as far as we know, and are not considered to be in danger. That being said, it was not until 2010 that the Pacific Wren was distinguished as a separate species from the Winter Wren, who inhabit the Eastern parts of North America. (All About Birds)

Due to the Pacific Wren's reclusive nature to stay away from the forest edge and it's main habitat including old growth forests, and According to Birds of North America,"clear-cutting and some types of partial logging reduce habitat suitability for the Pacific Wren [...] and it is one of a number of species that is likely harmed by forest fragmentation in western North America". Land loss is a major problem in the PNW. Old growth forests are harvested for timber leaving the ecosystem to grasp at straws. According to Jeremy Hance, "Over 13 percent of old growth forests in [PNW] lost to logging in just over a decade," (Mongabay) so the effects of this will be felt by more than just the Pacific Wren.

The Disruption of any food web will lead to ecological problems. The Pacific wren holds a position that follows animals like Salmon who, when they come in for breeding and die, provide food for insects who are attracted to the dead bodies. The Pacific wren stay close to these water systems in order to feed on the insects feeding on the Salmon. So, if there were to be a decrease in Salmon population due to soil erosion or agricultural runoff it would affect a wide variety of species. (Birds of North America)

So not only do the fragmented forest produce a lack in deep forest habitats (away from forest edges) that the wrens prefer-they also feel the resounding affects of logging damage like soil erosion, runoff from logging, agriculture, or otherwise, and the dent from change in food webs.

Sources:

Editors of All About Birds. "Pacific Wren". All About Birds. Web. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/lifehistory. Accessed 5/29/18.

Hance, Jeremy. "NASA satelite shows extent of logging in Pacific Northwest". Mongabay. Febuary 22, 2012. Web. https://news.mongabay.com/2012/02/nasa-satellite-image-shows-extent-of-logging-in-pacific-northwest/. Accessed 5/29/18.

Toews, D. P. L. and D. E. Irwin . Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus). Birds of North America. 2012. Web. https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/pacwre1. Accessed 5/28/18.