Hallett, LaurenPenkauskas, Calvin2024-01-092024-01-092024-01-09https://hdl.handle.net/1794/29144This thesis investigates how hazelnut orchard age and landscape variability influence wild bird communities on farms, with a focus on adjacent habitat and establishing a biodiversity baseline. I conducted field studies within the Willamette Valley, OR to assess avifaunal diversity across hazelnut farms of increasing matrix quality; and across orchard ages within the farm with the highest matrix quality, Dorris Ranch. My findings show that landscape heterogeneity has a significant impact on bird communities, with adjacent habitat being a key factor for functional community traits such as diet guild. Due to its proximity to large habitat areas and distributed wildlands, Dorris Ranch has high species richness – particularly near restored oak habitats. Although younger orchards supported a higher species diversity on average at this site, older orchards supported key species of conservation and service-provisioning value, highlighting the importance of landscape diversity and ecologically intensive practices in management plans.en-USAll Rights Reserved.AgricultureCross-scale ComplexityEcosystem ServicesHeterogeneityMatrix QualityWildlandElectronic Thesis or Dissertation