Subject: Forest fires effect on birding
Date: Aug 3 10:33:33 1994
From: Mark Crotteau - CROTTEAU at WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU


In response to Burt Guttman's posting, I have seen a news report that there
is another fire north of Goldendale. There are also some fires in
Montana. I haven't heard of any in Oregon, but perhaps they just haven't
made the news yet. The Weather Channel is a good source for information on
where big fires are burning, but for local information it's probably a
good idea to call the nearest Forest Service or BLM office to the area
you're intending to visit.

I have to view the current situation in the broader perspective. Fire is a
natural event, at least when it's not started by careless or malicious
humans. I'm always discouraged when I hear that a large forest fire was
caused by arson. And I'm sure that the loss of large numbers of trees to
fire only increases the pressure on what's left as demand for timber
remains the same while the available trees are fewer. But I also have to
think of the positive effects. I'm sure the western forest formed a much
healthier and more balance ecosystem in the days when fires were all
started naturally and allowed to burn themselves out. I bet that Black-
backed Woodpeckers were more common then. Think of the current fires as
the places to find Black-backed Woodpeckers in the next few years.

Mark Crotteau Pullman, WA <crotteau at wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu>