Subject: [Tweeters] (no subject)
Date: Apr 20 12:04:53 2009
From: Messick, Katie - Katie.Messick at kingcounty.gov


Hi David and Tweeters,



The data do exist to support your observations about the even-aged
forests and paucity of tree regeneration in Seattle's parks and
greenbelts. The Seattle Urban Nature Project (SUN) mapped all the open
space in Seattle in 1999-2000 and now has much their data available
online. To see the general size-class of the forested areas in Seattle
parks, check out their interactive map
(http://www.seattleurbannature.org/Survey/survey.html). If you zoom to a
park and click on a polygon, the forest size class will pop up on the
right.



In recent years SUN has done more detailed studies of a few parks, and
some of this more specifically addresses forest regeneration. For
example, their project in Deadhorse Canyon (Lakeridge Park in SE
Seattle) showed that the primary species regenerating in this fairly
nice urban forest are invasives such as English holly, cherry laurel and
European mountain ash. Here's a link to that project report:
http://www.seattleurbannature.org/Projects/dhcvmp/Deadhorse%20Canyon%20V
egetation%20Management%20Plan.pdf



SUN has more data than is available on their website, so anyone wishing
to take a closer look at this issue can probably work with them on it.
A dying forest may be great for woodpeckers in the short term, but with
no regeneration to create the next generations of snags, it'll be death
in the long run.



Katie Messick

Seattle



Original post:



I have only just caught up with Dennis's post. If I tell you my nearest
nesting woodpecker is Hoffman's, you may guess why! I had been composing
an entry about whether woodpeckers in general and not just Flickers,
seem to be more common in Discovery Park this year. Pileated are doing
well, Hairy is perhaps more common, Downy is doing well, while Flickers
are widespread. My proposed explanation is that most of the mature
deciduous trees, particularly Red Alder and Big-leaf Maple are of even
age. The Maples seem to be past maturity and are dying from their
crowns down and are shedding large side branches. Many of the Alders and
also Bitter Cherry have peaked. This creates a lot of fallen timber for
Pileated and softer large branches for feeding and nest-hole excavation
e.g.Flickers. Could Seattle's green belts be in a similar situation
having been created at the same time (mainly as steeper slopes
unsuitable for home construction) and therefore "unwanted"? I"m thinking
particularly of areas such as Montlake, Interlaken Blvd, Madrona, Frink
Park and Kiwanis Ravine. Does anyone have information that could add to
or refute this suggestion?



--

David Hutchinson