Disappearing birds of young forests
Steve Backs
January 11, 2011
By Chris Zupo
This article makes me think back to the time when life was simpler. Growing up on 864 acres of a Pennsylvania farm, with woods as far as, I can see. Of course, I was thirteen years old and would stay outside from sun up to sun down exploring everything in my path. My father sold timber from selected cuttings for extra income, which in turn made great habitat for my favorite quarry; the ruffed grouse. I’ve had a life long admiration for these birds and that is what got me started in pursuit of these wary adversaries through most eastern states, where I am originally from. Now I chase the birds through the Midwest states. However, this article focuses on the disappearance of these birds in young forests, largely due to the past use of pesticides (in particular DDT). It’s been noted that the ruffed grouse doesn’t stand-alone, the whip-poor-will and the American woodcock are two other birds sharing the same fate. It has been said these three birds are “coal mine canaries” and with their disappearance from young forest habitats is happening faster than we ever imagined. Anyone, who has ever heard the drum of the ruffed grouse or the “peent” of the woodcock, and the famous calling that gives the whip-poor-will its name are unforgettable. All three birds have vary distinct mating rituals, for example the Woodcock male at dusk in spring evenings; fly high into the sky, then tumbles downward toward the earth as if to crash land, all in hopes of finding a receptive female and nest.
Many other factors have brought the birds hardships. Deforestation started when timber in the 1930’s was in high demand to build homes for settlement, and its effects are still felt today. Do not forget about natural disasters like firestorms, floods, tornados, predators, long wet springs, which affect hatch and brooding and now we live in a world facing Global Warming. With these ever increasing signs I ask you; are we listening? How can we make a difference? As a society have we moved so far away from our moral obligations to care and foster the well being of management towards the shared environment? How can we convince others to see what we see? How do we change behaviors? These questions, I ask myself on a daily basis. Please share your thoughts.
Forests are resilient, and wildlife can usually find the habitat within them to suite their needs. However, man has created an “urban sprawl,” which has had such an environmental impact. Now in many places regeneration can no longer act under the natural forces. Today, organizations like The Ruffed Grouse Society, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Unlimited are helping to restore these areas back to what they once were. Many volunteers donate their time and dollars in hopes of bringing back the birds. Would you support an organization like RGS? Do you think they can make a difference? Non hunters and hunters alike we share common goals; be a good steward of the land and the waters, conserve today for tomorrow. What about the generations to come after we have left can we pass this these wild areas on to them?
For me the love of the hunt and admiration of such wonderful wild creatures and for those like me; who live for the fall colors, and cooling temperatures knowing it’s that time of year to pull out the gear and tune-up the dogs, even though my dogs stay in tune all year. Share your own experiences won’t you? Tell me, what is your take on habitat deprivation?
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Chris Zupo a Natural Resource student of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. He was born in Western Pennsylvania, home of the Ruffed Grouse Society. Chris has been long into professional versatile dog training, helping kids get introduced to hunting through the learn to hunt youth programs. He has taken pleasures in volunteering time to many environmental issues and restoration an advocate to cause for both upland and wetland habitats.
3 comments:
I don’t even know where to begin! I share your enthusiasm and concern for habitat deprivation. I feel it is a terrible thing that shouldn’t be happening. The question you asked about society moving so far from our moral obligations to care and foster for our environment I feel is correct. I think our society has moved to far and now we are finally realizing it after losing species to extinction and forest land to open savannas. I feel we should have never come this far. Our society is greedy and we need to step back and look at the destruction and hardship that we have caused on the environment. I don’t think we have completely gone too far, there is still hope but we need to make changes soon.
I love to spend time outside especially in the fall when all the trees have changed color! You started out talking about when you were younger and the sound of ruffled grouse drumming, I still remember the first time I heard that, it’s an amazing sound. I don’t know much else about these birds and didn’t even know that they are disappearing. I learned a lot from reading your what you had to say, it was very enlightening and brought back memories of my own from when I was younger and experiencing the great outdoors.
Sarah Fisher
Chris,
That is interesting the article focused on the use of DDT and other pesticides as the reason for their decline. I've always assumed those affected by DDT were primarily birds of prey. The decrease in early successional forests is generally what I figured to be the main reason they're decreasing in numbers. During the time that the first pioneers moved up north through Wisconsin clear cutting everything was the best thing to ever happen for these gracious birds. Since then, so much land has been cleared for farming and urbanization. Combine that with parcelization of land and it doesn't leave much land left for potential habitat.
In Iowa, they're doing some habitat projects for ruffed grouse. To be honest, I don't really see the point. The forests there are not like they are here. There is a reason there are so few birds in that state. For one, aspen are uncommon and the key to having good habitat is exactly that, aspen. The forests there are managed differently and clear cutting is also uncommon.
I've just gotten into upland game hunting within the last couple years. I managed to get a German short-haired pointer this past spring as well. I'm still engaged in getting my first grouse, but this past fall I managed to get my first woodcock. They sure are a goofy looking bird.
As Sarah said, the ruffed grouse drumming brought back childhood memories. I've always thought the sound was like a distant tractor running. And I was right! A few years ago, we had a drumming male who would try to attack our old Farmall every time we'd go out to the field. He evidently felt the sound was too close to competition. One day, Gary backed all the way from the field back to the barnyard so he wouldn't run over the bird.
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