‘Young forest’ habitat important at Moraine State Park
The loss of “young forest” habitats throughout Pennsylvania has led to the decline in population of up to 60 species, including the state bird, the ruffed grouse.
Moraine State Park staff members are working with outside agencies to grow back young forest, because according to Jeff Herrick, a habitat management biologist, only about 10% of the park is young forest.
“If you can easily see through it or walk through it, it's already too old for the species that need it,” said Herrick, who works with the Wildlife Management Institute. “Without those components, you lose those species. Young forest is looking to reverse those trends.”
The Young Forest Project covers 17 states, going as far west as Minnesota and as far east as the New England states, according to Herrick, and it aims to grow the habitat throughout those regions. Herrick is hosting a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at McDanels Launch Area in Moraine centered on the American woodcock’s need for young forest habitat.
The park hosted the Timberdoodle Flutter event the past two years, and Mike Shaffer, environmental education specialist at Moraine State Park, said it provides a good demonstration as to why thicket habitat is important to native species such as the American woodcock.
“The weather is supposed to be perfect, and we have an awesome chance of seeing woodcock and to see them do their ‘sky dance,’” Shaffer said. “It is a sight to see, something you will never forget.”
Herrick explained that thickets are an example of a young forest, and the habitat can be identified by its thick foliage. Animals use thickets not only as a safe place to hide, but to gather food and resources, and Moraine’s forestry has been thinning since the park was established in 1970.
“Because a lot of the forests were all cut in the early 1900s, they may not be mature enough to conduct a harvest,” Herrick said. “A lot of species that need mature woodland need young forest to feed their young.”
People who attend the presentation Thursday can learn about how they can improve habitat for thicket-dwelling species near their own homes. They will also hear about funding opportunities for promoting local plant growth.
“There's a lot of poor quality trees that you can turn into a highly productive thicket,” Herrick said. “There is funding available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service office, especially for planting native fruit-producing plants.”
Herrick said the Young Forest Initiative is a nonprofit with a variety of funding sources, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and private donors.
He also said the presentation is informational as well as entertaining.
“It gives them an understanding on what species are in decline, which need help and what they can do to manage those species,” Herrick said. “When done with the presentation, we'll watch the woodcock do their courtship displays and aerial sky dance.”
To register to attend the Timberdoodle Flutter, visit Moraine State Park’s website.
