Forest clearing in New Jersey

[dogg57]

Some bird advocates are questioning the state Forest Service’s effort to remove dead trees and hazardous limbs in the area’s state forests at the height of nesting season.
Work to remove dead and hazardous trees and limbs began a few weeks ago at Wharton State Forest, which stretches through parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties, and other forests. But two members of the Atlantic Audubon Society said noise from heavy machinery near Batsto Village has caused a bluebird to abandon a nest with eggs in the process of hatching.

More....
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/...cle_2dd281e2-a04b-11e0-8164-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[GermanG]

Batsto may have cut dead trees or limbs in the most public of areas but they have also erected many bluebird boxes in these same areas, which helps offset that loss. The fact that dead tress and limbs provide wildlife habitat does not negate the danger they pose. I know of at least two instances off the top of my head where individuals have been killed by hazard trees in public parks. Granted, an accident or “act of God” can occur anywhere, anytime, but when a specific threat is identified the land managers are obligated to address it. As far as the timing of the work, it may seem callous, but managing the overall wildlife habitat is more critical than concern over individuals of the species, unless you are dealing with something as rare as Piping Plovers. If the habitat is healthy, the wildlife populations will be as well. No force is crueler to individuals than nature itself.

 

[Boyd]

There's another post around here where the state is urging people to cut down trees infested with the pine bark beetle, and the article above mentions this as well. So maybe that's why there's more clearing activity than usual this year?

 

[CurMUDgeon]

The "they" that erected the Eastern Bluebird boxes at Batsto and MANY other successful Bluebird trails and monitored them for years was Mike O'Brien of the Atlantic Audubon Society.
From what I understand, the tree cutting at this time was done in response to a "use it or lose it" time limit on the money used to fund the job rather than an immeadiate safety or environmental concern.

 

[dogg57]

Batsto may have cut dead trees or limbs in the most public of areas but they have also erected many bluebird boxes in these same areas, which helps offset that loss. The fact that dead tress and limbs provide wildlife habitat does not negate the danger they pose. I know of at least two instances off the top of my head where individuals have been killed by hazard trees in public parks. Granted, an accident or “act of God” can occur anywhere, anytime, but when a specific threat is identified the land managers are obligated to address it. As far as the timing of the work, it may seem callous, but managing the overall wildlife habitat is more critical than concern over individuals of the species, unless you are dealing with something as rare as Piping Plovers. If the habitat is healthy, the wildlife populations will be as well. No force is crueler to individuals than nature itself.

DELAWARE TWP., N.J. - June 28, 2011 (WPVI) -- A 46-year-old Somerset County man is dead and his wife is in critical condition after a tree fell on the tent they were staying in while camping with family in New Jersey.
Police were notified of the situation around 6:05 a.m. Tuesday when they received a cell phone call from a girl at the campsite, located in Bull Island State Park in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County.

The tree fell on the tent where the man and his 42-year-old wife were staying. Both were trapped by the tree.
People from nearby campsites came to help but couldn't move the tree.
The man died of his injuries. His wife was freed and transported by helicopter to a Trenton hospital in critical condition.
The couple had their two children with them - a 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. Also with them was a 9-year-old boy cousin. All three children escaped injury and were taken into the custody of park police while awaiting relatives to pick them up.
The tree is described as a huge, heavy sycamore.
Police are calling the incident a tragic, freak accident.
The victim's identity is being withheld pending the notification of family.
(Copyright ©2011 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

 

[GermanG]

Sycamores are one of my favorite trees but I would never pitch a tent under a large one. Their wood has very little resistance to decay and the bark of an older tree often has grown over and hidden old wounds that may have initiated heart rot. In all trees, only a thin layer of wood under the bark is made up of living cells. Everything within that is dead and mainly serves to give the tree structural support. A tree can appear perfectly healthy, yet have a totally hollow trunk.