248 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



Many species of wild trees, bushes and plants that now grow 

 naturally in the Park bear fruits that are eaten by birds. Among 

 these are the black, red and choke cherries {Primus serotina, P. 

 Pennsylvania a, and P. virginiana), the Virginia creeper (Psedera 

 quinque folia), the river grape (Vitis vidpina), the sumacs (Rhus 

 typhina and glabra), the poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron), the 

 shad bush (Amelanchier canadensis), the white thorns (Cratae- 

 gus co'ccinca and Crus-galli), the flowering, alternate-leaved, and 

 silky dogwoods (Cornus florida, C. alternifolia and C. Amomum), 

 the several species of raspberries and blackberries (Rubus), the 

 viburnums ( V. acerifolimn, V. alnifolium and V. dentatum) , the 

 elder (Sambucus canadensis), the pokeweed (Phytolacca decan- 

 dra), and the purple nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara). With 

 the exception of the poison ivy and the nightshade, there is no 

 reason for removing any of these plants except 'where roads, trails, 

 camp sites and similar improvements are to be constructed. Other 

 wild plants are attractive in a number of ways. The thistles fur- 

 nish food and nesting materials for Goldfinches. The bee balm 

 (Monarda didyma) and the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 

 are special favorites of the Hummingbird. Many grasses and weeds 

 furnish food for the seed-eaters in fall and winter. This is also 

 true of alder, birch, ash, tulip and hemlock among the shrubs 

 and trees. Most of these various plants, being objects of beauty 

 when in flower or fruit, are useful for other reasons than their rela- 

 tions to birds. 



In the forest the old dead stumps and trunks of trees furnish 

 nesting sites for the Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees. 

 Their complete removal might mean the elimination of these resident 

 birds. In the practice of forestry it is customary to remove all such 

 debris because it is supposedly a fire menace and a breeding place 

 for destructive fungi and insects ; yet I question the wisdom of such 

 a policy, particularly in the Allegany Park where the practice of 

 forestry must be coordinated with recreational and educational uses. 

 Moreover, under normal forest conditions, the birds are the chief 

 factor in the control of injurious insects. 



From the purely economic standpoint, the Woodpeckers are the 

 chief enemies of wood-boring insects and bark beetles. Their elimi- 

 nation would certainly result in an increase of these destructive 

 insects. Only one Woodpecker, the Flicker, can be induced to nest 

 in artificial bird boxes erected for it. The others must drill out 

 their own homes in a dead stub or limb. The Flicker, since ants 

 comprise a large part of its food, cannot be so great a destroyer of 

 borers as the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. The removal of 

 dead trees and limbs to any great extent would be certain to decrease 

 or altogether eliminate the latter birds. 



In the same way, the removal of old logs, stumps and windfalls 

 with upturned roots would be likely to eliminate the Winter Wren, 

 one of the most interesting birds and sweetest of singers in the 

 Park. The removal of small dead birch stubs would destrov the 



