NOTES ON THE RELATION OF BIRDS TO 

 ADIRONDACK FOREST VEGETATION 



By Dr. Charles C. Adams, Director 



CONTENTS 



1. Introduction. 



2. General Character of the Region. 



3. Influence of Birds Upon the Vegetation. 



Reforestation by Birds. 



Influence of Sapsuckers on Forest Trees. 



4. Fermented Sap and Sapsuckers. 



5. Summary and Conclusions. 



6. Selected References. 



INTRODUCTION 



One of the most pleasant aspects of working in the forest is that 

 it is always changing, not only with the season but also from year 

 to year so that it is always interesting. To learn the laws of these 

 changes, and to know how to mould them to man's advantage, are 

 most important parts in the training of a forester. 



The forest is a community of living things, dominated by the 

 trees, and with the shrubby and herbaceous plants living in a subor- 

 dinate relation. The forest ecologically is even more than this, 

 because all forests contain, in addition to vegetation, a large number 

 of animals which make their home there. We may call such a col- 

 lection of plants and animals living together a forest association or 

 a forest biotic community. In such a community the trees and 

 shrubs influence the animals, as, for example, in the production of 

 food or shelter ; and in turn the animals influence the trees and other 

 vegetation by feeding upon them, or by scattering their seeds and 

 thus extending and aiding the reproduction of the forest. Forests 

 and animals thus influence one another in a vast number of ways 

 and the present paper is intended to call attention to some of the 

 more conspicuous methods in which birds influence forest vegetation 

 in the Adirondacks. I have known men who have spent considerable 

 time in the woods, and yet have failed to observe and understand 

 the results of bird activity. On the other hand, to many observant 

 persons familiar with the woods, the notes here recorded will seem 

 commonplace indeed. It is desirable that foresters possess a proper 

 idea of the general importance of birds to the forest, just as a 

 similar appreciation of the influence of forests upon birds is needed 

 by students of birds and by the public in general. 



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