of upland swamp forests overlying peaty mineral or shallow 

 organic soils. 



Examples of this aggregation containing old-growth timber 

 are not known anywhere else in the county at the present time. 

 Other natural areas in the county, such as Van Swamp, which 

 contain similar upland swamp forests do not contain old-growth 

 tulip-poplar, presumably because past logging activities have 

 removed all standing timber and regeneration has not occurred. 



WILDLIFE AND AVIAN DIVERSITY 



The wildlife values of the natural area are probably sig- 

 nificant. However, the discovery of the area during the latter 

 stage of field work prevented a thorough inventory of the fauna, 

 and many species particularly birds, were undoubtedly missed. 

 Abundant tracks of white-tailed deer were present throughout 

 and several eastern gray squirrels were observed. Habitat 

 appears to be highly suitable for breeding black-throated 

 green warblers, an uncommon and local coastal plain species. 

 Due to the late date none were recorded. Black bear and bob- 

 cat, although no sign of either was recorded, probably occur 

 as either residents or as occasional visitors. 



The natural area, surrounded on three sides by square miles 

 of cleared land, probably serves as an important woodland sanctu- 

 ary for many game and non-game species, particularly those species 

 characteristic of forested wetland systems. Hopefully, further 

 field work will shed more light on the importance of the tract 

 as habitat for wildlife species. 



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