ArrayMarch 9, 2017 at 4:56 pm
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Regenerating forests provide ideal habitat for a variety of birds.[/caption]
By Eric Hoar, IFW Lands Management Biologist
Habitat work at Jamies Pond began in August of 2016 and is now concluding for the season in anticipation of spring breakup. The Department has created 14 grouse blocks totaling approximately 18 acres, enhanced deer wintering area habitat, and performed a light selection harvest around mast bearing species such as red oak, American beech and apple trees to provide more growing space for their crowns. As of the end of the winter of 2017, work covering approximately 75% of the 800 upland acres at Jamies Pond has been accomplished.
Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area is an 800-acre upland parcel surrounding a 100-acre cold water fishery in the towns of Farmingdale, Hallowell and Manchester. Management of Jamies Pond is funded in large part through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Act for the creation, enhancement and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Access to the area is from both the Meadow Hill and Collins Roads in Manchester, and from the Outlet Road in Hallowell.
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A mature softwood forest such as this provides winter shelter for deer, but very little to eat. Wildlife Biologists try to manage habitat in order to provide shelter and food.[/caption]
Upland game bird management has been of increasing interest to the public in recent years and the Jamies Pond WMA represented an opportunity to develop a greater early successional habitat component, preferred by grouse and woodcock, than currently exists. An early successional structure is short lived in nature and is characterized by species which are intolerant of shade and grow rapidly. Patch openings, such as those created at Jamies Pond in this operation, mimic small-scale natural disturbance and result in a flush of young forest. Future entries will allow the Department to maintain the early successional component, and the game and nongame species which benefit. Non-game bird species which will benefit from habitat in patches include thrushes (Swainson’s, hermit, wood and veerys), indigo bunting, towhee, northern harrier and short-eared owl.
Deer wintering shelter is in good supply at Jamies Pond WMA. Lacking, however, is a source of food within the sheltering areas. Harvesting within and adjacent to, over-wintering shelter is a key component of management for deer. The photo shows a good example of a dense stand of hemlock and spruce with nothing for deer to browse. A sparse red maple component (and other hardwood species) is harvested selectively resulting in sprouts that will provide a source of browse when the snow becomes too deep to forage on the forest floor for mast such as acorns and beech nuts. (“Mast” is simply a term for fruit and comes in a variety of forms both hard and soft.) Biologists recommend light, frequent entries for deer wintering area management to provide a continuous supply of browse.
The summer of 2017 and the winter of 2018 will conclude the remainder of the currently scheduled work at Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area. The Department anticipates concluding mast tree release work this summer and wrapping up management of deer wintering areas in the coming winter. Work is expected to resume in approximately 5-10 years for further grouse and woodcock management, and in 15-20 years depending of the development of deer wintering area habitat. Please visit Jamies Pond and witness the changes in the coming years. One can expect to see (and certainly hear!) an increase in the number of song bird species populating a more diverse vertical forest structure, the truncated tips of browsed young red maple and oak, and a more abundant population of grouse.
Regenerating forests provide ideal habitat for a variety of birds.[/caption]
By Eric Hoar, IFW Lands Management Biologist
Habitat work at Jamies Pond began in August of 2016 and is now concluding for the season in anticipation of spring breakup. The Department has created 14 grouse blocks totaling approximately 18 acres, enhanced deer wintering area habitat, and performed a light selection harvest around mast bearing species such as red oak, American beech and apple trees to provide more growing space for their crowns. As of the end of the winter of 2017, work covering approximately 75% of the 800 upland acres at Jamies Pond has been accomplished.
Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area is an 800-acre upland parcel surrounding a 100-acre cold water fishery in the towns of Farmingdale, Hallowell and Manchester. Management of Jamies Pond is funded in large part through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Act for the creation, enhancement and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Access to the area is from both the Meadow Hill and Collins Roads in Manchester, and from the Outlet Road in Hallowell.
[caption id="attachment_2186" align="alignleft" width="451"] A mature softwood forest such as this provides winter shelter for deer, but very little to eat. Wildlife Biologists try to manage habitat in order to provide shelter and food.[/caption]
Upland game bird management has been of increasing interest to the public in recent years and the Jamies Pond WMA represented an opportunity to develop a greater early successional habitat component, preferred by grouse and woodcock, than currently exists. An early successional structure is short lived in nature and is characterized by species which are intolerant of shade and grow rapidly. Patch openings, such as those created at Jamies Pond in this operation, mimic small-scale natural disturbance and result in a flush of young forest. Future entries will allow the Department to maintain the early successional component, and the game and nongame species which benefit. Non-game bird species which will benefit from habitat in patches include thrushes (Swainson’s, hermit, wood and veerys), indigo bunting, towhee, northern harrier and short-eared owl.
Deer wintering shelter is in good supply at Jamies Pond WMA. Lacking, however, is a source of food within the sheltering areas. Harvesting within and adjacent to, over-wintering shelter is a key component of management for deer. The photo shows a good example of a dense stand of hemlock and spruce with nothing for deer to browse. A sparse red maple component (and other hardwood species) is harvested selectively resulting in sprouts that will provide a source of browse when the snow becomes too deep to forage on the forest floor for mast such as acorns and beech nuts. (“Mast” is simply a term for fruit and comes in a variety of forms both hard and soft.) Biologists recommend light, frequent entries for deer wintering area management to provide a continuous supply of browse.
The summer of 2017 and the winter of 2018 will conclude the remainder of the currently scheduled work at Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area. The Department anticipates concluding mast tree release work this summer and wrapping up management of deer wintering areas in the coming winter. Work is expected to resume in approximately 5-10 years for further grouse and woodcock management, and in 15-20 years depending of the development of deer wintering area habitat. Please visit Jamies Pond and witness the changes in the coming years. One can expect to see (and certainly hear!) an increase in the number of song bird species populating a more diverse vertical forest structure, the truncated tips of browsed young red maple and oak, and a more abundant population of grouse.Categories