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- Michelle Brown: Conservation Benefits Bicknell’s
- Herb Terns: Rattlesnake on Split Rock Mountain
- YouTube: Yellow Yellow Raid On Back Pack?
- Natural Selections: Tree Growth
- Outside: The Best Adk Adventures?
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- Joe Hackett: Remote Wilderness Self-Nourishment
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Michelle fails to mention that her “conservation” effort in the Adirondacks will cause forest management practices to become prohibited forever, and that the thrush’s preferred habitat is “disturbed” forests, or those that are managed (logged) on a regular basis. The land she describes is currently managed and protected under the highest levels of sustainably managed forest stewardship. New York State prohibits forest management under constitutional regulations.
Her conservation efforts are, in effect, eliminating the preferred habitat for this important and rare species.
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Peter,
The State Constitution does not prohibit forest management forever. In fact, it does just the opposite, it requires forest management forever. Just not the kind of forest management you want.
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John, I’m not sure I understand your statement. The state constitution allows for only natural succession forests on forest preserve land, and does not allow forests to be managed (or protected for that matter).
The Bicknell Trush habitat is forests that are regularly logged. Logging is prohibited on Forest Preserve land.
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Peter, the Forest Preserve is managed. It’s managed as ‘Forever Wild’ – that may not meet your criteria for management, but it’s the management the majority of New Yorkers want for their state lands.
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Peter, What evidence do you have that “logged” land is the preferred habitat for this bird?
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Paul, I’m sure you’re capable of doing research, but here is a link to Cornell’s Ornithology site that may help:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bicknells_thrush/lifehistory
The problem we’re having here is that “journalists” overlook facts to advance certain agendas.
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More recently, Bicknell’s Thrush has taken advantage of areas disturbed by timber harvesting, ski trail and road construction, and other human activities. The migration routes appear to cross a variety of wooded habitats,
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I believe in the profession of journalism.
I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.
I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.
I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one’s own pocketbook is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another’s instructions or another’s dividends.
I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that the supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.
I believe that the journalism which succeeds best — and best deserves success — fears God and honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance and, as far as law and honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship; is a journalism of humanity, of and for today’s world.
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I don’t believe in journalism or God.
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Just in case anyone is confused, the above comment by Peter H was not written by him, it is the Journalist’s Creed, written a century ago.
As to Bicknell’s thrush: amazingly, stunningly it did pretty well for itself before we “disturbed” the forest.
It seems to me to be the height of hubris to suggest that in pursuing our human self-interest we accidentally do better for species like Bicknell’s than the evolutionary process of nature has, working over millennia to construct the perfect marriage of habitat and adaptation that Bicknell’s enjoys.
But, of course, the key words are right there: self-interest.
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Pete, it is in fact the journalist’s creed, and it would be wonderful if this publication adopted its guidelines.
The blow down of 1995 created some habitat for the Thrush, but the habitat decreased due to the natural succession growth.
Paradoxical, isn’t it; that the “conservation” efforts will be a direct cause for the demise of an endangered species…
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Peter H.
Thanks for the link to Cornell. Sure I can do research but I figured that maybe you had some information that “logging” specifically created this birds ideal habitat. That would have strengthened your argument above. This bird evolved long before humans were here doing any logging. These things don’t happen over a few hundred or so years.
Like you I have never supported these new state acquisitions but this “bird argument” is pushing it a bit.
If it is declared endangered (which I assume you would support given your concerns for the bird) than that could effect how its habitat is managed. That could be yet another obstacle for the timber industry in the region.
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Bicknell’s thrush thrives on **montane** forest habitat, which means higher elevations (which are frequently disturbed by wind, snow, and ice). You might find some of these birds, I suppose, on Dun Brook Mountain … which is part of the easement lands being retained for forest management.
My understanding is that this thrush would NOT typically be found in lower elevation Adirondack forests, including the Essex Chain. Therefore the argument above is moot.
And for the record, posting a link to a website does NOT constitute “research.”
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Wow. Who would have expected such an interesting discussion in the comments of a “This Week’s Adirondack Web Highlights” article? Not I.
I concur with much of Bill Ingersoll’s comment, but with a single caveat. From what I know, based on personal experience and what I have learned from the literature, the Bicknell thrush’s NESTING habitat is montane forests, found only at very high elevations in the Adirondacks. As far as I know, these areas typically are not highly prized for timber, and even if they were, the amount of area of this habitat is of little consequence for that purpose.
But, and here comes the caveat, the Bicknell’s migratory habitat COULD be a different habitat altogether. Generally, areas with dense new growth are highly prized by migratory birds, whether this is the case for the Bicknell’s specifically, I do not know. Perhaps Peter has specific knowledge about the Bicknell’s migratory needs, and he will be kind enough to share it with us.
I am often fascinated how people suddenly “get religion” on conservation issues when the organism du jour has habitat needs that correspond with their own self-interests. I just hope they are as vehemently concerned about those species requiring large tracts of mature forests as well. Although, I won’t be holding my breath.
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