If a tree has a lot of bird peck on it but the leaves look otherwise healthy should it be harvested or will it continue to grow at a respectable rate? Trees are mainly poplar, maple and cucumber that I am seeing this on. Hate to cut a tree that has long term potential but then if it is only going to "hold its own" or go down hill then I will harvest it.
I have seen noted by others that if you remove a pecked tree, the birds, presumably sapsuckers, will start pecking another tree. That makes some sense to me. :)
Does the bird pecks look like this if so it is sapsucker.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32340/IMG_01235B15D.JPG)
This was an elm that was about 20" and it was not hurt. As it grew I think it left black spots in the boards.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32340/IMG_05275B15D.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32340/IMG_05085B15D.JPG)
I've had them buzzards bad at the house at the farm. They have killed a larch and a red pine is riddled with pecks and sap ooze. I have seen 4 at a time on that pine. >:(
Generally they don't kill the trees, but they sure can.
Yes that's what the holes look like. Hadn't thought about them moving over to another tree but honestly on the couple I went ahead and took out there wasn't many spots left for them to peck.
Ringed around the tree about every foot and between looked like you had shot it with buckshot. Probably not an inch separating the holes.
Here in Ohio they like walnuts there peck into the sap wait a day or two then come back and eat the bugs thats licking up the sap :D. I gave two grand for a walnut in Paulding Cty Ohio it was a 22 26 and it looked like a dandy standing there but after cutting it every so called veneer log after the butt log had bird peck. I didn't do so good on that log but it sure was pretty laying on the log yard ;D.
In this area, Sap Suckers mainly go for the Hemlocks.
However, it seems that if you plant a tree in your yard (regardless of species) they seem to hit that, just as soon as they see it's big enough! :-\ ::)
Hemlock here also get well attended by those buzzards. :snowball: