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Holes in Poplar tree?

Started by Magicman, December 21, 2010, 10:44:02 PM

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Magicman

Just curious.  What kind of critter makes these holes in some Poplar trees?






This tree is probably 50' to the first limb, and the holes go from the root to as far up as I can see, and I guess on to the top.
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tyb525

Most likely a yellow bellied sapsucker.



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SwampDonkey

Yes, sapsucker. I had 4 all at once this spring on a yard pine. They come to it every year. They have killed my Japanese larch. They are a curse in my book.  :-X >:( They will riddle any hemlock big enough to make a stick of pulp and bigger.




I jammed his radar I think. ;D

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1 Thessalonians 5:21

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Magicman

Well, he has a carbide tipped pecker, cause there are thousands of holes in that old Poplar.
98 Wood-Mizer LT40 SuperHydraulic    WM Million BF Club

Two: First Place Wood-Mizer Personal Best Awards
The First: Wood-Mizer People's Choice Award

It's Weird being the same age as Old People

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tyb525

The board I showed came from a tree on our property that looked exactly like the one you showed.

Most of the boards from it showed that kind of figure, but the closer you get to the heart the less distinguished it is. I have a about 200 bf of nicely figured stuff and even more that doesn't have enough to be of significance.

I call it "Bird Peck Poplar"
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,39210.msg564015.html#msg564015
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Ron Scott

Yes, the yellow bellied sapsucker. Their wood work is often called "pecker wood". ;)
~Ron

SwampDonkey

Magic they return to the same tree in migration, and as I said, there can be many of them buzzards using one tree. Maybe they don't migrate down your way but stick around all year. I never checked the maps.

You should see our poor forest grown hemlocks. You'd wonder how the trees just don't die.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Chuck White

I've heard reports that the Yellowbellied Sap Sucker won't kill a tree because they leave enough space between holes for the tree to receive the nutrients required.

But, I suppose that once in a while they will kill a tree.

We have a Red Oak that my wife and I planted just after we were married, coming up on 9 years in July.
Well, the tree was 6' tall when we planted it, now it is around 20' and about 3.5" dbh ;D.
Last year the Sap Suckers hit it, then they were on Sheila's hit list.
They didn't do much damage though.
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SwampDonkey

As far as I'm concerned they will kill a tree like an infestation of bark beetles, but takes a lot longer depending on frequency of visits and the number sharing it.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Magicman

Well, they are certainly busy little sapsuckers.  There are other Poplars close around, but it looks like they favor this tree.  I guess that is a good thing because they could have hit them all.   :(
98 Wood-Mizer LT40 SuperHydraulic    WM Million BF Club

Two: First Place Wood-Mizer Personal Best Awards
The First: Wood-Mizer People's Choice Award

It's Weird being the same age as Old People

Never allow your Need to make money
To exceed your Desire to provide Quality Service

tyb525

MM your situation sounds like mine, there were only 2 trees like that in a stand of about 30. I figure the same bird (and maybe it's kin..) just keep coming back to the same tree again and again.
LT10G10, Stihl 038 Magnum, many woodworking tools. Currently a farm service applicator, trying to find time to saw!

SwampDonkey

I don't know why they are fascinated with my red pine tree in the yard. I have others planted out behind and I don't see a mark.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

WDH

MM,

That tree must be sweeter than the rest.
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tyb525

I wonder if when they see a tree that has already been pecked, they assume that one is the "sweetest", as SD says, so they all go to that one
LT10G10, Stihl 038 Magnum, many woodworking tools. Currently a farm service applicator, trying to find time to saw!

SwampDonkey

It may have something to do with mating behaviour. Kinda like a social club where the sapsuckers go to hang out and pick up she sapsuckers. :D Apparently though they kind of congregate in an area in a loose net colony during the breeding season. They are thicker than swallows around here. At one time we had more swallows than you could begin the count on the telephone wires and even in the deep woods around camps and bridges.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

tyb525

I just read that they also eat the bugs that are attracted to the sap, so when the bugs become scarce they drill more holes, eat the sap, and then the bugs, probably until the trees dies. However, the tree I cut didn't show any signs of stress from it, and the "peck" figure went quite deep into the log, so it seems they had been feeding from that tree for awhile.

MM, what was the DBH of that poplar?
LT10G10, Stihl 038 Magnum, many woodworking tools. Currently a farm service applicator, trying to find time to saw!

SwampDonkey

Our hemlocks up here are testament to that Tyb, pecking and feeding for decades on them. Yes both bugs and sap and nuts and suet and who knows what all they eat. Hummingbirds feed on the sap holes, I've seen that a few times. When ever 'm in hardwoods marking out and have my red hard hat on, the hummers dive on me. :D But they are also looking for sap holes. This I notice more in late August-September before migration. That late in the year there aren't much woodland flowers under hardwood for a hummer except asters and golden rod type flowers in openings. Many flowers do there thing before the leaves come on the maples while there is still no closed canopy from leaves. 
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Magicman

That particular tree is growing between two high ridges and on the very edge of a 3' deep drain.  It is absolutely in the wettest part of those woods, so yes, it's sap flow should be greater than any of the surrounding trees.

I haven't put a tape to it, but I would estimate the DBH at 32"
98 Wood-Mizer LT40 SuperHydraulic    WM Million BF Club

Two: First Place Wood-Mizer Personal Best Awards
The First: Wood-Mizer People's Choice Award

It's Weird being the same age as Old People

Never allow your Need to make money
To exceed your Desire to provide Quality Service

Phorester


They hit hickories most often in my neck of the woods.  In fact, sapsucker rings are used as an ID feature for hickory around here. If you are looking a long ways through the woods and see a sapsucker ring on a tree but can't make out what species it is, you can bet your boots it's probably a hickory. They will peck other tree species too, but by far their favorite tree here is hickory.

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