Yellow Birch question

[hersnsh#590]

This may be more of a wildlife management question that a forestry question, but I'll ask it anyway.

I clearing some sugarwoods for the first time, meaning these woods haven't been cut for a long time.  I'm releasing the maples, hoping for more crown.  I've removed white ash, beech, and some yellow birch  along with some trash wood.  The woods are opening up and looking better.  The yellow birches form some large crowns, and result in a lot of shade for maples.  There is some fair lumber in the birches, however many go up 8-15 ft, and split into multiple large branches.  I notice there are numerous "seed pods" on these trees, and birds seem to be working the tops. 

So my question is "Are the birches a good mast source?"  The black cherry and beech don't seem to produce seed/food with the regularity or vigor of the yellow birch.  Perhaps I should be retaining more of the birch to support some of the wildlife, which is a secondary goal of the overall management plan.

Sorry for the wordy post.

Thanks
Dale

[clearcut]

According to the USFS Fire Effects information system, Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis):

     http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/betall/all.html

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Yellow birch is browsed by moose, white-tailed deer, and snowshoe hare.
Deer consume large numbers of seedlings in summer, and prefer green
leaves and woody stems in fall [32,104].  Yellow birch seeds are
consumed by common redpoll, pine siskin, chickadees, and other songbirds
[104].  Ruffed grouse feed on seeds, catkins, and buds.  Red squirrel
cut and store mature strobili, eat yellow birch seeds, and also feed on
birch sap.  The yellow-bellied sapsucker uses yellow birch as a summer
food source [32,104].  Beaver and porcupine chew the bark of yellow
birch [104].


PALATABILITY :
Yellow birch was listed as a highly preferred browse species in northern
hardwood forests [110].  In New Hampshire, white-tailed deer browsed
birch twigs (both yellow birch and paper birch) at a browse index rate
of approximately 4 (i.e., four times the expected rate based on
availability) [104].

Numbers are references in the original document cited.

Which supports your observation of birds working the tops.

Yellow birch produces good seed crops at 1- to
4-year intervals, usually with very little seed produced in intervening
years [1,32].  Out of every 10 years, yellow birch averages 1 heavy seed
year, 3.5 medium years, 4.5 light or very light years, and 1 year of
seed failure [82].  The maximum number of successive good crops was 4
years [45].  Yellow birch is a prolific seed producer, and viability is
usually good [32], although seed quality is variable from year to year
[60,82]. 

Which suggests value as mast producer.

Yellow birch can also be tapped for sap. As a kid we made wintergreen tea and birch "beer" from birch twigs with a wintergreen flavor.

So if it otherwise fits in with your management priorities, I think you can make a case for retaining some yellow birch.

The USFS Fire Effects information system has nice summaries of many characteristics of forest species, with references.

     http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/

[g_man]

I had some multiple trunk and branchy Yellow Birch that seemed to go wild after a harvest which left them. They seemed to be taking way more light than they deserved. So I started cutting them for firewood and my county forester said that I should strongly consider leaving some for the birds. Wildlife is also a important part of my management goals.

gg

[hersnsh#590]

Thanks for the info.

Clearcut:  We just found a source that concurs with your source as far as wildlife value.

gg:  We have the same multiple branch situation.  These specific trees take a lot of light.

So, we plan to be far more conservative in our thinning.  If the YB isn't shading a potential sugar maple, it will probably stay.

Dale

[Greyhound]

How do you define mast?  All birches reproduce by forming catkins, calyxes, scales and then tiny seeds (620,000/lb).  Historically, "mast" or "hard mast" referred to large seeds, like acorns, beech nuts, etc.  By this definition, birch have no "hard mast."  However, the definition of "mast" has been extending to "the edible vegetative or reproductive part produced by woody species of plants, i.e. trees and shrubs"  which may include leaf buds, catkins, true berries, drupes, and rose hips.

[g_man]

This is a statement that Vermont Audubon makes about habitat management and YB for 30 species of birds that breed here in VT and are presently in decline. They refer to them as the responsibility species, i.e.  they hope land managers take the responsibility to consider them in there management goals.

"Additional Management Considerations

Retain yellow birch - The branches and foliage of yellow birch are preferentially chosen foraging
substrates for insect eating responsibility bird species, including blackburnian warbler, blackthroated
green warbler, and scarlet tanager. This preference may be due to higher densities of
potential prey and the ability of these bird species to forage effectively among the branching and
foliage structure of this tree species. Retain as many individuals, across all size classes, as
possible.
Minimize harvesting during the bird breeding season"

gg

[Wis Forester]

Yellow birch has a variety of wildlife values. Here in Wisconsin the catkins are utilized by many birds at certain times of the year. Grouse often use them during times when aspen buds are not present.

Another undocumented wildlife use that I have seen through the years is the fact that small yellow birch branches shed easily during heavy snows, this is often where you will find deer browsing on the fallen branches right after the first snows and the last snows of the season.