As Paul J. Marchand, author of Nature
Guide to the Northern Forest, discussed the various fluctuations of
ecosystems in the Adirondacks and the relative effects these have on major
species, I was curious about the effect these fluctuations specifically have on
Saw-whet owls. This species was featured on the cover of the nature guide, so I
wondered if it plays a large role in this ecosystem. The book mentions that
climax communities can be drastically altered by natural and human-caused
ecological disturbances, which lead new species to emerge where they once could
not due to lack of sun. Small mammals such as hares and warblers are directly
affected by the disappearance of specific species, but some research led me to
find that although Saw-whet owls have a smaller population in the Adirondacks
than these other species, they are actually more adaptable to various
ecosystems. Saw-whet owls are found in multiple ecosystems including coniferous
forests, deciduous forests, woodlands and even suburban environments, as long
as they have a perch and dense vegetation for roosting.
Saw-whet owls are highly adaptable but
still threatened by the various effects of logging, leading their populations
to decline over the years. During my research I came across a center at Paul
Smith’s College, located in the Adirondacks, which is currently banding Saw-whet owls to find out more about their populations and movement across the
region. These birds are carefully captured, banded and measured in order to
determine health, age and sex. According to this site, Saw-whet owls migrate to
the Adirondacks in the summer to breed, then migrate through Lake Placid on
their way down south in early fall so can only be identified during this time
interval.
Although Saw-whet owl populations
are not as critically affected by logging as beaver populations were by
trapping, the various relationships, this bird has to humans can further
illustrate the conflicting interests in the Adirondacks. Simply by doing a
little research, I found that on one hand logging companies threaten the
habitat of this species by eliminating dense vegetation needed for roosting,
while a different group of humans spends their time banding these birds in
hopes of preserving their populations. These varying perspectives are based on priorities;
are economics or preservation more important?
This post takes into account a very interesting and possibly problematic narrative for the loss of species and diversity. The commonly held notion is that wolves, mountain lions and other species were removed from the park by the direct and conscious actions of individuals that over-hunted and over-trapped as an abhorrent but successful policy against nature. This story greatly separates the loss of diversity from the park from the everyday American. But we have learned that the loss of species, particularly large carnivores, from the park was actually the result of habitat destruction which was and is a constant symptom of human expansion that exempts no one from blame. While it is lucky that the Saw-whet owl is so adaptable, I think more attention needs to be given to the real forces which limit the survival of these species like you have done here.
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