Tionesta, Pa.:  Twenty volunteers for wildlife showed up on Sunday, 3/1, at Tionesta Lake to do the hard work of cutting and piling alder to both renew the old alder and to create more brush piles for small wildlife.  And the sun decided to make an appearance – what a nice day to create wildlife habitat after almost two months of cold, ice, and snow.  Many of the volunteers were members of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) and American Woodcock Society (AWS) in both Pennsylvania and New York.  

The project day was supported by volunteers from the following RGS or AWS Chapters: Allegheny Northwoods, Appalachian Plateau (NY), Greater Pittsburg, and Upland Bird Hunt (UBH); and Camp Co for Conservation.

“Seeing this project come together is a great example of what can happen when strong partners and committed volunteers rally around a shared conservation goal.  This is our third year on this project, but it really is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue building momentum with more habitat work ahead, including our next phase of planting scheduled for May,” said Garrett Baker, Habitat Leader for the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter.

Later this spring, alder ‘whips’ should be sprouting from the cut stumps.  Alder thickets provide benefits to woodcock, ruffed grouse, warblers, rabbits, mice, voles, bobcats, and fox.  In addition to the cutting, the volunteers piled the cut alder into brush piles that will also benefit all of the above wildlife species. 

Joel Van Ord, Project Coordinator from the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) at Tionesta Lake, chimed in, “The UBH Chapter organized the volunteers needed to complete this work that we simply could not have accomplished on our own.   This partnership added capacity and knowledge which made this habitat project possible.”

For all volunteers it is a day to get out in fresh air after the winter blahs and do something positive.  Luke summed it up perfectly, “BIG thanks to Garrett and Jed for continuing to have habitat days.  Did some alder clearing for woodcock habitat and brush piles for rabbits.  Doesn’t get any better.”

These couple of hours on a Sunday will have habitat benefits for wildlife over the next 20 to 30 years.  Brush piles always need to be replenished as they break down over time, and alder ‘lays down’ when it gets too old.  The alder then needs to be regenerated before the roots decay and die.

Jed Hamberger, President of the UBH Chapter said, “Partnerships such as this demonstrate the potential of collaborative conservation.  By aligning the resources, expertise, and shared commitment of the ACE with the RGS and AWS, and statewide volunteers, we can achieve a level of impact that would not be possible independently.  Efforts like this not only advance critical Young Trees habitat work but also establish a strong foundation for long term ecological benefits that support a wide range of wildlife well into the future.”