September 27, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Man and mystery threaten Carpenter’s Woods
by JENNIFER KATZ

This red phase male screech owl was found several times on trees or in rotted logs in Carpenter’s Woods in April. The popular owl has been seen in the woods for many years. Last year, he and his gray phase mate raised a family in the owl box near the meadow. (Photo by Linda Goschke)

The future of Carpenter’s Woods as a nationally recognized bird sanctuary is in jeopardy because of ecological degradation, according to an Audubon biologist who led a Sept. 19 community meeting organized by the Friends of Carpenter Woods and West Mt. Airy Neighbors.

Keith Russell, a staff member of Audubon Pennsylvania who also is a volunteer with FOCW, told members of the organization that Carpenter’s Woods — like many other areas in the Fairmount Park system — was undergoing a drastic change in ecology that threatened to end the woods’ long run as one of the state’s most famous birding spots.

“The woods are famous,” he told the crowded meeting. “They get a huge convergence of birds — millions of birds every year.”

Carpenter’s Woods, which became part of the park system in the 1920s as a bird sanctuary, is one of only two places for birding in Pennsylvania that receive national recognition. One of the reasons for its popularity among the 250 species of birds that use the park to feed and fuel is the larger than average number of oak trees in the woods.

“Oak trees tend to host the many varieties of insects that migratory birds feed on to a much greater degree than other trees,” Russell said.

Along with the high number of oak trees, the park also attracts the birds with its variety of habitats.

Russell said the ecological threats to the wood’s prominence as a stopping point for birds are both natural and man made.

“There is a battle being waged between native and invasive species,” he said. “In the 90s the Academy of Natural Sciences did a survey of the various plant and tree species in the park. Today the woods look very different.”

The most disturbing and difficult aspect of the predicament is the recent loss of a number of Oak trees. Russell said that it was not clear what was causing the trees to die and that it has become difficult to replace them.

“Oak trees don’t regenerate without a lot of light,” he said. “And we have a closed canopy in the woods.”

Concurrently, the woods have seen an increase in the number of Norway Maple trees, originally brought to the U.S. in the 1860s because of their adaptability to extremes. The Norway Maples also secrete a substance that kills other species that may try to germinate near it. Where oak trees now line the edge of the woods (the only place they can successfully regenerate), Norway Maples have begun to take over.

“The maples will turn the woods into a monoculture,” Russell said.

Invasive trees and plants were introduced to the woods indirectly through their planting on the streets and in the yards that border the park, and directly through a practice that is known as “dumping.”

Over the years, residents have taken lawn clippings from weeding or gardening and disposed of them in the park.

“People think they are doing something good rather than throwing them away,” Russell said. “But they are not helping. They are like cancer cells.”

Not only are the habits of man a problem for the habitat, but also the presence of man is one of the leading causes of erosion and thus degradation of the woods.

Park usage has risen over the last 15 years, Russell said, so dramatically that the park is becoming a victim of its appeal.

“With the number of people that walk in the woods, the paths have become so compacted that when it rains the water doesn’t permeate it just runs over and floods into other areas causing further erosion,” he said.

Speaking to a large audience at Summit Presbyterian Church that included Laura Siena of West Mt. Airy Neighbors and Maura McCarthy of Friends of the Wissahickon, Russell said the meetings’ organizers were looking for solutions.

“This is a problem that only we can do anything about,” he added. “No one else can do it.”

Tackling the dying oak trees is not going to be an easy task, Russell said. He has already consulted with Dr. Ann Rhoads, a botanist at Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, and said he would continue to approach experts for their input.

“Someone needs to perform a forensic analysis,” he said. Possible causes for the oak tree blight could range from a disease that disproportionately affects the oaks, to changes in the water patterns, to just old age — many of the trees are 100 to 150 years old.

The FOCW helped to identify other more immediate and attainable solutions. The group will start to use newly installed kiosks to post anti-dumping flyers, educational materials about the woods and trail closures. Friends of the Wissahickon is working to recreate sustainable trails throughout the Wissahickon Valley, but until that project, the Sustainable Trails Initiative, is complete, park users may be asked to stay off some of the woods most fragile trails.

Russell said he would also like to see park users voluntarily cut down on their usage of the park.

“If you go five times a week, go four or just walk the perimeter for one of your visits,” he said.

The group also is working with the Philadelphia Water Department to cut down many of the invasive maple trees when and where it can. Residents urged the park group to consider using independent arborists in the area in lieu of waiting for the water department. While group leaders agreed to look into it, they were cautious to retain their standing with both the Fairmount Park Commission, which must approve any work done in the park, and the water department, which has been an ally to date.

While meeting organizers did not discuss dog walking in the park as a peril or perk, some at the meeting cautiously questioned the practicality of having the park used for dog walking.

The suggestion was met with an agreement that the best place to start such a conversation would be with a user study to determine to what extent the dogs are a factor in the woods.

The next regular meeting of Friends of Carpenter’s Woods will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept 27, at 610 Carpenter Lane in Mt. Airy.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.