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Abstract
The birdseye grain abnormality in sugar maple can greatly enhance its commercial appeal. However, birdseye has been opportunistically exploited, without exploring management strategies that can improve its potential. Even though the initiation and development processes of birdseye maple are still largely unknown, useful silvicultural advice can still be provided for timber managers. First, the identification of birdseye maples before felling, or early in the merchandising process, allows for better protection of log value. Second, protecting the residual stand while logging should likewise bolster future stand value by reducing undesired injury and mortality of the residual. Third, because birdseye abundance could be associated with stand density, it may prove advantageous to keep known birdseye trees in denser areas to ensure continued figured wood production. Finally, an additional set of 80 annotated references on birdseye is provided to further research on the topic.
Parent Publication
Citation
Bragg, Don C. 2008. Preliminary silvicultural recommendations and an updated annotated bibliography for birdseye sugar maple. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2008. Proceedings, 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 114-129.
