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James Ramsay Hunt and Mary Welsh Parker Memorial SanctuaryNatural HistoryThe forested areas of the Sanctuary are typical of the region. Known as mixed mesophytic forest, the dominating feature of this forest is a lack of dominant tree species, unlike most forests in North America. Mesophytic forest may be found from northern New Jersey through southwestern Connecticut. On the ridge tops and rocky hillsides with poor soils, one may find numerous species of oaks, including black, chestnut, red, white and scarlet. Interspersed are shagbark and mockernut hickories, eastern hemlock, and remnants of American chestnut. In the lower areas, including wooded swamps and stream sides one will find sugar, red (swamp), and occasional striped maple, tulip, basswood, numerous black, yellow birch, white ash, American beech, flowering dogwood, black cherry, butternut, black walnut, American sycamore (rare), and a few American elm. The northern end of the Blue Trail takes the visitor on to the rocky ridge top plant community. The dry forest uplands noticeably lack understory growth, due to over-browsing by white-tailed deer. While the White and the Yellow Trails border next to and go through red maple swamp plant community. Because the swamps are difficult to traverse by deer, there is more understory growth. Swamp azalea, highbush blueberry, spicebush, as well as several species of ferns are predominant in the wooded swamps of the Sanctuary. The keen observer will recognize a number of exotic, invasive, non-native plant species on the Sanctuary. Most obvious is Eurasian barberry, a low-growing thorny shrub, which bears red berries in the fall/winter throughout fields and woodlands. Its fruit is of limited value to birds and other wildlife. Winged euonymus or fire bush, although browsed somewhat by deer, seems to outpace the deer, growing above the “browse line.” In late fall, its leaves turn a brilliant pinkish, fiery-red, unlike anything else in the fall landscape of colors. Japanese and tartarian honeysuckle bushes may also be found and provide some benefit to wildlife. Another foreign, dominating plant species is oriental bittersweet. Covered with bright red and orange berries in fall, this plant’s fruit is again of limited use by birds and other wildlife. A close look-alike, native cousin, American bittersweet, has not been recorded on the property, and should be looked out for. Two uncommon invasive trees found on the property are ailanthus or tree of heaven and Norway maple. Both tree species provide no benefit to wildlife. Introduction | Geologic History | Natural History | Birds and Other Wildlife | Cultural History | Hiking Hunt-Parker Sanctuary | Bylane Farm | Birds of the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary | Trail Map | Map of Bylane and the Hunt Parker Sanctuary click for main BAS Sanctuaries page Copyright © 2002–2005 Bedford Audubon Society |
