Recap of SAF Audubon Training

Written by Jeff Dubis 

In September, the Forest Stewards Guild, in conjunction with the Adirondack Chapter of the NY Society of American Foresters, hosted a NY Audubon Forester Endorsement Training.  The training aims to create a network of professional foresters working in partnership with Audubon to promote healthy forest ecosystems that provide high-quality habitat for birds. The training was held at SUNY ESF’s Huntington Wildlife Forest in Newcomb and was led by Claire Mann and Suzanne Treyger of the Audubon Society.  The training began in the morning with indoor presentations and was followed up with an afternoon field session. 

The group of nearly 30 participants visited several different silvicultural treatments on the Huntington Forest where participants had the opportunity to apply what they learned in the morning and to discuss how different silvicultural treatments can favor different songbird species. It was also an opportunity for professionals to discuss the ever-present beech bark disease and its impact on successful regeneration of Adirondack forests. Participants who completed the one-day training have the option to obtain Audubon Endorsement. To do so, they must provide two examples of new or revised management plans that integrate bird friendly habitat management.