Welcome to Sapsucker Woods
Sapsucker Woods is the sanctuary that surrounds the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). With the arrival and settlement of Europeans in 1789, the area around what is currently Sapsucker Woods became an isolated woodlot by the 1830s-1840s. The land was spared clearing for agriculture due to the area’s unsuitable soil types. Specifically, drainage made conditions too wet to be profitable for farming crops. Instead, the land was used for grazing and logging, but at a small scale. Arthur Allen, the founder of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, visited Sapsucker Woods in June 1909 and was inspired by the area's biological diversity. He sought to conserve the area from future resource extraction. In 1953, Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary was preserved through purchases and donations of land. Today Sapsucker Woods comprises 220 acres and 4 miles of hiking trails.
Islands of Sapsucker Woods Pond
The small islands with both live trees and snags make great habitat for birds of all sorts. Canada Geese and ducks nest on the islands and shorelines. While the trees are prime perching spots for songbirds which can keep an eye on the open sky and small raptors which enjoy the clear vantage point of the pond and surrounding area. Some popular species you’ll find here include American Goldfinch, Blue Jay, Merlin, Green Heron, and Belted Kingfisher. In the past, Great Blue Herons have nested on a now fallen snag.
Birds on the Boardwalk
As you take a stroll down the Podell Boardwalk, keep an eye out for birds! Small holes along tree trunks are a distinct sign of woodpeckers looking for insects. There are six species of woodpeckers found here, including: Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Pileated Woodpecker. Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches nest and roost in old woodpecker cavities and congregate in mixed species flocks. Other birds like Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays forage for fruits and seeds, while warblers and vireos glean insects from the tree canopy. Plants like spicebush, honeysuckle, hawthorn, buckthorn provide an array of food sources for these birds.
Forest Phenomena
As you make your way through the forest, you might also spot nearly perfect rows of trees. Neither man-made nor intended, this design occurs when a tree falls down and begins to decompose. Seeds from other trees and plants fill the decomposing trunk, which provides abundance of nutrients. Over time they grow along the trunk until it has completely disintegrated, with the end result displaying a nearly straight line of young trees.
Root Architecture
Prop roots are a fascinating natural phenomenon. If you look toward the base of this black birch tree trunk, you’ll notice that the trunk is not connected to the ground. The intertwining prop roots lift the tree above the surface of the soil and allow you to see them above ground. How does this happen? When seeds from other trees land in a decomposing tree trunk, the seedlings begin to grow upward from the trunk. As time passes, the trunk slowly decomposes. By then the saplings' roots have already reached below the depth of the trunk and made their way into the soil. When the original dead tree trunk decomposes completely, prop roots are exposed. This phenomenon is not special to black birch alone, and can happen in a variety of other trees subjected to the same conditions as well.
Sherwood Platform
The Sherwood Platform is the perfect spot to get a different perspective of the pond and a close up view of active waterfowl. Pond bubblers near the building pump air from below the surface to attract waterfowl and prevent the freezing of water. Mallards, American Black Ducks, and Canada Geese all stay in Sapsucker Woods for the winter and congregate around these bubblers. Winter is especially active for Mallards who court during this time. Be sure to look out for any courtship behavior, which is common starting early November. Watch the video or read this short guide about duck courtship displays.
Leave it to Beavers
The stumps on the islands and shoreline display signs of beavers chewing. Beavers play a critical role in Sapsucker Woods’ ecosystem. When they fell trees, the fresh stumps stimulate plant growth and promote new tree shoots. Their clearing of trees also allows more light to penetrate the forest floor, providing much needed energy for ground plants, shrubs, and low canopy flora to grow and diversify the environment. The structure you see near the pond outflow is a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Facilities department and an engineering class at Cornell. The structure prevents the beavers from damming the outflow, which would in turn flood the trail.
Thank you for doing this tour!
Please check out other tours and stop into our Visitor Center. Learn more about the Cornell Lab of Ornithology!
