Reducing the overstory canopy and adding periodic burning

The 8.4 acre Luckey Oak Woodland restoration has been in process since 1998. This has involved removing the woody understory vegetation and deadening selected overstory trees (typically non-oak species) by girdling. the girdled trees were left standing for birds that nest in cavities and forage on bark. The reduction of overstory canopy coverage to 50-75% allowed for increased sunlight to the woodland floor. Periodic burning was begun in 2001 and generally continues every three years.

Native Plants and Birds

On the 5.6 acres currently restored, a significant native herbaceous ground cover has developed. This includes species endemic to oak woodland such as: Pennsylvania sedge, bottlebrush grass, fire pink, starry campion, false toad-flux, huckleberry, prairie alumroot, two-flowered Cynthia and blue-eyed grass. The high, open canopy of black oak, white oak and hickory trees, along with the standing girdled snags, has attracted significant populations of red-headed and pileated woodpeckers. Work will continue on the remaining 2.8 acres in the years ahead.