New Jersey News: The Press of Atlantic City

February 9, 2003

Grouse hunters, cedar stewards Effort aims to preserve dwindling habitat

By JACK KASKEY Staff Writer, (609) 272-7213, E-Mail

WOODLAND TOWNSHIP - When Carlos Camaraza was 20 years old or so, ruffed grouse were common in the Pinelands.

But Camaraza, who is now 45, said Saturday that it's been years since he's seen the game bird in the region.

"The last 15 years, they're extinct just about in this state," the Beach Haven resident said. "It's kind of sad."

So on Saturday, Camaraza bundled up in an insulated jumpsuit, heavy boots and an orange wool hat, and drove out to a snow-covered stand of Atlantic white cedar in Brendan Byrne State Forest.

Rather than the shotgun Camaraza normally carries on his grouse outings, he carried a handsaw - his objective was not to flush the reclusive bird, but to create better habitat for it.

"I'm a hunter, but I'm a conservationist too," Camaraza said.

About 10 members of the Ruffed Grouse Society's Pine Barrens Chapter were joined Saturday by a pair of state foresters to weed out the pine, maple, holly, gum and birch trees that were competing with a young stand of cedars, a moisture-loving evergreen tree that provides ideal habitat for the ruffed grouse.

Cedar stands tend to be warmer in winter, and they offer the birds places to hide and protection from wind and snow, said Mark Banker, a regional

biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society.

The trees also provide good roosting areas at night, and the trees' berries supply the birds with winter forage, he said.

Atlantic white cedar forests, however, are in decline.

The vast Atlantic white cedar stands that once hugged the coastal freshwater wetlands from Maine to Florida have declined to less than a quarter of their historic acreage, researchers say.

At the same time, fewer forests are being cut in New Jersey, providing fewer opportunities for cedars and other pioneer species to establish themselves. The hunters on Saturday's expedition seemed to agree that the maturing of New Jersey's forests is the primary reason they are seeing so few grouse in the Pinelands.

"When mature timber comes up, it drives the grouse out," said trip organizer Mark Dreyfus of Jackson Township, Ocean County. "The woods are much too mature, because the state doesn't do much cutting anymore."

That's where the Ruffed Grouse Society aimed to help.

After a review of chainsaw safety by Brian Manke of the power-tool company Stihl, the volunteer crew got to work pruning the trees that threatened to overtake the 10-year-old stand of cedar. They mostly wielded hand tools - clippers and handsaws - but a couple of power saws also circulated among the men.

The blanket of snow that covered the ground and trees muffled the purring power saws and scraping handsaws.

Unlike turkeys and quail, grouse are the only upland game birds that are not stocked for sport hunting. The chicken-sized bird doesn't migrate and it lives mostly on the ground.

When flushed, it rises with a thunderous beating of wings that has the effect of startling would-be predators. In spring, the male grouse makes a similar sound to attract a mate. He beats his wings to create a low-pitched drumming sound, like a distant motor starting.

Saturday's deep snow and frigid temperatures proved not be significant obstacles to the day's work. Indeed, the men were able to walk easily through the normally mucky cedar swamp, as the cold winter has frozen it solid. And the cold didn't stop several of the men from breaking into a heavy sweat as they felled the small trees.

Several volunteers noted that creating habitat for ruffed grouse also improves habitat for woodcock, rabbits and other ground-dwelling creatures. The downed trees were left in place to create hiding places for the forest's smaller critters.

"Hopefully, we can make a difference," Camaraza said as he took a short breather.

Then he peeled off his camouflage jumpsuit and got back to work.

To e-mail Jack Kaskey at The Press:

JKaskey@pressofac.com