November 9, 2011 LAAS Evening Program Presentation
Steve Shunk presents: Burned Forests and Black-backed Woodpeckers in the Sierra Nevada
Forest fires present a classic man vs. nature dilemma in California's largest mountain range. The Sierra Nevada evolved with fire as a critical part of its ecology, and the Black-backed Woodpecker is the quintessential poster-child for the current state of Sierra forests.
Society's demand for wood products and the fact that we own homes in the woods, make it impossible for us to allow the natural fire regime to occur. For 100 years we have suppressed fire in the forest, leaving volatile fuel loads, which burn violently once sparked. How do we balance the demands of a growing populace with the importance of forest ecology?
Join Oregon naturalist and North American woodpecker specialist, Steve Shunk, for a thorough natural history of the Black-backed Woodpecker. Steve spent the summer of 2011 studying Black-backs in the Sierra Nevada, visiting 28 different burns. He also lives in the heart of Black-backed Woodpecker habitat in Oregon's eastern Cascade Mountains. Steve will interpret western forest ecology, with an emphasis on the keystone roles played by the region’s woodpeckers.
The November 2011 evening program presentations will be held at the West Hollywood Community Center in Plummer Park. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. (at Martel Ave.) Programs start at 7:30 p.m. and conclude at 9:30 p.m.
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