A Forest Reborn

A Forest Reborn. . , Years ago, this forest was destroyed by mining, farming, and other human causes. The landscape you see today is an example of secondary ecological succession , a process where a natural area regrows over time after a disturbance. Below, you'll see how the forest slowly made its comeback., On the Wing , Ecological succession is critical for wildlife too. New York City is part of the Atlantic Flyway, a migration route that birds follow up the Eastern United States. The travelers shown to the right need this habitat to survive. Can you spot them in the park?, Indigo Bunting Passeirina cyanea . Field Sparrow Spizella usilla . Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum, Perennial Weeds and Grasses , 1 - 4 years , Flowering plants and grasses are usually the first plants to emerge following a disturbance., Shrubs , 4 - 15 years , Berries, woody-stemmed shrubs and small, sun-loving trees such as cedars spring up from the ground., Young Forest Community , 15 - 30 years , Thick growth of thin-trunked young trees such as aspens and birch climb quickly skyward., Mature Forest Community , 50 - 75 years , Diverse varieties of hardwoods and straight-trunk conifers begin to dominate the forest., Climax Forest , 100 - 1,000 years , The most diverse system, where trees reach their full pan. Forests rarely reach this stage due to disturbances like deer herbivory, illegal dumping, and invasive plants.