Piseco Lake from Panther Mountain - Decomposers in the forest

On the back side of Piseco Lake in the southwestern Adirondacks you will find the trail to Panther Mountain. It is a decent hike up but not too steep or too long.

The girls are ready for a hike!


The reward is this tremendous view! Those aren't swans behind us, they are sailboats. They're probably a mile away. You can see for miles at the top of Panther Mountain.

We all enjoy the view but need to be careful about the 80 ' cliffs dropping off right behind us.

As we investigate the top, Sophie finds a tree that has been worked on by the Pileated Woodpecker. You can find out more about Pileated Woodpeckers at http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/pileatedwoodpecker.htm

Like all living things, trees live and die. When the tree dies, the decomposers move in to break up. First there are the ants and grubs, insect larve, that eat away at the wood. Sometimes they move in while the tree is still alive when it is no longer healthy. A Pileated Woodpecker can actually hear the sound of these insects inside the tree trunk. Then he goes to work! He uses his powerful beak to break into the tree trunk and pull out a tasty grub or use his long tongue to get some ants. It may sound gross to us, but it's lunch for him. This activity leaves wood chips on the ground where they can begin to rot and become part of the soil. The holes he leaves in the trunk will allow water to sink in when it rains and that will also cause the trunk to rot. Owls, squirrels, chipmunks and other small animals may use the holes in the trunk as a cozy home. Sometimes the Pileated Woodpecker uses the holes to create a nest for their young. After several years, the tree will fall over and continue to break down until all its nutrients return to the soil. This is just one example of how the Decomposers all play an important part in the cycle of life.