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Field Identification Of Birdseye In Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum Marsh.), Douglas D. Stokke, Don C. Bragg

Douglas D. Stokke

Birdseye grain distortions in sugar maple must be identified to capture the full value of a timber sale throughout the economic range of birdseye's occurrence. Even when relatively common, birdseye veneer typically makes up less than 1 percent of the harvested volume, but may account for one-half of the value of the sale. With prices recently reaching $50,000 per Mbf for prime logs, omission of birdseye (when present) from cruise data could cause significant economic loss for the forest landowner. But figured wood can sometimes be detected in standing timber (Pillow 1955). Field identification of birdseye sugar maple is critical …