Old-Growth Forests

• diversity of hollows in limbs and trunks of live trees, dead trees (stags) and ground logs; • more dead wood present both standing and as ground logs; • usually deep litter layer or native grasses present as ground cover; • diversity in tree structure and age with older trees producing larger amounts of loose and shedding bark providing greater opportunities for nesting and roosting, and higher levels of food resources such as insects, nectar, pollen and sap; • mistletoe and epiphytes often present; and • more availability of nest building materials and locations and perches for resting, basking and hunting of forest birds and owls.