Save Sapsucker Woods

In 1909, Ithaca’s master of bird art, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, gave Sapsucker Woods its name after his discovery there of the first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker nest found in the Cayuga Lake basin. Cornell University took ownership of part of that land in the early 1950’s. Since then, much of the surrounding woodland has been developed for housing subdivisions and apartment complexes. The remaining privately-owned woodlands adjacent to Cornell’s property are again in danger. These woods have grown into an established forest, home to numerous species--birds, mammals, plants, trees, and many other forms of life. Although portions of these remaining woods have been disturbed, they are now all part of one forest, on which much life is dependent. For this reason, we consider Sapsucker Woods to extend beyond Cornell’s property boundaries.