Replies

1. 
   jonsherryl | Apr 09, 2002 03:05am | #1

   Yes, it is possible to identify maple trees that contain bird's eye by examining the bark. The bark tends to flake off quicker, so it is usually darker (less faded) and it has a more irregular texture with smaller plates (hard to put into words, but with a little experience, it's easy to recognize.) Also, the trees tend to be more barrel shaped (less taper as the trunk extends.)

   It is more difficult to identify Trees with fiddleback figure by looking at the bark, but a quick peek at the end grain of a log reveals the characteristic, wavy annual rings. I've heard some experienced timber cruisers say they can spot it on the stump, but I've certainly never been able to master the skill. 

2. 
   Armin110 | Apr 13, 2002 10:38pm | #2

   Fenner, I work with a lot of loggers and mills in prime birdseye country as well as having attended my share of log auction. I agree with the general concept stated by Jon however that is only an indicater the tree might contain birdseye. Most buyers will knock off a small section of bark, the eyes will show as pronounced little craters or dimples (looking for word here), at that point you still don't know if the eyes cover the entire log. In some cases the eyes are on one side of the log or just on the surface and after the first board is sawed off you have nothing but plain maple. Usually a tree is not cut on the assumption it will yield a top dollar birdseye log, more than likely it's cut as a veneer log and once it's down and you can see the end cut the concentration of eyes as well as  quality of material will be more apparent. More than one land owner called me with stars in his eyes dreaming he has that $50 bd.ft. log when in fact the eyes are so light and scattered its just a plain old saw log with goose bumps.