black birch

[woodmills1]

most of the black or sweet birch in my forest shows huge scars that look like branches have fallen off.  any ideas what is causing this?

[Ron Wenrich]

Pretty typical for black birch.  I believe it's just something that the bark does as the tree grows.  You start to get those fissures.

It doesn't hurt the tree, and there is no defect in the lumber.

If you could, post a picture.