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Wildlife Management Notes | |
Birdsong Nature Center
Wildlife Management Notes
Wildlife Management Notes and Observations
May 10, 2002
Woodland pond at Birdsong.
Weather We haven’t had any rain in weeks, the temperatures have been in the 90’s, and it is beginning to show. Water levels in the ponds and swamps have dropped, vegetation growth has slowed and the lawn is getting that parched look. Betty would have asked us to do a rain dance by now.
Land Management We completed all our prescribed burning as planned and on schedule again this year, so we are very pleased. Thanks to everyone who helped us burn this season - we had really good crews and excellent teamwork. We left a few small areas to use as demonstration burns or for experimental sites. We are relieved to have the burning done before any potential drought.
This time of year we begin our terrace mowing to increase variety of habitat in our oldfield areas. Blair mows a strip along one side of each terrace, then two weeks later mows the other side, creating three heights of grasses and vegetation, which attracts different sized grasshoppers and other insects. This is beneficial to our nesting bluebirds and others who are busy feeding insects to their offspring throughout the summer months.
The crimson clover crop nearly covered the entire Gin House Field this year - is was beautiful in bloom. Now it is seeding out and being replaced by daisy fleabane. Big Bay Field is in full daisy fleabane bloom and worth a look.
Birds Great blue herons and anhingas are extremely active in Big Bay Swamp, feeding their enormous and very vocal babies. This year there are three great blue nests high in the water tupelo trees and four or more anhinga nests tucked closer to the water. All are visible from the newly re-screened Listening Place.
Bluebird season is in full swing and the monitors have been busy counting eggs and fledglings every other Thursday and Saturday. At last count there were 31 babies fledged so far. There have also been successful brown-headed nuthatch broods, as well as chickadees, wrens, and titmice in the bluebird boxes.
The purple martins have been delightful to observe, as always. They’ve gone through courtship and nest-building, and are now actively feeding young. Most gourds now have two babies looking out the entrance; one has three. We want it to rain and cool off for their sake also; it’s hot up in those gourds and we don’t want them bailing out before they can fly.
Cedar waxwings have been moving through, consuming the red mulberry fruit on trees near the house. Summer tanagers, northern parulas, great-crested flycatchers, orchard orioles, blue grosbeaks, and indigo buntings are back and singing all over the property.
Volunteer Michael Bell recently observed 25 bobolinks in the Gin House Field, a Kentucky warbler, a prothonotary warbler, and an Acadian flycatcher on breeding territories. He has also heard many Bachman’s sparrows singing.
The Bird Window Many birds are now using the seed and suet at the Window to feed young back at the nest. We see red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, blue jays, grackles, and red-winged blackbirds feeding themselves, then hauling off as much suet as they can pack into their bills. Many birds appreciate the water and mist - the white-eyed vireo comes and dips, and other love to bathe, including tanagers, orchard orioles, bluebirds, northern parulas, a black-throated blue warbler, and a black and white warbler. Bobwhite quail in pairs, ground doves, mourning doves, and a small cotton rat have been enjoying the cracked corn. Ruby-throated hummingbirds, both male and female, have been busy arguing over the nectar feeder.
Flowers In spite of a lack of rain, many important berry - producers are blooming profusely. The magnolias in particular are fragrant and glorious, attracting lots of pollinating insects. We hope for rain now, during this flowering, so that the berry crop later in the year will be abundant for wildlife.
The Woodrat Report Nicholas the eastern woodrat has taken a bride. Courtship first became evident when the floor of the outside bathroom cabinet was strewn, bower-like, with lyre-leaf sage leaves. Then a new daybed was constructed behind the recycling bin. The rat we then began to catch glimpses of looked, well, bigger than had Nicholas. We named her Colette. Every morning beside her nest we’d find a collection of fresh red mulberry leaves for her to eat. That, or Senecio flowers. Then it became clear that Nicholas had become a father. Colette, residing in the daybed now dashes away upon our checking on her, with two babies attached, little feet and tails flying, bouncing off the woodwork as their mother scampers off. Nicholas meanwhile sleeps in the nest between the walls.
We have learned that the carrying capacity of an outdoor bathroom is one woodrat, not four. Woodrats are not tidy housekeepers and it is all getting a bit much, as Colette busily rearranges beds made of shredded toilet paper from one place to another. As soon as her offspring can fend for themselves, eviction proceedings will begin. It has been an ongoing and fascinating learning experience for us. Woodrats really are beautiful little creatures.
Spring is gradually becoming summer. The days are getting longer; the constellations turn above us in the night sky. We are so fortunate to be here, to be a part of it all, to have shared time with Betty Komarek, who taught us so much about the cycles of nature and how everything must change. It is a very different world without her here. We miss her.
-KDB
"Wildlife Management Notes" appears regularly in our bi-monthly Newsletter. Below is an index of links to previous wildlife management articles:
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Copyright © 2002, Birdsong Nature Center
Revised -- April 7, 2002