We have several large brush piles in our wooded area. They serve as shelter for a lot more than the birds, including mammals large and small, reptiles, amphibians, and a host of insects, including butterflies. Such features eventually decompose and add much needed organic material back to the soil. An all-around winning situation without even considering the municipal removal process.
Snow Birds
Mostly, though, the cows stay in the field across the road.
LOL ecnalg!
I didn't know that so many critters sheltered in them; thanks for the info, greenthumb.
The blue jays spent a good half hour try to chase away something today. I assume it was a bird of prey, but all I saw was a big black bird that looked like a crow. Eventually, a crow joined in the mobbing and chasing, and whatever it was left.
hahaha Pat, thank heavens for that!
greenthumb, I try to keep some amount of natural rotting wood on the ground. I like the beetles I find in big logs. It fosters ants and termites, far from the house..But 'some people' here have less tolerance for looking at endless piles of decomposing brush, this yard doesn't hide much of it.
I find my "official" Backyard Wildlife Habitat sign (from National Wildlife Federation) goes a long way with "some people." Certification is easy, just a matter of meeting a minimum number of requirements for providing food, shelter, nesting sites... most home gardeners are already there.
I do need to get some more cracked corn, as that keeps the starlings away from the other feeders, but meanwhile I'm putting out more PB cookies for them.
In order to keep our property in the forestry category for reduced tax purposes, we had to have a certified forester look at the property and devise a forestry management plan. High on the list of things in the plan were 3 ' high brush piles for sheltering the wild life.
Brush piles in the local State Park where put in place for their Hawk program years ago. Making more shelter for the small mammals that would feed the Hawks. Part of their habitat program. It was interesting to see several large brush piles in the fields.
I hated to see the neighbors cut down the dead wood in the hedgerow, they looked at it as a dangerous nuisance I looked at it as habitat and food for the woodpeckers that ate all the little bugs living in the dead trees. Lucky we have the large wooded area behind us to make up for the loss, but many areas don't have that anymore and these small pockets of old hedgerow are all there is.
I don't have a lot of space in my yard for brush either, especially when my compost pile is large, but at least I have an out-of-sight place to put it.
The nearby forest has a good number of fallen trees. The first time I saw a pileated woodpecker, it was tearing into a log on the ground.
Aspen, I knew you had a beautiful forest, but I didn't know it was a "certified" one. That's really neat! What else did the forester want you to do?
You see brush piles frequently on state lands and gamelands. As David said they serve as cover for a host of animals and can also allow saplings growing in them to reach above browse height before the deer can easily get to them. Since birds are drawn to them they deposit a whole community of plant seeds in their droppings. In the northern areas of the state I've seen small clear cuts, where the trees are all felled to the center, and a deer fence erected around it. The idea behind this is to create small hot spots of bio-diversity in browsed out forest. Many understory plants are short lived needing renewal, either through seed or sprouts, and it's not just the understory. Out west aspen is disappearing from whole ranges, many aspens stands spread by their roots, and over browsing does not allow them grow to a fruiting stage. Nipped in the bud so to speak.
very interesting, Ric, thanks
Hey, neat idea there... plant out saplings and "fence" them around with brush, maybe even have a sapling nursery area in the middle of a brush row. Thanks!
Muddy, here are excerpts from the forestry analysis and plan recommendations:
Description Parcel A:
Mixed hardwood - white oak, chestnut oak, scarlet oak, black oak, northern red oak, yellow poplar, black locust, black cherry, red cherry, black gum, hickory, white ash, sycamore, ailanthus, red elm, white elm, persimmon, black walnut, hackberry, American beech, American hornbeam, witchhazel, red bud and dogwood. Age 45 -80 years. Most has been in forest cover for the last 90 years.
Description Parcel B:
Mixed hardwood - yellow poplar, black cherry, green ash, red cherry, ailanthus, black locust, persimmon, sassafras, red maple, black gum, boxelder, black oak, black walnut, sycamore, hackberry, american hornbeam, red bud and dogwood. Spicebush and paw paw are scattered in the understory. Age 45 - 80 years. Much of the parcel was in agricultural usage in the mid 1930s as evidenced by many species which are shade intolerant.
Wildlife habitat:
Good species diversity, hard and soft mast (acorns and berries) producing trees, a multi-layered canopy and close proximity to water makes it very attractive to such species as white tail deer, wild turkey, mink, otter, beaver, gray squirrel, raptors, numerous song birds, and furbearers such as raccoon, opossum and fox.
Recommendations:
1. Expand the trail system throughout the parcels to improve access and management opportunities. Also create a botanical walk that extends along the stream and around the pond.
2. Remove all heavy debris for firewood. The remaining debris should be placed in brushpiles approx. 20' long x 10' wide x 5' deep. Doing so will enhance both aesthetic values and wildlife habitat.
3. Initiate a sanitation cut by removing species that are poorly formed, dead, dying, diseased, defective or severely damaged, and those that are spaced too closely.
4. Plant sugar maple and red oak seedlings on a 15' x 15' spacing on larger openings.
5. Perform selective sawtimber harvest cut approximately every 15 - 20 years.
6. Inspect yearly for Emerald Ash borer - green ash was observed and Loudoun county is under quarantine for this pest.
7. Remove all remaining black locust trees from Parcel B. Removing this species will create growing space for higher value species such as ash, oak, polar, and cherry.
What an education I'm getting here!
I'm really enjoying the discussion regarding brush piles, and that forestry analysis is so interesting!
Aspnehill, I'm curious to see how you'll be expanding your trail system and botanical walk! Best of luck removing your black locust, though. :/ There used to be just one black locust in our backyard, and it still pops up everywhere. It has such an extensive root system!
very interesting, aspenhill!
Nice report, Sound like you have a very healthy and diverse woodland.
How cool is that, Aspenhill?!!!! A VERY interesting read
Thanks, Aspenhill. Your forest land is so rich; you're lucky to have it and it's so great that you're allowing all of those mature trees and shrubs to flourish.
Ric, interesting that you mention using brush piles to protect native seedlings from deer. I used that technique to protect a seedling in the forest near me until I could get out there with the wood stakes and netting I usually use. It worked, and looked better than stakes and netting. The problem was that there wasn't really enough brush to protect it long term, because the understory needed to produce brush isn't there.
I recently sowed seeds in between logs left after trees were cut down, hoping that deer wouldn't want to climb over logs 2' in diameter just to munch on a seedling. I hope it works!
My latest plan is to cut down a large Burning Bush and use it to protect native shrub seedlings.
I never knew mockingbirds could be so intimidating! I haven't seen any starlings since it arrived. It seems to be scaring away the bluebirds too. Birds can be such a puzzle.
Teri, the ailanthus in parcel A should also be addressed when possible. Trying to get red of The Tree from Heaven can be pure Hello. It also sprouts from the root system.
Did I ever post the pic of the lazy egret? He doesn't hunt for his food he just goes to the local BK drive-up. LOL
That is too funny! Do you know what do they give it?
She was feeding him French Fries when we were there.
I wonder how that egret figured out that the tasty scraps it found in the trash or parking lot came from that window? That's one smart bird.
Hope egret doesn't regret fast food diet. Sushi?
Here at my mom and pop I have one customer dominating the scene: Mockingbird is fulltime Maitre D seeing who gets seated and served and running off all but chickadees and juncos if they stay on the ground. From sunrise to a bit after sunset Mocker sits atop a trellis near two tube feeders, a suet cake, a picnic table spread and two other platforms for feeding. Runs off woodpeckers and nuthatches who are lucky if they get one bite or a peanut chip before being chased. Even the Bluejays and Cardinals don't frequent much after such rude treatment!
I have other 'feeding stations', but I can't see them from indoors. Don't know if it is the suet that the mocking bird is guarding as I haven't seen it eat any. Each morn when I refill feeding areas mocking bird is already there to get first pick of and peanut parts in the seed mix and absolutely devours any apple slices I put out until they freeze solid!
Ric, I agree with your caution on the alianthus trees! Wouldn't it be great if every community had a long term forest/wildlife management plan? At one of the churches near me they have a forested trail with permanent ID markers on many trees and native plants. So helpful.
Forgot to include this tidbit I heard on the radio yesterday about American Kestrals, the smallest of our falcons aka 'sparrow hawk'. Kestrals are able to see ultraviolet light and thus are able to track their prey of small rodents by the trail of urine they leave everywhere they go!
LOL about your Mockingbird, critter! The one in my yard definitely guards its territory, defined as the Oakleaf Holly in which it perches, suet feeder and the ground under the suet feeder. I haven't seen it eat much suet either, and if it's eating the raisins I put on top of the feeder, it's eating them slowly. I'll have to try apples; that would be fun to watch!
Coleup, thanks for the tidbit about American Kestrals. Those are beautiful birds! I just read that they're supposed to be in our area year round, but I've never seen one.
Be sure to check out the spring show schedule!!!http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1311545/#new
My..Oh, MY!
I been wondering why no one is posting anything about birds??
Decided tonight to posy my woes with all the blackbirds--especially Grackles--
and then realized i had not clicked to "watch" this thread.
SO--I enjoyed reading all your posts, and it seems many people have the same
issues with blackbirds--mostly Starlings, which are in the minority here.
I mostly see Grackles in the hoards that flock to my feeders. They seem to be
the "bosses" around here.
I am getting so tired of banging on my windows to chase them away.
One of these days--I will break one...They are so ravenous--
It may be that I buy "cheaper" seed which has cracked corn in it.
I know they like it.
It is neat to see though that as soon as the blackbirds run off, all the small birds come
flocking back to the feeder and seed on the ground.
Yet--I have a smaller feeder with just Safflower seed--and they try to eat that as well.
They crowd around my 3-tube feeder and they devour my suet cakes too...
I just put out the last 3 of my Suet cakes--there was a red bellied WP that was waiting
for it. I saw him hanging around in the tree. I see a lot of Downys as well.
I heard an unusual bird call--sounded like a chicken. Would that be the red-bellied WP?
It was in the tree where I heard it from.
Today, I added to my collection of feeders. I put out my sock feeder with Thistle as well as
a small Finch feeder with it. Besides that--I have had the fancy yellow, metal finch feeder
I got at Big Lots out all winter--filled with small seed mix sold for finches.
No one seems to pay any attention to it...it is full of seed too....What gives?
I took some pictures--all my feeders that hang from the patio roof edge, except the 3-tube one.
1--The little one is now filled with thistle--the yellow one seed mix--that no one touches.
it has the finch mix in it...maybe they cannot get it out of the slits??? Hmmm...may have to
open a couple up as regular feeding stations...
2--This is a neat squirrel-proof feeder. If one lands on it, the spring-loaded top slides down
and closes off all the feeding stations from the weight of the squirrel.
3--The old sock feeder....
4--and, of course, the big 3-tube feeder.
Now I will wait and see if the newer feeders Attrackt someone---
and--must remember to ritate the feeder covers to "open" so the birds
can get the mixed Finch seeds out od there....never thought of it...
That's a nice selection of feeders, Gita! I don't know about you, but I haven't seen goldfinches around yet; maybe they'll eat thistle and finch seed mix when they show up.
You're right about the mixed seed attracting the grackles. If you put out only safflower for awhile, maybe they'll give up and leave.
One grackle has migrated back to my yard; I know there will be more soon. I don't know where they go, but I'm grateful that they're gone from early fall to late winter. While they're around, black-oil sunflower seeds only go in a feeder like this, or in a tray for the cardinals after the grackles have gone to bed.
http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Squirrel-Proof-Selective-Feeder
http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Metal-Selective-Feeder
The diameter of these feeders - 10 1/2 inches - is very important. Any smaller than that and grackles can stick their heads in. The small birds love them because they know they're safe.
They're not cheap, but they help save $$$ on bird seed.
We've been seeing goldfinches consistently all winter. Had a bunch out there again today. We had 5 male cardinals at once this afternoon.
Lucky you! What do the goldfinches eat?
They eat the sunflower seeds. That is basically all we put out except for suet.
Not that I know what all birds look like--but i swear i have seen "gold Finches'
at my feeders--they are just in their drab winter colors. mostly--i see the pattern
on the wings--with the slightest touch of olive color to them.
Muddy--I guess i do not have as much $$$ as you do to spend on seed and feeders.
A 10lb. bag of safflower seed, at Wall-mart, still costs $10-$12.
If that is all I filled my feeders with--I would go broke.
I could stop feeding them all together--but the small birds need to eat.
I could care less about the black birds...honestly. They are a pain in the A.....
The last seed mix I bought was at Ollies. 20lb bag for $6.99. We were there--
and it seemed l9ke a great deal. Yeah--???
That is the one with all the corn in it. I know...I know.....yet it is all eaten anyway.
I need to get to Big Lots and buy their 8lb. bag of just Millet--$7.
The doves love that--and I usually spread it on the floor.
Of course--the "pigs" eat everything....no matter what.
Seems that the Blackbirds stop feeding here around 5;30PM.
That is when it is starting to turn dusk. The smaller birds feed a bit longer.
Nice break for them...and me!
Well--such is life.....G.
ecnalg, that's what finches eat in my yard too. Right now I just have house and purple finches, but the goldfinches also eat sunflower seeds when they're here...unless there happen to coneflower and black-eyed Susans seed heads around, that is.
Gita, those do sound like goldfinches.
I've decided to set up a separate Mockingbird feeding station a ways off from the area the Mocker now guards and dominates to give the smaller birds a shot at the goodies the Mocker doesn't favor. Evidently, it is the addition of a suet feeder amongst my seed feeder stations that has himm patroling and chasing off other birds,,,
http://www.knoxnews.com/knoxville/life/feeder-just-for-mockingbirds-helps-smaller
Mine isn't as fancy as the picture: berry suet. apple slices and peanuts.
What birds will, actually, eat apples or oranges?
You talking about apples made me slice one up, in small slices, and
put them outside.
No one has touched them.
Is a Mockingbird the only one that likes fruit?
G.
We have put fruit out in the winter with little interest observed. I think that during this time of year that the birds focus on foods that are calorie rich, nutrient dense, like seeds and suet.
Good idea, coleup! It'll be interesting to see how it works. Thanks for the link; that was an interesting article.That's quite a spread that they made for their mockingbirds!
Gita, the article coleup attached lists birds that will eat fruit.
I also found this: http://www.wbu.com/education/fruiteatingbirds.html
I gave my mockingbird its own dish with peanut butter, raisins, suet and dried mealworms. It seems pretty happy with its spread; it checked out the bluebirds' food, then went back to its own area.
Muddy--
I don't think I have any Mocking Birds here. Maybe they need a bigger space to be.
Last summer was the first time in years that there was one around---
singing its heart out. I love hearing them.....
Any reason they may not be in this area? Could be that it is a development?
G.