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WindStar Wildlife Garden Weekly e-Magazine |  |
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Welcome to
By Scott Shalaway I test my observational skills on late winter walks by searching for signs of wildlife. I don't go home until I find at least one bit of evidence of wildlife activity. It's not as difficult as it might seem, even to an untrained eye. (Wild Turkey tracks) The most obvious wildlife signs are tracks. After a snowfall, it's difficult to walk a 100 ft. and not cross an animal's path. The same is true for muddy areas near streams and seeps. The next step is identifying the tracks; that's the tricky part. A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, 3rd edition (2005, Houghton Mifflin) by Olaus Murie and Mark Elbroch and Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign, 2nd edition (1999, HarperCollins) by Paul Rezendes can be invaluable on winter walks. Another easy sign to find after a snowfall are old bird nests. They look like scoops of vanilla ice cream nestled among the trees and shrubs. Among those within arm's reach, some are identifiable. Grapevine bark is usually wound into the wall of a cardinal nest. A bulky stick nest lined with finer materials may belong to a Blue Jay or Brown Thrasher. And a compact cup lined with horsehair was probably built by a Chipping Sparrow. A pile of feathers can indicate a hawk kill. Bird- eating hawks usually pluck their prey and leave behind a tell tale mass of feathers. At this time of year there are a limited number of birds present, so examine the feathers closely and look for distinguishing colors. Red feathers suggest a cardinal, House Finch, or maybe a male woodpecker; blue--a Blue Jay; gray--a titmouse; blue-gray-- a nuthatch; yellow-- a goldfinch, and so on. My favorite animal signs, which can be found any time of year, are owl pellets. Great Horned Owls and Barred owls usually consume their prey on an elevated tree branch. After eating, owls regurgitate the indigestible portions of the meal--fur, feathers, and bones--as distinctive grayish pellets. They accumulate under favorite perches and sometimes a dozen or more can be found in one spot. Take them home and use tweezers and a long needle to dissect them to learn what the owls ate. Skulls usually remain intact, so look for the distinctive curved incisors and flat molars of rodents and rabbits. This is a great project to do with the kids or grandchildren to introduce the concept of predator and prey. During snow-free periods of winter I can usually find several piles of bones. Some may be remains of a predator kill, but I suspect most are the result of collisions with cars and trucks. The victim manages to crawl into the woods before dying and months later I find the bones. Over the years I've found complete skeletons of deer, raccoons, cats, ground hogs, skunks and squirrels. And don't be surprised if the bones appear gnawed. Rodents often eat bones as a source of calcium. Among the rarest treasures I might find on a late winter walk are deer antlers. Most bucks shed their antlers in January and, again thanks to rodents, few remain into March. Antlers are a virtual calcium bank that rodents just can't resist. Finally, the easiest take-home signs (though few will want to take them home) are droppings. Piles of small, dark rabbit pellets are familiar to anyone who has kept a pet rabbit. Winter deer droppings can also be described as pellets, though they are larger and more numerous than rabbit pellets. When green succulent vegetation is eaten, deer scats become softer and larger. Tom turkey droppings look like long dark corn curls (the snacks); hens deposit rounder piles. It's not always necessary to see wildlife to enjoy it. You've just got to know the signs. –Pittsburgh Post Gazette
PERHAPS you read in a newspaper last week that most of the nation's rivers and streams—and the fish in them—are contaminated with pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders. Naturally, the chemical industry immediately said “but not at levels that can harm humans.” This reminds me of a joke that Jay Leno tells about the purity requirements of breakfast food. He said the government regulations call for no more than one- half of a percent rat and mouse droppings! Leno then asks the audience “is this really low enough?” It seems to me the same is true in our rivers and streams. Reporter John Heilprin of the Associated Press, writes that pesticides were found in almost all U.S. rivers and streams between 1992 and 2001, according to a study released recently by the U.S. Geological Survey, although most drinking water supplies haven't been affected. "While the use of pesticides has resulted in a wide range of benefits to control weeds, insects and other pests, including increased food production and reduction of insect-borne disease, their use also raises questions about possible effects on the environment, including water quality," said Robert Hirsch, the USGS associate director for water. He says pesticides were seldom found at concentrations likely to affect people, and they were less common in groundwater. But, they were found in most fish. Most frequently detected in agricultural streams were three herbicides used mainly on farms: atrazine, metolachlor and cyanazine. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency settled a 2003 lawsuit brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council, forcing the government to assess whether atrazine threatens the survival of endangered Chesapeake Bay sea turtles, endangered Texas salamanders and 16 other aquatic species. Three other herbicides used commonly in cities— simazine, prometon and tebuthiuron—showed up more often in urban streams. The USGS looked for 100 pesticides, and found 40 of them had a widespread presence in streams and sediment in both urban and agricultural areas, at concentrations that could affect aquatic life or fish- eating wildlife. The pesticides showed up more than 90 percent of the time in the fish tissue found in agricultural, urban and mixed land-use areas. In each of the streams the USGS studied, at least one pesticide was detected. In about 19 of every 20 streams with agricultural, urban or mixed land-use watersheds, pesticide compounds were found at nearly all times of the year. The most frequent occurrence was in shallow groundwater beneath agricultural and urban areas, where more than half the wells contained one or more pesticide compounds. The USGS report is based on an analysis of data from 51 major river basins and aquifer systems nationally, and a study of an aquifer system that runs through eight states from South Dakota to Texas, east of the Rocky Mountains. It found that concentrations of individual pesticides nearly always complied with the EPA's drinking-water standards, though no water samples from streams were taken at drinking-water intakes. Like Jay Leno says, “Is this really low enough?” It’s no wonder that in the Midwest rural water cooperatives are being established when alternative sources of water must be found because rural wells are contaminated, especially with agricultural chemicals. New water sources usually are obtained by drilling extremely deep wells, installing a water tower and pipe to rural residents. When are we going to wake up and address these critical environmental issues that plague our country today? Contaminated water is only one of many environmental problems.
By Eric Zimmerman Conflicts arise when wildlife negatively affect human interests in some way. To the individuals being affected by wildlife, a negative experience may occur whether it is squirrels invading the bird feeder or predators killing livestock. (Raccoon raiding garbage can) Attitudes about wildlife in general and where the encounters occur often determine how tolerable people are of the conflict. Folks that live in urban areas are sometimes less tolerable of wildlife and believe that wildlife belongs only in the "wild." Many of our cities provide "green" areas including parks, wooded corridors, natural areas, drainage easements, retention ponds and urban creeks and streams. These areas provide habitat and also a way for small mammals to move through the city. Raccoons, opossums, skunks, Gray Fox, Armadillos, Beaver, deer and even coyotes and feral hogs travel through urban areas in search of food, water and shelter. If the wildlife would remain in the "green" areas of our cities there would be fewer conflicts. Unfortunately, this is not what happens. The areas can only support so much wildlife. Populations increase, and the lack of natural predators in urban areas forces urban wildlife to coexist with humans. Urban wildlife species usually have few problems living with people; most of the time it's people having problems living with wildlife. Why wouldn't a Raccoon want to eat cat food off the patio and slumber in the attic? A tall sycamore located near an urban creek provides a perfect space for herons and egrets to raise their young during the spring. Deer enjoy devouring hundreds of dollars worth of landscaping, and armadillos love to dig for grub worms in lush, manicured lawns. These animals are just doing what any animal does to survive. This surviving sometimes causes conflicts, which can include extensive property damage and threats to human health and safety. We have to remember that not all urban dwellers view wildlife in the city as a problem. For those folks that rarely leave the city, viewing wildlife in our neighborhoods and parks allows them the opportunity to commune with nature without ever stepping foot off the pavement. So how can we be mindful of different attitudes and also coexist with the urban wildlife? Understanding the biology and behavior of animals is helpful, and a certain amount of tolerance is important. The majority of wildlife in urban areas was born and raised right in the city. These animals, however unfortunate, either directly or indirectly depend on us for survival. They eat pet food intended for our domestic pets, feed on spilled birdseed, rummage through our garbage and compost piles, and help themselves to the fish in our backyard ponds. They access our attics, live under our pier, homes and storage sheds and use our drainage systems as freeways. So what can we do to reduce the negative experience of urban wildlife? Pick up pet food at night when most critters are foraging; prevent entrance to houses and buildings by making repairs; and stop access by trimming tree limbs and bushes. Feed high quality birdseed so the birds don't pick the good stuff out and kick the rest to the ground. Plant deer- resistant plants, and as for the disappearing fish, prevent wildlife access to yards or ponds when practical. Encounters with wildlife will only increase as our human populations expand and our cities grow. Wild animals will always live among us, and in some instances, the only encounter that the majority of kids living in urban areas will ever have with wildlife, will be in their own backyards. These encounters provide opportunities to learn about wildlife diversity and conservation. We can reduce the chance of a negative experience by removing food, shelter and water and enjoying wildlife from a distance. EDITOR’S NOTE: Eric Zimmerman is a Texas Cooperative Extension Agent in Brazos County specializing in agriculture and natural resources.
To
Prune Or Not To Prune Planning the Three Levels of A Wildlife Garden To attract the most wildlife you need three levels of plant growth. The lowest level consists of grasses and flowers. The middle level of your wildlife habitat should consist of thick vines and/or densely growing shrubs. And, trees comprise the third level of the wildlife garden. Marlene A. Condon, author of the Nature Friendly Garden tells you how to modify your property for maximum effect. Looking
Deeper Into Bird Songs Keep
Feeding Your Birds Tell us your favorite wildlife stories or comment on the articles posted by our editorial contributors, or answer or ask a question. This is a great place to pass on those tips you have learned over the years about attracting wildlife to your property, photographing nature or just watching wildlife. Go to WindStar’s American Wildlife Blog and click on “Comments” at the end of an article to make your voice heard.
If you have a photo you think might be of interest to other
naturalists and that you would like to see considered for Photo of the
Week, send it in a jpg to wildlife@windstar.org and in the subject
line type
AFTER noticing that there were a lot of Ring-necked Pheasants gathering in a grove of evergreens behind her home, Marjorie W. of Norwood, MN decided to try and coax them out where she could see them better. “I sprinkled cracked corn around some smaller trees about 20 ft. away from the grove,” she writes. “Was I surprised the next morning when I found more than 50 of these richly colored birds enjoying the corn! Since the cracked corn had worked so well in drawing the birds closer, I figured I’d try to get them to come another 20 ft. and eat on my patio. They did! Some of them even came right up to my patio door. They also flew up to my deck and ate from a bird feeder. Feeding and watching these birds gave me great pleasure all winter long.” –Birds & Blooms
If you love to feed, photograph, or (Sharp-shinned Hawk by Leisa's Images)
A WILDFLOWER garden in her yard includes trilliums, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild columbine and more, says Coral of Portage, MI. “One May, a patch of trilliums began to disappear. At first, I
thought they were being eaten by a Woodchuck I’d spotted. But then I
noticed dainty hoof prints—it had to be a small doe. A few more trilliums
came up...but as soon as a blossom opened, it disappeared. Only telltale
hoof marks nearby remained. “Hoping to save the remaining blooms, I put a small piece of fence around the cluster of plants and placed twigs across the top. A few days later, I discovered deer tracks and saw the twigs had been pushed aside. The doe had eaten all but three or four of the trilliums.” One day a neighbor phoned Coral to say he’d spotted the doe in her garden and wanted to get a picture. With camera in hand, he got to within 10 ft. of the whitetail before she spooked. neighbor motioned me to come over, and there, among our lilies of the valley, we found a fawn curled up. We were both overwhelmed by its gentle beauty— finding it there was like a wonderful gift. The neighbor quietly took a few pictures, and then we left the fawn to its mother. Early the next morning, they were gone.” Although the doe had eaten most of her trilliums, Coral didn’t mind—seeing the fawn was a special sign of spring.—Birds & Blooms Newsletter
USE HULLED sunflower at feeders to attract the widest variety of birds, including birds that may not be able to handle seeds with shells. Birds such as Carolina Wrens and Northern Flickers sometimes remain in more northern areas. Their bills are not well adapted to cracking open sunflower seeds but they may be lured to feeders with hulled sunflower.- – Stokes Birding News
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NEWS SOURCES
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ================================ Have an EXCELLENT Day in your WILDLIFE HABITAT! Tom Patrick ================================
LET NATURE BE YOUR LEGACY
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