Stop the European Oak Borer! Go with Native Oaks Instead!

Oaks make excellent hardwood, shade trees. They grow tall and full and once grew in large oak forests and oak savannas in North America. They are excellent for wildlife; they provide homes for cavity nest birds, acorns are eaten by birds and mammals, and they house a variety of insects which in turn provide food for other animals like Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Creepers. If you are looking to plant an Oak, you will find that you have a host of options; here's some information on the Oaks you may encounter.

The Heritage Oak or the English Oak is an invasive species from Europe. It's commercially available and has introduced the European Oak Borer to Oak forests in Canada and Michigan. The European Oak Borer is a potential threat to native Oak species and provides sufficient justification for planting native Oaks instead.

Historically many of the ecosystems found in the Midwest were transitionary from the forests of the Eastern United States to the prairies and grasslands of the Great Plains. Many species of Oak are relatively fire tolerant; this meant that they could survive grassland fires when other species of tree could not. The specific species of Oak which made up the Oak Savanna varied by state, but the following species are likely to be commercially at your local nursery and could be found in the Oak Savanna:

• Black Oak
• Bur Oak
• Norther Red Oak
• Pin Oak
• Swamp White Oak
• White Oak

Drier, more open sites may have been more prone to fire. The Bur Oak, Black Oak, and White Oak grew in stands along side prairie grasses and wildflowers as well as shrubs like the American Hazelnut. Cavity nesters which depended on these stands include the Eastern Bluebird and Red Headed Woodpecker. The Red Headed Woodpecker is a species in decline due in part to its dependence on these sites and particularly its use of dead Oaks when nesting.

Fuller stands of Oak also included the Northern Red Oak but would have appeared with fewer prairie grasses and wildflowers. The frequent wildfires prevented the development of much woody or shrubby understory, but thicker stands of Oaks would have had shade tolerant plants growing below them such as Culver's Root, Bottle Brush Grass, or Bush Clover. Denser stands of Oak can support bird species normally associated with woodlands including: Tufted Titmouse, Scarlet Tanager, and Yellow Throated Vireo.

This American Robin surveyed the ground below from our Northern Red Oak

We've opted to plant a Northern Red Oak and a Swamp White Oak in the northern half of our front yard. We also included two Nanny Berry Viburnums, after reading this list of shrubs. This summer to continue the Oak-Savanna-fication of our yard, we plan to put in some Little Blue Stem and some TBD wildflowers. This effort will help contribute to creating a no-mow area in the front and help us landscape using plants from the same biome to recreate habitat.

This is the Red Oak we planted two years ago in our front yard.

If you are interested in getting starting with native plants, Oaks are great place to start because there are so many to choose from, and they are capable of doing a lot of good on their own supporting countless species which I did not detail here. If you are so inclined, here are some other good reads about Oak habitats:

• Wisconsin DNR Savanna Communities
• Oak Savannas Dot Org
• Michigan DNR - Oak Savanna

Winged Wednesday - Five Things to Consider About Bird Houses

Bird houses can make excellent decorations in your lawn, and they can also help support native cavity nesting birds such as: Black Capped Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, Tree Swallows, and even Woodpeckers. Here are some things to consider when deciding if a bird house is right for you.

Select a bird to attract. Have some idea about what kind of bird you wish to attract. Bird houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can / should be mounted at different heights depending on the bird you wish to attract. A small house hung at four to five feet might be cozy for a Chickadee or a House Wren but would never do for an American Kestrel or a Wood Duck.

House Wrens use our nest box in the garden after the Chickadees each summer.

Beware of invasive species. House Sparrows and Starlings may attempt to use the bird house or drive out native birds. This again may affect your selection. If your yard is frequented by these birds, a smaller Wren house might be your best option as the small diameter of the hole will prevent larger birds from nesting. You may also be able to prevent nesting by delaying when you open your houses for business. I've found that if our bird houses are ready to go in March, the House Sparrows are happy to check them out, but if I wait until a week or two in April, the Chickadees and Wrens make good use of the houses with little to no trouble from the Sparrows. Note that House Sparrows and Starlings may attack native birds to take over an attractive nest site, you may need to reconsider putting up a bird house at all.

Inspect the nest site. Be aware of who is using your bird house, when they laid their eggs, how successful they were, and when they are done. It is interesting to watch baby birds grow up, but it is also practical. After the first brood has left, you can clean out the bird house so another nest can be built without the risk of diseases or parasites being carried over from the first nest.

This was the Chickadee nest from last year.

Be prepared to do some cleaning. Birds are fairly messy. The nests are fascinating works of art made of dead plant material, string, animal fur, etc. And the birds will use the nest as a bathroom. Even if you decide not to clean out the box between broods, you need to clean out the nest box at the end of the season.

Consider the construction material. Cedar is generally best, it's natural, hardy, and water tolerant. Other materials like PVC may also be okay. Wood painted or chemically treated may be bad for the health of the birds.

The Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin has a pretty detailed packet you can read here.

Leave that Austrian Pine Behind, Try These Pines Instead

Conifers make really great additions to our lawns. Many remain green through the winter; they provide shelter for birds, and they can be used as wind blocks. They can grow into big, majestic looking trees which cry out "wilderness" as though they belong with the great Redwoods of the West Coast.

Pine trees in particular strike us. More often than not when evergreen trees are misidentified, they are misidentified as pines. "Look at those pine trees." "I found those pine cones." In many cases, the tree identified could be a Fir or Spruce. People assume Pine and evergreen are synonymous. This says something about Pines, they are the representative for all evergreen trees.

The Austrian Pine is a relatively popular choice for yard and urban plantings. The tree tends be very full and is popular because it's tolerant of winter salting. This tree is capable of naturalizing and becoming invasive. It was cleared from the Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan in 2011 and can be found in wild tree stands in the Eastern United States.

Like many other plants, there are native alternatives to consider when selecting a pine.

The Eastern White Pine is an excellent choice. Not only is it native, but it's fairly common and commercially available. It's also the tallest conifer native to the Eastern U.S. The White Pine grows quickly but is not as salt tolerant as the Austrian Pine. White Pines are not necessarily good choices when planting along side roads and sidewalks because they may succumb to salt injury. However, they can be a beautiful addition to your yard and may help attract song birds such as Pine Grosbeaks.

This Eastern White Pine grows in our front yard.

The Jack Pine can be found natively in parts of the Midwest including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Young Jack Pines may attract nesting Kirtland's Warblers, so like the Eastern White Pine they can be good for attracting birds. They are also one of the first trees to grow after forest fires as the cones will open from immense heat of the fire. Jack Pine is more salt tolerant than White Pine and will do better along roadsides.

Red Pine (also called Norway Pine) is native to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. It is the official state tree of Minnesota. The tree tends to be very healthy and resistant to pests. This Pine does not grow as tall as other Pines and should max out around 50 feet. The Red Pine can be an attractive addition to your landscaping because of its unique reddish bark. The Red Pine like the White Pine may succumb to salt injury and should not be planted in areas which receive heavy winter salting.

If you are planning on putting in any Pines this spring try to see if you can find a White Pine, Jack Pine, or a Red Pine; they are excellent choices when going native.

A Year of Biodiversity in a Wisconsin Yard - 2013 Review

We've been keeping a spreadsheet of the animals residing in our yard throughout the year. Each time we see a new species, the species is added to the spreadsheet, and the count is updated. Ideally if planting native flora is beneficial, the yard should become a haven for fauna, so as part of our grand experiment we are tracking the results.

Below is a table showing a summary of our identified visitors since we started the tracking spreadsheet.

Year	Reptile / Amph.	Mammals	Bees / Butterflies	Birds
2012	1	5	13	31
2013	1	7	14	40

Highlights from 2013

We had a marsupial visitor early in the morning during the early Spring. This was the first time we saw a Virginia Opossum in our yard.


This Red Tailed Hawk used our neighbor's tree to do some hunting in our yard.


We had an Eastern Bluebird come check out the garden's bird house, only to discover the Chickadees had gotten their first.


Of the 5 eggs, 3 successfully hatched, fledged, and left the box.


We had Baltimore Orioles for the first time. They hung out for a couple of weeks in May.


There was also the turkey from this post.


The flowers also did a reasonable job attracting butterflies including this Black Swallowtail.

2013 was a pretty good year for us with lots of interesting happenings in the yard. We're looking forward to an equally eventful 2014.

Native Maple Trees In, Invasive Maples Out

Maple trees are a pretty standard neighborhood shade tree and fill many suburban yards and parks. They are readily available at your local nursery and can be relatively inexpensive. But not all Maples are created equal.

The Norway Maple is very common tree which can be found in residential plantings. It comes in a host of cultivars which each have their own distinct features. Rarely is this plant labeled "Norway Maple" so shoppers should look for the latin Acer Platanoides on the tags of the trees they purchase.

Many state DNRs have called the Norway Maple out as being an ecological threat to native Maple stands. While the plant starts off as a purchase intended for your lawn, the plant's seeds spread fairly easily, and it displaces native Maples in forests.

DNR Links for Your State:
• Minnesota
• Indiana
• Illinois

This tree is a relatively easy one to avoid planting largely because there are a number of native options which are regularly commercially available.

The Sugar Maple is a Wisconsin favorite. What's not to love about local, real, natural Maple syrup? We even know some folks who tap their own trees. This isn't a tree we have in our own yard. As mentioned in the initial post, our yard had no trees when we moved in. However our neighborhood has a number of Sugar Maples including one immediately behind our house in our neighbor's yard. Regular foragers in this mature tree include Black Capped Chickadees, White Breasted Nuthatches, Downey Woodpeckers, and Hairy Woodpeckers. Sometimes in the early Spring we see Brown Creepers or Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers in the tree.

Woodpecker flies down from Sugar Maple for peanuts.


Chickadees want in on the action too.

If your interest in a Maple is primarily about fall color, then a Red Maple is a good native choice. This tree is supposed to be easy to grow and is natively found in almost every state East of the Rockies. Another choice is the Silver Maple which is native to much of the United States and Canada. The Silver Maple is likely to give your yard a splash of yellow during the Fall. There are cultivars for both of these native species and even hybrid versions, see Acer Freemanii.

With a good variety of native trees to choose from, there's no need to plant invasive Maples. If you find that your municipality is using Norway Maples as boulevard trees, consider contacting your local alderperson or trustee to suggest planting natives instead.

Winged Wednesday - Birds Arriving in April

Around our yard, April is the month of the Sparrow.

Understanding that other birds are arriving in April, our yard in April tends to fill up with Sparrows. Other birds start to fill in more in May when warmer weather is assured.

In April, we see a variety of different kinds of Sparrow. Of course, there is never escaping the House Sparrow who doesn't flee even the harshest winters, but in April, we welcome Chipping Sparrows, White Throated Sparrows, White Crowned Sparrows, and Song Sparrows.

The White Throated Sparrows seemed particularly interested in our compost.


While the White Crowned Sparrows foraged around the shrubs.


And the Chipping Sparrows spent their time in the grass.

In the end, only the Chipping Sparrows stayed around in the yard all year. By the end of May, both the White Crowned and the White Throated had left. Alas, our yard was just a pitstop on their migration further north. The Song Sparrows could be found nearer the neighborhood pond all summer long and only returned to forage in the yard in the fall before leaving for the winter.

Other Noteworthy Visitors

We had some other interesting visitors last April too. The Mallards return to local pond in March, hoping it has already defrosted. By April, they meander the neighborhood looking for a nest site. Last year, our yard was closely inspected but not selected.Mr. and Mrs. Mallard spent around an hour early one Sunday morning in the garden, in the compost, in the lawn just milling around. I'm certain they had a lively discussion about the type of neighborhood they wanted their ducklings to grow up in, if only they had met our beagle.

Mallard Drake surveys the yard. His partner was already making her exit.

And we had an Easter Phoebe come visit us a few times in April and early May, but come summer, we didn't see it again.

April is always a fun month in the yard. It sees our winter guests stocking up before departing for the year, and sees a host of others stop to refuel. Mornings where the yard is full of Purple Finches, Sparrows, and Dark Eyed Juncos are good mornings. April is only two weeks away, and I"m looking forward to the lawn being filled with little brown birds breakfasting in the morning as I sip my coffee.

What April visitors are you looking forward too?

The Sounds of Spring Arrive

While taking our dog for a walk this evening around the neighborhood's pond, I heard four distinct sounds of Spring which I felt I should share:

• American Robins
• Red Winged Blackbirds
• Sandhill Cranes (9 of them flying North)
• Mallards (7 of them pulling up when they realized the pond is still frozen)

Signs of Spring checklist, updated, Red Winged Blackbirds spotted. Unfortunately my lawn still has about three inches of old dirty snow.

Don't Plant That Spruce! Plant This One Instead.

Spruces. Many people opt to plant Spruces when choosing an evergreen for their yard. Evergreens make for good wind blocks, provide shelter for nesting birds, and add some color in Winter. Spruce trees also make for an interesting topic of discussion for anyone interested in debating the line between native and invasive plant species.

Two of the most common Spruces planted are the Norway Spruce and the Colorado Blue Spruce. The Norway Spruce is native to Europe. The Colorado Blue Spruce is native to North America, but not the Upper Midwest. It is home to Colorado and Wyoming, but it has been planted throughout the United States. The blue color of its needles makes it a very attractive plant. As for whether or it is invasive or native, for purposes of this blog, it's invasive as it is not native to the Midwest.

Two native options which can be a little more difficult to find are the White Spruce and the Black Spruce. White Spruce can be found natively in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Its native range goes well beyond the Midwest spreading eastward to New York and westward towards Alaska and Montana. Black Spruce occupies a similar range spreading northward.

Black Hills Spruce

Finding native Spruces can be difficult, but a subspecies of White Spruce, the Black Hills Spruce, can be found fairly easily. White Spruce can be found in stands growing with Black Spruce, Aspen, and Birch. Spruce trees provide food and cover for a number of birds including: Grouse, Red Breast Nuthatches, Red Crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, and Pine Siskins.

Red Breasted Nuthatch Visiting For Peanuts

To help form a partial wind block at the northern end of our yard, we planted a Black Hills Spruce in line with an Eastern White Pine. They are about 14 feet apart. Between these two but staggered to the South we planted a Quaking Aspen. Each tree is planted near the center of a 10 by 10 square. Something like this:

Pine
	Aspen
Spruce

This year we plan to fill in the empty spaces with other shrubs and native grasses to form a "no mow zone" at the North end of the yard, and to provide some cover for ground dwelling birds. If you have suggestions for which shrubs or plants we should add to our "no mow zone", feel free to send your thoughts our way.

Winged Wednesday - Invasive Birds

Just like our yards succumb to invasive plant species, they can also be inviting invasive birds species. Three common invasive include the: House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, and the Starling.

These birds are all actually pretty different from one another, but they also share some remarkable traits.

The Rock Pigeon is very common in urban and suburban communities, in rural areas you can find these birds as well, sometimes living under interstate overpasses. Rock Pigeons are highly adaptable birds who do well in areas with a good amount of human traffic. If there are human hand outs they are happy to take them. They are the overseas cousins of the Mourning Dove and are more widely spread. They can be found pretty much everywhere around the world. Wherever humanity thrives, pigeons thrive as well.

The House Sparrow is another bird very commonly found around human habitation. This sparrow is an old world sparrow (Click here for a list of American Sparrows). They are fairly large for sparrows and not shy around feeders. They prefer to nest in cavities will displace native birds such as Black Capped Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows or House Wrens from bird houses. They are known to feed in large groups and can clean out bird feeders rapidly.

Starlings are fairly intelligent, problem solving birds. In many ways they remind me of our native blackbirds. During the cold winter months, when my yard is without Common Grackles, Brown Headed Cowbirds, and Red Winged Blackbirds, it is also Starling free. Starlings like House Sparrows are not shy around feeders, and they compete with native cavity nesting birds for nest sites.

In short each of these species have developed the ability, skills, and diets to succeed around people. They often enjoy food like bread, and in urban areas they may constitute much of the visible wildlife.

Here are some steps you can take to control invasive bird species.

Don't feed them.

1. Make sure they don't have access to food garbage.

2. Don't feed them in the park or in your yard.

3. Don't use cheap seed mixes. Purchase individual seeds instead like Striped Sunflower or Safflower.

4. Consider investing in specialized feeders, for example there are suet feeders which only expose the cake on the underside.

Don't house them.

1. Be mindful of what birds are nesting your nest boxes. While it's illegal to disturb the nest of a native bird, invasive species are not given the same federal protections. (Note you should check any local ordinances as well.)

2. Like the point above, check also on or around your house, in your gutters, etc. These birds tend to be content enough to nest near human activity. This should not be tolerated. (Like the point above, you will need to mindful of native bird and local ordinances.)

3. Non lethal repellent systems can be constructed or purchased, as well as lethal options such as poison or trapping. There are even businesses which may offer pest control services for large problems like roosting starlings.(One more warning about checking local ordinances.)

Go native

Exclude invasive species by promoting native species. Try planting native plants which the native birds can feed from, nest in, etc. Make your yard a little less "human-y" and little more wild. You may find that you don't even need bird feeders anymore to attract birds.

Forget the Equinox! Five Signs Spring is Officially Here

One can certainly define Spring as the season which starts with the upcoming Equinox, but in the Upper Midwest it's certainly likely to be a season which starts after said event. It is however also possible that Spring may come early. What are the signs that Spring has sprung and that Winter has loosed us from her frigid grip?

Here are 5 signs that Spring is officially here:
1. Male Cardinals fighting over territory and breeding rights. It's the closest thing to Bison rut I expect to see in my backyard.
2. Robins calling early in the morning to welcome in the day, as if to say "Hey we're back! Pay attention and wake up!".
3. The evening Red Wing Blackbird chorus letting us all know it's time to go home.
4. Rain. Just rain. Not freezing rain, not wintery mix, just rain. And without the promise of subsequent snowfall as temperatures drop.
5. The last of November's and December's snow has melted away to reveal grass which hasn't seen light in 4 months.

If these five signs are in fact reliable indicators that a new season in upon us, then in Wisconsin we aren't quite there yet.

Checklist so far:
1. Spotted on March 9 at 7:00 am near our Striped Sunflower Seeds.
2. Spotted on March 10 at 7:45 am in an oak tree near work. Saw 4 Robins by 9:00 am.
3. Heard on March 15 at 5:00 pm -ish. Blackbirds spotted at neighborhood pond.
4. It rained today (3/11) but they warned about the potential for snow.
5. Most of the yard is still buried. Only about 3 or 4 more inches to go in most spots.

It may not be Spring in Wisconsin yet, but we'll see which comes first: Spring or the Equinox.

What are the signs you count on to know Spring is here?

Native Ornamentals - Three Plants to Consider

Many homeowners looking for ornamental shrubs or trees look to flowering crabapples or magnolias as way to add color to their landscaping. Note that some of these plants maybe native North America, but many are native Asia. Three plants to consider when looking for something to brighten your yard in early Spring are: the Eastern Redbud, Serviceberry, and Red Chokeberry.

Eastern Redbud

Eastern Redbud in our yard early May 2013

This is the plant we get the most questions about from passersby and from our neighbors. We planted it two years ago, and in the spring it's a brilliant pink color. The vibrant buds last about a month, and other than the flowers which bloom in the summer in our yard, it's the most decorative plant in our yard. It's one of the few sources of color in our yard until the weather turns warmer. Spring in the Upper Midwest can be gray, green, wet, and even cold, but this tree makes things feel a little warmer and more exotic with its blazing pink buds. Ultimately it will stay an ornamental size growing between 15 and 30 feet high; this makes it an excellent choice when considering native ornamentals.

Allegheny Serviceberry

The White Flowers of the Serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis is a good example of the beauty Serviceberry can bring to your yard. Many varieties of serviceberry are native to North America, and a few are native to Europe or Asia. These plants can grow lowly and present like a bush, while others grow more like a shrub or tree. This Allegheny Serviceberry was planted last year in our yard and flowered almost immediately. The flowers grow in showy white bunches, and the subsequent fruit drew the attention of Robins and Cardinals. It did so well last year, that we are looking to purchase two more this year. The white blooms of the Serviceberry added a nice splash of color at the back of our wildflower garden which in May was otherwise entirely green. This plant will grow to a size similar to the Redbud, maxing out at 12 to 25 feet.

Red Chokeberry

These were the Chokeberry flowers before the rabbits ate our beautiful shrubs.

Red Chokeberry is another option which like Serviceberry will flower with white blooms in the early Spring. The flowers will attract pollinators early in Spring to your garden, and later in the summer the plant will produce red berries. The plant's foliage turns a vibrant red in the Fall, so it provides good color for landscaping two times during the year. This plant is more of shrub than the previous two and its maximum height is 12 feet. This is also a plant which you may want to place a guard around. Two years ago, we planted two Red Chokeberries, and after two long winters, the rabbits had successfully chewed both down to stubs.

These are only a few examples of native plants which can be used as ornamentals. If you are looking for early Spring color to welcome in Summer, they are excellent choices. Happy planting.

Winged Wednesday: Let the Migrations Begin!

There are a handful of months during the year which I find particularly exciting. The first of which is just kicking off. The spring migration (March - May) is an exciting time. During March and April, we can reasonably expect to see an overlap of visitors. The Dark Eyed Juncos and Pine Siskins who arrived during the fall migration will still be around as the American Robins and Red Winged Blackbirds begin to arrive.

It's hard to imagine that the spring migration is upon us since there is still snow on the ground which has persisted since December, but it would seem that the thaw could be upon good portions of the upper Midwest by this weekend.

Male Red Winged Blackbird Singing

The first wave of visitors is always the most interesting to watch. In the evenings when I leave work it's currently silent, but in the coming weeks I can count on a chorus of Red Winged Blackbirds to greet me as I depart. They gather into large flocks to roost at night for the first few weeks after they arrive and then they seem to disperse. The same can be said of the Common Grackles in some local neighborhoods, but their song (while welcome) isn't quite as enjoyable.

Pine Siskin on my safflower feeder.

Their arrival also marks the start of departures. The Pine Siskins, Red Breasted Nuthatches, and Dark Eyed Juncos will soon move further north, and it's during this this window of time that our yard seems to be most active. Both the birds departing and those arriving will be on the prowl for food. Feeders with seed, suet, and fruit are good places to start. If you've left last year's native plants (now dried up husks) in place, wait to cut or burn them back until some point in April; this will allow birds to feed on any remaining seed or forage for any insects which reside amongst the leftovers. Keeping a compost pile can be a useful way to attract migrating birds as well; last spring White Throated and White Crowned Sparrows spent most mornings foraging in our compost.

It may still look snowy and white outside, but I assure you that brighter days are just around corner. Keep watching the skies.

Know Your Weed Ordinances

Many cities have regulations about lawn care, in particular they tend concern themselves with noxious weeds. Noxious weeds are typically highly invasive plants which grow rapidly and are concerned a threat to agriculture. The list of weeds varies some by state.

Here are weeds for you to be aware of:
• WI Noxious Weeds
• MN Noxious Weeds
• IL Noxious Weeds
• MI Noxious Weeds
• IA Noxious Weeds
• Federal List

If you are considering a no mow lawn you will want to be aware of these plants and local regulations. These plants are not likely to be something you have intentionally planted, but that doesn't mean they won't take root amongst your native plants. Given that going to a native plant landscape can stir some trouble with the neighbors, it's best to make sure any complaints they may have are not legitimate. Be sure to weed out or remove any noxious weeds.

Most municipalities have ordinances which read something like this:

Properties should be maintained, with lawns, hedges and bushes kept from becoming overgrown or decayed. Vines, grass and rank vegetation may not exceed a height of 6 inches on developed lots and 12 inches on undeveloped lots. Trees limbs near sidewalks should dip no lower than 8 feet from the ground. Overhanging branches may be trimmed back to the property line. Dead trees and limbs or other natural growth that is rotting should be removed.

Noxious weeds must be cut down prior to blooming, and in no case shall be allowed to grow to a length of 6 inches or more on developed lots and 12 inches or more on undeveloped lots.

Check with your local government to make sure you understand any local regulations before going mow free. Also consider lower growing plants when choosing natives, as this may help you steer clear of trouble.

The goal isn't just about growing native plants in your yard, but ideally convincing others to do the same, and this may mean being a good neighbor while playing by the rules.