Newsletter-Spring '08-FINAL to printer3-6-08 - Tinicum Conservancy

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On mornings in mid-May, when Tinicum is alive withbird song, you may be fortunate enough to hear therolling, bubbling, R2-D2-like sound of the bobolink,one of Pennsylvania’s more uncommonbirds. Easily identified by sight as wellas song, the bobolink is North America’sonly bird that is black underneathand white on the back. Each spring thebobolink migrates 6,000 miles fromArgentina to breed in grasslands of theUnited States and Canada.BobolinkTinicum’s hayfields and meadows arehome to a number of species of grassland birds in additionto the bobolink. Many of these, such as theeastern meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, and savannahsparrow, are considered of “special conservationconcern” by the Pennsylvania Game Commission andconservation organizations like Partners in Flight. Inthe Eastern UnitedStates, grasslandbird populationshave declined 80percent in the last25 years primarilybecause of development-relatedloss ofhabitat. EvenCRITTER CORNERGRASSLAND BIRDS“Suburbiais where the developerbulldozes out the trees,then names the streetsafter them.”- Bill Vaughnamong remaining fields, these species face increasingpressures because of earlier and closer hay-cropping. Inaddition to providing habitat for these birds of springand summer, meadows and hayfields serve as winterfeeding grounds for other species of concern includingthe northern harrier (marsh hawk) and the endangeredshort-eared owl.One way to help maintain these declining contributorsto Tinicum’s biodiversity is to delay the initial mowingof hayfields until mid-July, after the first set of younghave fledged, and eliminate late season mowing, whichallows more standing vegetation for winter residents.Information on the grassland species that nest in Tinicumis available online at www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds. This site even allows you to listen toeach species’ song. That way, as you take a few momentsto appreciate the beauty of Tinicum this spring,you can key in on those uncommon grassland birds.—Article by Jeff KellerTHE GREEN THUMBMAKING A MEADOWA growing number of people, including many withonly a few acres of property, are converting lawn orlittle used agricultural land to meadow. The reasonsoften have to do with lower maintenance costs—it cancost $1,000 per acre per year to maintain a wellmanicured,lush-looking lawn. Besides saving moneyand reducing air and water pollution, and gasolineconsumption, some residents enjoy the grasses andwildflowers that can be introduced, as well as the butterfliesthat follow.Should you decide to naturalize a portion of yourproperty, the first thing to decide is “what am I managingfor?” Aesthetics? Butterflies? Grassland birds?Cost savings? If it’s the last, you may choose just tomow some areas away from your house less often. Ifyour motivation is something else, then what youplant will depend on your goals.You can find information on websites of seed supplierslike Ernst Conservation Seeds and Prairie Nurserythat will guide you through the steps of preparing aseed bed, seeding, and establishing a meadow. If aestheticsand butterflies are your goals, a mix of perennialnative grasses and wildflowers works best. Be sureto include native cool season grasses to get somegreen in the spring and fall. Cool season grasses areadapted to grow in the cooler months at the beginningand end of the growing season. For staying greenin the heat of the summer and beautiful in fall color,native warm season grasses (WSGs) are a good choice.Be aware that some WSGs grow to 4 to 7 feet. So,you may want to use these away from the house, if atall. Also, be aware that many nativewildflowers are eagerly eaten by deer.Therefore, you may want to plant wildflowersin limited areas where you caneasily see them, as well as spray themwith deer repellent. Check with suppliersfor recommendations on less deerpalatablespecies.Because of the overabundance of deer,it is difficult to create and maintain aNorthernHarriernative meadow with a balance of grasses and wildflowerssuitable for breeding grassland birds. Deer don’teat WSGs, and thus these grasses come to dominatemany native meadows. The result, although oftenattractive, is a meadow that develops too late in thebreeding season to be used for nesting (cont. on pg. 11)Page 10 TINICUM CONSERVANCY Spring 2008
CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT: Roaring Rocks/Swamp CreekNineteen special birds! Marbled salamanders! Pollution-sensitive creek critters! Rare and endangeredplants! Thirteen vernal pools! This little 2,500-acre watershed has them all.Scientists contracted by the Conservancy under a Wild Resources Conservation Program grant havecompleted their biodiversity research in this corner of the Pennsylvania Highlands, bordered by UpperTinicum Church, Swamp Creek, and Permanent School roads. Thanks to Drs. Ann Rhoads and TimBlock, Marlin Korn, Phil Perhamus, Scott Grossman, Devich Farbotnik, and Dr. Marion Kyde for thefield research; to Diane Rosenkrantz for the mapping, and to Suzanne Forbes for background and compilation. A copy of thereport is available in the TC office.Three hundred sixty-seven plant species, including the rare water pimpernel and heath aster, form the plant communities.Eighty percent are native (63 percent is the state average). The stream itself supports all three classes of pollution-sensitiveinsects – mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies – and its water quality is excellent. Snakes, frogs, and salamanders are wellrepresented (25 species), including the endangered marbledUPCOMING EVENTSThe Tinicum Conservancy is sponsoring another year ofConservation Spotlight Programs, highlighting some ofthe reasons for the Conservancy’spreservation efforts. Please join us!1 p.m. April 27: "Sheep to Shawl"Marlene Halstead will discuss woolproduction, harvesting the wool, andthe use of the wool to create products.Marlene will show us her method for shearingsheep, and participants will be able to give it a try!Dress accordingly, and carpool if possible. Limit: 20people. To register, call Diane Allison, 610-847-2085.10 a.m. June 7: "Lenape Lands"Shelley DePaul will lead this programon a conserved property that was oncea Lenape campground. Shelley willbring us closer to the Lenape with adrumming demonstration and storiesfrom the Lenape tradition. It's a wonderful mix of placeand culture, so don’t miss this exciting window into theLenape way of life. For meeting location/information,call Diane Allison, 610-847-2085.10 a.m. August 9: "Hedgerows - An Icon of BucksCounty's Rural Vernacular Landscape"David Hughes of Fringetree DesignStudios, LLC, will share some ofhis observations on how hedgerowswere created, what native speciesare common to them, and what invasivespecies threaten our hedgerows.He will also discuss thefunctions and ecological values that existing hedgerowsprovide and offer some thoughts on how to best preservethese unique landscape features. David will drawon local and regional examples to show the splendor ofour hedgerows. Program at Christ Lutheran Church, 353E. Dark Hollow Rd., Pipersville. For more information,call Diane Allison, 610-847-2085.Marbled salamandersalamander, whose habitat is disappearing across its historic range.Baby box turtles indicate that reproduction is healthy here; boxturtles are in trouble in many parts of the state. One hundredeleven bird species nest in the canopy and understory. Nineteen ofthese are species for which Pennsylvania has a special responsibility;several are on the threatened/endangered list. Three uncommonbats – long-eared, hoary, and Eastern red – all of greatestconservation concern and legally protected in the state, live here.Black bears and bobcats utilize the watershed, along with numeroussmaller mammals. The list of over 80 mushrooms reflects therichness of the tree community.Copies of the report with its management recommendations havebeen given to the township and the county, and to all thelandowners who allowed our scientists access. TC thanks NormMacArthur, Bill Novak, Stuart Louden, Richard and MadelineZaveta, Les Schuman, Mark and Joan Stevens, Boyce and KarenBudd, and Tary Leonard (the Ruttenberg property) for theirgenerous cooperation with the research team. To view the fullreport, go to: www.buckscountyherald.com/BCH links- Article by Marion Kyde/Photo by Marlin Corn(cont. from pg. 10) by grassland birds.THE GREEN THUMBIf you have five or more acres notalready being managed for hay and wish to encourage these uncommonbirds, plant a traditional commercial “hay” mix fromAgway. The combination of old world cool season grasses plusalfalfa in these mixes works well for most of the grassland birdsin our region, and still allows for late season hay cropping. Leavinga meadow standing through the winter helps provide habitatfor a variety of wildlife.If you only mow annually, mow the meadow in late winterwhile the ground is still firm enough for mowing equipment orwait until late April, when the soil dries out a bit, but beforebirds begin nesting.Jeff Keller has a doctorate in wildlife ecology from Cornell University and works asa restoration ecologist. He has designed and installed hundreds of acres of nativemeadow for public and private interests. Jeff serves on TC's Board of Trustees.Spring 2008 TINICUM CONSERVANCY Page 11
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Newsletter-Spring '08-FINAL to printer3-6-08 - Tinicum Conservancy

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