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Wildlife Management Notes

Wildlife Management Notes and Observations
February 14, 2001

Woodland pond at Birdsong.

Winter Weather This has been the coldest winter any of us can remember, with more hard freezes and entire days when the temperature stayed low. It will be interesting to see what effects this will have on our vegetation and wildlife. The freezing has created some very dry fuel for burning, which in the case of brush control is ideal. Another change we've experienced this winter is that we've been getting some rain. Although we've still dealing with a two-year rainfall deficit, these rains have provided some relief and now some of the creeks and streambeds actually contain flowing water. Flowing water has meant the return of intense beaver activity in the Upper Pond, Farm Pond and the Big Bay Swamp. A mixed blessing!

Beavers As soon as it began raining over a month ago, the Farm Pond beavers began piling mud and branches and lily roots over the siphon leading into the pond. Then they cut down and hauled away a 4-inch diameter longleaf pine that was clear across the pond from their lodge/construction site. Next we found a 24-inch diameter sweet gum tree felled by the water's edge on the east bank, its base surrounded by a huge pile of wood chips. The beavers removed all its branches and are now chewing all the bark off the tree. You can see this from either dam. Now with every light rain they plug up the Upper Pond pipe and Farm Pond spillway, which means frequent checking. Peter Wright has been vigilant in clearing out their 2-foot deep piles of mud so the water pressure won't get so high that it might break the dams.

Another group of beavers got active in Big Bay Swamp after the rains began and started damming the spillway and raising the water level a few inches higher than it's been for two years. This seemed to encourage the wood ducks so we decided to leave the dam alone, but now it just gets bigger and bigger so Peter and Bill are removing parts of it to release some water from time to time. In response the beavers have created a new lodge about 30 feet away, easily viewed from the dam trail - so they have a handy outpost from which to repair their work as soon as Peter and Bill turn to walk back up the hill. So, more land management challenges. You really must come see what they are doing - the sheer amount of material they move around is impressive and their lodge is only about 12 feet from the trail.

Prescribed Burning Our goal is to get as much of our burning done as possible early this season before any potential drought sets in. Last year the drought made burning very problematic because of risky conditions or permits not being issued, and we were unable to burn a couple of areas that really needed it. We've already made a good start. In December we got very good burns through both sides of the Gin House Field and Lewis Field as prescribed, early enough to allow the crimson clover to germinate and late enough for the fuel to be dry and burn well. We also got a very hot fire through Big Bay Field to help intervene in small pine encroachment. Last week on February 6 we burned Linton's Corner, intentionally hot, to help achieve our long range goal of reducing heavy brush and briars to create a pine needle and grass fuel source. In the last three years, with one mowing and hot burns, we've already got a lot more broomsedge and wildflowers, and a lot less brush. Variable and gusting winds made this an interesting burn. Thanks to the rains, we had a half-full streambed for a fire break this year.

On February 8 a relatively steady southeast wind enabled us to burn the entire south edge of Big Bay Swamp. We wanted to open up the vista into the swamp a little bit and also reduce the small pines coming in, but not burn up the sphagnum moss or scorch the cypress trees. We therefore burned a strip along the water to slow the fire and then headed it from the road, which was impressive. The volatile oils in the leaves of the wax myrtle shrubs ignite like a torch and make a wonderful sound. Conditions were perfect for our prescription.

Next we're looking forward to a northwest wind to burn the pitcher plant/sundew area, the woods behind the Farm Pond cabin, and the longleaf restoration area in the Big Pasture. After that we'll just get to the rest of the property as soon as possible - everything else is in very good shape.

Purple Martins Larry Herring, Alice Honea and Harriett Spiegel had the martin gourds prepared and got the martin pole up on January 13. Two weeks later on January 27 our new office manager Kate Bell heard martins singing and saw our first arrivals. Since then, one pair seems to have claimed a gourd and now others are stopping by to visit.

The martins' arrival was great news for Betty Komarek. Her 87th birthday was on January 29th and we are always pleased to have the martins back on or before Betty's special day. To celebrate, Betty insists every year that we all gather in the garden and do the martin dance - truly an amazing sight to see.

Wood Ducks Our wood ducks behaved very differently this year. In the past they tended not to fly to Bay Bay Swamp during daylight, but would arrive in great numbers after dusk to roost. This year they flew in from the Ochlocknee River at all times of the day, in fact for a week or so big groups would come wheeling in over the house at 9:30 a.m. every morning. Then a hundred or more would splash and call all over the swamp throughout the day. This went on from mid-December to about two weeks ago. This all started right when the beavers began raising the water level and because it seemed that the wood ducks were so happy to have all that water to play in we let the beavers have their way. Suddenly there are fewer ducks flushing as we cross the dam; about 15 or so pair still calling and circling. They are likely our resident nesting population.

Two great horned owls have been heard calling back and forth in broad daylight between Big Bay and the Linton's Corner drain woods. Last week in three separate sites not far from the swamp tufts of male wood duck feathers were found. Their courtship plumage is absolutely beautiful and those feathers were a very special find for a Jerger Elementary School third grade class. Perhaps wood ducks are what the owls are calling about.

The Gin House Field - has been wonderful for wildlife observation. In December when we were burning there was a flock of about 30 killdeer that would feed in the field throughout the day and then fly over and roost together on the Farm Pond flats at night.

Michael Bell has been keeping track of a red-shafted northern flicker, an unusual western visitor, since mid-January. It has been feeding and moving about with a group of yellow-shafted northerns.

The bluebirds are abundant, singing constantly, pairing off, and investigating nest boxes. The males are spectacular right now, electric blue. We're also seeing lots of mixed flocks of palm warblers, yellow-rumps, and chipping sparrows; as well as big groups of robins stalking around; and numerous phoebes.

The crimson clover has responded to the recent rains and is green and growing. This is a great time of year to see the beautiful shapes of the old farm terraces - still doing their job of preventing erosion just as they were designed and built to do over 150 years ago.

The Bird Window Visitors have been enjoying a lot of activity at the Window. Most days we see up to 25 species of birds plus two well-fed cotton rats who love to sit in the harrow disc and eat corn. Our special winter visitor, the ovenbird, continues to be seen off and on. Others sightings include a hermit thrush; orange-crowned, yellow-rumped, pine and palm warblers; goldfinches; house finches; ruby-crowned kinglet; white-eyed vireo, phoebes; white-throated, chipping, and song sparrows; cedar waxwings; robins; catbirds; and yellow-bellied sapsuckers, pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers. Year-round residents using the seed, suet cake, corn and pool include cardinals, jays, towhees, thrashers, chickadees and titmice. The sharp-shinned hawk makes an occasional foray, startling everyone, and then the birds all leave or perch motionless for a time. Its all part of the cycle.

Spring It feels like spring has arrived almost overnight. We know we can expect more cold weather in the next 6 weeks, but that fundamental shift has occurred: the days are getting longer and nature is responding. The birds have begun singing and are in full courtship regalia, with lots of chasing going on.

The early spring plants and trees have begun to bloom: carolina jasmine, violets, quaker ladies, plums, and red maples. The old pear tree by the barn is loaded with white flowers.

Migrant birds such as waxwings and robins are here taking advantage of the abundance of berries that still exists, much to the chagrin of territorial mockingbirds. Yaupon holly, smilax, mistletoe, and some wax myrtle are still being eaten. (We have lots of dead mistletoe plants in the pecan trees this year. Combination of drought and freezing?) Even winged sumac fruit is being argued over in the Gin House Field - we've seen robins chasing bluebirds right off the seed heads.

Spring fever isn't just affecting the wildlife - we've all got it. We've had some of the most beautiful days imaginable here recently. As soon as these notes are finished, those of us working on the newsletter are going for a walk! Hope you can come enjoy the place soon ...

    From Betty
    My love to you all.
    Praise and thanks!
    Blessed be.
    - KDB

"Wildlife Management Notes" appears regularly in our bi-monthly Newsletter. Below is an index of links to previous wildlife management articles:

• October 2000
• August 2000
• June 2000
• April 2000
• December 1999
• October 1999
• April 1999
• February 1999
• December 1998

Copyright © 1999, Birdsong Nature Center
Revised -- March 21, 2001