The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County

Plant Revealed...

2012-03-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

First Year Leaf

So, if you haven't yet guessed, or did not already know the name of the plant mentioned yesterday it is: Alliaria petolia: GARLIC MUSTARD. This allelopathic (releases chemicals into the soil that inhibits the growth of other plants) non-native, invasive biennial plant should most definitely be a target of your current invasive removal work. Can you tell I don't really like this plant?? Control methods are fairly simple as you will see below. But before you can control a plant, you must be able to properly identify it, so here we go...

ID TIPS and pictures:

Second Year Flower

Leaves: Stem leaves are alternate and triangular in shape, have large teeth, and can be 2 to 3 inches across in fruiting plants.
Leaves: First year plants consist of a cluster of 3 or 4 round, scallop edged leaves rising 2 to 4 inches in a rosette.
Flowers: Second-year plants generally produce one or two flowering stems with numerous white flowers that have four separate petals.
Odor: Leaves and stems of plant have strong, garlic odor when crushed
Fruit: Fruits are slender capsules 1 to 2.5 inches long that produce a single row oblong black seeds with ridged seed coats.

Look Alikes

Asarum canadense

***A very similar early spring woodland native plant is Asarum canadense or wild ginger. This plant has low growing leaves that are smooth as opposed to scalloped and very prominently heart shaped. They will never grow to the height of the second year garlic mustard plant, and they have a small brown flower which is pollinated by ants.

Control

The most effective control method for garlic mustard is hand pulling. It is very easy to pull and is a fun activity for a group of kids or a volunteer group. You can be most effective when you pull out the first year leaves, though the second year plants tend to be easier to identify. If you keep it from setting seed, year after year by pulling, you will eventually win the battle. You must always use caution when hand pulling as you will create a certain amount of soil disturbance.

You can also spray garlic mustard in very late winter/early spring on a day that rises about 40 Degrees F with a glyphosate solution. It is important to know your plant ID to make sure that you are not harming other native spring ephemerals when spraying the garlic mustard. This is best to use in a very large infestation and before anything else has started to grow. It is amazing to see the effect that the removal of this plant has on your landscape, and on the natives in the seed bank beginning to flourish.

Spring Peepers

2012-03-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

It is definitely early this year, but last night I heard the thrilling (at least in my mind) trill of the spring peepers as I cruised home from work. They are in my mind the second harbinger of spring! Can you remember the first? A few years ago there was a scuttlebutt that if I remember properly involved some East Marlborough residents complaining about a noise violation....guess who the culprit was?! I know you've seen the photo before, but I just can't resist showing it again. Can you believe how tiny these guys are? They do make quite the ruckus, but a noise violation, come on guys! The sound is coming from the males calling for the females to mate. The coloration of the animals can vary but they all have an X on their back. They are fairly nocturnal, so you rarely get a glimpse of them!

To me, all that ruckus means that the sweet sound of spring is here (and my favorite season is not far behind!) If you haven't been privileged to hear the ruckus, click on the brief video to hear the sweet sound of spring.

This of course means that your invasive control "to-do" list has gotten very long very rapidly! I just saw my first celandine in bloom today, along the Brandywine of course. Tomorrow, we'll discuss the other invasive of spring that has already presented itself: Alliaria petiolata. I'll leave you to mull over the common name until tomorrow when we'll discuss control, identification, and it's horrible allelopathic tendencies.

Little Brown Jobs

2012-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Little Brown Jobs or LBJ's are known throughout the ornithological community as birds that are difficult to identify and typically include: sparrows, wrens, finches, or warblers. We will concentrate solely on sparrows and then have you see if you can identify the LBJ in the photograph below.

How to Identify Sparrows by Markings

The easiest way to identify these small, active birds is by their field markings. Though they’re not always clearly visible, most sparrows have at least one strong field mark unique from other sparrow species. Ask yourself the following questions about identification:

Head: Is the head smooth and flat, or does it have a small crest? Are there stripes or markings on the crown, eyebrow, cheek, chin or throat? Does the bird have a noticeable eye ring?
Tail: Is the tail long or short? Are there distinguishable markings on the tail?
Underparts: Does the birds chest have any markings? Are they in a distinguishable pattern or random?
Wings: Is there barring or other distinguishable markings on the wings? If barring is present, is it narrow or wide?
Bill: Note the size of the bill in relation to the birds head. Notice whether the color of the bill and if the top and bottom have the same color.

Other Ways to Identify Sparrows

You may not be able to get a good look at the sparrows to see distinguishable markings, so you may have to rely on one of the following keys to identification.

Range and Habitat: Each sparrow has a habitat that it prefers, noting habitat can help to narrow down the choices.
Song: If you are not an expert birder, try to remember the song that you hear and listen to recordings to match up what you heard to identify the bird. Cornell, and iTunes both have a fairly comprehensive library of bird sounds. There are also a few good apps for your smart phone if you search around.
Behavior: Are the birds solitary or moving in flocks? Are they shy or fairly open about interaction with you as the birdwatcher? This is another key that can help to I.D. the bird.

I find that spending time getting familiar with the sparrows in your area is a great start to identification. Investing in a good field guide is the first start on your way to identification. Lastly, if you aren't able to ID the bird, that's OK. The more practice you have, the better you will get and even experts make mistakes sometimes! I am a fairly novice birder, and couldn't have been more excited the day that a more experience birder thought that a dove was a kestrel--granted we were quite far away from it, and it was only a glimpse, but it gave me hope for the future!!

Hope you can identify the bird I saw at SWP on February 28 from the above photograph. I found this bird perched on the brushy edge between the meadow and a small creek but in fairly open habitat.

SPRING BOX CLEANING

2012-03-02T08:00:00.019-08:00

Spring cleaning should be on your "t0-do" list this weekend. I know it's seems early, but it is March, and I have seen bluebirds actively making their nests already!

We already discussed being a good landlord, so the time has come to evict your winter residents--typically mice as you can see in this photo of a nesting box at Stateline Woods. This will lead way for bluebirds looking to make their nest this spring. I typically use a stick to clear out the nests, I feel bad for the little white footed mice who lose their home, but they'll find another, and we have the boxes specifically hung for the bluebirds.

I have been unsuccessful in my attempts thus far to take the picture of the bluebird scoping out the nesting boxes by the parking lot at Stateline Woods. Feel free to send any good pictures you get of our bluebirds my way!

If you don't have a bluebird box, you can purchase them at TLC's offices!

You should also be collecting your cedar chips and thinking about clearing out the wood duck boxes and replacing the wood chips with fresh wood chips. Remember to check for overwintering squirrels and look carefully in the chips to see if you find any owl pellets. If you find some, it is always find to tear them apart to see what your resident owls have been snacking on!

Flocks and Leaps and Bounds.

2012-02-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

FLOCKS FIRST

In the last two days, there have been reports in the Mid Atlantic region of very large flocks of geese, and other waterfowl flying overhead. Within an hour hike this morning, I bet I saw two to three flocks of geese, all with well over 100 birds in them . The last flock also had smaller birds mixed into the flock. They were fairly high up, I didn't have my binoculars, and only got a moments glimpse, so I can't even give you a good guess as to what they may have been.

There have been reports of Canada geese mixed with tundra swans and flocks of snow geese. With the current conditions outside my office window it is not quite the best viewing day for large flocks, but the weather has tomorrow looking pretty good for observing migrating waterfowl.

WHY DO WE LEAP??

In honor of leap day, I have some extra fun trivia facts that have nothing to do with nature whatsoever! You may ask exactly why we end up with an extra 24 hours every four years. The answer is that the calendar year is supposed to match up with the solar year (or the time it takes the earth to revolve completely around the sun). The differentiation between the two calendars is that the solar year is 365 1/4 days so the greater minds figured out that if we had an extra calendar day every four years, it would keep the two "years" closely aligned. This seems to work well, except that the solar year is actually 11 minutes and 14 seconds less than 365 1/4 days. This doesn't seem like a lot of time, but after 128 years the calendar would add an extra day.

So now we have to do a little math and again people with greater minds than I decided that a leap year is every four years except a century year that is not divisible by four hundred. This will keep our calendar working fairly smoothly for the next 3,300 years, so we've got a little time to figure out what to do next. Of course, if we think of it like some think of our environment, it will be an issue long before that time is up.

Bummer about the rain on our extra 24 hours of nature. Our Leap Day hike has been postponed until March 14th. Sign up on our website.

Happenings around Stateline Woods

2012-02-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

Well our Pileated Woodpecker won the battle, or lost his tree, however you want to look at it. His extensive pecking led to the tree falling over as you can see in the picture on the left. This tree is not across any trails, so we will leave it in the woods to continue to provide food for the pileated and other insect eating birds as it starts to decompose. Eventually the tree will compost into the forest floor providing nutrients for the next cycle of regeneration.

I spotted this buteo flying overhead while out at Stateline Woods today. Any guesses as to who he is? Can you believe the cloudless blue sky in the background?

Not all yellow flowers are cheery

2012-02-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

I promised information about Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine) since I saw my first clump of Ranunculus threatening to bloom last week. I also discovered quite a few more plants while hiking this weekend. I will spend some time pulling out some of the invasives along a trail as I am hiking. It is very important to leave no trace when you hike and take only pictures but, I can't resist some of the very invasive plants such as celandine, garlic mustard, and small euyonomus trees. Please, if you are going to do a "good" deed such as invasive removal on a property that you are hiking YOU MUST BE VERY CONFIDENT OF WHAT YOU ARE REMOVING, AND RECOGNIZE WHETHER THE PROPERTY OWNERS/MANAGERS ARE LIKELY TO PRACTICE INVASIVE CONTROL. SOME OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS CAN BE MISIDENTIFIED AS AN INVASIVE SO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TARGETING!

If you are not sure what the plant is, you may recognize the photograph of the yellow carpet. This scene is repeated many times throughout the Brandywine in the spring. It is a small low growing plant with a very impressive underground network of bulbets and tubers that can continue to flourish if separated from the main plant. The flower is typically bright yellow and the leaves are a deep green.

The leaf of celandine, which is the only part of the plant that is currently showing, looks VERY similar to the leaf of a violet. Note in the photograph the violet is on the left and the celandine is on the right. Violet's tend to have more rounded lobes, and the celandine is sharper with points. Typically the celandine has a glossier look than the violet. You should be sure that you can differentiate between the two before you pull out leaves that belong to violets. Once they bloom, they are easier to differentiate, but not all violets are purple or white, there are yellow violets native to our area. Also, once the blooming has begun, it is typically more difficult to remove all of the tubers from the ground.

When you pull out the celandine be sure to remove all of the tubers and bulbets that are attached to the plant. You can actually assist in the spreading of the plant by leaving them behind. I will lay the plant on a rock where it has little chance of re-sprouting in the ground. You can also control celandine by spraying a glyphosate based herbicide at a low concentration. Glyphosate is non-selective so it should be used with care since you may harm some of the spring ephemerals in the process. If the area is very sensitive, I would recommend individually painting each celandine leaf. This may be time consuming, but it is a great way to be very selective and to inhibit any further spread. Typically manual control is recommended for very small infestations and you will have to resort to chemical to obtain complete control when you are dealing with the "blanket" effect as in the earlier photograph.

Blooming at Stateline Woods!

2012-02-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe my eyes, so I thought I would share this photograph with everyone.

Spring ephemerals already in bloom?! The plant is spring beauty, and it did feel an awful lot like spring today, but this is the earliest I've ever seen this plant blooming! Here are pictures of Claytonia virginica from today, February 23, 2012. Granted they were blooming on a south facing slope, but it still felt fairly early! I also saw some lesser celandine a little further down the trail! Stay tuned for information on how to control it very very soon. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts (it can't last through spring can it?)

Another interesting though not completely validated fact is that there has been some discussion that once these whitish color spring plants are pollinated, they turn a pale pink color to make this known to other pollinators. It is interesting food for thought to say the least!

Nesting Season Already?

2012-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, but Great Horned Owls are typically already sitting on a clutch of eggs by this time in the winter. The pair will typically utilize a nest that was built by another large raptor or sometimes even a squirrels nest. If you happen to see a mob of crows attacking things in the trees, chances are high that you are in the vicinity of a Great Horned Owl's nest. The animosity of crows towards owls is fairly well founded since owls tend to predate pretty heavily upon crows and their nest.

The eggs can be laid anytime from late January through February. The female will then incubate the eggs for 30-37 days while the male brings her food. The young will spend another 6 weeks helpless in the nest and start flying in the 7th week. A friend once described the hatchling Great Horned Owls as balls of fuzz with great big eyes. I find this to be a fairly accurate description. They are cool to watch (from a distance--you should NEVER disturb a nesting bird!), as they hop around on the edge of a nest and wait for their parents to bring them supper.

There are a few sounds that distinguish a Great Horned Owl. The typical sound used to generically describe any owl: hoo-h'HOO--hoo-hoo belongs to the Great Horned Owl. Both sexes hoot, but the male has a much deeper hoot than the female. The young will make a loud, raspy screech. If the owls feel threatened they will make very raspy screeches or barking sounds. Most calling occurs from dusk until dawn. If you want to spot a Great Horned Owl during the day either follow the mobbing of the crows, or look very carefully in woods where you think you recently heard one. Their coloration tends to blend very well into the landscape.

Happy owl watching!

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT!!

2012-02-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

The information in the below post has been provided by Cornell Lab eNews about the Great Backyard Bird Count:

Are You Ready?

The 15th Great Backyard Bird Count starts this Friday! During February 17-20 we invite you to be part of a massive citizen-science effort across North America. Tens of thousands of fellow bird watchers will be counting birds and submitting their checklists to www.birdcount.org. Just watch birds for at least 15 minutes at any location and tally the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time. Submit a new checklist for each day and each new location where you count.

Things You Can Do During the Countdown to the GBBC:

• Forward this message to neighbors, friends, and relatives, asking them to participate. Every checklist counts!

• Fill your bird feeders if you plan to count birds at your feeders.

• Charge up your camera batteries so you can capture that perfect picture for the GBBC photo contest, or document a rarity.

• If you'd like a preview of the birds you might see in your area, enter your zip or postal code on this web page to get printable tally sheets.

American Robin by Jean Hale, Massachusetts, 2011 GBBC

Things to Watch for During the GBBC

• In past counts, participants were most likely to report American Robins in areas without snow. Will more robins be seen farther north this year?

• Will some birds, such as Eastern Phoebes and geese, begin their migrations earlier because of the warmer temperatures and lack of snow or ice in many parts of the country?

• Fewer Blue Jays have been reported in the Northeast in recent months; will GBBC reports show the same trend?

• Where will the Snowy Owls turn up next?

In Honor of St. Valentine

2012-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentines Day, here is a great video courtesy of Cornell Lab for Ornithology of the courtship display of the Western Grebe.

The Western Grebe is a bird that winters in lakes and ponds throughout the Pacific Coast and typically breeds throughout the western part of North America. To watch their courtship display CLICK HERE.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is rapidly approaching. Stay tuned for more information!

Are you celebrating National Nest Box Week?

2012-02-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

National Nest Box week was organised by the British Trust for Ornithology in 1997 (hence the spelling of the word organized) in order to build awareness about the loss of habitat for nesting birds. They encouraged the building and placement of bird boxes throughout the UK to counteract the removal of trees. They estimate that currently 5-6 million boxes have been placed in gardens around the UK due to this initiative.

Bluebird Boxes have helped to combat the decline of bluebirds through our country!

The Avian Promise has coordinated with the BTO to bring this fabulous idea across the pond. At TLC, we strongly support the placement of nesting boxes and encourage National Nest Box week to go worldwide. We have come up with some things you can do to prepare nesting sites for our avian friends this spring:

Build your own nesting boxes. There are many different types of boxes to choose from depending type of habitat you have in your backyard and your skills as a carpenter: Bluebird, Wood Duck, Bat, Screech Owl, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Wren are just a few of the many boxes to choose from. We recommend purchasing Landscaping for Wildlife from the PA Game Commission at: www.theoutdoorshop.state.pa.us for the most comprehensive and correct dimensions for building boxes.
Purchase a bird box from your own local conservation organization. At TLC we currently have bluebird boxes for sale for $20 a piece, contact our offices if you are interested. We recommend that you purchase and hang two bluebird boxes in order to ensure that bluebirds will use your box.
If your property is not sufficient for the box that you would wish to see hung, you can typically sponsor a bird box at your local conservation group's nature preserve. You can assist with cleaning out the boxes and receive updates about what is living in your box from the organization. You can sponsor a box at TLC's Stateline Woods Preserve by clicking HERE.
If you are not interested in boxes increase nesting opportunities by planting shrubs or trees around your property.

Early March, we will discuss the spring cleaning of your boxes! Happy National Nest Box Week, even if you are on our side of the pond!

What I saw on my drive to work this morning...

2012-02-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

It was quite an eventful drive on my way to work today and per my usual escapades it involved stopping in the middle of roads and backing up to get a better view of what I thought I had seen. Luckily my commute involves many back roads where I pass more pedestrians, bikers, and horseback riders than cars!

So first, I looked to my right as a passed over a bridge and this caught my attention. I stopped and backed up in the middle of the one lane bridge for a better look. It was well worth the potential to irritate commuters on their way to work.

Then a little further down the road, I happen to notice something white floating in the Brandywine. I apologize for the next couple of pictures, the camera that I always keep for such emergencies does not take the best quality pictures.

Note the common merganser with the brownish red head is the female. There was a total of five males and two females.

I looked on the road right where I happened to stop and noticed a fair amount of whitewash on the road. This was probably from a large bird spending time in one of the trees above. I was looking to see signs of pellets since barred owls have been spotted here in the past, but came up with nothing. The white wash indicates something big, perhaps the eagle I had seen or what I saw next.....

So a little further down the road I saw a large blackish brown spot in a tree across the creek. I backed up to get a closer look, and found my second bald eagle of the day! This one was immature. I was able to get a shot of it as it started to fly away, but again the quality leaves much to be desired.

All good fun in my twenty minute commute,which took quite a bit longer this morning. Again, though I recommend taking in what is around you because you never know what you are going to see, it is best if you have a driver as you gawk at the sides of the road. Just ask my husband.......since I obviously tend to drive and gawk.......

White Nose Syndrome and it's effects

2012-02-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

CLEARING UP THE AIR:

Bats get a bad rap because of a few common misconceptions: most bats carry rabies, they are blind, and they have no benefit to humans whatsoever. Let's clear up these misconceptions before we go any farther.

Of the 450 positive cases of rabies in PA in 2011, 34 were bats. 7.5% of the total animals who tested positive for rabies were bats; to me this indicates that very few bats actually are rabid.
Bats are not blind, but they do not have very good eye sight, they rely mostly on sonar.
Bats are very beneficial to humans, insects like mosquito's are among their favorite foods. This means more bats=less bug bites. If you are someone who draws bugs to you like I am, you should love bats!

Have you noticed bats flying around outside during the day or active in winter? Bats exhibiting strange behavior are being sited throughout the state of Pennsylvania are showing signs of White Nose Syndrome (WNS).

WHAT IS WHITE NOSE SYNDROME (WNS):

Many species of bats rely on hibernation for survival in the winter months. WNS is named for the white fungus that appears on the muzzle and other body parts of affected bats. Bats with WNS exhibit uncharacteristic behavior during cold winter months, including flying outside in the day and clustering near the entrances of hibernacula. This mobility during the hibernation months leads to starvation in the bats. They have energy stored up throughout the winter months to last by hibernation, but the energy expended by waking and flying about ends up being very expensive energy that the bats are not able to recoop. They are not able to find insects, their normal source of food, so they are not able to restore the energy that they have lost by coming out of hibernation. Bats have been found sick and dying in unprecedented numbers in and around caves and mines. WNS has killed more than 1 million bats in the Northeast and Canada. In some hibernacula, 90 to 100 percent of bats have died. WNS is continuously wiping out bat colonies throughout the state of Pennsylvania! There is still much data and information to learn about bat colonies and the effect of WNS.

HOW CAN YOU HELP:

If you see bats exhibiting strange behaviour, please contact your local state wildlife agency; in SE PA you can contact: Dan Mummert, Conservation Biologist for the PA Game Commission.
TLC recognizes WNS and has a bat box sponsorship to continue to provide homes for bats. Click HERE for more information. The hope is that the more colonies that form, the less colonies that will be affected by WNS. We can also use our colonies to partner with the PA Game Commission biologists to continue to track WNS.

What is Groundhog Day?

2012-02-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Since today is February 2, that seems to be the pressing question, at least to those of us who have heard of Puxsutawny Phil. What exactly is Groundhog Day, and what does it really mean?

Well it turns out that the Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early. I thought this was quite interesting, and a little different from what I always believed: "if the groundhog sees his shadow, winter will last another six weeks; if he doesn't, spring is six weeks away." Hey according to what I thought the theory was, he's always right. I believe that the statisticians give our Phil a 39% accuracy rating, they aren't very good betting odds. More to nullify his point, I have seen so many spring flowers well ahead of where they should be on February 2...

He saw his shadow this morning, so that means six more weeks of winter in groundhog speak, and ancient German traditions. At 60 Degree February days, I'll take it anyway you slice it!

Spotted At Stateline Woods

2012-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Our preserve manager pointed out this great example of a Pileated woodpecker's masterpiece as he searched for ants in a tree (the Pileated not our preserve manager!). Though we sadly did not catch him in action, we will keep looking. In the meantime, you can look for signs like this to see if there is a Pileated woodpecker in the areas that you frequent.

Some interesting facts about Pileated Woodpeckers:

They are the largest woodpecker in North America
A Pileated pair stays together on their territory year round, they will tolerate interlopers in the winter, but otherwise fiercely protect their territory.
The inspiration for Woody Woodpecker came from the Pileated.
Their extensive feeding excavations will attract other birds to use as nest sites, or to find left over insects.
A lack of cerebral fluid in their skull, a compressible bone, and an inner eyelid that closes milliseconds before pecking all contribute to the woodpeckers ability to not have brain injury with all of the ferocious pecking at the trees.
The distinctive sounds of a Pileated woodpecker can be found by going here: http://www.pileatedwoodpeckercentral.com/audio.htm

Distinguish an Eagle in Flight

2012-01-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I was walking with a friend down the road, when I happened to turn around in time to watch a mature bald eagle fly behind us. I pointed the bird out to my friend, who said that she feels that she probably sees more eagles flying around than she actually recognizes. It is easy to tell what you are looking at when you see the striking white head and tail against the dark body, but there are other tell-tale signs that make it easy to identify an eagle in flight even when they are high enough that you are not able to distinguish markings. Follow these few simple ID tips and the next time you see large birds gliding high in the sky, take a second look. They may just be turkey or black vultures, but there may be an eagle in their midst.

The picture to the left of the text are head on shots of the birds. Red-tailed Hawks (top left) hold their wings fairly level, although not as flat and heavy as the Bald Eagle (center left). Northern Harriers are buoyant in flight and hold their wings in a V (bottom left). The other distinguishing flight pattern of the harrier is when it hunts, it will quickly change altitudes almost in a yo-yo fashion. The Turkey Vulture (top right) also flies with its wings in a V, teetering uncertainly with changes in the wind, typically the TV's wobble as they fly. The similar Black Vulture (bottom right) has a level flight profile.

The first bloom is closer than you think

2012-01-25T14:15:00.000-08:00

As February rapidly approaches, take a close look at what may be starting to pop up in the wet areas near you though I know everything is wet at the moment. Symplocarpus foetidus or Skunk Cabbage will start to emerge from the ground as a curious brown pod that you may think belongs in a science fiction movie or a spathe. As the spathe matures, it reveals a spadix which has small yellow flowers. Eventually the large (almost 2' long) leaves unfurl from the pod. This can become a nesting site of the common yellow throat. The leaves release a skunk like odor upon being crushed giving them their unattractive name. The smell attracts insects to the plant, and this is how they are pollinated.

Wood ducks and bobwhites will eat the seed of the plant but the leaves are poisonous to all mammals (including us). Because this plant is such an early riser so to speak, it is able to generate heat from the spathe which allows it to create holes in layers of snow.

If we actually get snow sometime in the next month, make sure to take a good look in a wet area to see if you can find places where the skunk cabbage has melted away the snow. It may be smelly, but has developed very interesting adaptations to survive those February and March snowstorms.

Checking out Flocks of Geese

2012-01-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

I always check and double check waterfowl especially large flocks of geese because you never know when you are going to find a "diamond in the rough". While driving by a pond this weekend, I enacted my typical stop and back-up on a fairly quite country road because I saw a flash of white that caught my eye. I promise, I try to limit my speed changes to times when there are no other cars around me! As a side note, it is always important to be respectful of private property as a birder. Never access property that the owner hasn't given you permission to access.

At any rate, after finding my binoculars and taking a closer look, I noticed a oddly marked goose hanging out with a flock of Canada geese. I believe that it is merely an oddly colored domestic goose, but it sure looked strange with its friends. You never know what you may find in a flock of geese, and rumor has it a brant has been hanging out in Chester County...

Keeping your feet warm in the winter...

2012-01-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

My thermometer said a brisk 15 Degree F morning when I prepared to leave my house this morning. I took this into consideration as I dressed for the day, I put on a thin layer of socks and then a thick pair of wool socks. I longingly eyed my battery powered foot warmers, but I thought they might be a moot point for only a couple of hours outside in the cold. My friend and I rode by a pond with about ten mallards floating around, and she made the comment that their feet must be cold. Sure the down feathers work for the body, but what about those spindly legs? No, battery powered foot warmers for ducks! I spared her the lecture about the very interesting adaptations that birds have for surviving the cold weather, but I figured I would share it with you, since I'm sure inquiring minds wanted to know.

The secret to ducks keeping their legs from freezing in the winter months is in the blood flow system. They have a countercurrent exchange system in their veins and arteries. Typicallyvenous blood transports cold blood back into the body from the feet--that cold blood would certainly cool down the body temperature and create hypothermia. The warm arterial blood rushes from the heart. Animals that are adapted to cold weather have their veins and arteries very close together. The cold blood that comes from the feet towards the body, passes by the artery and picks up the heat from the arteries. This effectively warms the blood heading back into the body, and cools the arterial blood so that it does not have that much heat to loose when it arrives at the foot. This system keeps the blood in the foot cold at all times, and yet allows blood flow to keep the feet from freezing.

This female common merganser is quite comfy on these cold days! On a side note, as more and more lakes start to freeze, keep your eyes out for these very cool ducks. They tend to start hanging out in our neighboring waterways this time of the year. The Brandywine Creek is always a good place to spot one or two.

Since I do not have such a spectacular adaptation, I'll stick with the battery powered foot warmers! You should try them if you are a inherently cold person, they do amazing things for you.

Gardening for Birds in the Winter

2012-01-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

When we moved into our house, one of the first things I did was attack the yew bushes that were the only plant in our flower gardens. I ended up leaving one yew bush for privacy until I could find a great evergreen native plant that will offer the same privacy around our porch as the yew bush. As I'm searching for a plant large enough to do it's job, I spend many a day giving the yew bush the hairy eyeball.

This weekend however, I found new respect for the yew bush I so desperately want to remove. Many of the sparrows that visit my feeder would quickly dash into the yew for cover whenever they felt pressure from nearby, which happens quite often with the flyovers from the "sharpies". (see earlier post about id tips between Sharp Shinned Hawks and Coopers)

This brings me to my real message today which is not a rant on why yew bushes irritate me, but gardening for birds in the winter. A few good tips to keep in mind:

Fruit eating birds LOVE BERRIES. These plants gave us vibrant color in the fall, and now those brilliant berries are still persisting:

Ilex verticiallata (Winterberry), Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry), Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry) and Vaccinium corymbosum (Blueberry)
**As a side note, my landscaper friend complains that verticiallata and arbutifolia are too "messy" but I say birds love them so plant accordingly!!

Cover is always important for birds in the winter. Bird feeders tend to be great targets for our raptors, so we have to at least give the little guys a fighting chance. Tall native grasses make for great cover: Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem), Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) and Bouteloua curtipendula (Side oats grama). As I found out, any shrub will do, but the grasses will also give the birds some extra food if snow hits (if it ever does!)

North Creek Nurseries is coming out with a new very upright little blue that will be great for your garden.

An unfrozen source of fresh water is essential for any bird. Usually most of the natural sources of water will freeze during the winter months, so birds are searching for anything. Heated bird baths or a moving water feature that does not freeze are a great asset to your yard.

I think you'll notice that I tend to drone on about the same plants. It just so happens that for birds and color, these are all great plants!! As "food for thought" if you pardon the pun, research has shown that chickadees only get 25% of their food intake from bird feeders in the winter, that means they are out foraging in the wild for the other 75%. I would guarantee that they are not the only bird out there using this approach, so this is all the more reason for continuing to plant native!

A great field trip for the family!

2012-01-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

If you are even mildly interested in birds and nature, you have to set aside some time on your schedule to visit the Middle Creek Management Area this winter. Middle Creek, located a little east of Harrisburg in Kleinfeltersville, is a 6300 acre wildlife area owned and managed by the PA Game Commission. During the next few months, the amount of waterfowl that will visit this property is quite impressive.

My first trip to Middle Creek was quite overwhelming. I lacked binoculars and a good bird book, but I was still able to see many snow geese, swans, and various other waterfowl. I have returned numerous times, always armed with binoculars and a bird book; this year I'll get to try out my scope (I'm really moving up in the world)!

I strongly suggest you go to Middle Creek to see the thousands of swans and snow geese that drop in on the man made lake. Then if you get out your binoculars and keep looking you will see many species of water fowl as you follow the roads through Middle Creek. I recommend that you stop by the visitors center to get maps and the lay of the land. Plus they have a great room filled with various specimens of mammals and birds.

Typically early to mid March offers the greatest variety of waterfowl, but no matter when you go you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find. For more information about directions and visiting hours check out their website: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/middle_creek/13905

Snowy Owls in PA?

2012-01-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

In case you are not in tune with the birding hotlines, it seems as though we have had an invasion of Snowy Owls in PA. There have been five reported sightings of Snowy Owls in the area. These magnificent white birds are a treat to see, and while I have thus far been skunked, I am certainly on the lookout.

I have stopped and viewed numerous white plastic bags in trees on my recent weekend road trip to the western part of the state. Sadly, no owls, only someone's litter masquerading as an owl. This does not stop me from getting out of my car on the edge of the turnpike and rooting around for my binoculars. I would not recommend trying this at home, or with a passenger (they tend to complain)! The cars zipping by at 85mph are fairly unsure of the crazy person with the binoculars on the side of the road but a snowy owl sighting would be worth it to me.

Snowy owls typically live in the extreme northern regions of the arctic tundra. They are diurnal owls (they are active during the day as well as at night) so you can spot them throughout the day. They are the heaviest of our North American owls, and while most tend to stay in the arctic in their breeding grounds some will migrate south during the winter months. These fierce predators will even successfully protect their nests from wolves. An adult owl can eat three to five lemmings each day. They will spend most of their time silently perched and looking for prey, which combined with their white feathers makes them fairly easy to spot.

Keep your eyes peeled for a flash of white and then check and double check to see if it is a bird or just another piece of litter! If it is a bird, I hope you have TLC's office on speed dial because I would like to know immediately. Happy birding, and do not laugh the next time you see some strange person pulled off of a major road with binoculars, chances are high an exciting (or imaginary) bird is within viewing distance.

Cold weather is no excuse for not tackling your invasive plants.

2012-01-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

The plant that we will discuss today needs little introduction. I am sure that at some point everyone has encountered Rosa multiflora (or multiflora rose). In fact, I bet that everyone has lost a little blood from walking through the woods and running into the plant. Multiflora is an invasive plant that was planted as a barrier and natural curb before the invasive tendencies were realized. Before we discuss control of the plant, I must tell you about the benefits of the plant. I am certainly not encouraging that you plant multi-flora around your yard, but if it currently exists you can rest knowing that it is not completely disastrous.

The green plant interspersed with the multiflora
in this photo is Greenbrier (smilax rotundifolia)
which is a native plant! Note the nest in the branches.

Multi-flora will provide cover for birds and small mammals in the winter months. It will also protect some plants and small seedlings from deer browse. Like us, deer are not very interested in battling with the thorns so they will not browse those small oak seedlings or native orchids that just might be growing under your multi-flora rose cover. This is important to note as you tackle control of the species.

Identification: As with any species, it is very important to know what plant you are looking at before you enact any type of control efforts. Some of the following tips will not be useful in the months that the plant does not have identifiable vegetation or fruiting bodies, however, it will give you a general overview of the plant.

Leaves: Leaves are pinnately compound, divided into 7-9 leaflets, and have fine serration around the edge.
Fruit: Red rose hips mature in September-October
Thorns: Sharp hooked thorns with smaller thorns that continue along stem into leaf. This is the main ID tip between multi-flora and your native pasture rose. The native rose has straight thorns and has nothing where the stem connects into the leaves. This is the best ID tip for the winter months.

Mechanical Control: If you are opposed to using chemicals, you can dig out the roots of the multiflora, or pull it out with a tractor anytime that the ground is cooperative. You can also mow multiflora in late spring to early summer. This will not eradicate the plant, but it will offer better control. The biggest drawback to using either mechanical method is the amount of disturbance you will create. I would recommend mowing for a meadow situation, but not for a woodland situation. I feel that the digging really disturbs the soil and habitat of all of the surrounding plants and this will remove any protective qualities that the rose would have otherwise offered. One other very interesting mechanical method that I have used with success are goats. Multiflora rose happens to be the favorite food of many goats. If the area of concern is large enough, you may be able to fence goats in with the rose. It is important to know that goats will eat anything so this method is most useful in an area that has very little "good" vegetation. I call these areas "no man's land". There may be a farmer in your area who will rent their goats to you for a fee. They typically provide the fencing, access to water, and shelter for the goats. This can be a great option for someone with limited time who is looking to make a difference. If you proceed with this method, it is important to realize that you will need to do follow-up in the area once the goats are removed. They do a great job of making the area accessible, but you will need an action plan for after the goats leave.

Chemical Control: At this time of the year, the most effective way to control multiflora is to cut the stumps close to the ground and then paint the cut stump with a non-diluted glyphosate product (Roundup is the common trade name). This method can be used year-round with similar results, all of the other mentioned methods are restricted to a specific time. In late winter and very early spring, multiflora will be among the first plants to leaf out. You can spray the plant with a solution of glyphosate and water to maximize control at this time. It is important to note that any glyphosate based herbicide is NOT SELECTIVE and will kill anything that is green that it touches. Invasive plants are among the first to leaf out with the exception of Skunk Cabbage, and perhaps some of the very early spring ephemerals. Pay close attention to what you are spraying so you do not have any collateral damage, however, this method will achieve control of multi-flora.

Best of luck with your control!

Enjoying my bird feeders

2012-01-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Over our extended holiday break here at TLC, I decided to wage war against the squirrels that invade my bird feeders. I realize that they need food as well, but it gets frustrating when they chase away all the birds that I work so hard to attract to our yard year round. I plant native plants that attract birds, give them nesting boxes, shrubs to roost in, and bird seed for extra fodder until the squirrels come and chase them away.

After I had cut down the autumn olive that was in our woodlands, I went to finding a way to deter the squirrels. I know many bird feeder aficionados will use the 10' rule and deter squirrels in that way however, this is next to impossible at my house mostly because of all of the habitat we've provided for the birds. I broke down and purchased some baffles. I must tell you they are the most wonderful things and within a few hours of placing the baffles on the feeders, I had chickadees, white throated sparrows, cardinals, and a hairy woodpecker. Though the birds were not that exciting I am hopeful that with persistence against the squirrels I can have a bird feeder that will attract a dickcissel or pine siskins! After all there was a black-billed cuckoo calling in my backyard one day this summer much to my excitement.

My advice to you is to keep up the battle with the squirrels, you will be able to reap the rewards of "good" birds at your feeder. Good luck birding in the new year. Get your feeders ready because the Great Backyard Bird Count is just around the corner in February!

At home with nothing to do?

2011-12-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

If you find yourself off for the holidays and would like to be outside enjoying the unseasonably warm weather while it lasts, then I have just the idea for you to keep you busy during the next few days. Do you have this plant on your property??

Bark of an olive.
Notice the multiple branching!

Leaves of an olive.
Notice the silvery hue

You can control it effectively at this time of the year!

Identification:

Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn Olive) and Elaeagnus austifolia (Russian Olive) are very similarly looking invasive shrubs that will be the first to take over a meadow that no longer gets mowed, a hedgerow, or a spot in your woodlands that gets sun. These shrubs are very fragrant with flowers in late April to early May and then red berries in the summer months. Most people enjoy the sweet fragrance of the pale yellow flowers, but to me, it just reminds me that more work needs to be done. They both have elliptical dull green leaves with silver on the underside. The slight difference in the two shrubs is that the leaves of the Russian Olive are narrower, and there are thorns on the twigs. Both shrubs can begin to fruit with in three years. The rapid spread of the plants is because they are nitrogen fixers, they can adapt to poor soil conditions, and the fruits are dropped by birds and other small mammals constantly. Even if you can not tell them apart, it is good to note that they are both invasive plants.

Control:

Both plants can be controlled by cutting the trunk at ground height. Immediately after cutting, the stumps must be painted with a glyphosate based product. You may also use a 2-4D product, but it is pricier to buy and no more effective than a glyphosate based product. I like to fill up a mustard bottle (that I label) with the undiluted glyphosate, I then will squeeze the chemical into a ring around the outer area of the stump. As you all know, the live area of the tree is the outer layer so as long as you are able to put the glyphosate into the xylem and phloem you will have effectively stopped any re-sprouts. This shrub will only re-sprout if you mow it, or if you try to girdle it. I would recommend using a local farm supplier for your chemical as it can be difficult to purchase undiluted chemicals at your local hardware store. Typical trade names for glyphosate products are either Round-Up, Credit Extra, or Accord.

Without proper control one olive tree
can turn into the photo above!

As long as you can properly identify the shrub without most of it's leaves, it will probably still have a few that are retained, this is a great time to get into your hedgerow, woodlands, or meadow and begin to gain control of the area.

As always, please be sure to read the labels on all chemicals, and use with caution. If used and stored properly, chemicals can be a great asset in our fight against invasive species. However, if they are not used properly, they can do more harm than good.

Holiday Wishes

2011-12-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County wishes a very happy and safe holiday season to you and your family.

Come celebrate the shortest day of the year with us at Stateline Woods Preserve tomorrow evening from 5-7pm for our WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION!!!

There will be a bonfire, hot chocolate, live music, and astronomers!!

The event will only be held if there is no rain!

Join TLC Today to be entered in a raffle

2011-12-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

Join The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County online in the next three weeks and be entered into a raffle to win one of the following great prizes:

A Landscape Visionaries session at your house

A $50 gift card to Trail Creek Outfitters

A rain barrel from Camels Hump Rain Barrels

A $75 gift certificate to Twelve's Grill and Cafe

Thank you to the generous donations from our local community!

Don't forget to join us for our Winter Solstice Celebration on Thursday, December 22. More information to follow!

ID Tips for common hawks throughout the winter

2011-12-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

If you are feeding birds this winter, you may notice that you have created a smorgasboard for certain hawks who swoop in at feeding time for a little brunch of their own at the expense of those wrens and songbirds. Two of the more common culprits throughout the next few months are the Sharp Shinned Hawk (sharpie's) and the Coopers Hawk. These two birds are very similar in apperance, so we've included some tips that will make it easier to identify which hawk is feasting on the birds at your feeders. The hawks need dinner as well and bird seed will just not cut it so do not be too offended when someone goes off in a puff of feathers. Best of luck with your hawk identification!

Coopers Hawk

Keys to ID Coopers Hawk:

Crow-sized, on average 14-20 inches long; female larger than the male
Thick body and broad chest-- lower center of gravity than Sharp-shinned
Thicker legs than Sharp-shinned
Long, rounded tail with a broad white band. The middle tail feathers are usually the longest.
Dark cap; feathers on back of head often raised, giving it a crested look never seen on the Sharp-shinned.
Slow wing beats that could easily be counted; the head projects far beyond the wings

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Keys to ID Sharp Shinned Hawk:

Blue Jay-sized, on average 10-14 inches long; female is larger; can be similar to small Cooper's.
Narrow hips and broad chest; center of gravity higher than Cooper's
Thinner, pencil-like legs than Cooper's.
Square, long tail; outer tail feathers usually the longest

Sharpie's Tail

Coopers Tail

Christmas Bird Counts Begin

2011-12-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

The Audubon Society's Annual Christmas Bird Count is in it's 112 year. Birding lore tells the story that the inspiration for the bird count came from an annual Christmas day hunt. The sportsman would gather together, view the vegetables that were in store, and then head off into the woods to find hunt for something feathered or furred to accompany the side. As conservationists became more abundant, they decided to collaborate forces and count birds instead of hunting them. This lead to what is now known as the Christmas Bird Count or CBC.

The CBC has become a useful tool in bird census reports. Citizen scientists are the largest contributors for the CBC. Some of the bird counts will match you with your birding skill level, or allow you along for the ride to learn from the experts. Click here to find a CBC coordinator in your area. The dates of the count range from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5.

Get out your birding books to prepare for a day of counting birds.

What a success!

2011-12-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

TLC would like to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our holiday event at terrain last evening.

The folks at terrain made everyone that attended feel quite welcome! The event was wonderfully run, and TLC was able to make some new friends among the terrain regulars. We hope that everyone who attended the farm to table dinner enjoyed the wonderful meal that was prepared for us. The hors d'oeuvres and cocktails served throughout the shopping event were delicious as well.

I hope everyone was able to get some unique holiday gifts and decorations for their homes. The winterberry branches, mini pineapples, and twig lights seemed to be the big hits of the evening. Thanks again to everyone that participated and to the staff at terrain for opening their doors to us!

Winter is almost here

2011-12-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

Though the humid, rainy days we have recently experienced are not a great indication you can be sure that winter is almost upon us. As humans, we are able to escape the winter cold in the warmth of our heated homes but the animals we share the planet with are not as fortunate to have warm and cozy places to spend the winter.

Have you ever wondered how this fellow (spring peeper) survived winter?

Warm blooded animals use metabolic control to regulate their temperatures throughout the winter, where cold blooded animals experience phisiological changes in response to adverse weather conditions. Squirrels, certain mice, and chipmunks are all true hibernators. A true hibernator controls a drop in their metabolism to a predetermined level. Their body will remain a few degrees above its ambient temperature. True hibernators are difficult to arouse once the hibernation has begun. I have certainly seen this put to the test as I embark upon early spring wood duck and screech owl box cleaning. You can pick the squirrel up and remove it from the nesting box, clean the entire box, and put him back without the squirrel ever knowing that you were there. This is much better than cleaning out a box that contains a much more active squirrel--they have a tendency to jump straight out at your head! I'm sure the picture is now clearly in your head, squirrel in my hair while I'm in a ladder...

While hibernation is used as the general term to describe any animal that disappears for the winter months this is not entirely accurate. For example, bears are not considered true hibernators; they are merely in a state of torpor.

I'm sure you are dying to know how our little fellow in the picture makes out in the winter and to me this is the fascinating story. These very elusive but loud creatures are the harbingers of spring; they spend their winters in the same places that you will hear them announcing the arrival of better weather. The spring peepers have chemistry in their blood that will tolerate a frozen state. The peepers will freeze in the winter and then thaw out in the spring! Check out your wetlands this winter to see if you can come across any frozen peepers--be warned they are really hard to find even when they are being quite vocal, so at this time of the year, the word impossible comes to mind.

If you want to learn more about other creatures and their mechanisms for dealing with the winter I strongly suggest reading Bernd Heinrich's Winter World. It is a well-written and fascinating book about the various survival mechanisms of creatures in the winter.

Eyes to the Skies

2011-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Most of the area hawk migration programs have just ended or are starting to wind down, but that does not mean that you still can not see some amazing birds around our area.

Birds are usually found within a typical range, however the ability to fly leaves some variability in where they may end up. At this time of the year it pays to double check a flock of what may appear to be Canada Geese, to see what else is flying with them. In years past the following birds have been spotted in our area intermingled with a flock of Canada Geese: Sandhill Crane, Barnacle Goose, and a Tundra Swan. Earlier this week, a Pink Footed Goose (common in Europe) was found at a park in Bucks County, so as an avid birder and naturalist, it is your job to spot the bird that does not belong in the larger flock. If you see a large flock of geese flying over, but they sound more like barking dogs than typical goose sound, take a second look. You could be looking at a flock of Snow Geese.

Keep your ears and eyes open and let us know if you see anything exciting. We will soon be posting our final counts for the Hawk Watch at Bucktoe Creek Preserve which wrapped up on Wednesday.

Opening Day of Deer Season

2011-11-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

TLC would like to remind everyone that today, November 28, is the opening day of shotgun season for antlered and antlerless deer.

Pay close attention and follow all posted rules at any preserves or parks you may hike in the area. We recommend that you wear orange or bright colors while hiking through the woods at this time of the year. While it is quite unlikely that a hunter will mistake you for a deer, wearing a bright color will reduce the element of surprise.

The Stateline Woods Preserve is currently only allowing archery hunting. If you see gun hunting on this property, please contact us immediately. Hunters will be allowed to use primitive weapons (flintlock and muzzle loader) on this property in the beginning of January, check our website or call the offices for the days that Stateline Woods will be closed for gun hunting.

Hunters at Marshall Mill House are allowed to use primative weapons, and will post the preserve appropriately when they are hunting. Marshall Mill House will be closed while hunters are using guns on the property.

A few tips to keep in mind as the deer season gets into full swing:

99% of the hunters are very responsible and get a bad name from the 1% that is not responsible. You must still practice caution while around the hunters, wearing bright colors is a great idea!
If you come across a severely injured but still alive deer while hiking on a preserve, contact the owner of the property immediately so that they can deal with it appropriately.
The sound of gunfire tends to carry, so you can typically not accurately predict the direction from which shots have been fired.
Keep your eyes open while driving in your car, deer are more likely to get spooked by hunters and end up in the road at this time of the year.
The season for Wildlife Management Unit 5C (which encompasses most of Chester County) runs from Nov 28, 2011 to Dec 10, 2011 and then from December 26, 2011 through January 28, 2012. There is no hunting on Sundays. You may further limit hunting on your property at your own discretion, but you must stay within the lawful hunting days for your wildlife management unit.
If you encounter a LIVE deer on a road contact the state police at 610-268-2022
If you encounter a dead deer on a state road, contact PennDot to remove the animal at 484-340-3200
If you encounter a dead deer on a township road, contact the police in that township for removal

If you have any further questions regarding deer hunting feel free to contact us at our offices.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

TLC wishes a happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Give thanks for open space!

Check out our website to renew your membership or give your thanks in the form of a year end donation.

www.tlcforscc.org

Mark your Calendars for December 6

2011-11-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

Spend an evening at terrain with the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County.

Join us for a festive night of holiday shopping and decorating demonstrations,

along with a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres from terrain's garden cafe from 6:30-9:30pm.

Admittance: $15 per person in advance and $20 per person at the door.

Attendees will enjoy 20% off all purchases for the evening with 5% of the proceeds to benefit the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County.

Advanced tickets can be purchased at www.shopterrain.com

Join us for a special five-course tasting menu inspired by the winter harvest offered at the greenhouse.

-first-

Local Butternut Squash Soup

crushed ginger snaps, pumpkin seed oil

-second-

Poached Lobster Salad

chicory, persimmon , pomegranate seeds and chestnut puree

-third-

Duck Confit

black quinoa, roasted butternut squash, beets

-fourth-

Filet of Beef

brussel sprouts, baby carrots, parsnip puree

-sweet-

Pumpkin Roulade

cranberry chutney, vanilla whipped cream.

Limited space available, $100 per person with 20% of the proceeds to benefit the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County. Reservations are required, cost includes meal, complimentary wine, and gratuity. Make your reservations today at www.opentable.com or call 610-459-6030.

Dinner seating at 7:30

terrain at Styer's
914 Baltimore Pike
Glen Mills PA 19342

The Mulch Volcano

2011-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

If you have a tree or shrub that looks like the tree to the right of the text; you need to take some time this weekend to spread out the mulch. I realize that the common misconception is that mulch is great for your plants so the more mulch you use the better. Most plants, especially native, require very little mulch in order to thrive.

If you create the mulch volcano surrounding the tree, you are actually suffocating the roots. The high pile of mulch surrounding the roots prevents the much needed oxygen from reaching them. This will effectively suffocate the roots over time. The mulch pile will act as your compost pile and create a lot of heat. This warm temperature is not only detrimental to the health of your tree, but it also will be a magnet for rodents looking for somewhere warm and cozy to spend the winter. While at least this will keep them out of your house, you will find that they will spend the winter gnawing on the bark of the tree, and could girdle the tree. The health of your tree will continue to decline over a period of a few years until it is no longer alive.

Take a little time this weekend and remove your mulch volcano's. You can add the extra mulch to your vegetable gardens for the winter, or put it in your compost pile to speed up the composting process.

Gardening for Birds in the Fall

2011-11-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

If you like to sit and watch the birds come to the feeders in your yard, we have a few gardening tips that will help you attract birds in the autumn. In a few months we'll add gardening tips for attracting wintering birds as well. By the time spring comes around, you will have a comprehensive list of plants to put in your garden that will extend your bird watching year round.

Many of our native shrubs produce berries that are prevalent in the fall months. These berries serve as great food for birds migrating through or the ones that will stay on through the winter months. The following shrubs will attract a variety of birds to your yard next fall: elderberry (Sambucus sp.), cranberries and other native viburnums (Viburnum sp.), and dogwoods (Cornus sp.).

Think about adding these plants to your list for great fall color and food for insects, butterflies, and our avian friends: asters (Aster sp.), joe pye weed (Eupatorium sp.), and goldenrods (Solidago sp.).

As we had talked about earlier, remember not to cut the heads off of your healthy perennials during the late fall garden clean-up. These seed heads will be important food sources for birds once snow has covered the ground. The taller plants will also offer the protection of cover for birds as they hide from predators. Stay tuned for upcoming tips about keeping those birds around your backyard for the winter as well. Start to make a list of birds that stop by your house, and then double check it against next year's list if you have made the suggested changes to your garden. Happy gardening and birding!

Where was this picture taken?

2011-11-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

This photograph was taken on one of our preserves. The tree fell in a position that has allowed us to re-route the trail under the sweeping arch of the tree. On which preserve was this photograph taken?

If you do not know the answer, it is time to get outside and enjoy the week of beautiful weather. The temperature is to be moderate all week. Please come out and enjoy the preserves while the beautiful fall days remain. Remember that we turned our clocks back on Sunday, so it is getting dark earlier and earlier.

Enjoy the last few beautiful weeks of fall before it is time to get out the snowshoes for winter hikes. Let me know if there are hikes that you would like to hear about in this blog.

RED CLAY GREENWAY VOLUNTEER DAY

2011-11-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in making your community more walkable?

For those of you who haven't heard about it yet, TLC has embarked upon the creation of the Red Clay Greenway: A Livable Communities Project. The Red Clay Greenway will be an approximately 12-mile loop trail connecting TLC conserved lands with other trail networks, scenic roadways and access points to and from the Kennett Borough.

Join TLC on Saturday, November 12th as we clear a trail on the Parrish property across from Pennock Field in south Kennett.

Invitation is open to all age groups as tasks are available for all levels of abilities.

Volunteers encouraged to dress in protective gear (waterproof boots or shoes, long sleeves and pants, gloves, etc.) and bring along your tools (loppers, hand pruners, chain saws - if skilled in use) to take part in trailblazing this exciting project! Details can be found on our website at www.tlcforscc.org

Hope to see you there!
Saturday, November 12
8:30am-1pm
Meet at Pennock Field (Scarlet Rd and W. South Street) Kennett Square PA

Tree Maintenance Time at Stateline Woods Preserve

2011-11-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

As we encounter frost covered grass in the mornings and the leaves fall from the trees, you will find TLC staff and volunteers busy at work on our preserves.

Once a tree has been planted on one of our preserves, the real work begins. We spend the next few years ensuring the viability of the planting by checking the cages, clearing vines from the cages, and making sure that the tree is growing happily. It is a great feeling to liberate a tree that is loosing the fight against the surrounding vines and weeds. We are happy to have you assist us in this matter.

If you are interested in volunteering to help us at our preserves this fall, please contact TLC at 610-347-0347, or stop by the Stateline Woods Preserve any clear Tuesday at 8am to join our dedicated crew of volunteers.

Experience Raptor Migration right here in southern Chester County

2011-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Golden Eagle

There is one month left to come join TLC at our sister preserve, Bucktoe Creek Preserve, for our second annual hawk watch. Stop by Bucktoe Creek Preserve anytime between 9 and 3 to see what raptors will be added to the daily migration count on that day. There are chairs and refreshments provided. Expert birders will help you to learn to identify raptors based on their flight characteristics. If you are extremely fortunate, you may be able to catch a golden eagle as it heads through our area.

Bucktoe Creek Preserve is a privately owned preserve that limits its visits to guided programs and special events. Directions can be found by going to their website: www.bucktoecreekpreserve.org.

Thank You to Our Volunteers

2011-10-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County would like to thank the Astra Zeneca Finance Team for their hard work and willing attitude as they volunteered at the Stateline Woods on Friday, Oct. 14. If you do not remember, this day was besieged with torrential downpours. Our volunteers took the horrible weather in stride and we were able to accomplish all of the projects on our to-do list between the downpours.

Astra Zeneca volunteers helped us to plant 400 native wildflower and grass plugs around a 250 year old oak tree, spread out wood chips around the parking area, and erect one bat house and two blue bird boxes.

If you and your company are interested in participating in a corporate volunteer day; please contact us by phone at 610-347-0347.

Thank you Astra Zeneca!

Is a Conservation Easement for you and your family?

2011-10-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Conservation easements have protected millions of acres of wildlife and open space throughout the country. A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement between a landowner and land trust or a government agency that permanently limits the use of the land in order to protect its cultural, historic, open space, or scenic values. A conservation easement will decrease the landowners rights associated with the property but retains your ownership of the land with the right to sell or pass on to heirs. Each conservation easement is written with the values of that specific property in mind.

Are you interested in permanently protecting your farm? Contact the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County for more information about the options that are open to you. The enhanced tax incentives for conservation easements are set to expire on December 31; if you have been undecided about conserving your property, the time to act is now before the enhanced tax incentives expire!

Help to create a future for your heirs that involves the legacy of conservation. Conservation efforts throughout Chester County are protecting the rare plants, birds, mammals, and scenic views that we have left.

Contact our offices for more information: 610-347-0347.