Let Dead Plant Material Lie

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Photo and article by Plant NOVA Natives

Our splendid native plants are going dormant for the winter and leaving behind their seed heads and dead stalks as a reminder of growing season glory. Many of us are inclined to perceive these remnants as unsightly “garden debris” that should be cut and cleared sooner rather than later. Better now than in the spring, right?

Wrong! Dead native plant material is integral to a healthy ecosystem. An essential support for the populations of pollinators and other animals upon which we all depend, nothing comes close to replacing its role in the health of a diverse ecosystem. Before trotting out the clippers and rakes, consider this:

Dead stalks: Many dead stalks of native plants contain hollow spaces that are like 5-star winter resorts for the insect world. We may frown at their appearance, but native bees, among others, are industriously and ingeniously taking advantage of them in surprising ways. Adorable little bees that are so tiny you may never have noticed them are laying eggs, hibernating, and otherwise snuggling down for the harsh winter in the stem shelter of the native plants we installed. Insects aren’t the only critters who profit. Dead plant material provides shelter and nesting resources for birds and many others.

Dead leaves: Butterflies can spend the winter in leaf litter as caterpillars and chrysalises. The Mourning Cloak, Question Mark, and Comma butterflies, for example, overwinter in dead leaves as adults after entering a dormant phase called “diapause.” Moth species such as Luna Moth and Isabella Tiger Moth also pupate in leaf litter. Salamanders, some turtles and other creatures find shelter there as well.

Seeds and berries: Seeds on flowerheads and winter berries are an important source of nourishment for both resident and migrating birds and are consumed throughout the fall and winter. Living or dead, native plant material has immense value for wildlife.

Living soil: Dead and decomposing plant material are valuable components of soil. Gardeners and landscapers spend considerable time and money on store-bought organic material to condition the clay soil often encountered in Northern Virginia. But the decomposing plant material already present helps build humus, a dark organic material comprised of approximately 60% carbon, 6% nitrogen, and small amounts of phosphorus and sulfur. Humus-rich soil encourages a proliferation of beneficial soil organisms and microorganisms. It also holds moisture and retains soil structure for better air and water circulation. The decomposition process creates very fertile ground indeed for native plant gardening.

Armed with this expanded understanding, it seems that the best fall cleanup strategy is to not have one: leave the stalks, stems and leaves alone and let them lie, right where they are, over the winter. A light cleanup or pruning in early spring to encourage new growth can be done with little or no harm to local wildlife. More information on garden and landscape maintenance can be found on the Plant NOVA Natives website.

We would be remiss not to include a word here about gardening aesthetics. We humans care about how things look. In daily life, surrounded by people, garden beauty and aesthetics will always be a consideration. Our definition of “garden beauty,” however, can certainly evolve. Are not waving seedheads more interesting than bare ground? And is it not beautiful that all kinds of animals need our pollinator gardens for more than just pollen? That our efforts not only attract pollinators but enable their very survival? That it takes just a bit of forbearance to advance and strengthen the biodiversity of the region?

Let’s pause the garden cleanup until spring, and then be gentle on the emerging life.

“Swanfall” by Tom Blackburn

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Photo: Tundra Swans, Randy Streufert, The Potomac Flier (The NVBA)

Tom Blackburn has written a beautiful article about the magnificent tundra swans. Between 200 and 400 of these migratory birds are spending the winter in the Great Marsh of Belmont Bay (Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge). “Swanfall” is the term used to describe the annual return of swans to their winter home.   Mr. Blackburn describes both the swans’ breeding behavior and their incredible migratory journey. He also provides the reader with some very helpful viewing tips. Please take a few minutes and read this very informative article.  

This article appeared in the Nov. 30, 2024, Edition of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, The Potomac Flier.

Click here for additional information and details about the ranger guided walks to see the Tundra Swans offered by Mason Neck State Park.

13 Species Added to Virginia Invasive Plant Species List

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Photo: Nandina (Nandina domestica)

Press release and photos provided by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation


Gardeners encouraged to plant alternatives to Italian arum, nandina and others

RICHMOND, VA, October 8, 2024 — Thirteen more species that pose a threat to the state’s ecosystems have been added to the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List.

The additions include Italian arum (Arum italicum), nandina (Nandina domesticum) and orange-eye butterfly-bush (Buddleja davidii).

Invasive plants are non-native species that cause harm or have the potential to cause harm to natural resources, economic activity or humans. Some have been introduced intentionally into a region where they did not evolve; others, accidentally.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has determined that the plants on the list, which now includes 103 species, threaten Virginia’s forests, marshes, wetlands and waterways. The list, which has no regulatory authority, is for educational purposes and is updated regularly. For the full list, go to: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invsppdflist.

“DCR’s Natural Heritage Program has updated and provided this list for more than a decade, as a ‘know before you grow’ tool for citizens,” said Virginia Natural Heritage Program Director Jason Bulluck. “New invasive plant species are continuously arriving in Virginia, so it is important for landowners and land managers to stay aware of the threats, to prevent invasive species establishment and to be swift in recognizing and managing their spread. Anyone who has ever found themselves battling an invasive species infestation knows ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”

Factors considered during assessment of potential additions to the list include the invasive characteristics of the species such as how readily seeds are dispersed through the landscape, whether Virginia has suitable habitat and if the species threatens natural resources. There are three ranks of invasiveness: high, medium or low.

Invasive plants cause problems because they proliferate and displace native plant species, reduce wildlife habitat and alter natural processes.

Two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa).

 

For instance, a new aquatic invasive plant with sharp, spiky fruit known as two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa) has been rapidly proliferating in freshwater ponds, lakes and slow-moving waterways in northern Virginia and elsewhere. It harms the ecosystem by forming mats that choke and cover waterbodies, shading out and competing with native submerged aquatic vegetation and reducing dissolved oxygen with its decayed roots and leaves. Infested waters lose boating, fishing, recreational and aesthetic value. Management is costly.

The state’s Invasive Species Working Group, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2009, is coordinating efforts to address invasive species and is updating its management plan.

DCR Stewardship Biologist Kevin Heffernan said that a cultivar (“cultivated variety”) is sometimes propagated to be sterile so that it won’t spread. However, in some cases like the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana), the cultivar can cross with other cultivars or the original species, thereby reproducing and spreading to extents that are very difficult, expensive or even impossible to ever manage.

“We think of plants as being rooted where you plant them. But many species have reproductive means by which to travel far from the parent plants: seeds “hitchhiking” on people and animals, seeds catching a ride on the wind, or plant parts floating on water to a new habitat. Thus, species like tree-of-heaven, wavyleaf grass, two-horned trapa, and even butterfly-bush, can show up where you least expect to find them, places like local forest parks or natural area preserves,” he said.

“If you learn you have an invasive species in your yard or garden, whether or not you planted it there, we strongly encourage removal. There are many horticultural species that are not invasive. And, more and more, native plant species are available for a variety of settings. Often, the native species we plant in our yards benefit birds, butterflies and other pollinators, whose presence enriches our garden experience and increases ecological value.”

DCR provides a free, online Virginia Native Plant Finder tool to search for native species to plant instead of invasives. Go to https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/native-plants-finder.

To report a sighting of an invasive plant in Virginia, use the EDDMapS website or app, iNaturalist or visit: https://www.invasivespeciesva.org/report-sightings.

Added to Virginia Invasive Plant Species List 

Virginia Invasiveness Rank: High

  • Chinese tallow-tree (Triadica sebifera)
  • floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides var. glabrescens)
  • Italian arum (Arum italicum)
  • ravenna-grass (Tripidium ravennae)
  • trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata)
  • two-horned trapa (Trapa bispinosa var. iinumai)

Virginia Invasiveness Rank: Medium

Incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa)

  • curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
  • fountain grass (Cenchrus purpurascens)
  • incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa)
  • leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
  • sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora)

Virginia Invasiveness Rank: Low

  • nandina (Nandina domestica)
  • orange-eye butterfly-bush (Buddleja davidii)

Extension Master Naturalists Offer Forest Therapy Experiences to Help with Stress Relief

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Photo by Stacey Remick-Simkins

What’s shinrin-yoku, you might ask?

Christie Culliton has written a wonderfully informative article about the Japanese art of forest bathing – or taking in your natural surroundings using the five senses to help reduce stress levels.

Autumn is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the changing leaf colors and unplug with a shinrin-yoku experience in your local forest.

Virginia Cooperative Extension trains and supports 30 Virginia Master Naturalist chapters around the state who lead forest bathing experiences as one of their many volunteer programs, in addition to providing education, outreach, and service to benefit natural areas and natural resources in their communities.

Learn more through Extension’s publication about shinrin-yoku and stress reduction. Give yourself a five-minute forest therapy break with this video explaining more about shinrin-yoku.

Contact your local Master Naturalist Program to find out if forest bathing experiences are offered in your area.

 

Protect The Wildlife You Attract

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Photo and article: Plant NOVA Natives

Market demand for native plants in our region has clearly risen in the past ten years. This is a very positive trend, fueled by an increased awareness of the benefits that native plants offer. It is also a sheer delight to see wildlife respond to our efforts, enjoying the food and shelter that a healthier environment offers.

However, a word of caution is in order. Elements of the landscape may pose serious hazards to the very wildlife that we’ve attracted. Are we drawing them closer, only to have them harmed by an avoidable threat to their health and wellbeing? In some cases, the answer is clearly yes. Here are some suggestions for identifying and addressing some of the more common threats.

Cats: The biggest threat to birds is habitat loss, but the second biggest is domestic cats. When allowed outdoors, they devastate populations not only of birds – an estimated 2.4 billion are killed by cats every year in the United States alone – but also of other small critters such as frogs, voles, and lizards. Domestic cats are an introduced species that have no place in our landscape.

Window strikes: The American Bird Conservancy estimates that window collisions kill up to 1 billion birds each year. The victims are not limited to migratory species striking large glass buildings in cities. They include our local backyard birds as they fly back and forth. The American Bird Conservancy has tested some inexpensive deterrents and discusses them on their website. One featured example is “Feather Friendly ®, adhesive dots that make the glass more visible to birds. Note that whatever product you choose, it is better to apply it to the exterior of the window. Internally-installed products are less effective when reflections on the glass are strong.

Outdoor lighting: Bright outdoor lighting is a life-threatening hazard to birds that migrate at night, disorienting them and disrupting their sense of direction to the point of exhaustion and death. Outdoor lighting also devastates fireflies, moths, and other nocturnal animals. As much as possible, turn off outdoor lighting, especially during peak migration periods (March 1 to June 15 and August 15 to November 30). Before 11 pm, turn off any lighting that may be directed upward, or at least consider adding a down-shield. Swap out light bulbs for warm spectrum LED (3000 K or less) to make them less attractive to insects.

Mosquito spraying: It is impossible to spray for mosquitoes without killing other insects as well, including bees, butterflies, caterpillars, ladybugs, and dragonflies. The residual effects of the pesticide will last for weeks, yet the intended effect is rather short lived, as mosquitoes can fly up to 2 miles and quickly repopulate the treated areas. Several less harmful tactics can keep them at bay. Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so turn on an electric fan on your deck to blow them away. Use mosquito repellents such as DEET. Most importantly, search your property for places that accumulate water where mosquitoes can breed, such as buckets, toys, downspouts, or the saucers under plant pots.

Rat poison: Rat poison is designed to smell and taste good to mice and rats, but it can be just as appealing to other mammals as well. Even if placed inside, the poison can be carried outside by the mice and rats to where other wild animals can find it. But most cases of wildlife poisoning do not occur from direct consumption. Rather, poisoning occurs secondarily when a raptor eats a poisoned animal. The poison then accumulates in the raptor’s body, leading to the same kind of slow and agonizing death for the bird as it does for the mammal. More environmentally-friendly ways to keep rats and mice out of your home include sealing all entry points, securing food resources such as birdseed, pet food, and trash, making sure rodent nesting materials such as shredded paper or fabric are not available, or adding nest boxes for raptors to attract them to your yard. One barn owl can consume a thousand mice in a year, and that is a conservative estimate.

Nandina berries: Nandina is native to eastern Asia but has been a landscaping favorite across our region for a long time, mostly due to the profuse red berries it produces in late fall that persist through winter. Nandina berries, however, contain cyanide and other alkaloids that are deadly to birds when consumed in large volumes. There are many beautiful native substitutes for the invasive nandina, such as Winterberry and Red Chokeberry.

The Northern Virgina Bird Alliance website has more details on avoiding these and other human-made hazards.

As always, awareness is everything. When viewed more holistically, native plants are one piece in the larger puzzle of ecosystem restoration. Other factors complete the picture, including soil health, animals, favorable climate conditions, and fewer environmental risks, with each piece interdependent upon the other.

Enjoy the Birds and Keep ‘em Safe – Article Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

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Photo courtesy Shutterstock.

 

Responsible bird feeding is a fun way to observe and learn about birds. There are a few things to watch out for to be sure you’re feeding wild birds in a way that is safe for the birds and for you. The following suggested best practices are provided to help you enjoy feeding wild birds while avoiding issues that can negatively impact birds and other wildlife. In some cases, issues may arise that require you to stop feeding wild birds until the issues are resolved.

Photo by Katie Martin – DWR

Please click here for important information on the importance of safe bird feeding, creating natural, sustainable habitats beyond the feeder, and some valuable how-to information for safe bird feeding.

“Keystone” Plants for Fall Gardens

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Article and photos by Plant NOVA Natives

It’s fall, and most healthy plants are looking rather spent as they go dormant for the winter. But some natives are happily blooming away for the first time this growing season, catching your eye with their intense colors and soothing away year-end gardening blues.

Asters and goldenrods are usually the stars of this show, providing a beautiful color contrast with each other when planted together. Aside from their beautiful, long-lasting blooms, they are both “keystone” native plants, so named because they feed the most species of insects, butterflies, birds, and other animals in our area. Along with several other keystone plants and trees, asters and goldenrods are wildlife engines that support many local ecosystems. They are obvious choices for fall gardens.

It is encouraging if not inspiring to know that if you have access to an empty outdoor potting container or a bit of open ground, you can plant a keystone species and … help reinstitute the biodiversity of the continent!  Spend ten minutes on a sunny afternoon watching what visits the blooms on your aster or goldenrod, and you will absolutely believe your efforts have made a difference.

Here are some suggestions for asters and goldenrods to add to your garden.

Asters
Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
Aromatic Aster has emerged in recent years as a fall gardening favorite and a great substitute for non-native mums. In the wild, aromatic aster likes dry rocky outcroppings and is considered uncommon if not rare in the Piedmont. But it has become very popular among growers these days and is rather easy to find.  It is a vigorous, drought-tolerant plant that does as well in a pot as it does in the ground. Aromatic Aster gets its name from its leaves which release a balsam-like smell when crushed, which is pleasant to us and repulsive to deer. As such, the plant is very deer resistant. The plant is naturally mounded in shape and rather well behaved, especially if pruned. It is recommended not to prune an aster during its first year, but older plants respond well to a trim of approximately 1/3 of the stem length in June or July to help maximize flower production in the fall and reduce floppiness.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
New England aster has a sturdy appearance and can grow up to six feet or more. After the first year, it can be pruned down to ½ of its stem length in June. You can also pinch back stem tips every few weeks during the winter and prune its outer stems a bit more than its inner stems to create more of a mounded shape. Monarch butterflies are particularly attracted to it as they stock up for their migration to Mexico for the winter. New England Aster is a host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly, one of the most common butterflies across America.
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum laterifolium)
Calico Aster can reach a height of 1-4 feet and is also a late September bloomer, producing small, daisy-like white flower heads that gradually turn to purplish red. Flowers on one plant include both colors at the same time, which is how the plant gets its name. It is very delicate and airy in appearance when blooming, but it can be mistaken for a weed in mid-summer. Flowers attract many bees, while the leaves host the larva of the Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies. Plant Calico Aster near New England Aster or Aromatic Aster for a nice structural contrast.

Goldenrods for the Garden

There are over 40 species of goldenrod native to Virginia, most of them producing very long-lasting blooms from late summer to fall which are of special value to native bees and many other little pollinators.
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) 
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod, also known as Rough-leaved Goldenrod or Rough-stemmed Goldenrod, is a garden favorite and rather easy to find in native plant and commercial garden centers. It features 2-5 feet long graceful arching stems that are densely loaded with small yellow flowers. In nature you will see the plant growing in large masses in open fields, but it also thrives in gardens as that get plenty of sunlight. Plant it near some blue asters for color contrast, and enjoy the result.
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Zigzag Goldenrod, also known as Broadleaf Goldenrod, does not require as much sun as Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod. It is common in local woodland settings and easy to spot with its characteristic erect, somewhat zig-zag stems that can grow from 1-3 feet tall. In addition, many backyard birds such as sparrows, goldfinches, chickadees, and wrens love to eat its seeds. Zigzag Goldenrod is an easy-care, beautiful, and beneficial choice for your fall garden, requiring little attention once it is established.
Goldenrods have been saddled with a bad reputation by people who mistakenly blame them for their allergy symptoms. It is actually ragwort species that cause the fall sneezing. As garden plants, some species of Goldenrod such as Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) can be overexuberant in the garden or look weedy. Others, though, are the perfect plant to wrap up the season, both for their color and for their contribution to our struggling local ecosystem. For more information about these and other native plants, see the Plant NOVA Natives website.

 

Native Vines for Hummingbirds and Beauty

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Photo: Plant NOVA Natives

Native vines can be terrific additions to your landscape. The most popular one, Coral Honeysuckle, is a hummingbird magnet!

Unlike the non-native invasive vines that we see everywhere killing trees, our native vines seldom hurt them. They co-evolved with our trees and are important members of the ecosystem, attracting numerous and diverse populations of pollinators with their plentiful nectar, feeding many birds from late summer into the winter with their fruit, and hosting the caterpillar larvae of several butterflies and moths.

Their flowers are long blooming, showy, profuse, and often fragrant and remarkably complex. It is their nature to reach for a climbing surface and grow upon it rapidly, which puts their flowering and foliage beauty on full and glorious display.

Native vines grow well in average soil and in dry or moist conditions and are generally easy to cultivate. Some can be a nuisance due to their exuberant growth, but they can all be trained to climb walls, arches, fences, arbors, or trellises, or pruned or sheared for containment. Once trained, they add coverage, privacy, and striking beauty to any space.

Here are five native vines you can plant and enjoy for years to come.

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Coral Honeysuckle, whose botanical name refers to its evergreen habit, is the hands-down favorite of the native vines for garden spaces and is the official wildflower of Fairfax County. It blooms profusely in the spring then continues to bloom all the way up to November. The hummingbirds in your neighborhood will visit it repeatedly throughout the day.

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)

Crossvine is semi-evergreen with stunning abundant blooms and claws at the end of its tendrils allowing it to cling to stone, brick, pergolas, and fences without support. Its green leaves turn purple in the fall. Hummingbirds also visit this plant during its May bloom time.

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)

Virgin’s Bower is a fast grower and late bloomer with flowers turning to showy sprays of silky seeds in late summer. It climbs via twisted stems so needs something to wrap itself around to grow such as shrubs, trees, a fence or a trellis. Be careful to distinguish this from Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis ternifolia), a highly invasive plant that is sold in conventional garden centers.

Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea)

Yellow Passionflower has interesting leaves and delicate, fragrant flowers that bloom in mid-summer. It is considered easy to control, train, and contain.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

While it is primarily prized in the landscape for its brilliant red-burgundy fall foliage, Virginia Creeper is a generous provider of abundant food for hundreds of insects, birds, and other animals and a meaningful addition to the landscape.

Some native vines are a little too exuberant for most people’s gardens but are great additions to more naturalized areas. Purple Passionflower, Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) for example, is a beautiful nuisance when it pops up everywhere. The name Maypop comes from the loud “pop” the fruit makes when crushed. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) is another example. Its flowers are flamboyant and a magnet for hummingbirds, but it is a famously vigorous grower that scrambles over anything it can reach with aerial rootlets that will damage any wood, brick or stone it touches. It is also considered a nuisance.

Finally, there is one notable vine that is native in Virginia but not Northern Virginia: American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Widely sold in conventional garden centers, it has become the substitute for the highly invasive Asian wisterias which are wreaking havoc on our ecosystem, smothering trees and tearing them limb from limb.

For more information on all of these native vines, you can visit www.plantnovanatives.org/vines or visit our native plant guide.

Supporting Your Garden Through Heat and Drought

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Photo and article by Plant NOVA Natives

We all know the climate is getting hotter. The week of July 22 included the world’s two hottest days in recorded history. At the same time, the average annual rainfall in Virginia has risen, as a warmer atmosphere tends to hold more moisture. Since it also creates more violent storms, the water runs off faster, a problem compounded by periods of drought. We can only anticipate more heat and more drought in the future.

These changes have not gone unnoticed by local gardeners. Some plants which had always seemed hardy are now struggling in the heat. We see some so-called “sun loving” plants wilting in the heat of direct sun and never fully recovering. We are not sure what “sun loving” really means at this point. How much direct sun do plants “love” when it’s 95 degrees?

Most plants require supplemental watering when newly planted, but this year even well-established and well-sited plants are struggling in the heat and drought. Native plants have the advantage of being adapted to our local conditions, but what happens when those conditions change? We asked our native plant gardeners to share observations about plants that normally tolerate full sun conditions. Here are some of their answers.

  • Some redbuds in full sun that were fine in previous years are now turning brown, which makes sense as it is an understory species accustomed to at least some shade.
  • Coral Honeysuckle is doing fine in full sun if the roots are shaded, which also mimics how the vine behaves in nature as it climbs up trees.
  • Some Virgina Sweetspire shrubs are wilting under the full force of the afternoon sun.
  • Green-and-gold seems to tolerate full sun or dry soil but not both. The same is true of Golden Ragwort.
  • The shrubs Arrowwood and Black-haw viburnums, Spicebush, and Bladdernut seem unfazed.
  • Examples of perennials and grasses that are holding up well despite the stress include asters, goldenrods, Tickseed Coreopsis, Butterfly Weed, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Petunia and Switchgrass. The plants may not grow as tall, though, when stressed.

Going forward, here are some gardening strategies to consider.

Shop for Drought-Resistant Plants: We can’t control the climate, but if we don’t want to spend the rest of our lives watering, we will shop more carefully for plants that tolerate heat and drought. A bit more research on the plant than the information provided by the plant label can pay off.

Consider Nature’s Place: Where plants are found in nature is a clue to where we should plant them. If they naturally grow in cooler, shadier, or wetter wild settings, they are likely to require more supplemental watering in a dryer, hotter garden. There are exceptions, though: some plants that grow in marshes, such as Buttonbush and Swamp Rose Mallow, do surprisingly well in compacted, clay soil.

Monitor Ground Moisture: Too much water can kill a plant as effectively as too little, so it is important to estimate the moisture level before watering. If sticking your finger into the ground doesn’t appeal, a moisture meter can be very handy and occasionally deliver some big surprises, since water moves down into even slight depressions.

Use Mulch: Two or three inches of hardwood or leaf mulch will cool the soil and reduce evaporation. However, too thick a layer can become a water barrier and actually dry out the bed. Wood chip mulch is the preferred choice under trees because water flows through it more easily. Fallen leaves are nature’s solution and can do the job in a garden bed with the additional benefit of providing habitat for fireflies and amphibians.

Plant Green Mulch: If you use living plants as a kind of green mulch, that can also cool and moisten the soil, though competition for water between plants needs to be considered.

Plant More Trees: With temperatures rising, shade gardens are the gardens of the future. Just remember that you should always pull turf grass away from tree trunks out to the drip line, since the roots of trees are quite shallow and have trouble competing with turf for water and nutrients.

Many answers to your questions can be found in the Plant NOVA Natives online search app, which we constantly update as more information comes in. If you have additional observations or strategies to contribute, please send them to [email protected].

 

A Community Effort: Banding Osprey in Colonial Beach

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Cover Photo: Joanie Millward, FMN Peter Mecca Connecting with a raptor.

Article by FMN Peter Mecca – Educator, Scientist and Lifelong learner

As an educator and scientist, I welcome opportunities to interact with all forms of life on Earth. Whether it’s helping to raise trout in Virginia or tagging leatherback turtles in Puerto Rico, my work with wildlife strengthens my passion to learn and care for our natural resources.  As a lifelong learner, I believe it’s important to acquire new knowledge and skills, and to use that information to promote a healthy planet for all who share this space. 

 

I am an adjunct biology professor at the University of Maryland’s Global Campus. Formerly, I was a university professor of science education and biology, a science coordinator for Defense Department schools, and a high school science teacher. I hold a BS in Secondary Education-Biology, an MA in Environmental Biology, and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, and Ecology. I am also a Virginia Master Naturalist in the Fairfax County Chapter.

 

While in Colonial Beach, Virginia, this spring, I met Joanie Millward, president of the Virginia Osprey Foundation, and her husband Barry. We discovered a common interest in natural resource conservation and community science. As Joanie and Barry described their involvement with the Virginia Osprey Foundation, I mentioned that I was a naturalist and environmental biologist, and often do volunteer work on events similar to those supported by the foundation. When they extended an invitation to participate in the 3rd Annual Osprey Chick Banding on June 25, I immediately accepted the invitation. Under authority and direction of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the banding is led and conducted by Ken Smith, a federally permitted raptor bander. 

 

Bird banding is a valuable process in the study and conservation of the approximately 1,270 bird species that exist in the United States. According to the Bird Banding Laboratory at the USGS, bird banding data are useful in scientific research and management, as well as conservation projects. Individual identification of birds allows for study of dispersal and migration, behavior and social structure, life-span and survival rate, reproductive success, and population growth.

 

Ospreys are abundant in Colonial Beach during the spring and summer seasons. There are more than 50 nesting platforms — human constructed structures — and tree nests in its 2.6-square-mile area. As ospreys return from their wintering grounds in late February and early March, the sky is filled with their presence and songs. Their arrival produces excitement and signals the start of spring and summer in Colonial Beach. Residents share their enthusiasm with one another as they witness these magnificent raptors bringing sticks and other objects to their nests, preparing a place to raise a new clutch of chicks.

Photo: Joanie Millward, Ken Smith and FMN Peter Mecca banding a 4-week-old chick.

On June 25, I joined Joanie, Barry, and Ken on visits to five nests where we banded a total of 12 chicks. Since the nests were high above ground, Todd Dalton, a local resident who works for Dominion Energy and is authorized to use the company bucket truck, was responsible for the removal and return of the chicks to and from the nest. Ken showed the volunteers how to handle each chick. I was lucky to participate twice. As I held a chick, Ken would carefully get a band, supplied to him by USGS with a USFW number, size and attach it to the right leg of the bird. Although the band can be attached to either leg, Ken prefers the right. While Ken did the banding, I securely and safely held the chick while paying attention to its behavior. If the chick were to get anxious, I’d place a covering over its head to block vision. This action helps to calm the bird. After the bird was banded, I handed the chick back to Ken, who placed it into a cloth bag and got ready for the next. An osprey usually has two to three chicks at a time, so we had to tag all before Todd could return them to the nest. Given that the chicks ranged in age from four to six weeks, I was surprised as to how docile they were. They basically let us do our job. The mom, on the other hand, was not happy. She constantly tried to intimidate Todd while he was removing and returning the chicks. Fortunately, the adult osprey stayed out of reach of Todd. Once the chicks were returned, it usually took about 10 to 15 minutes for the adults to return to the nest. I suppose they wanted to make sure the humans were out of the area.  

Photo: FMN Peter Mecca, Todd Dalton discovers these items in two nests.

As we went from nest to nest, local residents would come out of their homes and inquire about our work. All expressed sincere interest and thanked us for our efforts. Some of the residents volunteered to hold a chick while Ken administered a band. A Colonial Beach police officer, on patrol, also stopped to volunteer. 

I am so thrilled about what I did and what I observed in this town. The osprey banding is an example of community science in action. Residents value osprey and are willing to help protect them. I will continue to assist with banding osprey as well as support the efforts of the Virginia Osprey Foundation. Wherever you are in the Commonwealth, I encourage you to connect and engage with nature. Whether its stream monitoring, stream cleanups or bird banding, value our planet and take action.