Once you have installed your wildlife habitat, there is a temptation to consider the job complete. There is no such thing as a "no maintenance" landscape, but landscaping with natives will reduce your workload. With all the effort you have invested in planning, preparing, and planting your property, it is critical that you also put additional effort into the upkeep of your habitat. In part three of this three-part series, the focus will be on how to evaluate your results and manage your property.

In order to evaluate your success, first identify the plant material that you have installed. For many trees and shrubs, this can be done by creating a map of your plantings during installation or use a basic field guide to identify the tree/shrub after spring has summoned the leaves from their wintering buds.

Identification of grasses and wildflowers can be challenging. A field guide is a good source for identifying mature plants. If you have planted seed with a no-till drill, you should be able to see the rows of plants emerging, especially with the grasses. The warm season grasses can be seen thriving in mid-summer. In the fall, after a frost, the warm season grasses take on a unique reddish/copper color. For the forbs, identification may not be possible until they flower. One technique for wildflower seedling identification is to plant a few seeds of each species in separate containers indoors and note the features of the seedling development. Patience is essential.

During the identification of your plant material, you may notice a few problems. There may be animal damage to the trees and shrubs or perhaps some trees and shrubs have died or persistent weeds may have taken over your project. These are common challenges that need to be addressed. There are many sources for information on controlling animal damage such as your local nursery, the internet, or your local MSU Extension office. If seedling mortality is a frequent occurrence, assess if you’ve planted the right material for the soils and the moisture. A lack of weed control, planting too deep/shallow, or the condition of the plant material are all factors that need to be considered if you have a high rate of mortality. However, some animal damage and mortality should be expected. On average, you should expect about 80% survival of your plant material even if you follow all the recommended steps.

Usually, there is no escaping weeds and unwanted vegetation even if you’ve done an outstanding job of controlling them before and during planting. Their seeds come through the air, on the critters you’ve attracted, and from the seed bed in the soil. And, with many of our persistent weeds that are non-native, invasive and/or noxious, we need to equip ourselves with the best tools to defend against these unwanted species. Tools include herbicides, mowing, disking, and prescribed fire. For trees and shrubs, weed and grass control is essential for at least the first few years to minimize competition. For grasses and wildflowers, the area needs to be burned or mowed about every 3–5 years to control succession.

The final steps in bringing wildlife to your property are to watch, observe and enjoy! Monitoring what species of songbird that visit your area is a progressive seasonal past-time. Your habitat will encourage migratory songbirds to stop by for a few days during their journey north. Other birds may find the necessary nesting requirements and stay the entire season to raise a brood or two. Butterflies will likely appear on your wildflowers. Note the types, when they visit and how long they stay. It is all part of the enjoyment of bringing wildlife into your backyard.

The first indication that something was happening in the bush outside my front door was the adult bird flying out of the bush each time someone opened the door. A quick inspection of the area turned up a nest with eggs. Excitedly my children crowded in to investigate -- oohing and aahing. I suggested we back off. To help protect the nest, we altered our entrance route using the side garage door.

Over the next few weeks, we periodically investigated the nest and noted the dates when the eggs hatched and the growth of the young. Each visit we made was short in duration and was followed by a period of quiet where we stayed away for a few days. Disappointment came the day we visited the nest and found it empty. Just a few day prior the chicks had been healthy and crowding the nest. Disappointment, however, was replaced with relief when I explained to my kids that the young birds had most likely fledged and were now out on their own.

A few weeks later, after patting myself on the back for introducing these birds to my children, I realized a golden opportunity had been missed. Rather than making only periodic visits to the nest, I could have created an opportunity to do some real observations. The nest was close enough that we could easily have set up an observation station and either using binoculars or spotting scopes to make some really neat observations.

Through my children, I realized the potential an activity like this has in helping to shape their awareness of our natural heritage. This year we are prepared. Binoculars are polished and we are actively seeking a nearby nest. Each child has a journal, which will be used to record information like how often adults bring food to the nest and the type of food they bring. We will also take the time to note differences in the young between nest observation times and maybe even do some illustrations.

Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to watch a nest of birds, den of fox or other wildlife families grow knows the enjoyment this situation can provide. Often these experiences raise more questions about wildlife and their behavior. But, observations don't have to be limited to wildlife. Pick a plant and note the changes it goes through and the type of insects that visit.

This year, take the time to watch babies grow and note the changes that occur. Enjoy all the wild things living and growing in your backyard.

What does this word mean? ...FENCEROW: Rows of trees, conifers, shrubs, or groundcovers that provide food and cover for wildlife.

Critter Quiz

What is the name given to a group of herons? (scroll to the bottom of this page for the correct answer!)
 

A. Flock
B. Murder
C. Siege

CREATURE PROFILE
Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus)

Michigan’s list of special animals includes 26 fishes. Of these 26, 11 are considered to be of special concern, seven are considered threatened, and another eight are considered endangered. Among the least common of Michigan’s fishes is the endangered redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus).

A member of the minnow family (Cyprinidae), the redside dace is a small fish, measuring just over three inches (79mm) in length. Adults are typically dark olive above with a bright, gold stripe just below. This species acquired its name from the orange or red lateral band that extends from the gill plate to the dorsal fin. The sides also feature irregular patches of dark scales.

The redside dace prefers small, clear, cool streams with gravel or stone bottom. It typically occupies the deeper pools, often under overhanging banks and stumps. In Michigan, most populations occur in the southeast portion of the state, though new populations were recently discovered in Gogebic County in the western Upper Peninsula.

Breeding occurs in the spring when water temperatures reach 65°F (18°C). Groups of males and females assemble in small groups just downstream of small nesting ‘pits’. Females initiate spawning by moving slightly upstream, with males following behind. Spawning occurs over the pit, and then participants return to the group. Females lay from 400 to 1500 eggs that remain in the substrate until hatching.

The redside dace is often seen leaping out of the water to catch its food. Primary food items include flies, mayflies, dragonflies, and spiders. They’re also known to eat water mites, plants, and other debris.

Because Michigan’s redside dace populations are relatively isolated from one another, local populations are highly susceptible to extinction from human and other disturbances. Surveys to identify new populations and continued monitoring and protection of existing populations is necessary in order to ensure this species remains a part of Michigan’s natural heritage.

For more information on the redside dace, check out the Michigan Natural Features Inventory abstract for this species here.

The MDNR is asking for help once again from wildlife observers in southern Michigan to report any sightings of osprey, particularly in the areas of the Maple River, which is north of St. Johns, and Kensington Metropark near Brighton.

For the last five years, the Natural Heritage Program has funded the transfer of osprey chicks from the northern Lower Peninsula to south-central Michigan in a reintroduction effort.

Osprey once lived throughout Michigan. These raptors live near water and use their keen eyesight, superb flying skills, and sharp talons to catch fish. Loss of habitat and the use of DDT and other pesticides are two major factors that led to their decline in the southern region of the Lower Peninsula. They are currently listed as threatened in Michigan.

Hopefully, through this program, a population will begin to develop in southern Michigan and they will begin to expand their range along rivers and other floodings. The success of the program was apparent when one of the hacked birds from 1999 returned to Kensington Metropark and raised 3 chicks with his mate. To date 47 osprey have been released through the program. The osprey from the program will be marked with a silver metal band on one leg and a green metal band with an alpha-numeric code on the other leg.

If you see any of these birds in southern Lower Michigan, report the sighting via e-mail or telephone to Lori Sargent at 517-373-9418, Julie Oakes at 248-328-8113, David Moilanen at 800-477-2757, or online.

Please report only those osprey observed in the southern part of Lower Michigan. Any information will be useful including location, time, activity (flying, fishing, etc.), and markings. It is especially important to note if the bird is banded and, if possible, the number on the band.

The Natural Heritage Small Grants are a priority for The Natural Heritage Program and one of the best ways that Nongame Fish and Wildlife Funds are used. Following a one year hiatus, this year we have approved 18 small grants (totaling approximately $100,000) to enhance and study nongame, threatened and endangered species in Michigan. These grants are supported directly by the Fund and federal monies earned through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG).

Grants awarded this year will support research, education, and management of several nongame species. Specific projects include:

• Population ecology and oviposition site selection by Mitchell’s satyr butterflies

• Evaluation of habitat quality, area, and isolation on metapopulation dynamics of the Karner blue butterfly in the Muskegon recovery unit

• Testing flandry as a non-lethal control tool for reducing wolf-human conflict in Michigan livestock farms

• Breeding season spatial requirements of Great Lakes piping plovers (Charadrius melodus)

• Seasonal frugivory by forest-dwelling migratory landbirds at a stopover site near the shoreline of northern Lake Huron

• Urban wildlife program, Macomb County

• Recovery plans for Michigan’s endangered, threatened, and special-concern fishes

• Survey and mapping of three rare plants: Eleocharis nitida; Juncus vaseyi; and Oryzopsis canadensis in Schoolcraft County

• Osprey Hacking, Barry County

• Survey and education project for the Karner blue, frosted elfin and the persius dusky wing butterflies in Oceana County

• Assessment of Blanding’s turtle (Emys blandingii) abundance, genetic diversity, distribution, and population dynamics within urban ecosystems

• Osprey reintroduction program at Stony Creek Metropark

• Spring and fall movement of owls through the Straits of Mackinaw

• Survey of Spring Hawk Migration at the Straits of Mackinaw

• Peregrine falcon nesting project

• A genetic evaluation of the eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Michigan

• An aerial perspective of nesting habitat of least bitterns (Ixobrychus exilis) at Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area

• Peregrine Falcon observations in Detroit

Since the grant program was initiated in 1985, projects have been funded in all 83 counties. Research made possible by Natural Heritage Grants helps gather the information necessary to help protect and conserve Michigan’s nongame and rare species while providing important educational benefits to its citizens.

Projects receiving grants must be directed toward public use and public benefit. Proposals were reviewed by DNR biologists and other technical experts and advisors to the Natural Heritage Program. Remember to purchase your wildlife conservation license plate, which will help the Fund grow.

Have you ever stopped to wonder how some of those "other" wildlife species are doing? You know - the ones that are never in the headlines. Like a bird you used to see all the time at your feeder, but they just don’t seem to turn up quite as often these days? Or a particular beetle or butterfly that you remember seeing as a kid, but haven’t seen in years?

In Michigan, the conservation and management of wildlife has emphasized game species or "listed" (threatened or endangered) species. Although many other species have benefited from the work done for these focus species, there have been only limited efforts specifically designed to benefit nongame species.

The result is something of a conservation gap, a lack of emphasis on or attention to species that are not in dire circumstances to be listed. This has principally been due to a lack of funding or restrictions placed on available funding. The species that have suffered the most from this are herpetofauna (amphibians & reptiles), non-sport fish, and invertebrates.

To help alleviate this problem, federal legislation established the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program in the fall of 2001, with a goal of providing funds to state wildlife agencies for conservation of wildlife species in greatest need.

The funding comes as an Interior appropriation to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is available to all states, Indian tribes, and territories. In the 2004 fiscal year, this appropriation amounted to 70 million dollars and it looks like it will be even greater next year. Michigan’s share was approximately 1.7 million dollars. Before you get too excited, there is a non-federal match requirement, and if the program continues to grow, this will become a major factor in our ability to use the monies available.

By accepting these funds, each state is required to develop a strategy to guide how the funds will be used. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has initiated a strategic planning process to this effect, the end result of which will be a Wildlife Conservation Strategy (WCS) for the state. The WCS must focus on species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) while addressing the full array of wildlife (terrestrial and aquatic and vertebrate and invertebrate) and wildlife-related issues in Michigan.

Required elements to be addressed in the WCS include information on distribution, abundance, habitat, threats, priority research, recommended conservation actions, and monitoring plans for selected species of wildlife.

Each state will determine which species to include in its strategy. Michigan is currently selecting species that are representative of the different habitat types in Michigan and that are indicative of the diversity and health of our state’s wildlife, with a focus on those species determined to be in the greatest need of conservation.

We will be working principally with MDNR staff to complete this strategic planning process, with assistance from Michigan Natural Features Inventory, the International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and Development Assistance Teams, which are being established through US Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Aid regional offices. Additionally, participation of stakeholder organizations, technical experts, other governmental agencies, tribes, and other interested individuals will be solicited.

The deadline for submittal to and approval by US Fish & Wildlife Service is October 1, 2005. Our goal is to have a final draft available for internal review by January 31, 2005, for public review by March 15, 2005 and then final document submission to the federal government by June 1, 2005.

Stay informed about the progress of Michigan's Wildlife Strategy, as well as find out how you can help, by reading updates here in The Spotting Scope, or at the MDNR web site.