birds, butterflies, and vernal ponds

Oberlin South Woods - Ramsy Right of Way

Oberlin South Woods - Ramsy Right of Way
located west of western most parking lot of
Oberlin Recreation Complex
225 West Hamilton Road
Oberlin, Ohio 44074

Right of way adjacent to several vernal ponds of varying size and woodland edge.

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On 5 May 2012,the Firelands Land Conservancy,the Oberlin Chapter of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, hosted a hike of the Ramsy Right of Way. Many birds and aquatic creatures were heard, seen, and identified. All in attendance had a wonderful time learning about the creatures we heard and saw that morning. Many thanks and appreciation to those who shared knowledge, technology, and snacks!

A few of the birds we heard and witnessed were:

• Great Crested Flycatcher
• Indigo Bunting
• Baltimore Oriole
• Northern Flicker
• Scarlet Tanager
• Barred Owl
• Goldfinch
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Hooded Warbler
• Phoebe sp.
• Vireo sp.

After the hike was over, I went back to take photographs and to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature a bit longer. Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, on low road-side vegetation near open field adjacent to parking lot.

Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, on low road-side vegetation near open field adjacent to parking lot.

Question Mark, Polygonia interrogationis, imbibing sap on tree trunk located on woodland edge along Right of Way.

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, resting on ground of Right of Way.

butterflies and a tree

Red Admirals and Crabapple Flowers

A group of about 4-6 Red Admiral,Vanessa atalanta, butterflies were nectaring at flowers on a crabapple tree, Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa', in my Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 backyard throughout the day on 15 April 2012.

crabapples

Small Flowering Trees that Benefit Wildlife

A source of delight for me and great amusement for my indoor kitties is watching the squirrels

and birds in my garden pop crabapple fruit into their mouths.

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Over the past eight years, the three crabapple trees I planted in my wildlife-friendly garden were selected based on wildlife appeal, persistent fruit less than or equal to 1/2" diameter, and disease susceptibility.
C R I T E R I A
	Fruit Size  (diameter)	Fruit Persistence	Disease Resistance
Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa'	1/2", abundant	persistent	slightly susceptible to scab
Malus 'Jewelcole'	less than 1/2"	persistent	Ohio State (1989,1997): high resistance to scab
Malus 'Prairiefire'	3/8" to 1/2"	persistent	very resistant
An excellent reference for crabapples and other woody plants is: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses, Fifth Edition by Michael A. Dirr. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing L.L.C., 1998.

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At this time in my garden, wildlife is attracted to the crabapple fruit on my M. x zumi 'Calocarpa' tree. Although the crabapple fruit in each of the photos below may look similar, wildlife has preference for those that are softened by colder weather.
Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa'	Malus 'Jewelcole'	Malus 'Prairiefire'

As the fruit of M. 'Jewelcole' and M. 'Prairiefire' soften, these will be consumed in the upcoming weeks and months. In addition to fall and early winter fruit, crabapple trees are an excellent source of larval food, nectar, or pollen for local insects: butterflies, moths, bees, and beetles. These insects will attract the attention of insect-eating birds. With their many benefits to wildlife, these small spring-flowering beauties deserve a place in gardens devoted to welcoming wildlife.

the Wildlife garden

Providing for the Basic Needs of Wildlife

Nature's creatures have food and housing preferences as we do.  And just like our basic needs for life, the basic needs of wildlife are: water, food, and shelter.  I'm making certain that whenever and whoever drops by my garden for a visit, I'll be prepared to offer my guests refreshment, food, and shelter by choosing trees, shrubs, flowers, vines, and grasses that provide wildlife with at least one basic need.  By including a variety of plants in your garden and supplementing these with other food sources (especially during the winter months in colder regions) such as bird seed, suet, and shelled and unshelled peanuts, you will encourage wildlife to visit your garden year round, season after season.