Not having seen a lot of tall grass prairie up close in my lifetime, I was overwhelmed the other day by some large CRP fields of head high switchgrass in N. TX. I had seen the large bunches scattered about in gulleys and crevasses before, but I was not familiar with it in such a large and thick environment. It was beautiful, and I'm sure it did a wonderful job as erosion control. But I question whether it was effective as wildlife habitat when sown so thickly without much plant diversity to compliment it as habitat.
Switchgrass is, indeed, an excellent forage for wildlife and especially noted for game bird seed forage and cover. But it has a very thick carpet underneath, much like other erosion control plants, and would be hard to navigate by young quail and turkeys... IMO. And without plant diversity and bare ground in between the bunches of switchgrass, I would think it's benefit as wildlife habitat would be limited.
That thinking was initiated when I asked about quail on the property and was told that you would never hear a quail calling on this property. It started me asking myself: Why? Not being personally familiar with the switchgrass prairies (only heresay), it just didn't make a lot of sense to me, at first. But after thinking it over, the lack of diversity in the fields has to be the reason.
But then, I am convinced that biology is an evolving science, and I never professed to have all the answers. But this issue deserves considerable study on my part. Maybe some of you have some helpful information or experience on the subject. If so, your input would be greatly appreciated.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Edge feathering is creating transition zones...
When people talk about edge habitat and the edge effect, most people picture a field edge bordering a woodland area. Usually there's a fence there, but the edge is usually pretty abrupt. The field or pasture may be mowed regularly to keep it looking ever so neat. But this is not the best situation when it comes to wildlife.
Wildlife prefers the gradual transition that nature provides as it encroaches into the field from the woodland. Wildlife utilizes this transition zone for both food and cover. Edge feathering simply helps to provide this transition zone more rapidly, and possibly, more effectively.
When attempting to feather the edges of a woodland, there are several ways this can be done. You may simply leave an area of varying width to grow naturally from the drip line of the woods edge. Or you may artificially create a feathered edge by aggressively cutting or girdling unwanted trees along the immediate edge, keeping in mind to preserve any larger mast producing trees. You may want to cut the larger trunks up into firewood and stack the smaller stuff into brush piles for cover and nesting areas. Or you can fall the trees side by side and let them lay where they fall, which will create a much thicker underbrush tangle. Either way will work, but I prefer the former, so I can lightly disc around the trees and brush piles to create less fire hazard and to generate more early successional growth from the seedbank. You may even want to plant food plots there as well.
Many times you will see a fence row or firebreak that has been created with a dozer where the downed timber and stumps have been piled along the wood line leaving an ugly row of fire fuel to either rot or create a very hot fire someday. Sometimes good land stewards will come back later and clean up the brush piles and burn them, but all too often, they are left where they are. Granted, they will be overgrown in time and provide habitat for wildlife, but I prefer to clean up the debris as I go. Piling the larger debris in the open for burning at an optimal time and piling the smaller stuff for cover and habitat, makes much more sense to me. And it looks much better too.
All in all, the objective is to be good stewards of the land for whatever your goals may be. But having wildlife habitat and agricultural or ranching interests coexist is a very manageable goal. And it does take planning and effort, but those things don't necessarily have to be shelved... even in tough times...
Wildlife prefers the gradual transition that nature provides as it encroaches into the field from the woodland. Wildlife utilizes this transition zone for both food and cover. Edge feathering simply helps to provide this transition zone more rapidly, and possibly, more effectively.
When attempting to feather the edges of a woodland, there are several ways this can be done. You may simply leave an area of varying width to grow naturally from the drip line of the woods edge. Or you may artificially create a feathered edge by aggressively cutting or girdling unwanted trees along the immediate edge, keeping in mind to preserve any larger mast producing trees. You may want to cut the larger trunks up into firewood and stack the smaller stuff into brush piles for cover and nesting areas. Or you can fall the trees side by side and let them lay where they fall, which will create a much thicker underbrush tangle. Either way will work, but I prefer the former, so I can lightly disc around the trees and brush piles to create less fire hazard and to generate more early successional growth from the seedbank. You may even want to plant food plots there as well.
Many times you will see a fence row or firebreak that has been created with a dozer where the downed timber and stumps have been piled along the wood line leaving an ugly row of fire fuel to either rot or create a very hot fire someday. Sometimes good land stewards will come back later and clean up the brush piles and burn them, but all too often, they are left where they are. Granted, they will be overgrown in time and provide habitat for wildlife, but I prefer to clean up the debris as I go. Piling the larger debris in the open for burning at an optimal time and piling the smaller stuff for cover and habitat, makes much more sense to me. And it looks much better too.
All in all, the objective is to be good stewards of the land for whatever your goals may be. But having wildlife habitat and agricultural or ranching interests coexist is a very manageable goal. And it does take planning and effort, but those things don't necessarily have to be shelved... even in tough times...
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