I visited a landowner in Westchester who showed me his wildlife improvement project. There were dozens of old highbush blueberries that were full of dead branches and were being shaded out by red maples. They weren't looking so hot. Blueberries provide great food for wildlife, so he wanted to make sure they would stick around for a few more years. Sunlight was increased by cutting down some of the red maples, and then the blueberries were pruned up. Instead of chipping the brush, it was placed into piles that will become home to critters. The blueberries are now looking healthier than ever, and are already beginning to produce some fruit.
Thanks for sharing Brendan. If you identify areas with fruit and nut shrubs on your property, you may want to make annual visits to monitor for changes due to plant succession. Plant succession is a slow process of changing plant communities from field to forest. If the shrubs are left untended, they could become dominated by trees seeding in and growing up among the shrubs. Over time, the trees will continue to grow in height and may shade out the shrubs entirely.
WAC added a "shrubland habitat" stewardship practice to the Management Assistance Program in 2008. The practice requires cutting down saplings and trees greater than 1 inch in diameter, to keep established shrubs healthy. Shrub habitat provides dense cover, good nesting sites and excellent foraging for fruits and nuts. Promoting shrub areas on your property could provide necessary the conditions for birds like: American woodcock, Whip-poor-will, Canada warbler, Black-throated blue warbler, and Brown thrasher.
WAC added a "shrubland habitat" stewardship practice to the Management Assistance Program in 2008. The practice requires cutting down saplings and trees greater than 1 inch in diameter, to keep established shrubs healthy. Shrub habitat provides dense cover, good nesting sites and excellent foraging for fruits and nuts. Promoting shrub areas on your property could provide necessary the conditions for birds like: American woodcock, Whip-poor-will, Canada warbler, Black-throated blue warbler, and Brown thrasher.
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