Lessons from the Forest—for Your Yard
One of the best ways to support the Forest is to create a healthy ecosystem in your yard. As Dr. Douglas Tallamy says in his statement of support, “we can’t confine nature to parks.”
Invasives like Japanese barberry travel from your yard—to the Drew Forest—via birds. It’s a problem!
When Dr. Sara Webb began working with Drew students to restore the forest, it was choked with invasive plants. Chinese wisteria and Japanese honeysuckle sprawled over two acres of trees, threatening to topple them. Where did these plants come from? Suburban yards.. When plants from other ecosystems are spread by birds, they can thrive unchecked. Our native insects ignore them, as do deer, which prefer tastier native species.. Find out if you own any of the top 10 invasive garden-center plants that are plaguing suburban forests and parks.
To protect nesting birds, avoid tree trimming in Spring.
Are you aware of the owls, hut hatches and woodpeckers nesting in tree hollows and holes? Rethink your relationship with birds and trees with Kate Bartley, FODF board member, NJ Audubon naturalist and a longtime volunteer at the Madison Shade Tree Management Board, Read her article here.
Eastern Screech Owl photo: Will Jayne, NJ Audubon Stewardship Technician..