Wildlife and Conservation
The Conservation of wildlife is important to us here at the SWCC. Not only does it help support all life on Earth, but it also helps ensure that future generations can enjoy the environments in their natural state and the incredible species inhabiting our beautiful property. Conservation of wildlife promotes pollination in our prairie as well as protecting the ecological stability.
🐝🌳🌿🦋 August Wildlife Highlights 🌻🐢🌱🐦
Plants 🌱
Jack in the Pulpit (also called Arisaema triphyllum) typically grows 1-2 feet but can sometimes grow twice the size. It has a distinct hooded spathe (the “pulpit”) that encases a spadix (the “Jack”), and blooms from April to June. You may notice it has green and maroon stripes, its appearance looks tropical, and you’ll see it along the forest floor. This plant produces bright red berries that can be enjoyed by birds.
Prairie Life 🌾
Wild Bergamot (also called Monarda fistulosa) grows inches per day, getting to 2 – 4 feet tall, loves the sun, and is great for attracting wildlife like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It’s tubular flower shape is perfect for long-tongued pollinators.
Indian Grass (also called Sorghastrum nutans) also grows inches per day, getting to 2-7 feet tall, is a native perennial bunch grass, and can withstand droughts; perfect for life in the prairie. This grass thrives in the sun and is a great environment for supporting songbirds and gamebirds.
Birds 🐦
Great Blue Heron
Meet the Great Blue Heron, a beautiful and graceful bird, part of the Ardeidae family, long-legged wading birds. You may see one during the day flying over one of the ponds at the SWCC or wading near the edge of the water chilling or waiting for prey. They eat a variety of things from fish to amphibians, to insects, to other birds, or small mammals. Trees are mainly where Great Blue Herons nest, although sometimes they nest on the ground, or bushes and in parts of a structure. Males collect the nest material, gathering sticks or things from other Herons nests, and present it to the female, she then weaves the nest, adds more materials like moss, dry grass, pine needles, etc. There will be 2-6 eggs after about 1 month of incubating, and then a 2 1/2 month nestling period. These birds can live for a while, the oldest Great Blue Heron ever recorded was 24 years and 6 months old, found in Texas. You may see these guys in the day or night, due to their high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes to help improve night vision.
Source* Great Blue Heron Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Chipping Sparrow
We are seeing chipping sparrows on our property, you might find them in evergreen, oak, and aspen trees, or foraging for food such as various herbs and grasses. They search for protein rich insects like other bird species do, although for the chipping sparrow it will be during breeding season. Females are usually the nest builders, using deciduous trees to hide and protect the nests up to 10 feet from the ground. The males will guard the nest during the construction process which can take 4 days. Nests are made with dried grass, fine plant fibers, animal hair, and rootlets. This species doesn’t really socialize with other birds but rather forms flocks to forage in the grass and if you have a birdfeeder, you will likely see them coming around to gather food.
Source: * Chipping Sparrow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Swallows
Say hello to our Swallow friends! Pictured left to right we have the Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. They are due to migrate soon so be on the lookout for these beautiful birds.
*Photos from All About Birds
Barn Swallow:
The Barn Swallow can be seen as an aerial forager, they fly around, often close to the ground or waters, in search of different types of flying insects like flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths, among many others. They migrate and find a place to nest, often in eaves, rafters, cross beams of barns, sheds, stables, human-made structures, or even previous nests if they are not heavily infested with parasites. A pair of Barn Swallows will fly around until they have chosen their ideal nesting site for the season. They build nests mostly with mud, mixed with grass stems, however they are known to use discarded twine or fishing line if they find it so it is important to be mindful of Barn Swallows and other wildlife when discarding anything they might use to build nests with.
Source: *Barn Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Tree Swallow:
Tree Swallows also prey on flying insects over open fields and different types of waters like lakes and ponds. They supplement their diets with different types of berries during the breeding season for extra calcium. You can find them nesting in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker cavities as well as nesting boxes. Females do most of the nesting, collecting grasses and other things found close to the nest and shores of water, laying the materials in the nest and then using her body to make the shape of a cup inside the cavity or box. They finish the nest off with feathers from other bird species collected by the male, although sometimes the male and female split the nest building tasks. They have many nest predators including chipmunks, mink, rat snakes, deer mice, and raccoons just to name a few.
Source: *Tree Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Northern Rough-winged Swallow:
The Northern Rough-winged Swallow are a simple species, similar to the other swallows, they fly in open areas, searching for small flying insects and sometimes picking them up from the surface of the water too. They do tend to fly slower and they nest in burrows created by other animals like squirrels, kingfishers, and Bank Swallows, they usually choose a spot near to water. The male will perch near the nest to protect it from predators and other dangers during nesting and laying especially. The species is a less social one, but they still can be seen mixing with other Swallows.
Source: *Northern Rough-winged Swallow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Fun fact: Did you know all three species of swallow are what we call Aerial Insectivores? They all fly in search for their next meal; small insects, feeding on them while in the air.