Banning barberry and embracing birds

A unique opportunity arose this year for Avalonia Land Conservancy in Southeastern Connecticut when they received a grant to improve habitat for wildlife.

Specifically, Avalonia wanted to improve habitat for forest-dependent bird species at their Cedar Wood and Hunter Brook properties in Norwich. Eastern forest birds need our help, having declined by 17% since 1970. This is due most prominently to the loss of habitat quantity and quality (Rosenberg et al. 2019).

To kick off the process, an Audubon staffer and two interns conducted a bird survey at each property. Next, an Audubon staff forester, our interns, and an Avalonia intern assessed habitat conditions and made recommendations for improvements which would benefit a suite of eastern forest birds, from Chestnut-sided Warblers to Wood Thrush.

Avalonia knew they had an infestation of Japanese barberry at Hunter Brook preserve. This invasive species leafs out earlier than other plants in spring, creates dense thickets, and is deer-resistant, enabling it to out-compete native plants.

Audubon’s forester agreed, it was time to get rid of the barberry, before the situation got worse!

In addition to removing the barberry, it was suggested that Avalonia add native plants to increase overall species diversity and to add elements of structural diversity, enhancing vegetation layers and density.

Luckily, Avalonia has an incredible group of volunteer land stewards who were ready to get to work.

Together with staff, they identified a manageable work area, pulled and cut the Japanese barberry, got rid of the seeds, and ultimately replaced the disturbed area with native shrubs including witch hazel, spicebush, sweet pepperbush, winterberry, and ninebark.

At nearby Cedar Wood Preserve, a similar opportunity arose, this time to soften the edge of a field by focusing on management of multi-flora rose, bittersweet, autumn olive, and the very persistent and invasive tree-of-heaven, host to another invasive species--the spotted lanternfly.

A team of Avalonia staff and volunteers converged on the field edges at Cedar Wood, removing invasives and prepping the site for planting. The job required a bit more muscle, as the team had to remove mature tree-of-heaven, some forty feet tall and a foot and a half in diameter!

Because this field edge was in direct sunlight, the native plants added were slightly different than at Hunter Brook. Avalonia added oaks, red cedar, shadbush, and flowering dogwood as well as numerous shrubs.

Looking to the future, Avalonia recognizes that forest stewardship is ongoing. As the habitat changes, so will the birds it attracts. In the coming year, there are plans in place to continue clearing space for the new native plantings. Combined with fencing to protect the new plantings from hungry deer, these management tactics should leave the restorations well-positioned for success!

Thank to Pride’s Corner Farm for recognizing the value of native plants and offering an incredible variety!