Backyard Wildlife Habitats

OK dog owners – what does it mean when your dog is happily sniffing a spot in the yard and then proceeds to run the side of her face, neck, and then shoulder into the ground as she slides down onto her back to roll around in the yard with all 4 feet straight up in the air, then jumps back up sniffs the spot again intently, and begins the whole slide process all over again?  Us dog owners know that this behavior means that this sweet, precious dog has found a wonderfully disgusting scent that they just have to coat themselves with. 

I observed this one day in my backyard, and upon further investigation, discovered that the source of the irresistable stench that Dixie was rubbing all over her body was a dead shrew.  A few days later, my husband figured out that our compost bins were full of shrews.  So, I googled shrews, and asked a Master Gardener to determine if they were problematic for yards and/or compost bins. 

I found out that shrews eat worms, lots of worms – 80-90% of their body weight daily!  They also eat insects, seeds, nuts, etc.  So, their presence in my compost bin must mean that there are also lots of worms, which is a great thing for a compost bin!  However, their presence in my compost bin also provides a food source for one of the shrew’s biggest predators – snakes!  We have quite the food chain in our compost bin! 

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Summer is here, and I’m greatly enjoying so many beautiful blooms in the garden!  Also testing out my new camera! 

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation now has 22 certified Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) Sites.  These industries have made a special effort to create wildlife habitat, educate employees, and partner with community groups:

AFCO, Anderson
BMW Manufacturing Corp., Spartanburg
BMW International Technology Research Center, Greenville
Duke Energy – Bad Creek Pumped Storage Station
Duke Energy – Catawba Nuclear Station
Duke Energy – Mill Creek Combustion Turbine Station
Duke Energy – Oconee Nuclear Site
Duke Energy – Lee Steam Station
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics Division, LLC, Anderson
Honda of South Carolina, Timmonsville
Michelin, Sandy Springs
Michelin, Starr
Michelin Americas Research & Development, Laurens Proving Grounds
Michelin Americas Research Center (MARC), Greenville
Michelin Tire Corp, Earthmover Plant (US7), Lexington
Renewable Water Resources, Durbin Creek Facility
Renewable Water Resources, Mauldin Road Facility
Sauer-Danfoss Inc., Easley
Schneider Electric / Square D, Hopkins
Spartanburg Water
US Engine Valve, Westminster
Westinghouse Electric Company, Columbia

Visit the SCWF’s WAIT website for more information about each of these sites, including pictures and details about current projects.

Reprinted from Anderson Independent Mail

ANDERSON COUNTY — M.B. Berry and FFA officers Teresa Weatherly and Troy Dobbins were honored at a luncheon in Columbia where they received a Palmetto Pride grant to incorporate native and historical flora in a garden at the school.

The $2,500 grant will be used to build a split rail fence commonly used by South Carolinians in the late 1800s and early 1900s and put in plants such as yellow Jessamine (state flower), Indian grass (state grass), a Carolina Wren house (state bird), blue granite (state stone), and native wildflowers such as the state wildflower, Goldenrod. This will in turn attract native birds and butterflies such as Tiger Swallowtail (state butterfly) and Carolina Wren.

The nice thing about the Carolina Fence Garden is that anyone can build and maintain it. Garden designs, lists of native flora, plans for a Carolina wren box, annual care calendar, and other information are all available at http://www.scwf.org/index.php/education-programs/habitats/fence-garden.

Later this spring, come by the school and visit the garden, which will be off the patio area.

Plant Milkweed to Help Monarchs, and Buy it from LiveMonarch.com to Help SCWF!

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation has partnered with the Live Monarch Foundation, which focuses on providing habitat for Monarch Butterflies all along their migration routes from Mexico to Canada.  Through this partnerhship, you can order quality milkweed seeds or seedlings to plant in your backyard and throughout your community.  Read on to see just how much monarchs depend on this milkweed.  Then, visit http://www.LiveMonarch.com/scwf
to order your seeds and seedlings.  You can also adopt a monarch, or get information about releasing monarchs at your next event. 

During the past few years, over 75% of the wintering Monarchs from North America froze to death in Mexico as a result of three days of rain and sub-freezing conditions. There is also a Nationwide shortage of milkweed. These freak weather patterns and destroyed habitats kill millions of helpless Monarchs. Habitat must be protected now to ensure their survival, before we see the day when this miracle of nature is only a memory. The Monarchs need your help NOW. Please plant seeds and ensure their survival.

Click here for a recent story on ABC News about the Monarch’s struggle. 

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From: Home Textiles Today, 3/23/2010 1:31:00 PM

Anderson, S.C. – Glen Raven’s manufacturing center here has been recognized by the state’s Wildlife Federation for an ongoing program to protect and enhance habitat areas on the company’s 180-acre site.

Glen Raven has installed bird boxes and bird feeders, established nesting areas for ducks and salt licks for deer, and created a “Fence Garden” near the plant entrance that features numerous plants native to the area. In addition, an employee-led task force has completed certification requirements under the non-profit federation’s Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) program.

“WAIT certification requires a long-range habitat plan of three to five years,” said Rodney Jones, technical finishing section leader and task group chair. “Our long-term plan includes labeling of plants and trees around the plant and construction of a nature trail. We also envision creating an orchard that will provide a food source for wildlife.”

Tracey Sanders, quality engineer at the Anderson plant and a task force member, said many initiatives make up the company’s a long-term, ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

 “We have eliminated all waste going to landfills from our plant, and we have achieved certification under the internationally recognized environmental standard ISO:14001,” Sanders said.

The plant site contains more than 130 acres of undeveloped land that supports a diverse array of plant and animal life. The one-million-square-foot plant is the primary manufacturing center for Sunbrella performance fabrics.

For Facebook Users, become a fan of Certified Wildlife Habitat, and get lots of useful information about gardening, plants, and wildlife from other gardeners across the country!

Also become a fan of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, and receive updates about conservation news in South Carolina.

Thanks to the Charlotte Observer for publishing a story about this blog!  I hope everyone finds my posts interesting and useful! 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/21/v-print/1328538/you-can-invite-wildlife-into-your.html

The Great Backyard Bird Count tallies from 2010 reported 28 Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in SC, and two other species of hummingbirds as well (3 Black-Chinned, and 5 Rufus Hummingbirds!). Click here to see all the species reported in SC.

I haven’t seen any yet, but Ruby-Throats generally visit SC from March to November. So, it’s time to put the feeders up! You can make your own solution for the feeders with four parts water to one part sugar – boil it for a minute until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool and fill up your feeders. It doesn’t have to have red dye in it, and this will save you some money on nectar solution.  Do not use honey solutions in feeders as they may produce a fungal disease fatal to hummingbirds.  Be sure to change the nectar at least once a week. When the weather gets hot, you may need to change it more often, maybe every 2-3 days.

You can also attract them by planting red, tubular flowers.  Read the rest of this entry »