Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Invasives: coming soon to a habitat near you

Its springtime - time for planting, gardening, weeding, rains, picnics, and insects. But unfortunately, it is also the time for (drumroll) the takeover of habitats by invasive plants!

Invasive plants: aka non-native species that flourish and out-compete natives in a region.
Potential problems: changing the pH of soil, blocking sunlight and resources to the understory of native plants, reducing biodiversity, and consequently reducing the amount of food sources and habitat for wildlife (including birds).

According to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), there are 60 known invasive plant species in Pennsylvania, and no region is excluded. They are present in the form of trees, shrubs, vines, and aquatics, successfully taking over in fields, forests, and waterways. These species include (but are not limited to) Water Chestnut, Norway Maple, Multiflora Rose, Garlic Mustard, Dames Rocket, and Mile-a-Minute Weed. For full listings and removal techniques, check out the DCNR website at: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/List.htm

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Coffee! Shade-grown and bird-friendly?

Eco-conscious, sustainable, new-age hippies have been preaching the benefits of shade grown coffee for a while now, enjoying their Starbucks "organic shade grown Mexico" blend (http://www.starbucks.com/coffee/whole-bean-coffee/latin-america/organic-shade-grown-mexico),
and protesting "sun-grown" mainstream brews such as Folgers and Dunkin Donuts.

But it's not just the earth saving activists that should be concerned...

It's also the birders. Shade-grown coffee (among other benefits which include long term sustainability, land conservation, increased biodiversity, soil protection, carbon sequestration, etc) also produces a haven for migratory and tropical birds by protecting and creating habitat. A recent article in Audubon http://audubonmagazine.org/features1105/food.html takes an in-depth look at small shade-grown coffee farms (also called fincas) in Nicaragua, and notes the positive impact these farms are having on populations of Golden-winged warblers (a Federal Species of Special Concern in the U.S., due primarily to habitat loss and degradation). And it's not just one warbler that's being impacted; it's half the global population of warblers, who winter in coffee growing regions of Nicaragua. It's also 100s of other songbirds who use regions of Central and South America as critical wintering habitat. In fact, Audubon found that "coffee plantations with a diverse canopy cover of greater than forty percent are 2nd, only to undisturbed forest, in terms of bird species richness." One finca alone counted over 280 different bird species, 7 of which are globally threatened.

With increased habitat comes increased birds, but also increased local tourism and a more stable economy for the regions involved. All the interested birders and scientists, ornithologists and volunteers, flock to see the biodiversity located in these shade-grown coffee farms. This creates opportunities for ecotourism, and for a source of steady local income not provided to traditional coffee growers.

To find shade-grown and bird-friendly coffee, check for labels of Rainforest Alliance http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/ or Bird Friendly. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/coffee/lover.cfm

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May Rains

(This blog has temporarily been taken over by a summer intern. Please bear with the change in pace)

Welcome to the middle of May where yes, it's raining. Again. In fact, the forecast for the next ten days = more scattered showers and thunderstorms.

But this hasn't deterred the folks at Honey Hollow, nor the awesome school groups who have been visiting daily. This week so far has seen students from 3 different schools, with ages ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, who partake in educational programs and enjoy the outdoors here in Bucks County.

The weather also hasn't deterred the Canada Geese; one pair of which welcomed a small group of students yesterday with a brand-new nest of goslings. They are located besides Audobon Pond - within relatavely close range of the Visitors Center. Watch out though, the parents are mighty protective of their newborns, so feel free to have a look, but keep a distance.

The rains still provide many opportunities for critter-watching, hiking, and education, which are continuing at Honey Hollow in full force during the end-of-school-year. Looking foward, the next few months should bring even more exciting educational events. But in the meantime, enjoy the week, enjoy the storms, and look for more updates coming soon.