22 Spring 2011 Applegater
Woodland Stewardship
BIRDMAN
Tiny travelers return
BY teD A. gLOveR
Here it is April and the annual Great
Spring Migration is underway with literally
millions of birds on the wing heading north
toward their summer breeding grounds. By
keeping your eyes and ears open you can see
and hear many of these tiny travelers as they
make their incredible journey right here in
the Applegate Valley.
Researchers tell us that migratory
birds inherit this urge to head north. They
travel to their ancestral summer breeding
grounds by using the sun in the daytime
and the stars by night. There is also a belief
that the earth’s magnetic field could play a
role in the migration as well.
We should begin seeing a lot of
familiar birds. In fact, some are already re-
appearing. In our area the Tree Swallows are
among the first, finding the wooden nesting
boxes scattered around the valley or finding
tree cavities in open fields or over water.
These birds are seen usually in large flocks
soaring overhead or sitting on wires. The
Tree Swallow has a glossy blue-green back
and flashy white
under parts. Of
course other swal-
lows make their
appearance as spring progresses toward
summer; these include the colorful Cliff
Swallows, Violet-Green Swallows and Barn
Swallows, with their exaggerated forked-
tail. Also appearing soon are the Northern
Rough-winged Swallows, who are broad-
winged and short-tailed like the Tree Swal-
lows, but are brown over-all.
By mid-April the Rufous Humming-
birds are back followed closely by the Black-
headed Grosbeaks. The male grosbeak has
a deep orange breast, sides and rump with
an all black head and white patches in the
wings. They also have huge bills that help
them eat pine and other seeds.
Keep your eyes and ears alert for all
the birds that come our way. Some stay for
the season and some just pass through, but
all are fun to watch and hear.
Ted A. Glover • 541-846-0681
Photos clockwise from top left:
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) by Dave Menke, USFWS. Easily identified from other swallows,
the barn wallow has a long forked tail and a buffy-orange colored chest.
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) by Dr.Thomas Barnes, USFWS. The Tree Swallow winters
farther north than any other American swallow, and it returns to its nesting grounds long before
other swallows come back.
Female Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocep) by Dave Menke, USFWS.The male and
female black-headed grosbeak differ greatly in their plumage, with the male being a flashy black,
white, and cinnamon, and the female a drab buff and brown with white stripes on her head.
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) by George Gentry, USFS. The feistiest hummingbird in
North America. The brilliant orange male and the green-and-orange female Rufous Hummingbird
are relentless attackers at flowers and feeders.
How to get the most out of your
forested property
Do you own a tract of forest land
or some woods around your home? Would
you like to learn how to take care of it, re-
store it, or improve it? Are you concerned
about maintaining the health of your trees
and reducing wildfire risks? Would you
like to improve your property values, or
habitat for wildlife? Do you want to utilize
forest products for sale or personal use? If
the answer to any or all of these questions
is yes, this class is for you!
“Woodland Stewardship-How to
Get the Most Out of Your Forested Prop-
erty” is a six class series that provides an
overview of concepts and practices of forest
stewardship for woodland properties, from
5 to 50 (or more) acres. It is designed for
owners who are just getting started with
woodland management as well as more
experienced owners who are looking for
new ideas and approaches.
ABOUT THE CLASS: This is a
very practical, field based class; we will be
outside, rain or shine. Field activities will
take place on woodland properties around
the area. You will see what other landown-
ers are doing and learn from them. Bring
comfortable shoes or boots, raingear, sun/
rain protection, and water. Although the
class will not be physically demanding,
we will be making short walks through
the woods.
GRANTS PASS classes: Friday
mornings, 9 am–Noon, April 1, 8, 15, 22,
29, May 6.
CENTRAL POINT classes: Friday
afternoons, 1:30-4:30 pm, April 1, 8, 15,
22, 29, May 6.
COST: $50 for all six classes or $10
per individual class. Feel free to attend
individual sessions. Fee covers instruction,
handouts, & other materials. The series is
offered in both Grants Pass and Central
Point. Register for either (see registration
form below).
INSTRUCTORS: Max Bennett,
Forestry Agent, OSU Extension Service,
Master Woodland Managers, and guest
instructors.
Session #1: Getting Started: Sustainable
Woods Management (April 1)
Owning forest land presents both
opportunities and challenges, some that
are obvious and many that are not so obvi-
ous. This class will cover the basic list of
“things to know about your forest” ranging
from tree id to property taxes to locating
property boundaries. And, it will help you
formulate a vision for your own forest, as
you see examples of well-managed local
woodland properties and get an overview
of woodland management practices in-
cluding thinning and stand improvement,
road development, fire protection, timber
harvesting, and more.
Session #2: Maintaining a Healthy Forest
& Stand Improvement (April 8)
A vigorous forest is a healthy for-
est, but many stands in southern Oregon
are overly dense and have low tree vigor,
making them susceptible to insect attack as
well as wildfire. Learn how to thin and im-
prove stands based on species, vigor, form,
spacing, and other considerations. Slash
disposal, utilization of byproducts, equip-
ment needs, potential markets, and other
practical considerations will be covered.
We’ll also discuss some of the most common
insect and disease problems of native trees.
Session #3: Protecting Your Home and
Property from Wildfire (April 15)
Wildfire is the #1 concern for many
forest landowners in southern Oregon, and
for good reason: this is one of the most fire-
prone environments in the state. Learn what
it takes to protect your home and property
from wildfire. Discover how to make you
woods more resistant to fire and how this
can improve forest health and vigor at the
same time.
Session #4: Tree Planting & Establish-
ment, Long Term Tree Care (April 22)
What does it take to establish new
forest trees that will survive our hot, dry
summers? See examples tough site refores-
tation and care of young trees. We’ll cover
planting techniques, selecting the right spe-
cies for your site, planting tools and tech-
niques, weed control, pruning, and more.
Session #5: Wildlife, Water, & Weeds
(April 29)
This session will help you make your
property more attractive to wildlife by out-
lining ways to provide the essential habitat
for the species of your interest. You’ll also
learn how to make your property less attrac-
tive to noxious weeds, and what you can do
about existing weed problems. We’ll also
look at ways to develop a trail system on
your property. Finally, we’ll cover practices
you can use to protect water quality and
streamside areas.
Session #6: Putting it All Together (May 6)
You’ve seen some great examples,
now how do you put it all together on
your own land? Learn about management
planning, working with contractors, tools
and equipment, and sources of technical
and financial assistance that can help you
accomplish projects. Get acquainted with
your responsibilities as a woodland owner
by learning about Forest Practices Rules
and fire liability.
Registration for Grants Pass session
call 541-476-6613 or stop by 215 Ringuette
St, Grants Pass. For Central Point session
call 541-776-7371 or stop by 569 Han-
ley Rd., Central Point. Preregistration is
required.