June 2020 | #ForestProud
Pennsylvania Forestry Association
News You Can Use
A Message from PFA President Mark Ott
As spring transitions to summer, the forests are bursting with renewed growth. We are enjoying hearing and seeing the variety of birds. We are relieved to welcome back the whip-poor-wills and wood thrushes with their enchanting calls, always afraid that the spring will come when we do not hear them. The robins are boisterous, the phoebes have gone quiet while they nest in the eaves. Orioles, tanagers, indigo buntings and redstarts are flashing their bright colors in the trees and by the stream. Warblers are everywhere but most are too shy to allow us to identify them. Hummingbirds are quite active and abundant. Despite the decline in songbird numbers, we are seeing a lot of birds. There are certainly less chickadees and the whip-poor-wills and wood thrushes are well below the numbers we had in the past. The numbers are indeed declining and so we do our best to create healthy habitat for those who arrive here. We continue bird feeding all year long. My wife, Olivia, a retired Certified Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife explains our philosophy on feeding all year as: Winter – they need the help to survive the harsh conditions. Spring – Prenatal care for the moms. Summer – feed for the fledglings and their hard-working parents. Fall – feed for the migrating and fat storage for those wintering over. I bow to her professional opinion and fill the feeders.

We are working to diversify the age class of our forest creating openings where new younger forest can entice wildlife that needs that. Our recent golden winged warbler cut will certainly benefit more than that particular species. A Crop tree release done 12 years ago was a failure as an early snowfall bent most of the remaining trees down and snapped several off. They no longer had the support of their neighbors. What we viewed then as a disaster has instead turned into a young pole stage area in the forest. With thick growth and cover, it has become a wildlife oasis.

With DMAP and recruiting “alpha hunters” (those who are ardent and successful annually), we are beginning to see a resurgence of the understory. We have a way to go but it is encouraging to see what a healthy deer harvest does to the forest. Today we found a large grouping of lady slipper orchids. We only see these when the deer numbers are beginning to balance with the habitat. This coming hunting season hunters can have up to 4 DMAP tags. I applied for enough to get 4 to each of our alpha hunters and look forward to having deer as an interesting sight in the woods rather than the pest they currently are. Thanks to David Jackson and the PFA/Tree Farm Deer Management Task Force for their work in advocating for forest landowners with the PA Game Commission. Several new initiatives that help address the deer glut in many areas have come about due in part to their work. They continue to advocate for more help.

We have established 8 small vernal pools. Five of them are currently teeming with tadpoles. There is great truth in “If you build it, they will come”. Several of these pools are simply ruts left by the logger during the recent harvest. The ruts were far enough off the wood's road that we could enhance them and divert water flow into them without affecting the road itself. A ten-foot-long skidder tire wide rut makes a great vernal pool. A change in hydrology from the stream has water coming up in an open area in the creek bottom. A quick scoop with the tractor bucket in two places created two more adjoining pools that are also home to tadpoles and an assortment of frogs, toads and one yearling snapping turtle. He is in another flooded rut and seems to have decimated the tadpoles in there.

This is but a part of what is happening in our forest. It is occurring across the State. The key is getting out there and making it better for all those critters. There are many places to get suggestions, technical help, guidance and directions. PFA is here to point you in the direction of the help you might need. PSU Forestry Extension, The Centre for Private Forests, DCNR Service Foresters, Tree Farm, Sustainable Forestry Initiative of PA, PA Parks & Forest Foundation, NRCS, Forestry for the Bay, Forest Stewards Program and many others are out there with information and expertise to help you make good decisions in your woods. No matter what your goals are, these people are ready and waiting to help. Give a call. If they are not the resource you need, they can guide you to the correct person or organization.

PFA's Forest Heritage Committee has decided to postpone opening the Forest Heritage Discovery Center in the Caledonia State Park because of the Coronavirus epidemic. The Committee will meet again in early July to review this decision. In the meanwhile, the Committee is developing a plan to create an online or YouTube virtual visit to the Discovery Center.

Finally, there are many webinars coming out due to the restrictions on meetings. PSU Extension has been particularly busy holding informational webinars. PFA tries to get the word out on all that come our way. Keep looking for the notices and take advantage of this great opportunity to spend an hour or so learning something new. I had hoped to write this without mentioning the current heath situation. That is as close as I will come to it. Be safe out there.

Mark Ott
President
The Pennsylvania Forestry Association
PA Tree Farm Update
Our woods in SW PA are almost in full leaf. The oaks and walnuts are just coming out, and the black cherry flower petals are raining down like confetti. I understand that we are farther ahead than most of PA, but Spring is an invigorating time in all of Penn’s Woods. Isn’t it great to have a tree farm to keep us occupied and healthy (away from the TV) during these stressful times?  Penn State Extension, American Tree Farm Family Forest Carbon Program, as well as other organizations have been doing a great job of offering interesting topics for online webinars for rainy day viewing. Penn State Extension offered an update on the new Lanternfly infestation and American Tree Farm offered one on encouraging woodland birds which offered good Audubon resources to help identify songbirds. The PA Tree Farm Committee continues to work on better deer management policies for our woods, as well as improving opportunities for PA Tree Farmers to access carbon markets. The inspection process is still in slow mode due to safety precautions put in place for Coronavirus. But please continue to work on the tasks outlined in your forest management plans so that when your inspection time comes, you will be ready.

The Committee continues its work with American Tree Farm to improve the certification requirements, process, and procedures for Pennsylvania. The current certification is a third party verified fiber certification. As it turns out most timber buyers in PA do not require this type of certification and furthermore, the data from studies conducted by the Center for Private Forests at Penn State shows that most Pennsylvania woodland owners have no plans to harvest trees. American Tree Farm is working with us to make the certification more relevant and useful for Pennsylvania.

To this end, the PA Tree Farm Committee is always looking for volunteers to help direct the agenda and programming for PA Tree Farm. There are a few ways to participate. As a PA Tree Farmer, you are welcome to attend our meetings. Our next meeting will be online on June 10, 2020 starting at 1 PM.  You can also serve on our Committee, the terms are two years. The Committee is particularly looking for help with communication and programming, but all talents are welcome. Please contact our Administrative offices at thePFA@paforestry.org or call 1-800-835-8065 if you are interested in attending the meeting or want more information about serving on the PA Tree Farm Committee. The meeting can be joined online or by phone. Stay well.
Submitted by Gay and Harold Thistle


Gay Thistle
PA Tree Farm Co-Chair
PA Forests 2020 Summer Awards
Request for Nominations:

Sandy Cochran Award for Excellence in Natural Resource Education
 
The Pennsylvania Forestry Association is seeking nominations for the 2020 Sandy Cochran Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Education. This award honors individuals or programs designing, developing, and implementing educational programs focused on the conservation and management of Pennsylvania’s natural resources. Nominations are by letter of support and include background information on the nominee, such as would be included in a vita. As well, the nominator should provide information on program focus (e.g., water, forests, recreation, wildlife), principle audiences affected (e.g., adults, students, youth programs, resource professionals), geographic area targeted (e.g., statewide, region, county, school district), and, if possible, behavior or impact changes linked to the program. Each nomination must also include three letters of support for the nominee. Deadline for application is September 1, 2020.

For more information or to submit a nomination, contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Attention: Cochran Award Chairman, 300 North Second Street, Suite 1002, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or email:  thePFA@paforestry.org.
Call for Nominations: The Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s

Mira Lloyd Dock Outstanding Woman Conservationist Award

# Honor Character Respect

Celebrating the value of the contributions of women to Pennsylvania’s natural resources, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association is pleased to announce the Mira Lloyd Dock Award. Mira Lloyd Dock is recognized as the first Pennsylvania woman to lead the way in forest conservation. In order to honor her outstanding contributions to the foundation of forest conservation in the Commonwealth, her skills as an advocate for Penn’s Woods, and her diligence as a “Friend of the Forest,” it is only appropriate that PFA names this award for her. Ms. Dock’s character and motivation set the example for future women of conservation, who PFA wishes to recognize for their professional and/or personal commitment with this award.

Award Criteria
Nominations shall be made in the form of a letter, not more than two typed pages long, with content based on the following criteria:
1.        Forest Conservation Activities
2.        Effective Outreach
3.        Engagement with others/building collaborative relationships
4.        Commitment to learning/resource-based knowledge
5.        Additional Recognition related to Natural Resource Conservation
 
The award will be announced at the Pennsylvania Forestry Association Annual Symposium. 

The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2020. Nominations are welcome from any interested individual or group. Membership in the PFA is not a requirement for the nominee or those submitting a nomination. For more information or to submit a nomination, contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Attention: PFA Awards Committee, 300 North Second Street, Suite 1002, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or email:  thePFA@paforestry.org .

Mira Lloyd Dock (1853-1945), pictured above, was a botanist, educator, author, civic leader, conservationist, and activist.
Call for Nominations: JOSEPH T. ROTHROCK AWARD

Each year at its annual meeting, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) recognizes an individual, organization or group’s significant contributions to the public recognition of the importance of Pennsylvania’s forest resources in the same tradition and spirit of Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Dr. Rothrock served as the first president of PFA and earned the title, “Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania,” through his untiring efforts to promote the forest conservation movement in Pennsylvania.

NOMINEES FOR THE AWARD WILL BE EVALUATED ACCORDING TO THREE SELECTION CRITERIA
1.        Value of contributions to the continued conservation of Pennsylvania’s forest resource. (60%)
2.        Public recognition and stature of the individual in the field of resource conservation. (30%) 
3.        Other Unique or special considerations which demonstrate a long term commitment to conservation. (10%)

Nominations for the award should address these three criteria in appropriate detail.

Nominations are welcome from any interested individual or group. The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2020. Membership in the PFA is not a requirement for the nominee or those submitting a nomination. For more information or to submit a nomination, contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Attention: Rothrock Award Chairman, 300 North Second Street, Suite1002, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or email:  thePFA@paforestry.org .
Forestry Happenings During the Pandemic
60-day Public Comment Period
The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation, announces a second 60-day public comment period during the review process of the ATFS Standards of Sustainability.
The ATFS Standards are the benchmark for all ATFS forest certifications and its national network of certified inspectors and certificate holders. All certifications are third-party audited.
During this review period, running from June 2 through August 2 , the public is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed 2020-2025 Standards of Sustainability, which reflect comments submitted during a first public comment period, conducted earlier this year. In addition, the public is also invited to submit feedback on the Requirements for Independently Managed Groups (IMGs). 
Additional communications with links to participate will be sent once the comment period opens on June 2nd.
Logger Training Opportunities
The Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee is currently discussing how and when to safely resume in-person logger training courses. We will notify participants when we know more. In the meantime, we continue to approve various webinars offered through Penn State Extension and other sources. Please check our  additional training opportunities page  ( http://sfiofpa.blogspot.com/ ) and  Facebook page  ( https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaSIC/ ) for details on these online training opportunities.

We also wanted to make you aware of these upcoming training opportunities in New York:

New York Logger Training, Inc. will be resuming some logger training courses. They have announced the following Game of Logging - Level 1 workshops taking place this month:
  • Thurs., June 11th -- Cortland Area

All participants will be given specific locations details and instructions upon registration. All workshops will be limited to 9 participants and all social distancing measures will be strictly enforced.

To Register: call 518-463-1297 or (315) 408-2750 or email  janet@esfpa.org

Cornell Cooperative Extension will be offering two Game of Logging courses in September: 
  • Thurs., September 10th -- Game of Logging Level 1
  • Fri., September 11th -- Game of Logging Level 2
Both workshops will start at 7:30 am and end around 5:00 pm and will take place at the property of Ed Welch and Donna Trautwein Welch, 105 Dankers Rd., Johnsburg, NY 12843. Rain or Shine. 

Cost per person, per class $45.00. Pre-registration is required. There will be no refunds if cancelling 5 days prior to September 10. For more information or to register, contact Dan Carusone at  djc69@cornell.edu  or call (518) 623-3291.
Changing Landscapes - Conserving Natural Landscapes in Development
Penn State Exten sion -

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Changing Landscapes - Conserving Natural Landscapes in Development live webinar will provide an introduction to issues surrounding conservation in land development. We will also cover the USDA Forest Service Changing Landscape Factsheets, which will help people become more familiar with the role of land use planning and regulatory policy in conserving forests, woodlands, and other natural landscapes.

When: Wed., Jun. 10, 2020 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET)

Webinar Access: The link to access the webinar is provided immediately upon completion of registration in your registration confirmation email.

Forested and other natural areas continue to be under pressure from land conversion and development. An important question is whether these landscapes are adequately considered when planning for subdivision and other land development.

The USDA Forest Service Changing Landscape Factsheets will help people become more familiar with the role of land use planning and regulatory policy in conserving forests, woodlands, and other natural landscapes. The Factsheets discuss what environmental planning is, policies that direct it, and regulatory and non-regulatory tools used to implement and conduct it. Topics including the history of American planning, protecting water quality, developing effective local policy, and regulatory tools will help people be more confident and informed to help ensure that natural landscapes, and their many ecosystem services, are conserved in land development.

This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.
Safely Working with Trees Series
Penn State Extension -

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The Safely Working with Trees Series is a LIVE webinar series that will provide critical information and measures for anyone planning to work safely in and around trees. Proper care and safety standards reduce your chance of injury and promote safely working in and around trees.

When
(12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET)
Wed., Jun. 24, 2020
Wed., Jul. 1, 2020
Wed., Jul. 8, 2020

Webinar Access: The link to access the webinar is provided immediately upon completion of registration in your registration confirmation email.

Working in and around trees can be done safely when proper care and safety measures are followed. Learn to reduce your risk through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), awareness of electrical and other hazards, safe work practice, proper use of chainsaws and other tools, and adhering to safety standards for tree work. This webinar series will provide critical information for anyone planning to work safely in and around trees.

Who should attend?
  • Anyone who works in trees or with trees for a living
  • Owners and Operators of a tree service or landscape business
  • Tree Care Workers, Arborists, and Landscape Contractors
  • Municipal Employees who occasionally work with trees
  • Anyone who prunes and removes trees
Forestry News You Can Use
How Long Should I Expect My Tree to Last?
This article provides an insight into the many different factors that lead to a tree's ultimate health and longevity. The author looks at three of these: Defects, Growing Space and Species.

See the full article here.
Your Community Tree Program: Shade Tree Commissions
Julianne Schieffer - Many communities recognize that properly planted, maintained, and protected shade trees go beyond aesthetics to add to municipal sustainability and the health and welfare of its citizens and property. A most efficiently run tree program involves and educates its citizens while planning and managing its tree population. That's where a Shade Tree Commission or Environmental Advisory Commission plays an important role.

With enabling legislation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania encourages municipalities to have an appointed body of citizens responsible for the planning and care of its environmental resources. A municipality's elected officials choose, often with public input or request, whether to have a Shade Tree Commission (STC) or an Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC). They pass a local ordinance designating whether this STC or EAC has an advisory or administrative role, often aligning the group within the municipal organizational structure, and spelling out their duties. This both defines and empowers a STC or EAC to act at a community level.

Some organizational duties an EAC or STC may perform include educational and community involvement, cooperation among different departments, municipal personnel, or agencies, fiscal efficiency, and increasing tree canopy on public rights of way. Generally, the emphasis is on planting and maintaining a diversity of trees along streets and in public areas. Some provide guidelines for the removal and replacement of shade trees or installing green infrastructure to best manage or reduce the costs and impacts of stormwater management. Rarely does the STC offer protection for historic or environmentally significant trees on private property. Lastly, some STCs take on an enforcement role to ensure that ecosystem services and values remain protected in their public tree resource.

To start an STC or EAC in your community, learn more about  starting a municipal tree commission  or contact an Extension Urban Forester in your region.

Article from Penn State Extension
2020 North American Mass Timber State of the Industry Report Released
(Missoula, MT, June 1, 2020) - A team of leading experts has released the second annual North American Mass Timber Report.

Due to the Corona Virus and postponement of the 2020 International Mass Timber Conference, an electronic PDF copy of the 2020 Mass Timber Report is being made available free of charge at www.masstimberreport.com.

The North American Mass Timber Report is compiled by a team of forestry, forest product, and building design and construction experts. At almost 150 pages, 50% larger than the 2019 version, the 2020 report is a complete primer on the mass timber supply chain, from seedling to building. The book is a collaborative effort of The Beck Group, Forest Business Network, Kaiser+Path, Treesource, and Doug Fir Consulting, all key researchers in the emerging field of mass timber.

“The report is a powerful reference tool with a lot of solid information in it,” said Roy Anderson, a forestry expert and Vice-President of The Beck Group, based in Portland, Oregon. “Mass timber in North America is a whole different business model, requiring a need to compile critical information for stakeholders in order to propel the industry forward. We’re excited about mass timber and its potential and this report gives developers, architects, builders, and more the ammo needed to proceed with and sell mass timber projects with greater confidence. The 2020 Report builds upon the success and popularity of the inaugural 2019 Report and provides even more in-depth information on the growing popularity of mass timber.”

The Report features all stages of the supply chain, starting at the forest level, addressing sustainability and harvest potential. It then moves into actual product lines such as cross-laminated timber, glulam and other innovative building materials. Types of manufacturing and glues, fire retardancy and building strength, emerging standards, and new ways of putting up structures are all detailed with clear illustrations. Case studies and current best practices are included to give a full look at emerging trends.
“Since launching the Annual International Mass Timber Conference in 2016, we've brought in over 200 industry experts from around the world to give technical and business presentations to thousands of attendees,” said Craig Rawlings, CEO of Forest Business Network, based in Missoula, Montana.

The annual Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon, USA has grown from about 500 attendees in 2016 to more than 1,500 in 2019 (the 2020 conference was recently postponed due to the Coronavirus), with architects and builders joining forestry and manufacturing experts to stoke the movement in building concepts. Sessions tackle sustainable forestry, code changes, modular/prefab, affordable housing, climate change, and more. While sold separately, the printed report is a synergistic companion to the conference in its broad coverage.

“Forest products people, builders and architects are all hungry for information on this emerging sector, many interested specifically in North America and its potential as a sizable mass timber market,” said Rawlings. “As the conference has realized exponential growth year-over-year, we see a strong need for a complete picture of the entire North American mass timber supply chain. We are tremendously excited to release this second annul North American Mass Timer State of the Industry Report.”
Hard copy and pdf electronic copies are available at www.masstimberreport.com
Contacts:

Roy Anderson at 503-684-3406 or roya@beckgroupconsulting.com

Craig Rawlings at 406-240-0300 or craig@forestbusinessnetwork.com

Fact Sheet –Mass Timber and Climate Change  

  • Carbon emissions are recognized as the leading cause of climate change and projections suggest that we may experience an irreversible average increase in global temperature of 2 degrees Celsius (approximately 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit) within 20 years at the current rate of carbon release into the atmosphere

  • Carbon emissions from the building sector are a major contributor to the climate change equation, far larger than either the transportation or industrial sectors alone

  • New science is demonstrating that substituting wood for steel and concrete in construction can substantially reduce total carbon output and actually reduce existing carbon in the atmosphere through carbon sequestration.

  • The rapid development of mass timber products is creating more opportunities for the use of wood in place of steel and concrete in commercial and residential construction

  • Forests cover roughly one-third of the United States and Canada. That forestland acreage has been stable for more than 100 years.

  • Sustainable forest management practices provide more timber growth than harvest each year.

  • In less than 18 hours, U.S. timberlands can regrow all the wood fiber consumed from all
  • North American mass timber produced in 2019 (includes mass timber used for both construction and industrial matting).

  • Wood as a construction material combines aesthetic beauty, superior strength, and light weight.

  • Mass timber products perform well in fire, blast resistance, and ballistic situations.

  • People enjoy wood environments for living and working, citing visual aesthetics, acoustics, and a feeling of warmth.

  • Recent building code changes paved the way for continued expansion of CLT’s use in large buildings.

  • From 2016 to 2019, mass timber construction expanded rapidly in both number of projects and total square footage in the United States, with square footage quadrupling.

  • In 2019, approximately 78 mass timber buildings were constructed in the United States, representing 4 million square feet of space.

  • For mass timber panels such as CLT, NLT, and DLT, the primary raw material is dimension lumber, with #2 grade 2-by-6s used most frequently. Dimension lumber is widely available across North America. Current mass timber demand levels represent about 1 percent of 2019 North American lumber consumption.

  • North American MTP manufacturing capacity grew tenfold from 2010 to 2020, and continues to expand rapidly.

  • In addition to MTP for buildings, there is a substantial and growing market for industrial matting used in environmental protection.
Forest Health Needs Survey
The University of Illinois, University of Kentucky, and Clemson University are conducting a survey to better understand how to best provide forest health and invasive species information to forest and tree landowners and managers. (IRB #20037). Much information is available, but historically it has come in many forms, some of which may be less useful than in the past, and some of which are gaining in popularity. By understanding how information is obtained and disseminated, it will help us improve forest health educational efforts, publications, and delivery systems.
 
  • If you are an Extension personnel or natural resource professional who provides information to the public related to forest and tree health issues, please fill out the following survey – https://go.illinois.edu/ForestProfessionalSurvey
 
 
The survey should only take about five minutes and all answers will be kept completely confidential.
Penn State Vector-Borne Survey
In response to the growing concerns on ticks and tick-borne diseases in the commonwealth, Penn State Extension is developing a vector-borne disease team.

To best serve you and different at-risk groups, we have launched a survey through Qualtrics to better understand the current knowledge the public has on ticks, tick-borne disease, and tick bite prevention and control. More information on the team and the survey can be found in the write up in  Penn State News.
We are trying to get as wide a distribution as possible and to get responses from a range of demographics. If you have a moment, we would appreciate responses from you and members in your group and if you have any organizations that you work within Pennsylvania (professionally or personally), we would certainly appreciate your forwarding this to those groups.
You can access the survey  here. Please keep in mind this survey is limited to folks over 18 and those currently residing in Pennsylvania.

Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions.
Forest Resources Association
Deborah Hawkinson, President of the FRA, is sharing the FRA 2019 Annual Review Report. The publication provides a detailed look into the work they have been doing over the past year. If you would like to receive a hard copy, please email Jacob Minor at jminor@forestresources.org.

Follow this link to see this very comprehensive publication!
Seasonal Stories
You’re Not Going Far From Home – and Neither are the Animals You Spy Out Your Window
Written by Julian Avery- Watching the wildlife outside your window can  boost your mental well-being , and it’s something lots of people have been doing a lot more of lately.
Maybe you’ve been wondering if you’re seeing one persistent gray squirrel or a rotating cast of furry characters. Maybe you’ve been thinking about which birds are passing through for the season and which are townies who stick around all year.

As a wildlife ecologist , I’ve learned to pay attention to patterns that show me what the animals outside my window are up to, and I usually know which individuals are my regulars.
Whether you’re spying on animals in a city, town or rural area, with a little background knowledge, you too can keep tabs on the private lives of your neighborhood critters.
Seasonal shifts change the players
For many species, winter is a time when individuals compete less with one another and gather in large groups.

For example, eastern cottontail rabbits congregate around areas with  plenty of food and places to escape to . Birds form large mixed-species flocks, which helps them better find food and avoid being hunted. They even form temporary allegiances as they forage together,  following specific individuals  who help determine where the flock goes.

Seasonal migration means the abundance of particular species in one location can change over the course of the year.   Click here to see the infographic map .

As the season changes to spring, migratory species start arriving. A steady parade of individuals moves through the neighborhood. As animals transition to their breeding season, plumage and appearances may change as they work to attract mates. For many species,  defense of a piece of land  becomes an overriding concern.

During the summer months, adult animal numbers stabilize, and the drive to establish a territory means you’re likely to have the same individuals active outside your windows for the majority of summer.
This white-throated sparrow is molting into breeding plumage before heading on to summer grounds.  Julian Avery ,  CC BY-ND
Splitting up the neighborhood
A territory is a chunk of habitat. Its size will vary depending on the amount of food and breeding resources it holds. A territory with few trees, for example, may need to be bigger to hold enough forage for the animal that owns the turf.

Territory sizes for different species  can range from the size of a large kitchen table (common  lizards  like green anoles and skinks) to an area greater than 120 football fields ( a raptor such as the Cooper’s hawk ). The cool thing is that  animal home ranges  are governed by their own needs and often do not follow the lines of human fences and alleyways.

I like to think of animal territories as quilts that drape over your neighborhood. For some species, like anoles, the squares in that quilt will have many small and intricate pieces, and you could fit many quilt pieces within each individual human property boundary. Some of those pieces will even overlap other patches.

Small songbirds will have quilt patches that span several human properties, though they may use specific parts more than others. Larger species will have quilt patches that cover entire neighborhoods with one territory.
A territory map for anoles shows how these lizards each have their own home turf that can overlap with neighbors. Habitat in this case included individual trees and a fallen log toward the bottom of the map which offered basking and display space.  Jordan Bush ,  CC BY-ND
Frequently spotted
If you’ve become familiar with the animals in your neighborhood, chances are you’ll see some of the same individuals again year after year. Eastern cottontails are likely to live  up to three years in the wild , and they  stay in the same general territory  throughout their lives. Even the young have a tendency to stay close to their birth place.

Researchers have recaptured gray squirrels year after year in their original territories. On average, these critters survive about  six years and can live longer than 20 .
Birds also have long lives and  will often stay in the   same territory year after year . However, when eggs don’t hatch or young die in the nest, some birds may choose a new territory the following year. This means there can be high turnover in your local bird network if the local habitat is  unpredictable or full of urban predators .

Birds that don’t migrate and  stay in residence year-round , like chickadees, often have a tendency to  stay in the same area , which means you’ll be seeing the same individual birds outside your window across seasons.

Some species will have territories that don’t overlap much at all. For others, the  overlap can be extensive .
This means that generally during the breeding season, you could be watching many gray squirrels visiting outside your window.

There may also be a couple of male cottontails, but probably a single female because they tend to not overlap with other females.

Maybe you’ll spy the same pair of cardinals along with a reliable pair of chickadees. If you’re watching closely like I was the other day, you may get lucky and catch another male cardinal from the territory next door trying to flirt with your female, at least until her mate realizes what’s about to happen. That is a clue to the invisible lines birds have drawn between their own domains.
Plenty of anole territories can fit into one human-scaled backyard.  Julian Avery ,  CC BY-ND
When it comes to smaller animals, like lizards and insects, all bets are off for how many unique individuals are present outside your window. But you can expect more of everything as the number of  native plants   increases .
Tips for watching
If you’re interested in trying to keep track of particular wildlife friends through the window, try to watch for identifying marks.

In my research, I attach   colored bands to bird legs  or mark the scales of turtles and snakes so we can figure out how many exist in an area. Many animals have enough individual variation that you can keep track of them using their natural unique marks and scars. Squirrels can have torn ears or injured tails, lizards can have unique scars or healed injuries, and birds can have subtle differences in color or pattern.
Also try paying attention to the maximum number you see at any one point. Where do they go after eating or basking? You may get lucky and spy a nest or resting place. See if you can spot other individuals coming from different directions and territories.
Natural markings like a torn ear can help you keep track of individuals.  Julian Avery ,  CC BY-ND
At my house, we had a nest of rabbit kits born under our deck. I thought there was only one surviving newborn because we never saw more than one offspring. Two weeks later, there were three babies foraging simultaneously in the yard, and it became clear that they’d previously been taking turns coming out of hiding.
If you start watching closely, I think you’ll find so much drama happening in your neighborhood that you may get hooked on the action.

Find the original article here .
Maybe you’ll notice animal families expanding.  Julian Avery,  CC BY-ND
In the news
PA Environment Digest
We would like to highlight the PA Environmental Digest which does a great job covering statewide environmental concerns, including a recent op-ed from PA's 43rd Governor, Tom Ridge.

Find their website here.
Member Activities
Richard Lewis has been busy on his 2 acres outside of Gettysburg to reduce mowing and to enhance the habitat for butterflies, birds, pollinators and other wildlife.

Here is his process:
"
  • Rototill the fields in April.
  • Let all the grass/weeds grow back for 3-5 weeks.
  • As soon as danger of frost is past (about the first week of May) I rototill a second time to kill all the grass weeds again
  • Mix seed thoroughly with a "carrier" (I use Perlite) and spread it with tow behind or push lawn seed/fertilize cyclone type spreader.
  • Pack seed into soil. (I just drive over all of the area with my garden tractor until I've covered the area with my tire tracks)
  • Pay for rain, and no late frosts, flowers will peak about June 25 - July 14th
  • Here are the seed companies I have used...both are good: https://www.wildseedfarms.com/ www.americanmeadows.com

I have never had good luck with the seed company's regional seed mixtures. I make my own mix. I have the best luck with a mix of Cosmos (just plain Cosmos...no hybrids), Zinnias, and Plains Coreopsis. I recommend 4 pounds of Cosmos, 1-2 pounds of Zinnas, and 1 pound of Coreopsis per acre.

I also plant a few pure patches of Black Oil Sunflowers....I just buy a 20 to 40 pound bag (in the bird food isle) at Tractor Supply."

The results are stunning! See the pictures below!

If you have a nature project and/or are enjoying nature, please email the pictures and description to bcole@versantstrategies.net to be in the next Newsletter!
April Till
Second Till
End Results
Sunflowers
Mixture of wildflowers
The Pennsylvania Forestry Association | 1(800) 835-8065 | thePFA@paforestry.org | www.paforestry.org