Mast Tree Network » game birds http://www.mast-producing-trees.org Restoring the bounty of North America's native woodlands Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:07:42 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Improving Quail Habitat http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2010/01/improving-quail-habitat/ http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2010/01/improving-quail-habitat/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:13:31 +0000 admin http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/?p=383 Bobwhite quail and other native quail populations have been in decline in recent decades, primarily due to loss of habitat.

Quail are edge-dwelling birds, requiring habitat that mixes grasslands and wooded areas. Unfortunately, all grassland is not created equal. The prevalence of brome and fescue in pastures and hedgerows now chokes out quail due to the dense growing habit of these grasses, and provides poor quality forage, especially compared to the diverse native prairie and meadow habitats of North America. Prescribed burning of grasslands and reintroduction of native grasses and forbs can improve grassland quail habitat.

In woodlots, the demand for evenly aged large trees with little undergrowth also hurts quail populations. Quails require woody shrubs for shelter and food.

One of the easiest ways to improve quail habitat on your property is to plant a native hedgerow mixing mast-producing shrubs, native grasses, and forbs, especially legumes. Hedgerows are particularly useful to connect different habitat types or food and water sources, since quail don’t like to stray too far from cover.

In order to attract quail, choose multi-purpose shrubs that produce both fruit and flowers. Flowers attract insects, the most important source of food for quail chicks, and fruits and berries are important food sources for older birds. Good choices include:

]]> http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2010/01/improving-quail-habitat/feed/ 0 Feeding Birds With Autumn-Fruiting Shrubs and Trees http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-autumn-fruiting-shrubs-and-trees/ http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-autumn-fruiting-shrubs-and-trees/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:46:04 +0000 admin http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/?p=341 Autumn-fruiting shrubs and trees provide important sources of energy for birds during fall migrations, and the fruits of many autumn-fruiting trees and shrubs linger into winter or even early spring, providing one of the most important sources of food for the hardy birds that stay all winter. Though many bird watchers rely mainly on feeders to provide winter food, planting fruiting shrubs not only attracts a number of species that do not typically visit feeders, it also improves the birds’ protection from predators and harsh weather, and provides beauty and many other benefits for human residents.

Autumn-fruiting trees and shrubs that attract birds include:

  • American holly (Ilex opaca)
  • Winterberry (Ilex verticilatta)
  • Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
  • Viburnums and cranberries (Viburnum species)
  • Dogwoods (Cornus sp.)
  • Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
  • Chokeberries (Aronia sp.)
  • Crabapples (Malus sp.)
  • Hawthorns (Crataegus sp.)
  • Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
  • American mountain ash (Sorbus americana)

Hard mast-producing trees and shrubs also provide important sources of food in autumn and winter, especially for game birds such as wild turkey. These include:

By planting a mix of summer and autumn-fruiting trees and shrubs, you can ensure a steady supply of food for birds all year. In addition to their fruits, the flowers of most fruiting shrubs attract insects, the most important source of food for nestlings and fledglings of almost all bird species.

]]> http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-autumn-fruiting-shrubs-and-trees/feed/ 1 Feeding Birds With Summer-Fruiting Shrubs http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-summer-fruiting-shrubs/ http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-summer-fruiting-shrubs/#comments Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:38:11 +0000 admin http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/?p=328 Many bird watchers take their bird feeders in during the summer months in order to save money, but you can continue to attract birds to your yard throughout the summer months with the help of mast-producing trees and shrubs. Many species of birds enjoy a delicious fruit snack, including both backyard favorites such as orioles, robins, thrushes, waxwings, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, cardinals, and towhees, and game birds such as turkeys, quail, and pheasant.

By planting a mix of summer-fruiting and autumn-fruiting shrubs near your house, you can continue to enjoy backyard bird watching all year long, even if you set out feeders only in winter.

Some great summer fruiting shrubs and trees that birds love include:

Most fruiting trees and shrubs do triple duty for birds. In addition to the fruits and berries they produce, they offer shelter from predators and bad weather, and the spring blossoms attract insects, the most important source of food for nearly all species of nestlings and fledgelings, even those that prefer seeds or fruits as adults.

Most summer fruiting trees and shrubs that are popular with birds are also considered delicious by humans and other wildlife species.

]]> http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/12/feeding-birds-with-summer-fruiting-shrubs/feed/ 0 Attracting Wild Turkeys With Mast-Producing Trees and Shrubs http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/11/attracting-wild-turkeys-with-mast-producing-trees-and-shrubs/ http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/11/attracting-wild-turkeys-with-mast-producing-trees-and-shrubs/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:09:37 +0000 admin http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/?p=106 Mast is one of the most important food sources for wild turkeys. Whether you want to hunt turkeys or observe them, you can enhance wild turkey habitat around your home by planting a diverse mix of mast-producing trees and shrubs. A woodlot that is well managed to increase mast production is the equivalent of a permanent food plot for wild turkeys.

The most important mast-producing trees to plant for wild turkeys are oak trees. Acorn mast makes up 70% of the diet of wild turkeys in autumn. Ideally, about 50% of the trees you plant should be native oaks of several different species. The most important species for turkeys across most of their native range include White Oak (Quercus alba) and Red Oak (Quercus rubra).

Unfortunately, oaks do not produce mast as consistently as some other species of trees and shrubs, so it is important to plant a diversity of other species, including both hard and soft mast producing species to attract turkeys during poor acorn years. The best species vary from region to region; however, a few common recommendations include:

Choose a mix of trees and shrubs that provide autumn forage and those that typically keep their fruit into late winter and early spring for best results.

A stand of mast-producing trees and shrubs combines well with food plots consisting of annual grain crops such as field corn or sorghum. These food plots should be planted near roosting sites (often found in conifer or mixed conifer-hardwood stands), as turkeys do not like to travel in deep snow unless it has a hard crust. Chufa is also an excellent food source for wild turkeys, and clover provides a good source of green summer forage, as well as attracting insects, which are an especially important food source for young birds.

To learn more about managing your land for wild turkey habitat, contact the National Wild Turkey Federation, your local cooperative extension service, your local game and parks commission, or similar.

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