THE TURK'S CAP

Volume 17, Number 4
Winter 2014

The Newsletter Of The Delaware Native Plant Society
www. delawarenativeplan ts. ora

Feeding the Fall Songbird Migration
Recommended Native Plants

By Rick McCorkle

Winter is a great time to begin planning your spring land-
scaping projects, especially if you want to have your
plant list prepared ahead of some of the many spring
native plant sales. As a wildlife biologist, I'm often asked
for advice about which native plants are best for
attracting, and providing habitat for, native wildlife spe-
cies. I've also recently been involved in an effort to im-
prove stopover habitat for migrating songbirds that are
tunneled down the Delmarva Peninsula each fall on their
way to warmer climes where food is abundant. Reluc-
tant to continue over the vast expanse of open water
near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and exhausted

after the first leg of their fall migration, huge numbers of
warblers, kinglets, thrushes and other varieties of song-
birds become concentrated near Cape Charles, Virginia,
where they rest and forage for enough food to fuel the
next leg of their trip. Eastern Shore of Virginia National
Wildlife Refuge, Kiptopeke State Park, Magothy Bay State
Natural Area Preserve and the Virginia Coast Reserve
Brownsville Farm are among the protected natural areas
that are managed for wildlife conservation in this area.

Smooth Serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis. The fruits of this
small tree have attracted many desirable birds, including
Scarlet Tanagers and Cedar Waxwings.

The organizations responsible for managing these
land-holdings (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia
Division of Conservation and Recreation, and The
Nature Conservancy) have been coordinating
their management efforts and working with oth-
ers to develop optimal habitat conditions for
providing the food resources the birds need to
refuel and successfully complete their migrations
to their winter habitats in the southern U.S., the
Caribbean, and central and south America. To
date, research indicates that there is not enough
food to fully meet the needs of the birds. This is
largely due to the conversion of maritime forests
and shrublands to agriculture and other human
uses. (Continued on page 4, Feeding)

The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 2

DNPS Enters Dogfish Head Brewery Beer
and Benevolence Competition

We lost, but the good new is our collaborative entry
with the Delaware Nature Society (DNS) and the
Delmarva Branch of the American Chestnut
Foundation (ACF) identified areas of mutual interest
and potential cooperation.

In early November, 2014, Editor Ed Crawford
contacted DNS proposing a joint entry and DNS
agreed to become the lead organization. First prize
was $10,000 with the potential to win an additional
$5000.

Organizations had to be operating in Sussex County
and were required to submit a video of 60 seconds
or less and an executive summary of their programs.

It was agreed amongst the organizations that DNS
would use some of the proceeds to expand its native
plant related educational programs that could
include improvement of existing or installation of
additional native plant gardens and improved
signage at the Abbott's Mill site. DNPS agreed to
provide expertise and support and assist in
developing the contest submission. The ACF agreed
to obtain appropriate plants and chestnuts in
support of an overall plan.

It was disappointing not to win, but a little
perspective was gained when we learned there were
over 70 entries! The video can be accessed through
the following link. Blue Hen Productions

Native plant is a term to de-
scribe plants endemic
(indigenous) or naturalized to a
given area in geologic time.

This includes plants that have
developed, occur naturally, or
existed for many years in an ar-
ea (e.g. trees, flowers, grasses,
and other plants). In North
America a plant is often
deemed native if it was present
before colonization.

Some native plants have
adapted to a very limited, unu-
sual environments or very harsh
climates or exceptional soil con-
ditions. Although some types of
plants for these reasons exist
only within a very limited range
(endemism), others can live in
diverse areas or by adaptation
to different surroundings

The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 3

Report on the 11 October 2014 Benefit
Delmarva Branch of The American Chestnut Foundation

A Great Success!

Despite less than optimum weather conditions, the out-
door fund raising event at Abbott's Mill Nature Center,
Milford, Delaware, drew 27 participants and netted
over $3200 for The American Chestnut Foundation
(TACF).lt was fun!

Paid attendees received one year memberships in TACF
and Delaware Native Plant Society. A delicious dinner,
with desserts by Eric Wahl, was included and the Dog-
fish Head Brewery donated a nice variety of its craft-
brewed ales.

To start, event coordinator and emcee Ed Crawford
briefly spoke about the Delmarva Restoration Branch
and its goal of restoring the American chestnut, Casta-
nea dentate, to the Delmarva.

The Delaware Native Plant Society defrayed event ex-
penses with a donation of $2000, and its members and
officers contributed to the project in many different
ways.

President Eric Wahl took charge of making the rented
event tent look amazing with special lighting and wild
flowers for the tables. Steve Childers donated the pro-
ceeds of his chestnut carvings, which were sold at the
silent auction. Bill McAvoy provided the entertainment
by playing various stringed instruments and singing Ap-
palachian folk music. Treasurer Eric Zuelke was respon-
sible for check in and keeping track of the money. Vice-
President Rick Mickowski, past President John Harrod,
and many others hustled throughout the evening to
keep everything running smoothly.

The keynote speaker was Sara Fitzsimmons, Regional
Science Coordinator for TACF, who inspired everyone
with an informative and highly enjoyable presentation
regarding the history of the American chestnut and
TACF programs. She is seen in the bottom-right photo-
graph, above.

Other notables in attendance were Bruce Levine, Presi-
dent of the Maryland Chapter of TACF, and
Laura Schnitzlein, representing TACF national.

Gary Carver, past President of the Maryland Chapter of
TACF and professional carver, donated a valuable Amer-
ican chestnut eagle for sale at the silent auction.

Special thanks goes to the officers and staff of the Dela-
ware Nature Society that donated the venue, use of
equipment, and their time and effort.

Photos by Rick Mickowski and Ed Crawford.

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The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 4

(Feeding, continued from page 1)

Therefore, it's imperative that remaining
habitats are managed to provide as much
food as possible for these migrating birds.

So how can this be achieved, and which
native plant species are best for satisfying
the requirements of the birds?

Researchers have analyzed the fruits of
many native plants utilized by migrating
songbirds in order to determine which
fruits contain the most nutrients. Analyses
of nutrient contents have focused on fat,
carbohydrate and protein. Most of these
studies place Southern Arrowwood,

( Viburnum dentatum) at the top of the list.
The fruits of this shrub are high in fat and
carbohydrate content, but do not contain
an adequate amount of protein, so protein
needs must be satisfied by insects or other
fruits. It should be noted here that many of
these birds transition from eating mostly
insects to eating mostly fruit during the fall
migration. For example, more than 90% of
the diet of the American Robin consists of
various fruits during the fall and winter,
whereas during the spring and summer, less
than 10% of its diet consists of fruits. Pre-
sumably, other Viburnums, such as Black-
haw (V. prunifolium) would also provide
high-value fruits to migrating songbirds.

Pokeweed [Phytolacca americana) is not a
plant species that you're likely to find
offered at a native plant sale, but you might
consider allowing it to persist in your land-
scape if you'd like to provide highly nutri-
tious fruit to songbirds. Another native
plant which may not be all that attractive to
us, but which is high on the list for satisfy-
ing the nutrient needs of migrating song-
birds, is Virginia Creeper ( Parthenocissus
quiquefolia). If you're looking for a more

attractive shrub which produces fruits that
are tasty and nutritious to both you and the
birds, Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium co-
rymbosum) is also high on the list, although
its protein content is inadequate. And a na-
tive plant that not only has valuable fruits in
the fall, but also flaunts showy flowers in
the spring, is Shadbush or Serviceberry
[Amelanchier canadensis). Other recom-
mended species, the fruits of which are eat-
en by many migratory songbirds, include
Common Elderberry ( Sambucs canadensis),
Spicebush ( Lindera benzoin), and Silky Dog-
wood ( Cornus amomum). Native raspber-
ries ( Rubus spp) are also important.

Other recommended shrubs are Northern
Bayberry ( Morelia [Myrica] pennsylvanica)
and Winterberry Holly ( Ilex verticillata). Re-
search suggests that the Yellow-rumped
Warbler may be the only bird species that is
able to digest the waxy coating of the
Northern Bayberry fruit and the closely re-
lated shrub, which is also native to our re-
gion, Wax Myrtle (Morelia [Myrica] ce-
rifera).

Many warblers and other songbirds contin-
ue to feed primarily on insects during fall
migration, although they do supplement
their diets with fruit. Therefore, in order to
fully meet their needs it's important to pro-
vide native plants which support insects
and other arthropods. Many birds rely
heavily on Lepidopterans (butterflies and
moths), and of all plant genera, the Oak
family supports the most Lepidopterans. So,
where possible, plant native oaks in your
landscape. Many of our native oaks are cur-
rently being hit hard by diseases, but
among the more resistant oaks, that are
often available, are Willow Oak ( Quercus
phellos), and White Oak (Q. alba).

The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 5

Welcome 2015!

I hope all our members had a joyful and relaxing holiday season. The past year was a wonderful success,
not only for DNPS but also for organizations we teamed with throughout the year for varying events. We
are looking forward to additional teamwork in 2015 and beyond. In planning the new year, DNPS is dis-
cussing a number of ideas including:

"Landscape Design with Native and their Maintenance" is planned for our Winter Event. Sustainable
landscaping methods such as holistic farming may also be included in this discussion.

DNPS is hoping to team with Bayshore Walk for a Spring Event and Annual Meeting. This may include a
walk along the Delaware Bay discussing wildlife and native plants along the way.

Of course the year would not be complete without the Annual Symposium with the Bombay Hook Gar-
den Keepers. This year we will hear from our very own Flavia Rutkosky regarding native pollinators, and
Gregg Tepper, Director of Horticulture, Delaware Botanic Garden, will be our keynote speaker presenting
the "Sensory Appeal of Natives".

The Native Plant Sale will again be coordinated with the popular Arts in the Estuary, also in Septem-
ber.DNPS is also hoping to team with the Delmarva Restoration Branch of the American Chestnut Foun-
dation in autumn. October's kick-off event for the organization was a huge success and Abbott's Mill
was a beautiful and gracious host for the occasion.

We hope to see you throughout the year and especially at these events. More specific times and dates
will be available closer to the planned activity. A sincere "thank you" goes out to all our members, and
especially to those that volunteer their time and effort to make our organization a continued success.

Happy New Year!

The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 6

Page 6

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Calendar of Events

Delaware Center for Horticulture

Visit www.TheDCH.orR for a listing of events for January - April 2015. Those with
component include:

a native plant

"Go for the Gold: Award-Winning Native Plants for Our Region" with local horticulturalist Peggy
Anne Montgomery. This lecture will be virtual tour of native plants that have won the prestig-
ious Pennsylvania Horticulture Society Gold Medal and considers the role of beneficial insects
and plant combinations in ornamental plantings. (Wednesday, February 4, 2015 from 7-8 p.m.)
$15 for general public and $10 for DCH members.

Delaware Nature Society and the Mt. Cuba Center

Copeland Native Plant Seminar, Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ashland
Nature Center. Join nationally recognized birder Kenn Kaufman and renowned photographer
Rick Darke as they share their vision for enticing, appealing, and peaceful gardens that welcome
both people and wildlife. Cost $35 for general public and $25 for DNS members.

Mt. Cuba Center

Go to www.mtcubacenter.orR for a listing of the winter/spring 2015 lectures and classes includ-
ing such topics as "Shake Up Your Foundation" on February 25th, and "Native Plants of Spring"
on six Wednesdays beginning April 8th. There is a registration fee for most classes.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve and Delaware Valley College (DVC) present the 15th annual
Land Ethics Symposium

DVC is hosting the annual Land Ethics Symposium at the College on Thursday, March 12, 2015
from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Register online at www.bhwp.orR/education/Land-Ethics-
Symposium.htm .

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The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 7

T he purpose of the Delaware Native Plant Society (DNPS) is to participate in and encourage the
preservation, conservation, restoration, and propagation of Delaware's native plants and plant com-
munities. The Society provides information to government officials, business people, educators, and
the general public on the protection, management, and restoration of native plant ecosystems. The DNPS
encourages the use of native plants in the landscape by homeowners, businesses, and local and state gov-
ernments through an on-going distribution of information and knowledge by various means that includes
periodic publications, symposia, conferences, workshops, field trips, and a growing statewide membership
organized by the DNPS.

Calendar of Events (Continued)

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is holding their 10th annual conference March 26-28, 2015 at the University
of Delaware's Clayton Hall in Newark. Check out the website at www.chapter.ser.org/midatlantic .

Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council

Free webinar: "Edible Native Plants for Your Landscape" on February 11, 2015 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Go
to www.chesapeakelandscape.org/tag/edible/ to register. Other webinars on various topics available
for $10 registration fee.

United State National Arboretum

2015 Lahr Symposium and Native Plant Sale on March 28, 2015. Visit www.usna.usda.gov/education for
updates and information as it becomes available. North Creek Nursery's Carrie Wiles will be one of the
featured speakers.

Longwood Gardens

"Landscape for Life" classes based on the principals of the Sustainable Sites Initiative. Held on succes-
sive Wednesdays from 2/25 through 3/25, 2015. Go to www.longwoodgardens.org for more details.

The Turk's Cap, Volume 17, Number 4

Page 8

Membership Application

Member Information

Name:

Business Name or Organization:

Address:

City and Zip Code:

Telephone (home/work):

Delaware native Plant Society

0 Full-time Student $10.00
0 Individual $15.00
O Family or Household $18.00
O Contributing $50.00
O Business $100.00
O Lifetime $500.00

O Donations are also welcome $

Membership benefits include:

Total Amount Enclosed: $

Make check payable to:
DE Native Plant Society

Delaware Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 369

Dover, Delaware 19903