Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype

Tracking animals via signals has been going on for years. I can remember watching Wild Kingdom (the Marlin Perkins version) on Sunday afternoons (pre-cable of course) and seeing them dart large animals and fit them with huge radio collars.

In 2008, a researcher at York University accomplished a world first– tracking common song-birds using geolocator “backpacks”.

Tracking animals can reveal all sorts of useful information. Up until now, even the best satel-lite tracking systems were too heavy for small animals. But study author Bridget Stutchbury revealed new insights with the use of new technology. The results and applications of this technology could be enormous.

The study found that common songbirds such as wood thrushes, and the not so com-mon anymore purple martin travel up to three times faster than had been previously calcu-lated.

Their findings indicate that songbirds routinely travel in excess of 311 miles a day. Previous estimates believed their travel distance at about 93 miles per day. Also revealed were stopping points along the way and wintering areas– all important to monitoring and protecting the species and pre-viously not easily possible.

Advancements in technology driven by major industries to make things smaller and lighter (look at cell phone evolution for example) will have far reaching applications in the scientific world as well. Tracking song-birds is likely the tip of the ice-berg. The big picture is that as technology advances, our world gets a little smaller and clearer with each step.

Volume 7 , Issue 1

THE BIG PICTURE

Apri l 1 , 2009

Did you know...

• The largest concen-tration of monarchs in North America occurs in the Mi-choacan area of Mexico?

• Milkweed silk was used during WWII to replace kapok in “Mae West” personal floatation devices?

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Plant Profile 2

Native on the Net 2

Best Books 2

Organization Spotlight 3

Native News 3

Planting with a Purpose 3

Milkweed Breakthrough Invasives! Fantastic Fauna Focus on the Future

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5

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6

GNOME NEWS

F I N D T H E G N O M E !

Nothing is better than stretching your brain a little. The role of this word game is to get you thinking a bit! Look for the word gnome within the text (no logo). I will vary the ways it is pre-

sented. It might be the first letters of five consecutive sentences, it might be cross-word style, or something more creative. Let me know if you find it and maybe I will include your name in the next GNOME News!

No one found the gnome last month. I am going to keep it the same until it is found. Good luck this month!

High flying and high tech– Songbird Geolocation

Did you vote this month? If not, you can check out Name That Native on the website listed on the back of the newsletter. Last month’s plant is one of my favorites– Ratibida columnifera– scien-tifically known as Upright Prai-rie Coneflower.

This plant is a native biennial typically found in mesic to dry mesic conditions. The range of this plant was once quite exten-sive where it was found throughout most of North Amer-ica.

The plant typically grows to

about 2 feet tall. The leaves are deeply pinnati-fied and narrow. It has a long bloom time which can last from June through September. Blooms can also display a wide variety of colora-tion in yellow to red com-binations. I collected seed on a plant that I had marked as yellow and these were the flowers of that seed I planted.

Faunal associations of this plant include many types of bees, small butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles. Most of these feed on nectar, but the beetles will feed on pollen. Finches and turkeys have been known to eat the seeds and it is of fair browse palatability to mammals.

This plant will thrive in regu-lar average soil. Due to its long bloom time and showy flowers, I feel that it is a great addition to existing beds, new beds, or naturalized or re-stored areas. Though tough to find in the nursery trade, several native plant seed sources include this species.

Plans are given both by loca-tion (ex. front entrance) and by species that you wish to attract (ex. but-terfly). You can also look for desired plans according to the ever important soil type too.

Books of this nature are not very common.

This instructional reference book by Patricia Hill is a must have for those considering adding native plants to your landscape.

Pat Hill is an award-winning pro-fessional landscape designer that specializes in using only native plants. Through her illus-trated designs with accompany-ing photos of those plants and plans, you are sure to find a garden that will suit the site you are considering.

Usually planting guides such as these are not tailored to Mid-

western areas– and finding one that includes natives is even harder.

This book is a valuable “how-to” book for anyone interested in creating sustain-able gardens!

Page 2

N A T I V E O N T H E N E T

Ratibida columnifera– Upright Prairie Coneflower

B E S T B O O K S – D E S I G N Y O U R N A T U R A L M I D W E S T G A R D E N

This section of the Discover Life website focuses on North American invasive organisms. The reason I like this site so much is that you can search in multiple ways to get the information you are looking for.

Start by selecting the group that you are looking for.

These include microorgan-isms up to plants and verte-brates. You can also select the form of the plant or ani-mal that you are looking for.

It pulls from many sources and is pretty inclusive. It’s a great place to go to figure out if you have an invasive and want to identify it!

Sometimes wading through search engine results can be a daunting task. Each month I will highlight a particularly good site related to native flora or fauna. You can also check out these links at our site!

This month’s featured site is :

Discover Life– Invasives Search

“Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily, visiting the natural world.” - Catlin Matthews

This native has a variety of colors from deep red to bright yellow .

Volume 7 , Issue 1

This book has many practical plans that take guess work out of what to plant!

GNOME News

I think it was destiny that this be the organization for March. On my way to my last Wild Ones meeting I heard about them on the radio, then there were handouts for The Conservation Foundation on the table at the meeting. “The mission of the Foundation is to preserve open space and natural lands, protect rivers and watersheds, and promote stew-ardship of our environment.”

taken from their site: www.theconservationfoundation.org

The headquarters for this organiza-tion are located on a 60 acre farm in Naperville, IL. “The Foundation maintains a support base of

over 4,500 members and donors and 500 volunteers in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois. Although we work through-out Northeastern Illinois, these are the counties in which we focus our ef-forts.”

Education is a primary goal of this organization. The offer programs for families, youth organizations, schools, and also technical train-ing for furthering sustainable practices.

Their “Conservation @ Home” section provides homeowners with MANY practical things to

conserve and protect the land an water on their property and the community at large.

Membership begins at $45 for individuals (cheaper for students) and they also ac-cept donations.

American Bittersweet: Celastrus scandens is a great plant for all seasons. Great fall color, attractive fruit, and calm-ing shade are all desirable features. Just make sure to plant a male and a female!

Virgin’s Bower Clematis virginiana is

Climbers are often overlooked when it comes to native gar-dens, but there are several that really stand out and can create wonderful accents to your prop-erty. Here are a few to consider planting this year.

Illinois Rose Rosa setigera grows from 4 to 12 feet tall. It will arch if not supported. Flowers are pink and showy. Rose hips are at-tractive in the fall and winter.

a native clematis with white to cream colored blooms. Seed heads provide extended display interest.

Climbing Hydrangea Decumaria Barbara is not native to our area, but is to the US. The 2-4 inch flower clusters in white are sure to attract neighbors as well as bees!

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ORG A N I ZAT I O N SP O T L I G H T: T H E C O N S E R VA T I O N F O U N D A T I O N

P L A N T I N G W I T H A P U R P O S E : N A T I V E C L I M B E R S

ence for oak seedling roots com-pared to other native tree spe-cies.

According to the study, these voles created twice as much damage to white oak roots than to northern red oak and black cherry. There was six times as much damage to white oaks than to black walnut.

Voles were responsible for oak seedling mortality greater than 19% in his study area. It may have been much higher be-cause some plants went miss-ing altogether. Swihart believes that this could impact the hardwood industry as well as the carrying capacity of forests for animals dependant on oaks as a food staple.

Scientists looking for answers as to why eastern oaks are ex-periencing a high rate of mortal-ity as seedlings may only need to look under the surface of the problem– literally.

A recent study done by Robert Swihart of Purdue University found that Microtus pinetorum, also known as the woodland or pine vole, have a strong prefer-

Spring is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's party!” ~Robin Williams

A Land and Watershed Protection Organization

Clematis virginiana is a native climber that can be substituted where exotic forms exist.

N A T I V E N E W S : O A K S F A C E D A N G E R F R O M B E L O W

For years, planting common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has been strongly encouraged mainly to provide the monarch butterfly with its only food source. While the intention is clear, there are many in the public domain that opt for a “cleaner” look without “weeds”.

Danaus plexippus– the monarch butterfly is consid-ered a secure species world-wide. It is de-pendent on plants in the Asclepias family– the milk-weeds. It is these plants that allow it to move north from its wintering grounds in Mex-ico. Over several generations, these amazing migrants go north and then south again in the fall. It is in Mexico that they are most susceptible, since destruction of their few select overwintering sites would virtually eliminate them in North Amer-ica. While protection of those sites is essential, so is providing their food source– milkweed.

Since the motivation for creating or leaving milk-weed stands has largely reliant on good will and stewardship, it lacked the “teeth” that monetary motivators often have. All of that may be about to change.

Recent studies done at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) by chemist Harry-O’kuru indicate the milkweed seed oil can serve as a potential base material for items like sunscreen and other per-sonal care products.

Harry-O’kuru created a process in which zinc chlo-ride was used to catalyze the triglycerides in the milkweed seed oil into ultra-violet (UV) absorbing compounds. Current products that absorb these UV rays rely on chemical fillers or blockers. The milkweed oil derivative could accomplish this at a much lower concentration and be just as effective. In addition to that, the milkweed oil base contains natural antioxidants that are often added to skin-nourishing products.

Another possible benefit of this product would be that is has possibilities to be used for other appli-cations as well. Industries may be able to slightly modify the milkweed oil base to be used in epox-ies, paints, and other products currently using a

petroleum base. Harry-O’kuru be-lieves that it might also be able to be considered biode-gradable due to its unique combi-nation of fats and waxes.

In fact, this base has been pat-ented by the ARS. They are currently seeking an indus-trial partner to help further de-velop this break-through.

There is a current

market, though a small one, for milkweed al-ready. Natural Fibers Corporation is an example of one such business. Uses listed on their web-site range from controlling nematodes (microscopic worms) to hypoallergenic fillers for pillows and comforters. Their site also mentions the use of seed oil in cosmetics.

With further development of milkweed oil based products, it might just add some “teeth” to the thought of propagating milkweed. Not only would it be providing for monarchs or native plant move-ments, but being “green” might just bring some green in return!

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G O T M I L K W E E D ? B R E A K T H R O U G H M A Y E X PA N D M O R E T H A N M O N A R C H S

A monarch caterpillar on common milkweed in my yard.

Volume 7 , Issue 1

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~Margaret Atwood

Got milkweed? Plant some today!

GNOME News

Popillia japonica–the Japanese Beetle was first identified in New Jersey in 1916 after being introduced from Japan.

Adults are easily identified as being metallic green, oval, with copper wing covers and a row of white tufts on their sides.

While this insect is well known throughout much of the eastern US including parts of the Mid-west, there are many misconcep-tions related to this insect and its control.

One of the most com-mon of these is the use of pheromone or floral scented traps to eradicate them from your yard.

Unless done in mass (think everyone in your neighbor-hood), this trapping can actually increase the num-bers of adults attracted to your area and the resulting brood the following year.

Turfgrass areas are especially vulnerable to the larvae– called white grubs, which feed on roots and or-ganic matter.

There are a number of different methods cur-rently being used to reduce the numbers of this insect. A great source for these meth-ods is the Ohio State University Extension Office (see link on web-site).

The American crow- Corvus brachyrhynchos, is a bird that belongs to the same family as blue jays and ravens– the family Corvidae.

This family of birds is highly intelligent. Crows are not an exception. Some examples of this intelligence are amazing. Crows have been ob-served to carry nuts to wires above streets and drop them. Once cracked by traffic, they will retrieve the meat from inside. Another fascinat-ing behavior that crows participate in is called anting. Crows will stand on top of ant hills or pick up ants and rub their feathers with them. It is believed that the chemicals secreted by the ants act as an agent to eliminate pests on the crow.

The average crow weighs about a pound. Crows are typically black and their feathers have an iridescent quality. These birds can be found in family groups. The young of previous years, as well as both parents, will help feed the new brood and defend their “home’ territory. They can form very large communal roosts in winter, family flocks, and flocks of unpaired individuals.

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F A N T A S T I C F A U N A : T H E A M E R I C A N C R O W

IN VA S I V E S- J A PA N E S E B E E T L E

Thought of largely as carrion eaters, this intelligent bird is also an apt predator capable of taking prey as large as squirrels. I consider hearing and seeing crows “cruising” along highways as a true sign of spring. Crows can be seen along roadways at this time searching for nests of birds like red-winged blackbirds and other songbirds. Both eggs and young are frequently taken by crows.

These birds have been highly affected by West Nile Virus. Once contracted, crows typically die within a week. These birds also come into conflict with hu-mans if winter roosts are established in populated areas (some believe to escape owl predation– yet another “smart” behavior if true).

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” ~Rachel Carson

Japanese Beetle Distribution Purple= Established

The American crow in flight.

Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538

Great Nat ives Of Mid-western Ecotype

with the rest of the global society. Consider cell phones. There was a time when peo-ple had times that they did not have information at their fingertips. Times when you really were unavailable– not just by switching the phone off.

So with all of this information and connection to the rest of

I am always in awe when I have the opportunity to see bald eagles in the wild. Luckily for me, this feeling is happening ever more frequently as the national symbol is in-creasing its population every year.

I can remember riding the wake of the DDT ban and this bird received a lion’s share of the atten-tion. It was emblematic to the environmental cause in the same way the red-eyed tree frog has come to symbolize rainforest issues.

This makes me wonder about current symbols for our youth. It isn’t just the global econ-omy that is subject to the zealous individualism that we are all, to some degree, con-tributing to. Many people today are never out of contact

the world, what are today’s youth identifying with?

I mentioned the red-eyed tree frog deliberately. While I am never one to de-emphasize world issues (of which rainforest destruction is a HUGE one), might our children even recognize an animal slightly less iconic than the bald eagle from North America? Do they know about leopard frogs?

While we may very well be

connected to the entire world, many are missing their local connection. It is locally that some of the biggest changes can be made by individu-als.

Perhaps the eagles, as they spread ever inland up smaller and smaller water courses will also bring with them lessons for those that have forgotten them. Maybe, once re-membered, those lessons will be the harbingers of more to come.

FO CU S O N T H E FU T U R E

E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com

There’s no place like GNOME!

Bald eagle near Amana, IA on March, 8th 2009

GNOME

Great Natives of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a net-based forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.

Check out our new site!!!

Join our facebook group!

(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45643568296)

This is our primary forum location. The newsletter as well as open discussions are there and also other links to people and groups that focus on natives.

Got an article? Now accepting member submitted news and photos! Once you have something to share, send it to the email listed at left. Monthly news articles will, of course, give credit to the contributor. Everyone welcome!

We’re on the Web! http://gnomenative.webs.com/

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