By Blake Goll and Michelle Eshleman
As we thaw out after this chilly winter, you are probably itching to get started on your yard preparations. You’re digging out your weathered gardening gloves from a box in your closet, making lists of plants to incorporate into your flower beds, and preparing the soil to welcome new life. You may be envisioning the bright yellow of black-eyed Susan and the verdant green of fiddleheads that will replace the muted, neutral tones of winter. Beyond the changing color palette, consider the new vibrant soundscape of your yard. Perhaps you are looking forward to hearing towhees encouraging you to “drink your tea!” and a robin singing “cheerily, cheerio!” in the morning light.
The diversity of this avian chorus directly reflects the habitat we have created or preserved on our properties. The more varied the habitat, the richer the soundscape. Interestingly, studies show this is directly related to our mental health as if we are hard-wired to not only appreciate, but to need biodiversity. One way you can boost diversity of plants and wildlife in your yard this spring is by learning to see the beauty in the brambles.
THE BEAUTY OF THE BRAMBLES? When we speak of the beauty in the brambles, we are referencing the early successional shrub habitat, dominated by shrubs, a few small trees (less than 20 feet tall), vines, grasses, and wildflowers. It’s the thicket at the edge of a woodlot where you see young birds darting around and learning how to forage, where your children find their first caterpillar snugly wrapped in a chrysalis or a bunny poking his head out from under a bush. Unfortunately, our neat and tidy aesthetic is at odds with Mother Nature’s love of “messy”. We must recognize the critical value that threatened shrub habitats hold for birds and wildlife.
SHRUB HABITAT IS DISAPPEARING. In the United States, we lose roughly 150 acres of natural land every hour. That’s the equivalent of losing more than the entirety of Shenandoah National Park every year (Land Trust Alliance). Since 1970, bird populations in the U.S. and Canada have declined by 29%, or almost 3 billion birds, signaling a widespread ecological crisis. The largest factor driving these declines is likely the widespread loss and degradation of habitat (Science, 2019). Early successional shrub habitats are particularly important for maintaining the diversity of native plants and animals. Unfortunately, they are one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States, often being cleared for visual appeal. Since greater than 80% of land is privately managed in the lower 48 states (Narango, 2018), we have the power to change this trend.
SHRUBS ARE FOR BIRDS. Shrub habitats receive more sun exposure than mature forests. This makes them rich sources of wildlife forage: insects, fruits, seeds, berries, and nuts. As “nature’s pantry,” these open habitats provide year-round food and cover for mammals like deer, pollinating bees and butterflies, and a myriad of bird species from Brown Thrashers to Eastern Towhees. Shrub habitat boosts breeding bird populations even in small patches. Not only do typical shrubland dependent birds nest directly in the habitat, but even forest birds—like Ovenbirds and Wood Thrush—hone in on early successional havens after leaving their nests in the woods. Studies show that juvenile birds favor these brushy tangles over open woodlands because of the higher density of food and cover from predators during their vulnerable, formative months. In addition, many migratory birds use early successional shrub habitats as vital stopover sites during their strenuous migratory journeys. Others, like White-throated Sparrows, take advantage of the rich accessible food sources all winter long.
Embracing Messiness! A Tiered Approach to Supporting Shrub Habitat
1. Replace Invasive Shrubs with Natives in Phases | If you already have shrub habitat on your property, you can remove individual invasive plants or clear small, manageable patches at a time. Immediately fill the cleared space with native shrubs (closely spaced 4-6 feet on center) that have high value for wildlife (see QR code below). Phasing the project in this way preserves some habitat structure for wildlife while the new shrubs are maturing.
2. Plant and Protect New Native Shrubs | If you currently do not have shrub habitat and have an area of your lawn you don’t use, consider replacing the manicured lawn with native shrubs in well planted beds. Newly planted shrubs should be protected from deer with fencing for at least the first three years. Invasive plants and vines may need to be removed each year.
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3. Leave it Alone | The easiest method of all is simply leaving brushy areas be. It can be tempting to clear because of the stigma around messiness or invasives, but the disturbance caused by wholesale clearing only leads to recolonization by more aggressive invasives. If you are not committed to replacing removed invasives with natives, it’s better to leave things alone. The invasive plants still provide structural diversity and cover for birds. The next time you get the choice to embrace or eliminate shrub habitat, we hope you’ll consider the beauty in the brambles.
