GNOME News- January 2012 by White Bull1876

Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype

January 2012 Edition

Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype

V o l u m e 2 6 , Is s u e 1 J a n u ar y 3 0 , 20 1 2

GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

An ounce of prevention... Plant Profile

Native on the Net

Best Books

Organization Spotlight

Native News

Planting with a Purpose

Skeptical Science

Invasives!

Fantastic Fauna

Focus on the Future

Did you know... Lemmings don’t commit suicide? Disney filmmakers drove lemmings off a cliff for White Wilderness in 1958, thus adding credence to this myth. Snowy owl feathers have no pigment? This leaves more room for insulating air and helps keep them warm.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure seems to be what some leading ecologists are suggesting for the likely increase in heat and drought tolerant plant imports to the United States due to climate change concerns. A recent study, headed by Bethany Bradley– an ecologist at the University of Massachusetts Amhurst, looked at current trends in the nursery trade, patterns of temperature change, and current landscaping practices and how this may impact native environments. There are numerous examples of foreign plants run amok. Purple loosestrife, oriental bittersweet, and kudzu are all popular examples of ornamental invasive disaster plants. The study cited that plants used in in the newer Southwestern US landscaping model-xeriscaping (landscaping with plants that use little to no extra water) are already escaping cultivation and invading dryland areas. “Our study identifies climate change as a risk, which combined with other factors is likely

Proactive prevention may avoid other mistakes like these kudzu vines

to increase demand for imported heat- and drought-tolerant plants, but this emerging threat is one that policy can effectively address," states Bradley. She goes on to say that the USDA already has tools poised for use to reduce import risks. Australia has already been using a similar system for a decade. While it is not foolproof, it has reduced the number of environmental threats to that country.

Earlier studies found a clear link between increased trade and the number of invasive species. This study identified 42 countries poised for trade in drought and heat tolerant plants. South America, equatorial Africa and tropical Asia all have partners hoping to trade in the US. The rate of introduction is highest at the beginning of the trade. Bradley states “stopping invasions before they start is the most effective way of preventing widespread ecological and economic impacts,"

GNOME’S MISSION 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 netbased forum where mem-

bers can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest.

1. Join our facebook group at

You can participate in many different ways.

3. Visit or link to the website 4. Pass on the newsletter.

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Submit articles, pictures, stories, or plans for publication.

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Rosa carolina– Pasture Rose The pasture rose is one of several native wild roses found in the Midwest. These (along with some exotic varieties) can be very difficult to tell apart from one another. Hopefully this profile can help you tell the difference and also highlight the great qualities of this beautiful bloomer!

The original distribution falls mainly in the eastern US. Ranges begin from Nebraska and Texas continuing all the way to the Atlantic coast. This prickly shrub is usually about three feet tall, though older plants may sprawl to longer lengths. One way to identify this plant is by its thorns. Most roses have curved and stout thorns. This plant, however, has narrow, straight spines instead. These also often occur on opposite sides of the stem from each other. Blooms of this plant are usually pink and vary slightly in their intensity. Each single bloom has five petals. After

“Never look for birds of this year in the nests of the last.”

This rose is hardy and resistant to foliar diseases common with other roses.

~Cervantes

Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds found feeding at North American The Cornell Lab or Ornithology is a birdfeeders. It begins in Nowell known entity for anyone familiar vember and documents with birding. A silver anniversary through April (yes there is still should be enough to attract your to time to sign up!). It provides their news feed, but the Project trends in population and disFeederWatch site provides a wealth tribution of many species.

NATIVE

ON THE

This month’s featured site is :

blooming, fruiting seed pods called hips form. It blooms in early summer for about a month. The main pollinator of this rose are long-tongued bees such as the bumblebee. Other bees collect pollen as well. Smaller mammals and many game birds will eat the rosehips in winter, helping to spread the plant to other locations. It is also browsed by deer and foliage by some insect larva. This plant spreads aggressively. For this reason, I have used it effectively in bio-hedges. It is not well suited for small gardens because it spreads underground. It is tolerant of a variety of soils, but prefers it drier and needs full sun.

NET of information and an opportunity to be a citizen scientist.

Project FeederWatch http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/

This site is a nice resource for educational material, data, and identification. Make sure that you check out the “Explore Data” section! There is a minimal cost to participate and enter your data. The cost for non-lab members is $15. This membership does come with some nice materials.

BEST BOOKS– SECOND NATURE: THE INNER LIVES OF ANIMALS Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals by Jonathan Balcombe will get you to see the world differently. I have spent a lot of time wondering if the interactions I observed in nature were over anthropomorphized in my mind because I wanted to believe that there was a deeper meaning or connection between living things. I’m glad I found this book!

This book, which relies on solid research and not just anecdotal observations, brings animal behavior and intelligence to a whole new level. It challenges the traditional notion that humans are the only ones that experience emotions and display higher level thinking skills.

What I like best about the book is that it calls for us to see other life forms as sentient beings. Even the most mundane animals are brought into a new light in this book (carp and music recognition to name one). You won’t regret the time the time spent reading. It will even change how you see your pets! It is also available in digital format for Kindle.

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O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : MACBRIDE RAPTOR PROJECT “Devoted to preserving Iowa’s birds of prey and their natural habitat.”

Every year between 150 and 200 birds of prey are treated by the MRP. Injured raptors are first treathttp://recserv.uiowa.edu/Apps/Pr ed at the medical clinic at ograms/MacbrideRaptorProject.as Kirkwood campus. Here students get a first hand px chance to assist. The birds then move to the MacBride The MacBride Raptor Project site where flight condition(MRP) was founded in 1985 as a ing occurs prior to their nonprofit organization. It is the release. Helping injured raptors stay wild. joint venture of two eastern Iowa colleges– The University of Iowa This project is largely staffed and Kirkwood Community College. In addition to caring for wild birds, both locations are home to by volunteers. Many people several permanently unreleasaquietly make this operation There are several services that ble raptors. These are used for function, often without much this dedicated organization proeducational presentations, recognition. Learn more vide for the state of Iowa. Rehaschool and private tours, and are about this great organization bilitation and education of native usually publically available for at their website, or better yet, raptor species is their main viewing. Organizations can also take a visit or donate! focus. “adopt” or sponsor these birds.

NATIVE NEWS:

DECORAH EAGLE RETURNS HOME Last year I put up a link to the Decorah Eagle Live Webcam stream. Many of you likely checked in on these birds– the site was visited over 213 million times last year.

D1 left the area near Palisades Park in August. She had been fitted with a satellite transmitter July 12th to help researchers figure out what young northern eagles do after leaving their nest.

As part of this program, some of the young eaglets were tagged with a satellite transmitter. The female called “D1” has recently completed an interesting trip.

In December D1 completed a round trip of over 900 miles by returning to the area of her parents’ nest. Her trip included a tour of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

PLANTING

WITH A

Initially she flew over 300 miles to the Boundary Waters in northeast Minnesota. From there she meandered back following rivers and smaller waterways. “Who would have ever guessed? Not me.” said researcher Bob Anderson– the expert that fitted her with the transmitter. “When she left, she was a food-begging baby. Now she is a real eagle making her own way in the world.”

“Of winter’s lifeless world each tree Now seems a perfect part; Yet each one holds summer’s secret Deep down within its heart.” ~Charles G. Stater

PURPOSE:

COLD SEASON COMBINATIONS There are many facets of garden planning. One that I find is often overlooked is thinking about winter color or interest in your garden. It is natural to think of bloom time, color, height, etc. for active plants, but planning for the dormant garden is just as important in my opinion. The first thing to remember is that you don’t need to remove seed heads, stems, and stalks in the fall. Even the brown isn’t pretty, your standing plants provide shel-

ter and food for many small mammals and birds. Many plants like ironweed, coneflowers, milkweed, and grasses wear snow well and provide for wildlife. For me, some of the most beautiful winter natives come in the form of understory plants. These bushes and small trees not only provide great focal points when blooming, but really stand out in winter.

and other roses leave colorful hips that are useful late winter food as well as standing out in snow. Others like hawthorns are hardy, have nice blooms, and their orange or red berries are beautiful winter accents. Of course red osier dogwoods are a given.

Plants in the Ilex family (deciduous hollies) are also great. But one of my favorites is EuonyCommon Ninebark is another mous atropurpureus-the wahoo. plant whose flaky bark provides This plant is great in all seasons. interest in winter. And its common name might even The rose family are obvious choic- help you make it through the es (see cover). Pasture, Illinois, winter!

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SKEPTICAL SCIENCE-

DEBUNKING CLIMATE CHANGE MISINFORMATION A recent poll of Americans showed that people are less likely to believe in global warming today than they were five years ago. At first I had a difficult time believing that this could be the case. After all, information from hundreds of sources all point to the logical conclusion that we are contributing to the warming of our planet. But that conclusion is where I think we have a disconnect in America. To come to that conclusion, one would have to be looking at that information and making a judgment. I believe that many Americans are like a baby being spoon fed– they simply are consuming what they are being given– and when it comes to climate change, that is often misinformation. (For more details on the recent poll, follow this link- http:// environment.yale.edu/climate/files/ ClimateBeliefsMay2011.pdf) So where are these myths and the misinformation coming from? What are the motives for confusing this important issue? Climate change has been on the radar since the 1970s. The huge oil crisis in 1973 sent a petroleum-based scare rippling into future decades, some of which, we are still feeling. Fossil fuels continue to be both a focal point as well as a funding base for much of the “behind the scenes” work that muddy the waters of global warming. The EPA, established late in 1970, began advocating climate change policies shortly after its establishment. To combat this, companies like ExxonMobil and industry associations like the American Petroleum Institute and Edison Electric Institute began channeling monetary support to contrarian scientists and conservative think tanks that were already involved in fighting these new regulations. The result was the creation of a misinformation, or better yet– disinformation machine that continues to churn out confusing and misleading data meant to generate doubt about the issue. To many, talking about climate ethics is like talking about religion or politics. The likelihood that you will be able to change minds or opinions about global warming is not very good. But you can be armed with accurate information and good resources to guide them to discover their own conclusions. Acknowledging that being skeptical is part of the scientific process is a good thing. The ability to replicate data through the scientific method is essential to valid results. But analyzing and interpreting existing information is something that scientists are effectively doing. Looking at the consensus about climate change in the scientific community is a fair place to start. Current data shows that 97% of the scientific community in America agrees that climate change is happening. While skeptics can fairly question predictive models on the basis that we don’t know what the future holds, that ignores all of the other evidence of what IS occurring. All of that data points solidly to a human accelerated warming planet. This begs the question- why would the petroleumfunded “independent” scientists want to be contrarian?

There are several logical reasons for these contradictory views so prevalent in mainstream media and political agendas. The first, and most obvious, is that science refuting the relationship between human activity and fossil fuel use protects the business interests of companies relying on petroleum. This industry has the financial resources to impact media industries and politicians alike. One cannot hear about global warming without it being noted that there are those skeptical about its cause. When one considers that only 3% of American scientists are still out on the conclusion that humans have induced climate change, it is amazing that the issue is covered in such a balanced way in the news. Another main reason for scientific disinformation is that our culture rewards people for going against the flow of the populous. It would be uncommon to hear about a scientist in the media stating that he agrees that we are causing climate change. But take a scientist that disagrees and instantly that scientist is streaming into cars, computers, televisions, and mobile phones. While there are other contributing components to the misinformation machine, there are numerous resources that can help to increase awareness of the real science behind they study of climate change. Anthony Leiserowitz is the author of the poll mentioned in the beginning of this article. He states that “Most Americans have overwhelming trust in the science and trust in scientists.” The problem lies it not knowing that there is such a large scientific consensus. “So far the evidence shows that the more people understand that there is this consensus, the more they tend to believe that climate change is happening.” So how do we raise this awareness? I found a great website that provides a quick reference for debunking the myths of climate change. www.skepticalscience.com lists the top 100 arguments rampant in the counter climate change movement. It lists both succinct “layman” facts that show the scientific conclusions, but also provides links to more extensive research, publications, and in depth explanations of the arguments in question. Another valuable and reliable source for information can be found at www.nasonline.org. This is the site for the National Academy of Sciences. Climate change is just one of the topics here. Raising awareness about this important issue is just as important to being able to counter the misinformation being circulated. I believe that providing sources for people to draw their own conclusions will greatly enhance this awareness. Please pass it on!

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I N VA S I V E S MUTE SWANS

Cygnus olor—known commonly as the mute swan is becoming an increasingly invasive species in the great lakes region of the Midwest. These birds were introduced to North America in the late 1800s or early 1900s as an ornamental species for private ponds and waterways. They are native to Europe and Asia.

second source would be birds that were intentionally released into the wild for ornamental reasons (left to fend for themselves) or as an ineffective and illegal method to run off other waterfowl– especially Canadian geese. These birds are extremely aggressive to both people and other waterfowl. They use lakes and

This is a very large (25lbs) snow white bird. It is easily distinguished from native swans because of its bill. Adult mute swans have bright orange bills with a black knob in front of the eyes. All native swans have black bills. Wild populations can trace their origin to two different sources. The first are birds that have escaped captivity. The

Cygnus olor -wild bird populations

wetlands much like native birds. The male (cob) will defend up to 6 acres around the nest, which impact native birds ability to nest and find sustenance, Another impact of these invasive birds are their appetite. An adult can eat up to 20 lbs of food a day. This can cause a large amount of damage to native aquatic vegetation.

F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E S N O W Y O W L This might soon be known as “The Year of the Snowy Owl” among birders and nature enthusiasts. Records are being set across the Midwest for both numbers of identified individual birds and sightings. Let’s take a closer look at this amazing, if regionally uncommon owl. This owl typically lives on the tundra in the northern hemisphere. It is largely white with some brown/black barring and bright yellow eyes. Males turn whiter with age and the females keep their barring pattern throughout their lives. It is the heaviest owl in North America, weighing between 3.5 and 6.5 pounds. The main food source for this large owl is the lemming. Adults consume between 3-5 lemmings per day and can eat more than 1,600 in a year. It will eat other smaller mammals, but snowy owl numbers are directly related to their main food source numbers (see Did You Know for a lemming fact). As with most owls, snowies are reverse sexually dimorphic. This means that the female is larger than the male. It is believed that this aids in the incubation of eggs and also in defending the nest. Snowy owls will even attack wolves that venture too close!

These birds are most often observed sitting silently on a high point that offers a good vantage point for viewing potential prey. Once prey is caught, these birds will often make caches with large numbers of animals, utilizing the cold temperatures where they live as a natural refrigerator/freezer. Males most often make these caches to demonstrate their ability as a provider to potential mates. This has also been observed while the female is on the nest, presumably to feed her and young owlets.

“I rejoice that there are owls…. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Snowy owls are rare visitors to the Midwest, but occasionally sporadic irruptions occur. This year there are an unusually high number visiting the region. Food shortages, extreme weather, and large populations of young birds can all be reasons for an irruption. This year saw a lemming boom andmany young survived. These appear to be young birds pushed out of adult territory. This female juvenile was released near Bartlett, Illinois on January 23 after being hit by a SUV.

Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538

E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com

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 netbased forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.

Check out our site!!!

We’re on the Web! http://gnomenative.webs.com/ There’s no place like GNOME!

Big Picture- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2012/01/120104153735.htm Plant Profile p.4- http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ pasture_rosex.htm Native News p.5– Cedar Rapids Gazette– Dec. 12, 2011 Skeptical Science p.6- http://rockblogs.psu.edu/climate/ Skeptical Science p.6– http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/137309964/ climate-change-public-skeptical-scientists-sure Invasives p.7- http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/invasives/ invasives_calendar.pdf Fantastic Fauna p.7-http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/id/ ac

Big Picture Photo- http:// freeassociationdesign.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/url4.jpg Best Books p.4- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/second-naturejonathan-balcombe/1101957381?ean=9780230613621 Planting with a Purpose p.5- http://myfolia.com/plantings/208862physocarpus-darts-gold-physocarpus-opulifolius Skeptical Science p.6- http://thesydneyglobalist.org/wp-content/ uploads/2009/08/climatechange.jpg Skeptical Science p.6http://www.sowscience.com/global-warming-is-realnew-analysis-confirms/339/ Invasives map p.7-http://sdakotabirds.com/species/maps/ mute_swan_map.htm Invasives p.7- http://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderlustg/5799215645/ Invasives p.7- http://www.biopix.dk/knopsvane-cygnus-olor_photo30822.aspx Fantastic Fauna p.7- http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120123/ news/701239819/photos/AR/

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FOCUS ON THE FUTURE THE LAZY GARDENER To an outside observer I’m sure that I look like a lazy gardener. Every season is rife with signs of what would appear to others as inattention to yard and flowerbed.

Have you ever sat around a fire in the snow, only to identify the small popping around you as the expulsion of exploding seed pods of wild petunia? Well, I have.

Have you ever witnessed seasonal migrants like a cerulean warbler (uncommonly found in your vicinity) utilize the food and cover your yard provides? Yes– I have.

Currently, my long lawn grass is poking up through the snow. I have still standing plants with dead seed heads in every corner. Prairie grasses cause small drifts of snow around them wherever the wind chooses to blow it.

Have you ever observed a queen bumblebee emerge from your long grass and unraked leaf litter in the spring? Well, I have.

I don’t mention these things to brag, though I am happy to have experienced them. I mention them to illustrate that even though the property I own can be called mine, I have an obligation to share it with the other living things in my world.

It is safe to say that by traditional subdivision standards, I would not make the grade. But there is a method to my madness– or laziness as the case might be. Have you ever sat down for your morning coffee and watched the methodical junco jump on the base of a little bluestem culm waving with seed and hop toward the top pinning it to the ground to eat? Well, I have.

Have you ever observed many small songbirds feeding on last season’s dead heads instead of the seed in the birdfeeder? Well, I have.

“The gardener in him sold out to the nature– conservationist…”

My yard will never make the cover of Better Homes and Gardens (though it did make it into the Wild Ones Journal). I can honestly say that I don’t mind having to spend less time mowing, trimming, weeding, fertilizing, watering, and generally maintaining a “typical” lawn. I figure it gives me more time to enjoy it. Who knows, maybe I am a lazy gardener after all...