06-28-11 Field Note: Hawkweed Management, Birch Protection, Black Bear Tracks, and Wildflowers

Beau Larkin's field note explains management efforts to eliminate hawkweed and to protect paper birch trees from the bronze birch borer.

Posted on 6/28/2011 by Anonymous

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Black Bear

Paper Birch

Last month, we found another native white pine. An adelgid infestation (image 2 from June 3, arrow) had stunted its growth, so we treated it with an insecticide. Few adelgid egg cases persist on the tree now (image 3, arrow), and we treated it again to keep the adelgids away. With warm weath- er and dormancy break, white pine 70 will produce a new flush of healthy needles this year (image 4, arrow). Page 2

Hawkweed management Record precipitation this year created ideal con- ditions for hawkweed spread and seed germina- tion. This sounds like bad news, but at least the rain helped germinate much of the seed bank. Herbicide applications, prevention of further seed set, and seeding of native cover this fall could help us knock back this aggressive invader.

After spraying, we geotagged each treated hawkweed patch to monitor the effects of management. The north- east clearcut (image 9, blue square) contains the only invasive hawkweed growth detected in 2011. An en- larged image of this area (image 10) shows the single yellow hawkweed patch (circular symbol, upper right) and orange hawkweed patches (diamond symbols) strat- ified by patch size. Dark yellow icons represent small patches (<5 plants), orange icons point to mid-sized patches (5-20 plants), and red ic

Bronze birch borer prevention We treated about 125 trees (of 250 targeted) this week with acecap in- secticide pellets to reduce birch mor- tality. We chose large trees with lit- tle topkill (image 11) for treatment. Proper application of acecaps leaves little evidence of damage and pro- tects the tree from invasion of fungal pathogens (image 12, before acecap installation, image 13, after installa- tion).

Other work this week  Release of suppressed ponderosa sap- lings from lodgepole competition in the southwest corner of the property (images 14 and 15, arrows). These saplings are nursery stock, but were planted some time ago.  Used thinned lodgepole to create shade protection for nearby planted white pines  Removed wren guards from swallow boxes  Completed a second bird point count on the property  Collected images for the plant field guide Page Page 6 4

Three chipping sparrow chicks wait for parental attention in a Douglas-fir sapling near the north border of the property. The adult birds collected green caterpillars from a nearby serviceberry shrub while I crept in for this photo. I departed quickly to leave the parents to their duties. Field observations 17 BL Page Page 7 5

Three-spot mariposa lilies bloomed this week. These flowers show up with warm weather and remind us that summer is here at last. The edible bulbs provided food for tribes and settlers in the Western United States.

Mountain lady’s slipper orchids depend on particular soil fungi and undis- turbed forest soils to survive. At MPG North, they appear under low-value lodgepole stands that escaped damage from logging equipment. Disturb- ance and overzealous flower collectors pushed this species close to extinc- tion over much of its range.

Yellow columbine attracts butterflies and territorial hummingbirds. Arufous hummingbird swooped at me as I took this photo!

Queen’s cup lily grows in shady spots. Cow parsnip with fresh white blossoms. Bears eat this plant. Humans can eat it too, but its aroma isn’t that tantalizing.

An adult black bear left a track in the mud (image 24) near the central marsh (map inset, star). A cub explored nearby (image 25). The hind track (H) is diffi- cult to see. These bears avoided detection by the camera network.

References Seefledt SS, Conn JS. 2011. Control of orange hawkweed (Hieracium auranti- acum) in Southern Alaska. Invasive Plant Science and Management 4:87-94

About MPG North

Established in 2005, the property boundary at MPG North encloses 200 undeveloped acres in Western Montana’s Swan Valley. Researchers and field staff manage the property to improve habitat quality for wildlife, discover new ways to restore damaged landscapes and study forest ecology. We also create opportunities to share what we've learned with local conservation organizations, students of all ages, management agencies and volunteers. Through these education and outreach efforts, we seek to inspire others to work together and protect undeveloped landscapes.

MPG North

Protecting Open Space for Future Generations

06-28-11 Field Note: Hawkweed Management, Birch Protection, Black Bear Tracks, and Wildflowers

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