The document outlines a plan to restore an island in Lake Muhlenberg and increase its native bird population. It identifies 10 target bird species and 2 species to discourage. Requirements for attracting birds include clean water, shelter like bird boxes and buffer zones, and a variety of food sources like grasses, berries, and flowers. Specific planting recommendations are provided for 3 types of grasses, 3 medium to large trees, and 7 small trees and shrubs to provide shelter, nesting areas, and food. Diagrams and specifications for different types of bird and bat boxes are also included to provide additional shelter.
1. By: Nina Sanders
Island Restoration Plan and Efforts to
Increase the Native Bird Population
at Lake Muhlenberg
2. Target Species
• Tree swallows
• Chickadee species
• Song sparrows
• Goldfinches
• Gray Catbirds
• Orchard and Baltimore Orioles
• Blue Birds
• Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers
• Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warblers
• DON’T WANT
• Introduced, foreign species
• European Starling
• House/ English Sparrow
• Compete for blue birds for nesting
3. Requirements to Attract Birds
1. Clean, running water
• Remove land bridge
• Limit human access
• Limit litter
• Observation decks
• Thin the goose populations
2. Shelter
• Buffer Zone
• Bird boxes
• Return island to natural, untouched state
3. Food
4.
5. Grasses:
• Riverbank wild-rye
• Virginia wild-rye
• Little bluestem
Riverbank Wild-Rye
• good waterfront vegetation for
stream bank conditions
• 3-5 ft
• can grow in sunlight and shade
• Wet/moist soil
Little bluestem
• Prefers sunny , riverbank
areas
• Clump grass, tolerates poor,
dry soil
• 2-4 ftVirginia Wild-Rye
• Tolerates a wide range of
conditions-
• 2-4 ft
• Wet/moist soil, any light
preference
6.
7. • Located on south side of Lake
• In possible buffer zone
• About 200 ft apart
• On island
• Blue bird boxes placed throughout
• Cost about $20 each
• Examples of Scott Burnet’s blue bird boxes at the Fish Hatchery
Shelter-bird boxes
11. http://valleyforgeaudubon.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-home-for-chimney-swifts-
at-john.html
The tower offers one pair of Chimney Swifts a nest site and can
accommodate several hundred roosting birds during migration.
• 8’ tall, 14” diameter
• Freestanding, partially wooded/shaded area
• Wood or cinder-blocks- as long as insulation
• Depending on materials, costs will vary (~$100-
400)
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wingnut/2009/03/14/chimney-swift-
nesting-towers/
Bat Box
Chimney Swift Tower
12.
13.
14.
15. On shore
-Berry bushes (attract winter birds)
-Grey or red twig or silky dogwood
-Service berry
-Black berries
-Winter berry holly
-Native dogwoods for wet areas
-Black Eyed Susans
-Purple Cone Flower
In water
-Native cattails
-Blue flag iris
food
Blue
Flag Iris
Purple cone
flower
Winterberry
holly
Red twig dogwood
Red twig dogwood
17. Medium to large Trees:
• 1 River Birch
• 1 Red Maple
• 1 Evergreen
Grasses:
• Riverbank wild-rye
• Virginia wild-rye
• Little bluestem
Small Trees and Shrubs:
• Gray Dogwood
• Silky Dogwood
• Red twig Dogwood
• Elderberry
• Red and Black chokeberry
• High Bush, low bush Blueberry
• Inkberry, American Holly
• Viburnum species