Spring 2004

Table of Contents

Winter storm losses can be spring wildlife gains

If your property suffered severe winter storm damage to trees and shrubs this past year, your spring clean-up job may seem overwhelming.

But broken limbs, topped trees, and downed wood don’t have to add up to a lot of haul-away work. Your backyard wildlife may benefit for years from leaving some of it in place or piled up on site. Debris and dead wood, especially standing dead trees or live ones with dead tops, known as "snags", make for much needed homes for wildlife.

More than 40 species of birds in Washington use cavities in snags as nesting sites, and many find food in dead wood. Many amphibians, reptiles and mammals also use snags and woody debris for nesting, roosting, and foraging.

This spring you may witness use of your snags by one of the 10 species of "primary cavity nesters" —woodpeckers. These hard-headed birds excavate holes in the wood to make their nests and raise this year’s young.

Next spring you’ll see new tenants, since woodpeckers are wired to create new nest holes each year. At least 30 species of "secondary cavity nesters," like chickadees, nuthatches, bluebirds, swallows, wrens, and owls will take up residence in the holes the woodpeckers provided the year before.

Snags that are potential safety problems because they are close to your home or other buildings should, of course, come down, or be cut down to a size that won’t cause damage. Otherwise, leave snags in place, especially groups of various sized snags, which seem to attract wildlife most (perhaps because they provide both "bed" and "breakfast".)

Create wood, brush, and debris piles from other storm damage. Three to fivefoot high and wide piles create more cover and potential nesting sites for some birds like towhees that prefer to be closer to the ground. They also serve rabbits, raccoons, and other small mammals, plus toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, and other reptiles and amphibians.