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| Fall is a busy time at Pleasant Valley Conservancy.
Seed collecting is a major activity from mid-September through
early November. This year we collected about 150 species,
mostly from the Conservancy, but a few from near-by sites.
As soon as seed collecting is finished, we start on our
fall controlled burns in the savanna areas. Scheduling of
burns depends on the weather. We need most of the oak leaves
down, since they are the primary fuel. The bur oak leaves
come down first, but since we are also burning in white
oak savannas, we have to wait until those leaves are down.
Some cold, crisp weather also helps.
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Fortunately, the weather cooperated and we got in a large,
very successful burn on 14 November 2003 (see below).
As soon as our burn was finished, we started planting with
the newly collected seed. We planted primarily into burned
areas, concentrating on areas that had been recently cleared,
or on areas where new seeding was needed.
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Plants
Good rains in June and early July brought on excellent growth
of prairie and savanna forbs and grasses. However, beginning
in mid July, a serious drought ensued. Despite this drought,
many of the prairie and savanna plants continued to develop.
Fortunately, a major rain in early September saved late-blooming
plants. Good seed set of most species occurred and we have
over 150 species collected. Because of our successful savanna
controlled burn, we were able to plant selected savanna areas
on Nov. 30, 2003. |
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Wildlife
Red-headed woodpeckers remain quite active in the oak savannas.
Both mature and immature birds have been seen. They were unaffected
but very excited during our controlled burn and returned to
the oaks as soon as the smoke dissipated. Since they are year-around
residents, they should be visible all winter.We will be participating
in the Christmas bird count of Madison Aububon Society.
Deer are frequently seen. Since we are in the Eradication
Zone for Chronic Wasting Disease, our property has been opened
to extended hunting.
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Volunteer work parties
On Sunday, October 12, 40 Girl Scouts from the Blackhawk
Council collected seeds on the Pocket Prairie. It was a very
successful foray and lots of useful seeds were collected.
Six volunteers participated in our savanna controlled burn.
The photo here shows Kathie Brock explaining seed collecting
on the Pocket Prairie to Girl Scouts from the Blackhawk Council.
October 12, 2003. The White Oak Savanna is in the background.
Photo by Susan Slapnick.
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Restoration work
A very successful savanna burn was carried out on Nov. 14,
2003. Units 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 19 were burned. After a
long period of unsettled weather, we had three days of good
burn weather and were able to capitalize on it. Fourteen people
participated in the burn, including both volunteers and contractors.
Most of the ridge-top savanna was burned, about 35 acres total.
Most areas burned very well and planting of some areas was
done on November 30, 2003.
Renewed restoration work in the savanna portions of Unit 11,
such as removal of invasive woody plants (buckthorn, prickly
ash, and honeysuckle) and clearing of trees (walnut and elm)
will begin as soon as cold weather sets in.
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We planted about 25 acres of savanna in the period between
late November and middle December. Seeds were hand broadcast
into burned areas in Units 8, 10, 11, 12, and 19.
The photo here shows the preparation of the seed mix
for planting the upper part of Unit 11 on Nov. 30, 2003. Steve
Richter, Laura Kearney, Kathie Brock, Susan Slapnick. Photo
by Tom Brock.
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