What do these things have in common? They all have traditionally been viewed as “messy” in gardens. But wait: it might be worth living with a little mess, because they provide valuable wildlife habitat. Let’s look at each one individually.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a vine that is found all over the island (and the entire Southeast) and it seems to be growing quickly: it thrives with more carbon in the atmosphere. It can create a dense thicket, and it’s not a good friend in areas where people play or gather.
The culprit in poison ivy is an oil called urushiol. If the urushiol oil stays on your skin for more than 5 minutes, it will combine with skin proteins to cause a nasty rash. (This may be why it doesn’t affect other mammals and birds.) so while it is not advised for places where people might walk, it’s a wonderful addition to a native plant wild habitat.
Poison Ivy is Great for Wildlife!
But poison ivy (and its 5 leaved evil cousin, Virginia creeper) provide invaluable wildlife habitat. The waxy berries are full of nutrients, and over 60 species of birds eat the berries, making it a stopover resource for migratory birds. In fact, the bright fall foliage of poison ivy may serve as an advertisement to migratory species that here is a food source. And if some of those birds skip the white berries in favor of fattier food, the berries provide value to local species all winter long.
Over 100 invertebrates also use poison ivy as a host plant, including the showy emerald moth. Since it takes over 6000 caterpillars to raise a single nest of chickadees, any native plant that shelters that many species is a valuable addition to natural habitat.
The dense vines provide cover for nesting birds, like those in the Dewees rookery, but also catbirds and brown thrashers, and long distance migrants who need cover and food to continue their long migrations. These catbirds were enjoying quite a feast!
Some birds even use to build in their nests: I watched a pair of anhinga build a nest, and they brought each other live vines, including poison ivy vines. I wonder if the living vines are more supple and allow her to weave the strands and sticks together.
In 2020, the network of vines that had grown in the palm trees and yaupon around the pond became thick enough to attract birds that like to nest in colonies with other birds. That vine cover has provided shelter for a myriad of nesting night herons, little blue herons, etc. We now have Anhinga, Green Herons, Tricolored Herons, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egrets, Western Cattle Egrets, Little Blue Herons and Great Egrets all nesting, and White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills may be next. More about the rookery and the bird blind is here.
Palm Fronds
The look of an intact palmetto can seem a little shaggy if you’re used to resort palms or coconut palms. Our native palmetto, the state tree of South Carolina, is technically a monocot, or grass. Green fronds provide the palm with photosynthesis and shade. As the tree grows new leaves, the lower fronds eventually die and hang down as a brown shaggy “skirt.”
This skirt actually protects the tree (like a little coat) from extreme temperatures, adds a measure of disease protection for the tree, and it provides habitat for a wide variety of creatures.
One of the most vulnerable species is the northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius. We found these bats last summer when we did a bat program. These bats give birth in palm fronds, and sometimes even have twins. They roost in the palm fronds during the day and emerge at night to hoover up all those pesky mosquitoes!!! According to Bat Conservation International, “They feed on leafhoppers, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, flying ants, and occasional damselflies and dragonflies. “
"Palm fronds should never be trimmed between May and July when baby bats are too young to fly." - Austin Bat Refuge
Palm fronds (and skirts) provide cover for a lot of other birds and animals. Look how incredibly this eastern screech owl blends into the fronds around him: he has a nest in a nearby owl box and roosts in the palm fronds during the day. At night he might feed the young in that box 20 times before returning to his palm frond shelter to rest peacefully during the day. I find it astonishing that a bird without a mirror can use these fronds to make himself virtually invisible! Sometimes these little owls even hide in holes in the palmettos.
Living palm fronds also provide food and shelter for a wide variety of creatures. Historically, palms have been very important to Dewees Island: the main export of Dewees was timber from its earliest days. This post from the self guided history tour has a lot more information about the role of Palmetto trees in our history.
Pine Snags and other Dead Trees
A snag is another word for a dead tree. The dead pines all over the island provide food and habitat for a wide variety of birds and other animals, including raccoons, skinks, frogs, and more. Some birds are attracted to insects like pine beetles; others (like woodpeckers) literally carve their habitats out of the trees.
This merlin glared at me for a full 10 minutes one fall afternoon, using the perch as a viewpoint to locate prey. Many raptors use this technique, like Mississippi kites, Bald eagles, Ospreys, and other hawks. Songbirds like painted buntings and cardinals appreciate a lofty perch to sing from and attract mates, and others might stop for a rest on a really long journey.
This video showcases 25 bird species that utilize our pine snags and dead trees, and a butterfly and a skink for good measure!
One of the best things individual homeowners can do for the planet is to let part or all of their yard be dedicated to wildlife habitat. You can go as far as certifying your yard with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, or joining the Homegrown National Park movement. At a very minimum, find the beauty in the messy nature that provides habitat for so many of our wild neighbors. Leave the dangling palm fronds, snags, and tangled vines, and watch the wildlife delight you!
