Asian Stilt Grass!

Microstegium vimineum, commonly referred to as Japanese stilt grass or Chinese packing grass, is part of the Poaceae or grass familly. The stilt grass is traditionally native to Southeast Asia, but was introduce to the United States around 1919. Originally, the stilt grass was used to pack Oriental porcelain, which is how it probably first appeared here. Stilt grass was first introduced into the Tennessee area and can now be found from south New England to the Carolinas and west to Texas and Illinois. 

Stilt grass is an annual plant that sheds hundreds of seeds before dying off in the late fall months. Stilt grass is usually spread by land disturbances, such as, grazing, burning, or logging. The seed can also be carried by moving water, so patches tend to appear in wet areas. Once it settles to an area it can spread quite rapidly. The stilt grass can grow in large patches that will outcompete native plants and block out sunlight to  other understory plants. 

There are a few methods that can be used to manage Asian stilt grass. Pulling the packing grass by hand is a simple and relatively easy way to manage it, but if there is a large area then this could take time and require several years of pulling to exhaust the seed bank. Another way is by weed whacking and mowing the stilt grass. This should be done late in the season to avoid the seeds from setting. Herbicides area also an effective way to manage stilt grass, but will usually kill the native plants with in the area.

Lowering the Bar(berry)

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) was originally introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant primarily used in botanical gardens and landscape design. The shrub produces bright-red berries, which birds consume, resulting in widespread seed dispersal. Barberry also spreads through root creepers and—in our experience—tends to grow in dense thickets. Originally introduced in 1875, the shrub can now be found throughout the East and has spread as far west as Montana. For this project we are targeting an area of high-density barberry that has choked out native understory growth, particularly ferns, blueberry, and oak seedlings.

 As of now, our primary method of management has been manual pulling. Although they lack depth, the shrub’s root system is tough and plants that cannot be pulled by hand are ripped out using a winch system.  For a few plants a standard come-a-long could be utilized.  But since we were dealing with an extensive impacted area we needed to find a more efficient system of removal.  That system is comprised of 3/4 ton rope puller with a 1/2" rope and several tow straps  (see below video clip).  This system allowed us to adjust more quickly to hooking into a new shrub after pulling one out.  After a rain the shrubs pulled easier and sometimes by using only a digging bar.  When using the winch system a minimum of two were necessary, but three personnel was ideal.  

 From a worker’s perspective, Japanese Barberry is probably the most frustrating invasive targeted in this project. The stems of the shrub are covered in hundreds of spiny thorns that easily break off into the skin. Also, scientists Jeffery Ward and Scott Williams with the Connecticut Agriculture and Experiment Station have found a positive correlation between Japanese Barberry and ticks carrying Lyme Disease. In the future, we plan on experimenting using livestock grazing and controlled stem burning as methods of barberry management.

The Newest of the Invasives!

Garlic mustard, or Alliaria Petiolata, was first discovered in the US in 1868 in Long Island, New York. It was brought over from Europe to be used in a couple different foods. However the plant has only been on Sanctuary grounds for about 15 years now. 
 

 The impact up here at Hawk Mountain is mainly along the roadside. This invasive can take over undisturbed areas of forest relatively easily. It competes with native plants for light and space. The seeds germinate in early spring, so garlic mustard is the first invasive we managed. Since it is an annual, once the plant dies that season it does not re-sprout.  The aggressive nature of this plant is in the amount of seeds (thousands) each individual can produce which can germinate the following spring. The best approach for us at this time was to hand pull and weed whack prior to the plant producing seeds.

- Lucas

Meet the IPRP Staff for 2014

Project Manager Lucas Wessner

Lucas Wessner just finished his freshman year at Bloomsburg University studying geology. He first got involved with Hawk Mountain as a Conservation Corps member, and is now working on the Invasive Plant Management Project. Luke likes to play soccer, ski, go backpacking, and kayak on weekends.

Project Staff Member Sam Summer

Sam Summer volunteered at Hawk Mountain throughout high school as one of the original members of the Conservation Corps. Now, he's returned as a full-time member of the Invasive Plant Management Project. A rising sophomore, Sam attends the University of Pennsylvania, studying architecture and environmental science. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, climbing, and drawing.

IPRP Intern Grif Griffith

Grif Griffiths is an up and rising senior at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. He is studying Natural Resources & Recreation Management. Grif is completing an internship here at Hawk Mountain as a requirement for graduation. He will be involved in the Invasive Plant Management project. After school he will like to continue working with the conservation and preservation of natural resources.

Project Staff Member Connor Mertz

Throughout high school, Connor Mertz volunteered at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary as a member of the Hawk Mountain Conservation Corps. He just graduated from Kutztown High School and starting this fall Connor will attend Montana State University to pursue a degree in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy systems.














This is the dedicated staff at this time...but as future posts will tell this is not all inclusive to the who's who working to keep Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's forests filled with our native flora!  

Happy Trails,
Todd Bauman

Welcome to IPRP!

WHAT IS FOREST DIVERSITY?

Forest diversity is a term that encompasses ALL life forms found within a forest area and their ecological roles within that system.  It has been identified that a biologically diverse forest is a healthy forest.  These systems are complex with every organism having its niche or role to play creating an integral "web of life" within that system.  This is important to everyone around the globe.  Forests provide not only habitat for our wildlife, but also improve water quality, provide us with timber, paper products, medicines, and recreation opportunities.   So everyone is not only connected to forests but either directly or indirectly dependent on this resource.  Biological forest diversity is important to us all!

Diversity is Beautiful

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Mission:

"To conserve birds of prey worldwide by providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education, and by maintaining Hawk Mountain Sanctuary as a model observation, research, and education facility."

What this means is that we are global leaders in raptor science and have a direct responsibility to our wildlands that make us a sanctuary.  We are designated as a "Stewardship Forest" of Pennsylvania which furthers our responsibility to manage our forests towards maintaining biological diversity.  

There are many factors threatening our forests around the world; deforestation, fragmentation, exotic pests, and invasive plants to name a few.  Also, many of these factors are often interconnected.  Here in Penn's Woods when a road or trail is constructed into a once healthy forest it creates fragmentation.  Invasives follow this new disturbance and change that sites plant composition.  This in turn alters the biological diversity of the immediate region which then often spreads into undisturbed areas.

 Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Threatens Diversity 

It is for all the above reasons that we have committed to our integrated invasive plant research project (IPRP).  This project entails a minimum commitment of five years on our sanctuary lands.  This time period will determine if this dedicated effort utilizing best management practices can make a difference in containing these invasive plants and preserving our native forests.  Hawk Mountain is far from doing this alone.  There are at this time a few supporters and we will be seeking more over our years of efforts.




You will meet the IPR staff and supporters in future posts.   Stay tuned and check in often for updates.    Please share our methods and findings with others that are working towards Forest Diversity!  Thank you for reading!

Happy Trails,
Todd Bauman
Director of Land & Facilities
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary