'WG's Pile Appreciation Program' (PAP).

[bubbleoffplumb]

As the harbinger of habitat I hereby commence ....

WG's Pile Appreciation Program' (PAP)

this is a 90 day contest.
a little incentive: rumor has it NWF goodies (National Wildlife Federation's 'The Best of Backyard Habitat' Volume 1 DVD personally signed by David Mizejewski.) shall be thrust upon the winner.

some pile info:

Brush Piles

Brush piles are mounds of woody vegetation that can be artificially created for the benefit of wildlife . The primary function of brush piles is to provide shelter from the weather and from predators. The lower portions of a brush pile provide cool, shaded conditions. These areas can be used as resting sites for amphibians and reptiles and as escape cover for many mammals. The upper layers can be used as perch sites and nest sites by songbirds. In managed stands with no understory trees or shrubs, these piles may be the only place for songbirds to build nests.

Brush piles provide shelter, shade, perch sites, and food resources.

Brush piles also supply food resources for wildlife. As the material in brush piles decays, insects are attracted. Insect-eating animals will soon follow. As the abundance of smaller animals seeking insects or shelter in a pile increases, predators that feed on these smaller prey will be attracted. Thus, owls, hawks, foxes, and coyotes may ultimately visit brush piles.

WEC238/UW277: Dead Wood: Key to Enhancing Wildlife Diversity in Forests

some chipmunks skittered and chirped while I approached one pile,
and a few mourning doves did their groovy wing music thing when I approached another.

here's some for starters:

my wood pile/grape vine "shrub" - the largest of my personal piles.
in early march and early june:

now, it's up to you folks - let the games begin.

go forth and show us your piles, people!

[Fearless Weeder]

go forth and show us your piles, people!

Spoken like a true leader oh great and powerful Harbinger of Habitat.

Green Man did announce the winner of your contest would receive National Wildlife Federation's 'The Best of Backyard Habitat' Volume 1 DVD personally signed by David Mizejewski. National Wildlife Federation has been very supportive of our activities by contributing prizes to be used at our discretion. We hope those in a position to do so will support their activities.

[bubbleoffplumb]

thank you fearless weeder - I saw the DVD mentioned on the snag thread, but missed the plural there .
I've edited the above post.

I didn't read thru them all, but noticed a couple of threads already started on this subject:

Log Piles and Rock Piles

Habitat Brush Piles

More on brush piles .

great information and some killer pics of piles there.
hope the folks will find it in their hearts to post those here, too.
wouldn't want them to miss out on the aforementioned DVD

[TheLorax]

An update of my very most favorite pile special for you.

[havalotta]

Kinda looks like a beaver hut.

[JennyC]

Does a fallen down barn covered with vines count? Even if the vines are Jap. honeysuckle? :eek:

How about a well house, obscured by Virginia Creeper?

[bubbleoffplumb]

now thats a pile!
way to go lorax

and thank you
this is for you:
loraxCERTIF.pdf

is that PI makin' it all green and stuff?
bet you don't mind if the deer nibble on that a bit, eh?
(noticed the protected babies in the background)

havalotta
I know you gotta have a couple of pile pics in your bag of tricks -
bring 'em on!

JennyC
the fallen down barn - hmmm.
if the wood is rotting and supporting wildlife I may have to consider it.
the vines are bit disturbing, tho.
I would have to see some photos before I make my final decision

the house on the other hand doesn't have the characteristics that I'm looking for in a pile. sorry.
It does have the V creeper goin' for it - I'll give it that.

[JennyC]

I like the intentional piles. We do have snags and downed tree trunks, but I can't take any credit for them. That's purely Nature's work. Now the derelict structures? Those at least are the genuine artificial article!

Originally Posted by bubbleoffplumb

JennyC
the fallen down barn - hmmm.
if the wood is rotting and supporting wildlife I may have to consider it.
the vines are bit disturbing, tho.
I would have to see some photos before I make my final decision -

I'm sure the wood is rotting. I know there are rabbits in there, but then there are rabbits everywhere atm.

Originally Posted by bubbleoffplumb

the house on the other hand doesn't have the characteristics that I'm looking for in a pile. sorry.
It does have the V creeper goin' for it - I'll give it that.

Oh, and did I mention the creeper is joined by some lovely native poison ivy? It's not habitat for much, though, since the well house is inside the dogs' fenced yard. Those dogs even chase bugs...

[havalotta]

Sorry no piles to pick from. I'm in the city and they don't allow it in our subdivision. They are really picky here! Maybe in my jaunts through the woods but those are from mother nature. Do those count? It sounds like it needs to be something I have created for the wildlife correct?

[bubbleoffplumb]

naturally occurring piles, or piles that someone other than yourself may have been responsible for decidedly do count!

quote from above:
"can be artificially created"

JennyC you can take credit for leaving them be to do their thing -
rather than tidying up to make nicey-nicey .

an area with a pile (natural or assisted by humans) provides more
shelter, shade, perch sites, and food resources than if that pile wasn't there.
ask the wildlife - they'll tell you they count

your task, should you choose to accept it:
if you don't have a natural pile - make one.
if you can't make one where you live - document one.

natural piles count!
... it has been so deemed