{"id":2274,"date":"2024-07-19T18:54:17","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T18:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=2274"},"modified":"2024-07-19T19:18:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T19:18:39","slug":"a-wildlife-haven-with-a-rich-past-and-bright-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=2274","title":{"rendered":"A Wildlife Haven with a Rich Past and Bright Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Barb Elliot, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If you have worked to create a nature-friendly garden habitat, you may dread the day when you may have to sell your property to a new owner who doesn\u2019t appreciate your property\u2019s habitat value.\u00a0 They could remove the native plants, clear cut native trees and turn the property into a landscape of turf grass.\u00a0 This is the story of a wonderful private property with a change in ownership and a happy ending \u2013 for the habitat, wildlife, and people who will enjoy it for years to come.<\/p>\n

In 1990, Tony and Sharon Fernandes purchased their dream property in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The beautiful 2.3-acre property consisted of two adjoining, mostly wooded parcels containing the headwaters of the northeast branch of Ridley Creek.\u00a0 The circa 1906-1912 home on the site was built using rock extracted from a quarry on the property.\u00a0 A large turf grass area where their two young sons could play sports was close to the house.\u00a0 A neighbor\u2019s pond was nearby.\u00a0 As an<\/p>\n

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Eastern Bluebird on the property. Photo \u00a9 Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

avid birder, Tony knew that their new property would be attractive to a multitude of bird species and other wildlife.\u00a0 Also, he and Sharon understood that living in this natural area would give their family enjoyment and enhanced well-being.<\/p>\n

For ten or fifteen years, the Fernandes family enjoyed the property as it was and did little to enhance the habitat.\u00a0 However, with many non-native trees and plants and considerable lawn, they were interested in improving the site\u2019s natural habitat. Between 2005 and 2010, they inventoried trees and other plants in their woods, identified native and non-native species, and researched how to deal with invasive non-natives. They began a 10-year program of girdling a number of Norway maples, eradicating bamboo, controlling garlic mustard, and removing English ivy and poison ivy vines that were smothering some of their native trees.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Tony requested a Backyards for Nature<\/em> site visit to get suggestions for adding native plants to improve the habitat for songbirds and butterflies, to create a meadow, and to better manage invasive plants.\u00a0 My colleague, Edie Parnum, toured the property, made a number of recommendations, and provided a list of suggested native plants.\u00a0 Two years later, Tony and Sharon hired GreenWeaver Landscapes (https:\/\/green-weaver.com\/<\/a>) to develop a landscape plan.\u00a0 The multi-year plan included installation of<\/p>\n

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Turf grass killed before meadow installation, April. Photo \u00a9 Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Meadow in Peak Bloom, late August. Photo \u00a9 Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

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a front garden, creation of a meadow with native wildflowers and grasses, installation of a rain garden to collect runoff from downspouts and a perimeter drain around the house, and installation of gardens in the side and back yards.\u00a0 In addition to these projects, GreenWeaver planted six native trees along the stream to increase shading of the stream and flood plain.<\/p>\n

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Rain Garden in Peak Bloom, late August. Photo \u00a9 Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Fernandes family soon noticed increased wildlife visiting their property. \u00a0Over 30 years, Tony recorded a phenomenal 138 bird species, including Barred Owl, American Bittern, Great Egret, nesting Red-shouldered Hawks, and 27 warbler species including Hooded, Cerulean, and Mourning Warblers!\u00a0 Many butterflies, other pollinators and insects visit the meadow, including Monarch butterflies and Monarch caterpillars using the Common and Swamp milkweed host plants.\u00a0 Mammals observed by the Fernandes family include Red Fox, American Mink, Muskrat, Red Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, White-footed Mouse, Wood Rat, and White-tailed Deer.\u00a0 Amphibians and reptiles include Leopard Frog, Eastern American Toad, Spring Peeper, Bullfrog, Northern Red-backed Salamander, Eastern Newt, Garter Snake, Northern Water Snake, and Snapping Turtle.<\/p>\n

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Red-shouldered Hawk that nested on the property. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hooded Warbler on the property. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

During their 33 years there, the Fernandes family thoroughly enjoyed the property and its various wildlife visitors and inhabitants.\u00a0 When their boys were young, the family often walked in the woods, looking for frogs, salamanders, and other interesting creatures.\u00a0 They caught fish, snails, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, and aquatic insects from the creek and put them in an aquarium for the boys to observe and study before releasing them back into the creek.\u00a0 They took samples of the creek water, inspected its microorganisms under a microscope, and used a field guide to try to identify them. As a result of their exposure to nature, the Fernandes boys grew up with a great appreciation of the natural world.<\/p>\n

In addition to their sons, Tony and Sharon also benefitted from being immersed in nature.\u00a0 Sharon loved walking their dog on the trails they had made in the property\u2019s wooded areas.\u00a0 Tony walked in the woods with his<\/p>\n

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Tony exploring stream life with one of his grandchildren. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

binoculars two or three times every week – anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. He attests to how this helped him clear his mind and leave worries behind.\u00a0 He found solace, was able to re-center himself and relax in his woods even during times of great stress. He says he has never found a better way to relax.<\/p>\n

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A grandchild exploring the meadow. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Despite their great love for the property and the memories it holds, the Fernandeses decided to sell and move to South Carolina.\u00a0 In a stroke of good fortune, in the fall of 2023 Willistown Township learned of their desire to sell.\u00a0 The Willistown Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission had been interested in purchasing land in this part of the township for some time.\u00a0 The Township had a number of parks and preserves in other areas, but none in this section.\u00a0 The Supervisors were also interested in the property because of the bird and animal habitat provided by native plants, the documentation of bird and plant species on the property, and the fact that it is next to a larger property that the township hopes to protect in the future.<\/p>\n

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Monarch butterfly on Swamp Milkweed in the meadow. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

By law, the Township couldn\u2019t offer any more than the appraised value of the property.\u00a0 Even though they would likely get a higher price on the open market, knowing that their legacy for the property would be appreciated and carried on by the Township, the Fernandeses accepted Willistown\u2019s offer, and the Township acquired the property in late March, 2024.<\/p>\n

Willistown Township will maintain the property as a bird sanctuary and wildlife habitat, and will make modifications to transform it into a Township park open to the public*.\u00a0 Once that happens, many more people will be able to enjoy, learn from, relax, and immerse themselves in the nature that brought so much joy and fulfillment to its previous owners and stewards. It is a \u201cwin\u201d for the Fernandeses, the people of Willistown Township, the habitat, and the wildlife that visits and calls it home.<\/p>\n

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Doe with fawn in the meadow. Photo \u00a9Tony Fernandes. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

*For additional information on Willistown Township plans for the property, see the township\u2019s Summer 2024 newsletter, the WillisTowne Crier <\/em>at chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/www.willistown.pa.us\/ArchiveCenter\/ViewFile\/Item\/2903 as well as future newsletters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Barb Elliot, Ph.D. If you have worked to create a nature-friendly garden habitat, you may dread the day when you may have to sell your property to a new owner who doesn\u2019t appreciate your property\u2019s habitat value.\u00a0 They could … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2274"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2294,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2274\/revisions\/2294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}