ADD PRC Bird Migration Project
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: March 4, 2020
To: City Council
From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant
Re: Project Support Request: Bird Migration Project
Background:
Resident Olivia Nienaber presented her 4-H OWLS project to support migratory birds by planting
native trees and bushes that have winter-retaining fruit or bloom in early spring to the Scandia
Parks and Recreation Committee.
Issue:
The Parks and Recreation Committee supports Nienaber’s request to participate in this project by
donating up to $1,400 to plant three of the ten sites in this project. The selection of the exact trees
and bushes would be made by staff and SPRC members. Two sites would be located in the Scandia
Community Center area and one behind the Annex building, near the head of the Gateway Trail.
Proposal Details:
Nienaber requests that the City of Scandia identify four places to plant two native trees and three
native bushes in or near an Audubon High-Priority Global Important Bird Area along the St. Croix
River Valley. The city would be responsible to call Gopher State One to ensure the locations
selected are safe for digging in the chosen areas. Nienaber would assist the city in efforts to
promote the project and recruit volunteers to plant the trees and bushes. Nienaber suggests
Lilleskogen Park, Scandia Community Center, Hay Lake and behind the Annex building at the head
of the Gateway Trail. PRC members and staff discussed the needs of the plants and the logistics of
watering or tending to these sites with the proposed planting schedule and concluded that two
sites on the Community Center grounds and behind the Annex building that will be near the head of
the Gateway Trail are preferred. The city would assist in collecting supplies prior to the planting
event and providing the maintenance of the areas after the initial event concludes.
A second branch of the 4-H OWL project is an event on May 30, 2020. Nienaber has arranged for a
naturalist and master gardener to be at the Scandia Community Center to present and work with
community members who register for a bird house building project. Participants will build two bird
houses to take home along with native trees and bushes. Nienaber is requesting that the city
provide the space in the community center for this event and assist in promotion.
Fiscal Impact:
The City of Scandia would provide up to $1,4000 for support of Bird Migration Project.
Options:
1. Support the Bird Migration Project Proposal as requested and committing up to $1,400 to
plant three sites with trees and or bushes chosen by the SPRC.
2. Do not support the Bird Migration Project Proposal.
Recommendation:
Option 1
Summary of Olivia Nienaber’s 4-H OWLS Project and
Request to the City of Scandia/Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee
BACKGROUND
➢ Many types of birds are migrating back to Minnesota earlier than in the past.
➢ This is a challenge for birds because trees and bushes that provide food in the early-Spring as well as insects are not
available yet.
➢ Birds that winter in the Southern states and migrate to Minnesota in the early-Spring are the most vulnerable.
PROJECT SCOPE
➢ Plant clusters of two trees and three bushes that are native to the area and have winter-retaining fruit or bloom in
early-Spring in 10 locations throughout three communities in or near an Audubon High-Priority Global Important
Bird Area (IBA) along the St. Croix River Valley.
❖ The native trees and bushes will provide early-migrating birds with a diversity of food to eat and ensure they
have a higher chance of survival in the unpredictable early-Spring weather.
➢ Offer a session on May 30th at the Scandia Community Center in which up to 25 youth and adults will build two types
of bird feeders that they can take home and put in their yards. The participants at the bird feeder building event also
receive a native tree and bush (or two bushes if they do not have enough space in their yard).
❖ $75 per youth, adult, or youth/adult team. (Youth can be accompanied by an adult and work on the bird feeders
together. The goal is to have 25 unique locations in northern Washington County.)
❖ A naturalist from William O'Brien and/or a Minnesota Naturalist will speak about birds.
❖ A Washington County Master Gardener and/or a Chisago County Master Gardener will be on hand at the event
to answer questions about how to care for the tree and/or bush.
ROLE THE CITY OF SCANDIA, SCANDIA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, AND THE FRIENDS OF SCANDIA PARKS
AND TRAILS CAN PLAY IN THE PROJECT
I would like to see the City of Scandia, the Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee, and Friends of Scandia Parks and
Trails identify 4 places in the community where two native trees and three native bushes could be planted at each
location. Suggested locations include: Lilleskogen Park, Scandia Community Center, Lions Park/Hay Lake, and behind the
Annex at the head of the Gateway Trail. The trees would be 6’-8’ tall and the bushes would be either 1- or 2-gallons in size.
The City of Scandia would call Gopher State One to ensure the area where digging would occur is safe.
I would encourage the City of Scandia, the Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee, and Friends of Scandia Parks and
Trails to promote this project and recruit volunteers to plant the trees and bushes. At each planting, which should take
under one hour, there would be snacks and refreshments for the volunteers.
I am hoping that the City of Scandia and/or Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee would provide a $1,696
donation to fully fund the planting of trees and bushes at four locations in the community.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
➢ Transport the wood for birdfeeders from Menards in Forest Lake to the homes of people who will be making the
birdfeeder kits.
➢ Cut wood into pieces and pre-drill holes for 50 birdfeeder kits. This would be done at the volunteers’ homes. They
would need to have their own tools.
➢ Pick up and transport trees, bushes, compost, and mulch to various sites where the 15 plantings will take place as
well as to the birdfeeder-building event.
➢ Put birdseed and dried mealworms in Ziploc bags for event participants.
➢ Participate in the event; and install a tree, bush, and two birdfeeders at your home.
➢ Volunteer at the event to help participants (as needed) assemble the birdfeeders.
NATIVE PLANTS FOR EARLY-MIGRATING BIRDS
Suggestions:
- Aim for diversity of plants to protect against drastic changes caused by plant disease and
insect pests. It also attracts a higher diversity of wildlife for the public to see and enjoy.
- Provide the four basic needs of wildlife through all four seasons of the year if year-long
wildlife activity on the property is desired. One example is:
o Eastern Red Cedar – Winter cover and Summer nesting sites; plus fruit from
Summer through Spring (July through March)
o American Elderberry – Summer fruits
o Red-Osier Dogwood and Showy Mountain Ash – Fall fruits
o Red Splendor Crabapple and American Highbush Cranberry – Fruits in Winter and
Spring
TREES WITH WINTER-PERSISTENT FRUIT
- Red Splendor Crab apple (Malus “red splendor”) – Needs full sun. Grows 18’ high x 18’
wide. Promotes tree-dwelling insect habitation. The Spring blossoms attract small insects that
warblers like. There are 31 wildlife species that use the tree for food or shelter including:
American robins, cardinals, finches, gray catbirds, grosbeaks, hummingbirds, jays, orioles,
tanagers, thrushes, vireos, warblers, and waxwings.
- Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – Does well in full sun. Fruit is on the tree from
July through March. Pyramidal or columnar tree from 20’ high x 10’-20’ wide. Attracts:
Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles,
Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and
Wrens. Promotes tree-dwelling insect habitation. This tree also provides year-round shelter
from rain, snow, ice, and wind; and good protection against predators. It is a nectar and host
plant for butterflies, has showy flowers, provides nesting, and is a roosting plant.
- Showy Mountain Ash (Sorbus Decora) – Needs full sun and a moist, well-drained site.
Grows 30’-65’. Fruit is on the tree from August through Spring. It is a winter food source for
grosbeaks, cedar waxwing, Eastern bluebird, gray catbird, orioles, brown thrashers, and
American robin. It provides nectar for butterflies and is a host plant for butterflies; has showy
flowers and Fall color; is a nesting-, shelter-, and roosting plant. This tree is not related to an
ash (the Showy Mountain Ash is a member of the rose family).
SHRUBS WITH WINTER-PERSISTENT FRUIT
- American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) – Needs full sun or part shade.
Grows 12’ high x 12’ wide. There is fruit on the plant from September through February, so
it is a Winter food source. It provides nectar for butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color,
and is a shelter plant. 34 wildlife species use this plant.
EARLY-FLOWERING TREES FOR NECTAR (APRIL OR EARLY-MAY) AND FRUIT
- Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier Laevis) – Needs sun to part-shade. The fruit is on
the plant from June-July. Grows 30’ high x 18’-24’ wide. Promotes tree-dwelling insect
habitation. Attracts 58 wildlife species including: Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern
Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers,
Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens. It is a nectar and
host plant for butterflies. It has showy flowers and Fall color.
- American Wild Plum (Prunus Americana) – Needs full sun. Fruit is on the tree from
August-September. Attracts 16 wildlife species including: Cardinals, Chickadees, Grosbeaks,
Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings,
Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens. It is a nectar and host plant for butterflies, has
showy flowers, and Fall color.
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) – Needs full sun to partial shade. Grows to about 60’ high
x 15’ wide. Fruit is on the tree from August-September. Attracts 81 wildlife species
including: Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds,
Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers,
Woodpeckers, and Wrens.
EARLY-FLOWERING TREES FOR NECTAR (APRIL OR EARLY-MAY)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum) – Needs full sun to partial shade. Grows to about 45’ high x 40’-
60’ wide. It promotes tree-dwelling insect habitation. Attracts: Cardinals, Chickadees,
Crows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers,
Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens. It provides nectar
for butterflies. Has beautiful Fall color.
EARLY-FLOWERING SHRUBS FOR NECTAR (APRIL OR EARLY-MAY) +
SUMMER AND FALL FRUIT FOR BIRDS
- Dogwood – This plant will grow into thickets, offering excellent cover and ground foraging,
besides the berries. Brown thrashers, catbirds, bluebirds, and thrushes all like its fruits. Bell’s
vireo and summer tanager nest in dogwoods.
- Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) – Needs full sun or partial shade. Fruit from August-
September, making it a good Fall food source. Grows to 9’ high x 9’ wide. Attracts 42
wildlife species including: American Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern
Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers,
Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wrens, and Yellow-
Rumped Warblers. Provides nectar for butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color, and
is a nesting- and shelter plant.
- Round-leaved (Cornus rugosa) – Needs partial shade. Grows 9’ high. Attracts Eastern
Bluebirds and Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
- Dogwood, continued
- Red-osier/Red-twigged (Cornus sericea) – Needs full sun to partial shade. Grows 8’
high x 10’ wide. Good Fall food source, with fruit in September. Attracts 47 wildlife
species including: Eastern Bluebirds, Thrushes, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, and
Waxwings. Prune every 2-3 years because the reddest color is on the younger twigs.
Provides nectar for butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color, and is a nesting- and
shelter plant.
- Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) – Needs wet areas to thrive and full sun. Grows to
8’-10’. Fruit in September. Attracts Eastern Bluebirds, Finches, Orioles, Wrens, and
Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
- Elder/Elderberry – At least 120 species of birds feed on elderberries including American
robins, catbirds, Eastern bluebird, doves, finches, flickers, grosbeaks, jays, mockingbirds,
nuthatches, thrashers, towhees, warblers, waxwings, white-crowned sparrows.
o American Elder (Sambucus canadensis) – Needs full sun. Grows 12’ high x 9’
wide. Summer and early-Fall fruit source, with fruit on the shrub during August-
September. Promotes tree-dwelling insect habitation. 79 wildlife species use the
plant. Provides nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds, is a host plant for
butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color, and is a nesting- and shelter plant.
o Red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa). Grows 12’ high x 12’ wide. Attracts
79 wildlife species including: Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Grosbeaks,
Hummingbirds, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers,
Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens.
- Glossy Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) – Needs full to partial sun. Grows 10’
high x 6’ wide. Provides cover. Winter food source that attracts: Crows, Jays, Mockingbirds,
Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, and
Woodpeckers.
- Hawthorns (Crataegus sp.) – Needs full sun. Can grow to 20’-30’ high x 14’-30’ wide.
Promote tree-dwelling insect habitation. The thorny branches provide nesting sites for
smaller birds (e.g., hummingbirds, cardinals, buntings, and wood thrushes). Provides nectar
and is a host plant for butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color, and is a nesting- and
shelter plant. Attracts 29 species of birds that eat the fruit including: American robin, blue
jay, cedar waxwing, evening grosbeak, flicker, northern mockingbird, purple finch, and rose-
breasted grosbeak.
- Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) – Needs full sun to partial shade. Grows to 9’ high x 9’ wide.
Fall food source, with fruit on the shrub during August-September. Fruit can persist well into
winter. Attracts 48 wildlife species including: American Robins, Cardinals,, Chickadees,
Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows,
Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens. Provides
nectar and is a host plant for butterflies, has showy flowers, and is a nesting-, roosting-, and
shelter plant.
NATIVE GRASSES AND WILDFLOWERS TO ATTRACT INSECTS
Native grasses and wildflowers are important for food, nesting, bedding, roosting, and/or escape
or cover for many wildlife species (birds and mammals). Planting some of these native grasses
and wildflowers is recommended if desirable ones are not present.
Having native grasses and wildflowers is especially important to attract insects for Eastern
Bluebirds.
Perennial Grasses
- Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) – Used mainly for cover, resilient to drought, 8’,
needs full sun.
- Indiangrass (Sorgastrum nutans) – Used mainly for cover, resilient to drought, 6’, needs
full sun and well-drained soil.
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Used mainly for cover, resilient to drought,
3’, needs full sun.
- Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) – Used mainly for cover, resilient to drought,
2’, needs full sun and well-drained soil.
- Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) – Used mainly for cover, 5’, needs full sun.
Native Wildflowers - Perennials
- Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – 2’-3’. Liked by finches, chickadees, northern
cardinal, sparrows, nuthatches, towhees, and titmice. Nectar and habitat for butterflies.
- Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Liked by: Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows,
Finches, Grosbeaks, Hummingbirds, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows,
Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens.
- Cat-Tail Gayfeather (Liatris pycnostachya) – Liked by: Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds,
Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Vireos, Waxwings, and Wood Warblers.
- Coreopsis, Tickseed/Tall (Coreopsis tripteris) – Needs full sun. Grows 2’-8’ tall x 2’-8’
wide, and grows in clumps. Attracts a variety of animals. Birds like to hide in this plant and
eat the seeds. It also attracts bees and butterflies when in bloom.
- Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) – Needs full sun to partial shade. Grows 2’-4’
and has pinkish-purple flowers in July through September. A wide variety of birds eat the
seeds. Use this plant in a naturalized area in the landscape due to its semi-aggressive nature.
This native plant has a deep taproot that is drought tolerant once established.
Native Wildflowers - Annuals
- Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – Seeds are liked by: Cardinals, Chickadees,
Crows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers,
Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens