Sleeping Seeds

Herbicide treatment in summer of 2024

Tucked beneath the fluffy snow there are seeds of native grasses and flowers waiting to germinate this spring. Thanks to a grant from the Wildflower Association of Michigan, seed donation from the Michigan DNR, and the hard work of our KBS grounds department, the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary was able to complete a long-term goal of creating a habitat demonstration near the Leslie E. Tassel Upland Gamebird exhibit. The demonstration will represent a habitat where pheasants and quails like the residents of the Tassel exhibit could be found. If you visited the Sanctuary in 2024, you may have noticed the patch of brown, dying plants on the hillside between the Paved Path and the upland gamebird enclosure. The plants demise was intentional. The ground was treated with herbicide to kill the non-native plants that were sprouting there, giving space for the new native plant seeds to succeed. In December 2024, that area was professionally planted using a no till native seed drill. 

No-till native seed drill planting the hillside

This demonstration area is mimicking an oak savanna. Oak savanna is categorized as a plant community that has scattered oak trees with a wide diversity of grasses and flowering plants in the open areas. These open areas were maintained by naturally occurring fire. Once common in Michigan, oak savanna habitats are now rare, because they were relatively easy for European settlers to clear, then establish settlements, farmland, and pastures. This demonstration area will be maintained by prescribed burns. 

Planting completed in December 2024

Native birds and other wildlife evolved with our native plant species. They are dependent upon native plants for healthy food, for homes for the insects they eat, and for shelter.  If you want to encourage more wildlife into your own backyard, plant native plants. We are excited to see what will happen in this space in the future and observe the variety of wildlife that will enjoy it. For now, we will let the seeds rest and dream of warmer days ahead. 

Learn more at:

https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/description/10691/oak-openings

Wildflower Association of Michigan