#cavitynesting

[itskatra-blog]

Platanus occidentalis – American Sycamore

Plant community: N/A

Native region: Southeastern United States

Mature size: Height: 75 to 100 feet, Spread: 75 to 100 feet

Habitat: Floodplain (river or stream floodplains), shores of rivers or lakes, swamps

Hardiness Zone(s): 4-9

Leaf color: Summer: dark green, Fall: undistinguished yellow-brown

Bloom color: yellow (male) and red (female)

Benefit to Wildlife: Sycamore does not provide much food for wildlife, although the seeds are eaten by some birds including the purple finch, goldfinch, chickadees, and dark-eyed junco, and by muskrat, beaver, and squirrels. Sycamore is rated as medium in suitability for waterfowl habitat and low in suitability as deer or turkey food. In Arkansas, sycamore is of minor importance as deer browse.  As sycamores age, they may develop hollow trunks which provide shelter for a number of wildlife species; some large, old individuals have formed cavities large enough to be used as dens by black bear.  Cavity nesting birds include the barred owl, eastern screech-owl, great crested flycatcher, and chimney swift. Wood duck use sycamores as nest trees. In Indiana, riparian forests in which sycamore occurs are important habitat for the endangered Indiana bat, which uses these areas for nursery colonies.

Larval host: Specific larval host: White-marked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma) (1/6)

 Sources:

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/platanus/occidentalis/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a891

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/plaocc/all.html

[itskatra-blog]

Robinia pseudoacacia – Black Locust

Plant community: Old Field

Native region: Eastern and central United States

Mature size: Height: 30 to 50 feet, Spread: 20 to 35 feet

Habitat: Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), floodplain (river or stream floodplains), forest edges, meadows and fields

Hardiness Zone(s): 4-9

Leaf color: Summer: dark blue-green, Fall: uneventful yellow

Bloom color: white

Benefit to Wildlife: Provides cover for wildlife, browse for deer, and cavities for birds. Black locust was superior to other hardwoods in developing wildlife habitat on mine spoils. It quickly provided cover, and by 10 to 15 years native vegetation had established a dense undergrowth. Its seeds are rated low as wildlife food but are used to a limited extent by Northern bobwhite, other game birds, and squirrels. White-tailed deer browse the young growth, and a study in the southern Appalachians showed that 92 percent of the sprouts were browsed. Because older trees are usually infected with heart rot, woodpeckers often construct cavities in them. Nest cavities of the downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, and common flicker have been found.

Larval host: N/A

 Sources:

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/robinia/pseudoacacia/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c143

https://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/robinia/pseudoacacia.htm