Last Saturday morning in November, we spent a few hours removing invasive tree saplings from the UNO Woodlot. This is the kick-off of a multi-phase project on UNO's campus to enhance bird and wildlife habitat by planting native shrubs and trees to further develop a urban birding trail on campus where over 130 species of birds have already been reported. That’s a lot! With funds granted by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we will be helping to select and plant at least 120 native trees and shrubs in the coming months.

Volunteers came out from NPI, Orleans Audubon, Master Naturalists, UNO faculty and students, former students and community neighbors. We removed lots of Camphor, Golden Rain Tree, Chinese Elm and Tallow saplings that were sprouting on the ground layer of this woodsy spot. We also collected many fallen branches and other forest litter and concentrated them into several brush piles (which birds love!) While we were there, we could hear and see several bird species cavorting about.

We documented the following plant species already on the site:

Slash Pine
Black Cherry
Cherry Laurel
Live Oak
Water Oak
other Oak? (not sure which species)
Southern Red Oak
Hickory?
Green Ash?
Sweet Gum
Bald Cypress on fringes
Elderberry
Mulberry
Magnolia, Yaupon and Ilex opaca seedlings
Virginia Creeper
Poison Ivy
Spiderwort
Bidens alba
Sida rhombifolia

Now, to decide what 50 native species of tree or woody shrub would best improve the area for birds and fit with the existing plants……What do YOU think we should plant?