Purpose
The purpose of the Purple Martin and Bird Club is to encourage the Leisure World Community to establish and maintain active colonies of Purple Martins during their annual migration from South America. The Club aims to promote an understanding of the Purple Martin’s unique ecological relationship and their reliance on human support as they complete their breeding cycle from March to August at Leisure World.
Friday May 15 at 2:00 pm in the auditorium of Clubhouse 2. A suggested $5 donation will be collected at the door. This movie is cosponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning and the Purple Martin and Bird Club.
A last-minute email-writing campaign helped to convince the Rockville City Council to vote Monday November 17 to accept a $1.5 million grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to construct new pathways and meadow areas, add benches, picnic tables, and educational signs to the former golf course. This will provide spots to rest and learn about the surrounding environment. As part of the requirements of the grant, the City will only use Redgate as a park for recreation - for perpetuity. Read more about the grant and the email responses from councilmembers here.
Leave the Leaves for Fireflies and Luna Moths
Written by: Cheryl Bader and Janet Conley
Picture attributed to Gearld via Adobe Stock
Have you ever wondered why there are not very many fireflies anymore?
Where have the Chickadees gone and why?
My granddaughter loves fireflies, but she rarely sees any in her yard and we don’t see very many at Leisure World.
Firefly populations have declined over the years partially due to common landscaping and gardening procedures including here at Leisure World.
Firefly larvae live in leaf litter and help control pests by eating slugs and snails. Adult fireflies are effective pollinators and give us an amazing light show at night. Leaf removal through blowing, mulching, or bagging destroys larvae that live under leaves for 1-2 years.
Among the notable insects we have at Leisure World are luna moths which shelter under leaves instead of migrating, and are vital to the food web for birds and other animals. Both adults and caterpillars serve important ecological functions; their absence would negatively impact the environment. The beautiful luna moth would be missed.
Many helpful insects, including fireflies and luna moths, rely on leaves to overwinter. “I Didn’t Know That” National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt_leave-the-leaves.htm
A number of familiar bird species feed on insects, either exclusively or as a part of their diet. Chickadees, bluebirds, chimney swifts, robins, and purple martins all rely on insects for survival. Likewise, our flower and vegetable gardens depend on pollinators to thrive.
Chickadees are dependent on insects to feed their young
and will nest only where insects are abundant.
Leaves are left under groves of trees throughout Leisure World and the golf course. Can we expand this?
Doug Tallamy in “How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard” (Timber Press, Portland Oregon, pp. 301-302) provides four reasons to keep leaves on your property:
Leaves provide habitats for many creatures, especially moths.
They serve as a food source for around 70 moth species.
Fallen leaves return nutrients to trees from the previous season.
They help protect soil communities.
An initiative known as “Leave the Leaves” is gaining traction and highlights an important consideration for Mutual Landscaping Committees. It is increasingly essential to adopt this approach. For further information regarding the benefits and practices of leaving leaves in place, please refer to the Xerces Society article “Leave the Leaves” available at https://xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves.
Every Friday morning from 7-8 am (weather permitting) we guide a bird walk on the Golf Course Path or a local birdwatching location.
Every first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm we host a "Purple Martin Watch." (Spring and Summer)
Send us a message on our contact form below to learn more about the location. See photos from our bird walks below. (Photos by Santiago Montalvo)
For information about Purple Martins, see the Purple Martin Conservation Association
See some of our recent activities:
