Wilderness Realty

My first post under this category was a short history and description of my property.  For this post, I will describe some simple techniques that I employed to enhance the indigenous wildlife populations.

 The first winter after purchasing the 49 acres, I obtained two wood duck nest boxes and put them up overlooking the beaver bog on the east rectangle.  The boxes were used occasionally by the targeted species, wood duck and hooded merganser.  For several years one box was used by mice.  During another check, I surprised a little brown bat.

 Around my home, I cleared approximately 1.5 acres.  This provided a small field and “edge” with the surrounding forest which attracted several bird species to nest; including robins and chipping sparrows.  I left approximately 12 mature oaks which have produced acorns every year.  The fallen nuts have attracted deer, turkey, porcupine, ruffed grouse, gray and red squirrel.  At dusk I have observed flying squirrels harvesting acorns from the tree crowns.  I have also put out bird houses which have been used by tree swallows and chickadees.

 During the first timber harvest (more on this in a future post), I had the cutting crew leave a huge white pine tree.  This lone sentinel was used over the years as a roosting tree for bald eagles and ospreys.  One year it was used as a nest site by goshawks.  Unfortunately its dominance in a sea of young trees attracted a lightning bolt during a particular nasty September thunderstorm.  About 20 feet up it was shattered into numerous slivers and slabs, some of which I found nearly 100 feet from its base.

 At some point in time, I would like to put in 1 or 2 food plots and construct a pond.  Both of these endeavors will be costly; especially when compared to the rather simple (and inexpensive) techniques that I previously described.  My point is there is a multitude of improvements, running from the simple to the grandiose, that landowners can make to their property to attract wildlife.

 Not a landowner yet?  Check out our inventory on our website www.wildernessrealty.com   Feel free to drop me a line if something catches your interest.

First and foremost let me give you a brief history regarding my property.  It is 78 acres in size, bisected by a State highway (with very light traffic) and there is nearly 1100 feet on the Penobscot River.  I purchased it over time in 3 parcels.  The first 49 acres was purchased in 1988 for $13,750.  It is rectangular in shape and is split by a State road.  To the north and east, another 27 acres was bought in 1997 for $8000.  This piece wraps around the east rectangle to form an L shape and gave me the river frontage.  The final parcel of two acres was purchased in 2004 for $5000.  My total cost for the property is $26,750 or approximately $343/acre. 

 I built my home about 450’ in from the road on the west rectangle in 1989-90 near the south line.  The 2 acres purchased in 2004 serves as an additional 200’ buffer between my neighbor to the south and my home.

 The property is mostly wooded except where I cleared about 1.5 acres for my home, lawn and garden.  I planted about 150 fir trees in the open area and keep them trimmed for Christmas trees.  On the east rectangle there is about 3-4 acres of open swamp land and another approximately 1 acre open swath where a pipeline runs parallel to and about 100’ from the State road.

 In the future I will discuss various activities that I enjoy on my land.  The above description should, hopefully, allow the reader to visualize where the particular pursuit is occurring.