What to plant after removing a cedar?

I would be interested in knowing how many quail you have now and how many in a year or two after your habitat changes. I personally would have a hard time taking out the thick areas scattered across the fields. Seems to me this is a good way to move around the field and still have escape cover nearby. As far as hawks are concerned the coopers is the biggest bird predator. They do not need big trees to perch from to hunt, they will use fence post or any old bush. A very stealthy hunter and if prey is around they will hunt them; big tree or not. Red tailed hawks and hawks of this type is often seen perching in trees. This type of hawk is not a great threat to quail because they are much slower and have a wide range of prey, where as cooper hawks are nearly 100 percent bird eaters. Biologist are like DR.s they don't always make the right diagnosis.:)
 
Cedars in tall grass prairie are not good. Use too much water, reduces the grass available and provide very little benefit. Cedars unchecked here will greatly reduce the value of a pasture in as little as 10 -15 years. Fire kills the small ones and a saw takes the big ones. There are a lot better trees and woody cover available here than cedars.

I will have some brush piles and plant some low woody cover in key spots.

This fall I had a couple of coveys that were moving on and off the property. We will see where we are next fall, and I would bet its a solid improvement.

Troy, got some fire breaks mowed. Need to get some manpower lined up and get some more equipment. Going to burn the field that the pollinator plot is going in pretty soon. But may wait a bit for the pasture burn to set the grass back a little more.
 
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If the date and time works, I would help you burn in exchange for a golf lesson.:D

I have safely and properly burned fields before, but I had expert help. They planned it, and lit it, and just told me where to go and what to do. If you're looking for help with my level of "expertise" :rolleyes: let me know when and I'll bring my pump sprayer and shovel if it works.
 
Steve, you're backwards on what you're thinking on the grass. Early burns set the grass back and give the forbs the competitive advantage. Late burns promote grass and set back the forbs, especially the annuals.
 
You should take plenty of before and after shots of your progress/case study.

May help some others.



I think others forget that cedars and many other trees are an invasive species on the prairie.
 
In respect to cedars, the cost of managing them over time dictates that they be dealt with when they are small. If I thought I would ever upgrade the fence, I'd take out the small ones in it now. It's so much cheaper and easier to do with loppers or a hand saw than with a track hoe or dozer. Further, the seed source is constantly replanting seedlings and if you can limit that, the future costs are mitigated. That water and fertility is much better used by other plant groups toward your bird production goals.
 
If I became governor of Kansas :eek:, my first order of business would be to eliminate every damn cedar tree in the state. It drives me nuts to see our beautiful prairie land becoming overgrown with one of the ugliest trees around. The more we quit burning the more these bastards are taking over.

Steve if you need help running chainsaw on those cedars give me a call. I would gladly give up a weekend or two to see them removed.
 
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