PROJECT WILD APPLE
Project Wild Apple is a habitat creation and enhancement project designed and implemented by the Wild Life Habitat Advocates.  Centered around, but not limited to, the rehabilitation of abandoned apple orchards.  This project is a total habitat enhancement, which provides valuable space for multiple-species wildlife populations.

Historically,  these old apple orchards are very important in reminding us of our pioneer/agricultural heritage and at the same time are some of the most valuable wildlife habitats.   Nearly all species of wildlife make use of these orchards, which provide food, nesting sites, cover and perch-sites.  Unfortunately, many of these old orchards are becoming lost.  Over-crowding from competing vegetation, land-clearing and forestry operations have all contributed to the continued and growing loss of these valuable habitats.

The Wildlife Habitat Advocates have designed Project Wild Apple to help return these old apple trees to a productive state for wildlife use.   The following is a list of steps in the PWA process:
  • Identify a potential orchard for enhancement
  • Verify that the proposed site is at least 2 kilometers from any commercial orchard
  • Contact the landowner(s) for explanation of the project and permission to begin
  • Cruise the orchard boundaries and flag for easy identification
  • Begin survey to identify:
  1. Important natural wildlife sites such as nests, roosts, dens and food sources
  2. Competing vegetation needing removal
  3. Ground-cover type or absence of
  4. Amount of canopy cover in percent
  5. Initial pruning required to apple trees and competing vegetation
  6. Sites for additional tree, shrub and ground-cover plantings
  7. Sites for installation of bird and squirrel nest-boxes (including Flying Squirrel)
  8. Sites for bird-perches
  9. Sites for creation of cover structures for birds, small mammals and reptiles
  10. Tracks and sign of wildlife use of the area.

All information is carefully recorded and important sites plotted with GPS and flagged with surveyors' tape.  Photographs and video are also taken of the entire site throughout the project.
AFTER THE SURVEY

After the survey is complete and all data recorded, volunteers begin the actual hands-on work of PWA.  The first task is to remove competing vegetation, which is causing a canopy closure.  By standing directly under an apple tree and looking upward, workers can determine if surrounding trees are blocking sunlight from reaching the apple tree and the ground below.  If the view of the sky is obscured by neighboring trees to the point where very little sunlight can penetrate, then a thinning operation must be undertaken.  Workers must be careful not to harm any important features that were recorded during the survey.   These include food producing trees (e.g. Chokecherry), nest sites, hollow trees, dens, etc.   After each tree is removed workers visually check the canopy to determine if additional thinning is required.  The intention is to allow sunlight to penetrate to the apple tree and the ground, not to create a clear-cut.
THE PRUNING

After the competing trees have been removed it's time to look at individual apple trees and determine the amount of pruning required.  Again, keeping in mind that the goal of Project Wild Apple is to enhance wild apple trees to the point of providing good crops of wildlife food.   The first objects of interest for pruning are the obviously dead limbs and branches.  These take up space that can be better used by the productive parts of the tree. All dead material is cut from the tree and placed in a pile near-by for later use. 
With the dead limbs and branches out of the way it will now be easier to identify other problem areas such as rub-limbs.  These are places where two or more limbs meet and rub together, causing damage to the bark of one or both.  Choose the limb that appears to be less vigorous or non-productive.  A fruit-producing limb will have projections or nodes called fruit spurs.  These spurs will bear fruit, and should not be removed.    Again, all removed limbs and branches are placed on the pile for use later on.
Next, workers will begin removal of the sucker limbs.  These are easily identified by their habit of growing almost vertically from a main limb.  These suckers compete with the fruit producing limbs for nourishment and are removed. 
MAKING COVER STRUCTURES

After pruning and thinning several trees in the orchard,  workers will begin constructing wildlife cover structures.   Using the discarded material saved in piles during the pruning and thinning process, volunteers build as many cover sites, as the pile will allow.  These structures are placed in areas near wildlife trails, along an edge where orchard and surrounding forest meet, close to water-sources or feeding areas of small mammals and birds.   While an effective cover structure can be made simply by piling the limbs and branches on the ground in a heap, it is best to take the time and start with the larger material.  By placing larger limbs first, in a rectangular shape, the smaller branches will be elevated off the ground.  This elevation provides a long-lasting space for cover, nesting, and rearing of young.  Another method is to begin the pile atop a large rock,  positioning the branches so as to create an empty space at ground level.  If the ground is very uneven, workers take advantage of the natural hollows and use large limbs to create a bridge between the mounds and then create the structure on top of that.  These cover structures will be quickly and readily made use of by small mammals like Snowshoe Hare, voles, mice and squirrels as well as reptiles, birds and amphibians.
NEST BOXES

In most "modern" forests there is usually a lack of nesting cover for birds, especially larger species like owls.  Constructing nest boxes and placing them in strategic places throughout the orchard and surrounding woods can remedy this.  Most birds have specific requirements for nesting habitat, which must be met, for the nest to be of use.   The Wildlife Habitat Advocates are fortunate to have a member who is considered an expert in birds and his knowledge is used to determine the locations for all nest boxes.  Groups undertaking this project without the expertise of an experienced bird person should consult with a local biologist before installing nest boxes.  This could save a fair bit of time and frustration.  Construction plans for various nest boxes can be obtained from a local Department of Natural Resources office and should be followed closely.  The Advocates' PWA site in Falmouth has nest boxes for; Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Saw Whet Owl and Flying Squirrel, with successful nesting in the Barred Owl box and the Flying Squirrel nest.   The installation of these boxes requires annual checks to remove un-wanted visitors like mice and to clean-out debris, which may hold parasites.
PERCH SITES

All birds like to perch and Project Wild Apple provides the perfect opportunity to create perch sites for birds of all species.   During the thinning process workers select trees which will be cut high off the ground, leaving a stump as high as the worker can comfortable and safely reach with the saw.   The result is a quick and easily attained wildlife structure that will last for several years.
Tree Planting

The initial site assessment and survey of an orchard usually reveals areas that could benefit from the planting of trees, shrubs and groundcover.  These sites, which had been flagged during the survey, are targeted for planting after the pruning and thinning process is complete.  Using the surrounding vegetative type as a guide, workers select trees, shrubs and ground plants that are known to grow or used to grow in the general area of the project orchard.  It may be best to avoid tall-growing trees and concentrate on lower, food-producing species.  The Advocates have had good success with:  Red Osier Dogwood, Rugosa Rose, European Larch, Jack Pine and White Pine.  For groundcover, a standard Triple-Mix containing lots of clover has been employed with excellent results.  The actual planting locations will depend on soil types present, water requirements of the various plants and available open cover.  Most wildlife will make use of some open or un-forested ground, so it's best not to convert an entire area to planting.   Spacing of the various trees and shrubs in relation to the apple orchard is important to prevent having to re-thin the area when the introduced plants begin thriving.   Small clumps of shrubs like Rugosa Rose and Dogwood can be planted in and around the orchard as well as around the perimeter, where the orchard meets the surrounding forest.  Larger trees, like the pines, should be planted only where no interference with the apple trees will occur.  The edge of the orchard and near stream-banks is given first consideration for the larger plants.  If the orchard is large or if there is a large clearing nearby, a wildlife corridor would be included in the planting scheme, to provide an escape route or covered entry to the orchard for wildlife.  Most wildlife species prefer some type of cover to be nearby a feeding area, such as an orchard, and will more readily use the site if concealment is offered.  These corridors are planned to extend from known travel routes of wildlife and across the orchard or clearing in an unbroken line.  By using a curving route, as opposed to a straight line, in creating the corridor, cover will be created and wildlife will have additional points of concealed entry to food habitats and escape routes from predators.
Planting of ground cover is usually a requirement in most old orchards once the canopy has been opened during the thinning process.   Quite often the ground in and around abandoned orchards will be bare, or nearly so, of any vegetation.  This results in erosion and leaching of nutrients away from the apple trees, making the trees less productive for wildlife.   Advocate volunteers rely on a commercial mix often used by the Department of Transportation during road building and maintenance.  A high concentration of clover in this triple-mix formula makes it a very good choice for wildlife planting as many species of animals enjoy the benefits of the plants.  The soil binding qualities are also important attributes to prevent further erosion and leaching.  The actual seeding is done with a hand-cranked broadcast seeder to ensure even distribution to all bare areas within the orchard.   Growing results will depend largely on the season and weather conditions, but usually within a few days plants will be seen emerging.
WOODCOCK FEEDING GROUNDS

One of the features often associated with old, abandoned apple orchards is the presence of adjacent Alder thickets. These are prime feeding habitats for the American Woodcock as one of the main foods of this bird can be found in and around Alder growths.  Very often, however, these thickets are too mature to be of value as food-producing habitats and should be cut to allow new growth of Alders.  The entire alder thicket can be removed in one cut, however the Advocates prefer to use a multi-stage removal so that some cover remains while the new plants are emerging and developing.  Old Alders are cut close to the ground in strips about three to four meters wide and the removed material is used to create ground cover structures as before.  New Alder growth will be realized within the first year of cutting, which will provide nutrients to the soil and attract earthworms, the preferred food of the Woodcock.  Once these new plants are well established workers can then return and cut the remaining old Alders.
DRUM LOGS

Another bird commonly associated with abandoned apple orchards is the Ruffed Grouse, which has apples as a preferred food source.   A woods traveler can often hear the male grouse drumming, which usually takes place on an old blow-down.   If there are no fallen trees or blow-downs in the orchard site, it is a very simple process to provide one.  Advocates simply locate a small clearing and either fall a tree in the desired location or carry or drag one.  The butt end is left laying on the ground and the other end raised on a rock, hummock or leaned against another tree.   This drum log will also be used by squirrels as a feeding station and will provide cover for smaller mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
PESTS CONTROL

Let nature do the work!  The use of pesticides in Project Wild Apple is not to be considered.   By providing an overall habitat enhancement, various species of insect eating wildlife will undoubtedly become regular visitors to the orchard.  It should also be remembered that the object of this project is not to create a commercial-type orchard with attractive fruit.   The goal is simply to enhance the health of the old apple trees to provide wildlife food and surrounding cover.  There is no risk of spreading disease to commercial orchards since this project is only undertaken in areas away from established market ventures.
MAINTENANCE

The maintenance portion of Project Wild Apple is relatively simple, requiring only an annual visit to check and clean-out nest boxes, pick-up any trash left behind by careless visitors and checking periodically for canopy closure around the apple trees.  The owner(s) of the property are always kept informed of the project and of any problems that might occur such as illegal dumping, poaching or damage to property, etc.
PROMOTION

The work of Project Wild Apple is not over until proper promotion has been undertaken.  It is very important to let others know about the project, where it was done, why it was done, who was involved and how simply it can be accomplished.   Contacts with all local media should are made prior to beginning the project and these people are kept up-to-date throughout the effort.   A final report and news release may coincide with a public field trip to view the project so that people will better understand how important it is to enhance, protect and maintain these very important habitats, before they are all lost.