Exploring YOUR Natural Neighborhood
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Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Natural Neighborhood Series Entrenchment Creek What is the Atlanta BeltLine and Arboretum? The Atlanta BeltLine is being implemented to connect 45 Atlanta neighborhoods and 40 city parks with transit, trails, greenspace, and new development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle the city’s urban core. The BeltLine is attracting and organizing some of the region’s future growth around transit, trails, and parks, helping to change the pattern of regional sprawl and leading to a vibrant and livable Atlanta with an enhanced quality of life. The Exploring YOUR Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is an outdoor, living tree museum following the path of the BeltLine around Atlanta’s city center. The BeltLine Arboretum will include planting and care of fourteen unique tree collections; provide educational programming to all neighborhoods Natural Neighborhood and constituents; and serve as a corridor of scientific research and education. The first section of BeltLine Arboretum is open in Atlanta’s West End; the balance will be built over the next twenty years. The BeltLine Arboretum will be a success when everyone in Atlanta can identify their neighborhood by the trees that surround them, and therefore understand the value of trees in an urban environment. What is Unique About Entrenchment Creek www.beltline.org the Entrenchment Creek Symbolic Bird Atlanta Audubon Society Trees Atlanta Natural Neighborhood ? American Robin Atlanta Audubon Society is the region’s Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group dedicated The Entrenchment Creek natural neighborhood The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, has been lovingly primary education and conservation group dubbed “America’s favorite songbird,” and is thought of to protecting and improving is defined by the two upstream headwaters dedicated to birds. Educational programs, as the harbinger of Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, of Entrenchment Creek, which eventually conservation initiatives and community springtime in some outreach are at the heart of the organization. conserving and educating. Trees in urban areas provide a number of flows southeast to the Atlantic coastal plain. areas. In our area, we Atlanta Audubon provides the community economic, health and social benefits and are essential for clean air, Neighborhoods in this area include Grant Park, have the joy of these with important educational opportunities storm water management, erosion control, noise absorption, bird Ormewood Park and Boulevard Heights. Trees in spirited birds year- including field trips, workshops, the exclusive and wildlife habitat, and more. Since 1985, Trees Atlanta has planted this neighborhood are typical of coastal plain plant round. Master Birder Program, birding camps for young people and and distributed 75,000 trees. Trees Atlanta programs include communities found in South Georgia, including The American Robin is scholarship programs. Individuals and communities are engaged in NeighborWoods, volunteer-based planting and care of trees 6-10 evergreens, coastal swamp trees and coastal oaks. a good reference bird unique ways to directly impact the conservation of birds. Atlanta feet tall; Large Trees, planting and care of trees 10-15 feet tall; Forest for learning the sizes Audubon’s conservation work focuses on “Creating, Promoting Restoration, a program that teaches citizens about the problems This special natural neighborhood not only provides of other bird species. It is the largest of the and Preserving Bird-Friendly Habitat,” and includes overseeing the of invasive species and how to evaluate, manage and improve trails and an important tree canopy (see “What are thrush species, with Georgia Important Bird Areas program, monitoring eastern hemlock community green spaces; Neighborhood Arboreta, a program that the Benefits of the Trees in My Neighborhood?” American Robin by Dan Vickers places identifying markers next to neighborhood trees along with long legs and a long tail. trees to combat the hemlock woolly adelgid in the North Georgia inside), but it gives birds and wildlife suitable green The male is gray-brown with an orange breast, a white a self-guided walking tour map of the area; and Education, offering Mountains, managing the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Certification space to thrive and flourish. Spring and fall migrant throat, and blackish head and tail. Its song is repetitive program, and serving as the steward for a 183-acre wildlife programming year round to teach citizens about the importance of species of birds will rest and refuel here before and musical. sanctuary. Protecting the birds that we love is the most important trees. Trees Atlanta does not just plant trees…we plant communities. traveling on. Birds and other wildlife that make this During the winter months, robins roost in large groups. www.treesatlanta.org thing we do. www.atlantaaudubon.org area their home year-round will also benefit from the These flocks can have from tens to thousands of individuals. Entrenchment Creek natural neighborhood. You will In the spring, they make nests of roots and twigs, bound by Answers: Wildlife in Your Neighborhood About the Photos find many common birds here including Mourning mud. A female will lay three to five sky blue eggs several 1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (often raids the nests of many types Cover: times during the breeding season. The young resemble of birds) Luna Moth, Monarch Caterpillar, Monarch Butterfly and Doves, Red-tailed Hawks, Carolina Chickadees, and the adults, but like other thrushes, they have a spotted gray 2. Virginia Opossum (nocturnal and North America’s only Blue Grosbeak by Dan Vickers; Bald Cypress by Steve Sanchez Blue Jays. Other wildlife might include deer, foxes, breast instead of the characteristic uniform orange. marsupial—mammals of which the females have a pouch) Inside Left Panel: beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, opossums, Robins eat both berries and insects—including the worms 3. Green Tree Frog (females can lay up to 400 eggs in shallow Bald Cypress and Sweetbay Magnolia by Steve Sanchez; along with various types of reptiles and amphibians. they are often seen pulling out of the ground. While they Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and Raccoon by Dan Vickers; water) Hummingbirds leave Georgia in the winter to travel are common park, garden, and lawn birds; robins can also Green Tree Frog by Darlene Moore 4. Eastern Chipmunk (its diet consists of grains, nuts, birds’ eggs, to Central America for warmer weather. Take a walk be found in forests and on the Alaska tundra during warmer small frogs, fungi, worms and insects) Design by Laura Woods at different times of the year finding wildlife that months. Due to the amount of time the American Robin 5. Raccoon (walking on all four feet with an arch in its back spends on the ground, it has a higher risk of exposure to and non-retractable claws, it uses the whole sole of the foot migrates to warm areas or returns to their summer pesticides and other lawn products. This makes them “heel to toe” as it walks, like humans) retreat, sharing your natural neighborhood. This publication is made possible not only messengers of springtime, but also indicators of The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Natural Neighborhood Series was written and through the generous support of: environmental pollution. produced by Atlanta Audubon Society, 2009. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Entrenchment Creek What are the Benefits of the The Importance of Green Space: What Do the Birds and Wildlife in Symbolic Trees Trees in My Neighborhood? What Can YOU Do Your Neighborhood Need to Thrive? to Make a Difference? Bald Cypress Trees perform environmental, social, and Food Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, economic services that directly benefit Birds and wildlife need suitable green space to Feeders and plantings that offer seeds, flowers, grows up to 70 feet tall. Its bark people and wildlife living in urban areas. thrive and flourish. In the last 20 years, much and berries for wildlife is reddish-brown and fibrous, its They include: branches are distinctly horizontal, of metro-Atlanta’s natural tree cover (important • Feeders placed near your home will give you many hours of enjoyment. Feeders also provide and its foliage is spirally arranged habitat for bird and wildlife species) has been • Improving air quality relief to birds during winter weather. Food can along the stems. This tree does well replaced with concrete and asphalt. Habitat also come from trees and plants that produce in marshy wetlands and in urban • Removing chemical pollutants in the ground, loss and sprawl have devastated what was once fruit and seeds. settings. water and air Atlanta’s rich heritage of urban green spaces and • Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in is the biggest culprit for the decline of bird and Water Birdbaths, water gardens, or natural features with the atmosphere wildlife species. Birds like the Brown Thrasher, flowing water Common Grackle and Northern Flicker are • Water is essential. Water sources can be natural • Cooling urban areas by providing shade and impacted by the loss of green space. They lose (like a stream) or man-made (birdbaths). retaining moisture important nesting sites and areas to feed. This also • Always provide clean water, replacing it in your • Assisting in energy conservation as trees intercept greatly affects migrating birds that no longer have birdbaths regularly to avoid disease. Sweetbay Magnolia radiant heat and block the wind important sites to rest and eat. The Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia Shelter virginiana, is native to the U.S. • Securing or increasing water supplies by Active nesting areas or shelters that attract and southeast. This dense shade tree recharging our watersheds protect birds and other wildlife has fragrant, creamy white flowers. • Shelter is needed to protect birds and wildlife It can grow to 60 feet. Its leaves • Increasing biodiversity by providing habitats for a from inclement weather and from predators. are a glossy pale green and have a diverse population of birds, mammals and insects Always try to keep your cat indoors, if possible.