Founded in chips * puns OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION VOL. 7, NO. 8 December 2001 THE EASTERN BLUEBIRD The Eastern Bluebird is a favorite invertebrates. The remainder of the bird’s diet migratory songbird of birders and non­ is made up of wild fruits. Favored insect birders alike. The bird’s bright blue color and foods include grasshoppers, crickets, melodious song make it a welcome visitor. katydids, and beetles. Other food items The history of the bluebird spans a series of include earthworms, spiders, millipedes, struggles and successes and only recently, centipedes, sow bugs, and snails. Fruits are through active wildlife management, has its especially important when insects are scarce future been considered secure. During the days in the winter months. Some preferred winter food of frontier settlement, the bluebird was among sources include dogwood, hawthorn, wild grape, the wildlife species that benefited from the and sumac and hackberry seeds. Supplemental decimation of the eastern forests. The fruits eaten include blackberries, bayberries, fruit conversion of forest into pasture, orchards, and of honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, red cedar, and home sites created an abundance of ideal pokeberries. Bluebirds feed by perching on a bluebird habitat - open areas that supported high point, such as a branch or fence post, and the nesting and foraging activities of the swooping down to catch insects on or near the species. Farmers unintentionally assisted ground. The availability of a winter food source bluebirds by bordering their fields with wooden will often determine whether or not a bird will fence posts, thus supplying additional nesting migrate. If bluebirds do remain in region for the sites. Combined, these factors led to a winter, they will group and seek cover in heavy proliferation of bluebird numbers throughout the thickets, orchards, or other areas in which eastern United States through the mid-1800s. adequate food and cover resources are However, this situation changed in the late available. nineteenth century with the introduction of the The eastern bluebird is a cavity-nesting European starling and the English house sparrow. species, but does not have the ability to create its In the twentieth century, metal replacement of own nesting cavity. It must rely on the wooden fence posts, increased cropland abandoned cavities of woodpeckers or find acreage, and a growing human population also other natural cavities such as open tops of rotted- contributed to bluebird population reductions. out stumps or wooden fence posts. Nesting Fortunately, the favored status of the bluebird boxes are also readily accepted for nesting. and its acceptance of artificial nesting structures Nesting pairs typically select cavities 3 to 20 feet has led to increased efforts to boost its above ground in areas where open space populations to sustainable levels. provides an insect base on which to forage. The Ideal eastern bluebird habitat consists of role of the nesting cavity remains important scattered hardwoods and grasslands in a rural (Continued on page 3) setting. Frequently used grassy areas include meadows, pastures, yards, roadsides, power line \i\ a/144a£ * %%%% rights-of-way, and farmland. Mowed areas such as golf courses, large lawns, and grazed areas provide suitable habitat as well. Open areas • Update from Golf Chairman provide foraging habitat, and nearby trees • Research Update— Calcium serve as perching or possible nesting sites. Although eastern bluebird populations are on • Upcoming Events the rise, the largest threat to their future is the continued loss of nesting habitat. Approximately two-thirds of the diet of an adult bluebird consists of insects and other President's Message Is it that time already? PRESIDENT Is Christmas here already? It seems like just yesterday I was opening Gene Huelster, Pocono Farms C.C. all my presents from the many PTGA members for being their fearless 570-894-8055 leader. I promise I'm not going to complain about anything in this turfman@ezaccess.net message. VICE PRESIDENT As many of you know, Darrin Batisky is moving on to greener Darrin M. Batisky, Glen Oak C.C. 570-586-5791 fairways. From the PTGA and myself, Good Luck, Darrin. W e’re going dmbatisky@hotmail.com to miss you. I hope you don’t have as much clover at your new place! SECRETARY/TREASURER So now let’s guess what this means. Correct! We need another board Mark Eisele, CGCS, C. C. at Woodloch Springs member. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me at 201 - 570-685-2980 262-3365. eiselemk@ltis.net During this holiday season, let’s take a moment to remember all the DIRECTORS victims and families that were involved in the tragedy on 9/11/01. Jason J. Barndt, Berwick Golf Club 570-759-6480 A "Thank You” goes out to everyone involved in making my 2001 grassman72@hotmail.com with the PTGA a great one. Steven Chirip, Egypt Farms, Inc. 570-894-3131 Gene Huelster John Downer, Elkview C.C. 570-222-9247 P.S. If you're looking for my sizes, I am an XL in shirts! Joseph Henry jrcmhenry@earthlink.net Eric Reed, Valley C.C. 570-788-4277 barley5@aol.com Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. 570-868-8113 djschell@epix.net From the Editor's Desk. Past President Ron Garrison, CGCS, Fox Hill C.C. 570-655-2383 rgarrison@golfsat.net I would like to invite all members to consider contributing any news or photographs of personal interest that may be of interest to your CHIPS & PUnS STAFF fellow members of the PTGA. Here’s your chance to immortalize EDITOR yourself with a picture of that trophy 4-point you got this fall, or a Eric Reed chance for some of you to silence your critics with an action photo of Managing Editor you working at the course. We can scan your photo at the printer, or Melinda Wisnosky we can download a digital photo. All forms are acceptable. Editorial CommfHee Ron Garrison, CGCS Also, guest columnists are always welcome at Chips & Putts. If you Jeff Koch have an interesting project you would like to enlighten us about, or Jim MacLaren you’ve gone cutting edge again and would like to share your trade PTGA Office secrets for our benefit, consider yourself always welcome. I am hoping RR 1, Box 219 to add a little personality to this newsletter, and I am hoping for your Harding, PA 19643 assistance in achieving that. Phone/Fax: (570] 388-2167 Here’s hoping all of you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Eric Reed Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. W e would appreciate a credit line. —Q? Pa# l (Continued from page 1) JO H N M. BODOCK throughout nestling development, as young remain in the nest dependent upon parent bluebirds until fledgling roughly 15 to 18 days after hatching. Before nesting boxes are erected, a maintenance, monitoring, and data Lawn and Golf Supply Co., Inc. Specialists In Equipment And Supplies collection plan should be developed to ensure program success. for Maintenance Of Turf Unmonitored boxes may be counter-productive by helping to increase populations of exotic competitor species such as house sparrow. It is PHONE: (610) 9335801 essential to erect only as many boxes as can be realistically monitored. (800) 362-5650 647 NUTT RD. P.O. BOX 447 FAX: (610) 933-8890 PHOENIXVILLE, Pa 19460 Boxes should be monitored once a week during the breeding season (March-July). However, monitors should avoid disturbing boxes during cold, rainy, or other inclement weather that may harm nesting birds or eggs. Approach nest boxes from an angle and make a slight noise to flush the female from the nest. Once the female exits, the box can be opened and ( S i Jo hn D e e r e its contents recorded. Boxes should not be opened after the twelfth day — L A N D SC A PE S following hatching to help prevent young from prematurely leaving the nest. Featuring Hunter Golf Irrigation Systems Since bluebird pairs often raise more than one clutch per season, old nests Pump Stations • Fountains • Landscape Lighting should be removed from boxes after each clutch fledges. Clean nesting Controller Board Repairs and More materials may be beneficial to wildlife utilizing the boxes in the winter and can be left in boxes at seasons end. Boxes should be cleaned of all nesting 800 - 642-3706 materials in the spring, before the start of nesting season. Being aware of what species is using the box is also beneficial. Bluebird societies would like you to monitor and report all species using your nest boxes, not just bluebirds. Species such as bluebirds, tree swallows, house wrens, and GOLF CARS INC. LEASING • SALES • SERVICE chickadees are all native and beneficial birds. How to identify nests and eggs by species: PAUL SZYMANSKI SALES 4180 SKYRON DRIVE BUCKINGHAM, PA 18912-0247 Bluebird: The 1-4 inch tail nest is built with fine grasses or pine 215-340-0880 OFFICE • 215-340-1634 FAX needles with a fairly deep nest cup. Eggs (4-6) are powder blue or occasionally white. Tree swallow: Their nest is also made of grasses but they may use somewhat coarser fibers than a bluebird. The nest generally has a flatter cup than the bluebird’s and is usually lined with feathers or occasionally scraps of paper. Eggs (5-7) are white and smaller than those of the bluebird. House Wren: Wrens fill a nest box with sticks and the line the deep nest cup with fine plant fibers or feathers. “Dummy nests” without the nest cup are often built in all other cavities within the male wren’s territory to reduce competition for resources. The eggs (6-8) are tan, speckled with brown and quite small. Black-capped chickadee: Chickadees build a nest of moss and plant down with the nest cup lined with hair. They lay 5-8 white eggs covered with brown speckles. Eggs are often covered with moss when the female leaves the box. House sparrow: House sparrows build a tall nest of coarse grasses, often with pieces of scrap paper, cellophane, or other garbage. The nest forms a canopy with a tunnel-like entrance to the 5-7 cream-colored eggs with brown markings. Place bluebird boxes in open grassy areas that are accompanied by widely scattered trees and shrubs. Open areas are preferred, as placement of boxes in or near areas thick with brush and woody vegetation likely will result in habitation of many boxes by house wrens. Boxes should be placed at least 100 yards apart to accommodate individual territories established by nesting pairs during the breeding season. Boxes should be placed well CARRYALL DRIVE IT TO WORK. Club Car away from buildings because of the high concentration of house sparrows generally found near human habitations. Research has shown that placing boxes low to the ground, at 4 to 5 feet, may help deter sparrows from inhabiting them. Boxes should face away from the prevailing winds and rain (Continued on page 4) f (Continued from page 3) Seminar at Woodloch Springs and be placed in location that will enable the box to receive An Environmentally Sustainable Golf Course Man­ a fair amount of sunlight. Ideally a tree or shrub should be located 25 to 100 feet away in front of a box entrance. This agement Seminar will be held at Woodloch Springs in will provide a perch for foraging adults and fledglings will use Hawley on February 27, 2002. This seminar is geared this cover on their first flight out of the box. toward golf course superintendents and managers in More information can be found online at www. the northeastern Pennsylvania area. Speakers will in­ nabluebirdsociety.org or by writing the NABS: clude Joellen Zeh from Audubon International, Dr. The North American Bluebird Society Frank Browne, P.E. from F. X. Browne, Inc., David Bishop PO Box 74 from GCSAA, and a panel of superintendents from Darlington, Wl 53530-0074 Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary-certified golf courses to discuss the ups and downs of the certification proc­ credits: Kevin Berner, NABS Research Chairman, SU NY, Cobleskill, NY 12043 ess. GCSAA-certified superintendents should be able Eastern Bluebird (siolio sialis),Northern Prairie Wildlife to receive 0.8 PDUs for attending. If you are interested and would like to receive a registration form, please contact Rebecca L. Buerkett, Project Scientist, 518-891- BOARD DIAGRAM 1410 or e-mail her at rbuerkett@fxbrowne.com. Start cutting at th e 'flo o r“ and w ork < .1------------- 4*' ,'----------— 9 W --------h 10 1/4" 9 3ffi" ------1- approx 1" 1 3/4" ( tow ards the "flack" 1 i sin ce the ’flack" dim ension is the 80° END BOARD VIEW least critical 4" 9 1/4- 101/4" 9 3/0" ------- 11-------------------------------------- 1 J--------------1I--------- — --------h I The rem ainder Floor Side Side Front of the board is used for the back 4 4* TOP BOARD VIEW Continued on Page 7 Bayer (“B Agriculture Division John W. Wiblishauser Garden & Professional Care Field Sales Representative Bayer Corporation 318 E. Glenside Avenue Glendside, PA 19308 Phone: 215-887-8936 Fax: 215-887-0971 PlantStar Fertigation.. .Solutions to Grow On! Voicemail: 888 242-4200, ext. 3605 John Fowler Syngenta Professional Products Looking For T he A nsw er To Spoon-Feeding Your G olf Course? y ii® S y___n*gL e nx ^taSyngenta * Crop Protection, Inc. 325M illPondL ane Oxford, PA 19363 PlantStar Fertigation Has The Solution.. ^ - - a* A Tel. 610-998-2896 Fax 610-998-2987 W ith over 15 years experience, we know we can help. Give us a call for www.syngenta.com more details on how fertigation can change the way you grow your turf! johii.fowler@syngenta.com To learn more about PlantStar and our services, call us at: 8 0 0 * 2 7 7 • S T A R w w w .p la n tsta r.co m Update from the G olf Chairman In order to make the meetings fun, I will rely heavily on handicaps. Because we only have eight events per year, I The New Year is almost upon us and while you 1H can’t possibly keep a handicap for you. So if you have one, may be thinking of shoveling snow, I have been / y ji great. If you don’t, tell me what you realistically can shoot given the responsibility of thinking golf. fr a and I will make one up for you. Keep in mind, I reserve the During my years on the Board of Directors, I right to penalize, harass, and /or ridicule those whose handi­ heard many unfair complaints about our monthly meet­ caps are, shall we say, off kilter. ings. I always dismissed it as lack of knowledge, not only SO LET’S GET STARTED. Anyone interested in HOSTING a of the parameters we use to set up the meetings, but also meeting or SPONSORING lunch or cocktails, please let me the amount of effort it takes to put these meetings to­ know. I can be reached at 610866-6305, or better yet, gether. I also heard a lot of constructive criticism, which I aquatg@ptd.net. intend to put to good use. So in an attempt to minimize Just a few more details you may need. The average at­ further frustration, I am going to lay it all out there for you tendance is around 40 people, so plan a shotgun accord­ to see. ingly, sometime around noon. Expect a field of over 100 In order to keep costs down, we try to find hosts that people if you are interested in hosting the clambake. Lunch comp us the green fee and only charge us for a cart. This or cocktail sponsorships will be $200 per event (clambake amount is usually between $15 and $20. Depending on $400). We must have a set amount even though costs will the format, we usually try to collect $10 for golf prizes. An vary from one event to another, in order to determine fee additional $5 is necessary for incidentals, which may in­ structure ahead of time. That cost can be billed through clude speaker costs (travel, golf, and other expenses), tips our office in one or several payments. and gratuities, and expenses for the host superintendent. I have received expressed interest in hosting a meeting This amount can vary depending on the meeting, but will through the grapevine, but would everyone interested in average out for the season. We try to keep the cost of hosting a meeting for the upcoming 2002 season, please dinner at $20 to $25 and find sponsors for lunch (if applica­ contact me personally so that we can begin the detail ble) work. Given those parameters, you can see how meeting ex­ Thanks, penses can easily reach $55 or more. That is, of course, if Tony Grieco, CGCS we can find enough sites. Sometimes, we have to in­ crease those amounts to find a facility in a given month. Upcoming Events So I asked myself, what could we do to improve monthly meetings? Well first of all, we can look at our­ January 8-10 selves. The PTGA has around 70 golf course members. At Eastern PA Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show 8 meetings per year, you would only have to have meet­ 610-378-1327 ing once every 9 years with the given parameters. Not a lot to ask in my opinion. Don’t worry; I didn’t forget the January 13-17 commercial guys. The association has about 32 repre­ Golf Course Management Seminar sented companies as members. At 8 meetings per year, 800-624-6988, #4019 each company would only have to host one lunch every 4 years to keep costs down. January 15-16 Next, we need to look at what our committee can do. 2002 Midwest Turf EXPO This year, we will make an effort to have more lunch meet­ 765-494-8039 ings and possibly a cocktaii hour afterward. In order to encourage more sponsors and a greater number of super­ January 15-17 intendents to attend, we are making the following Maine Turfgrass Conference & Show changes. If a company sponsors lunch or a cocktail hour, 207-781-7878 AFFILIATE members will not see a reduction in cost. All other members will see a reduction in cost for that meet­ January 21 ing. As an affiliate myself, I understand the difficulty in ex­ GCSAA Seminar-Management of localized dryspots. plaining to your boss how you just bought lunch or cock­ 800-472-7878 tails for 20 of your fellow salespeople. Remember, we are not increasing the costs for the affiliate members; we are January 21 just applying sponsor money to the other classifications. In GCSAA Seminar-Understanding bio-stimulants addition, each month, we will publish the names of those 800-472-7878 sponsors as they sign up and announce sponsors at the meetings. January 21-24 In addition, I will be experimenting with golf formats Michigan Turfgrass Conference that are more fun. If you take your golf more seriously than that, perhaps you should look into the PGA School. 517-321-1660 Research Update: Be Sure to Take Your Calcium Premium sod for golf courses Chip Presendofer A T Sales Associates, Ltd. So-called bio-stimulants have gained increasing attention in recent 1011 Church Road years for their apparent ability to increase turf’s resistance to stresses, in­ Oreland, PA 19705 cluding drought stress. One effect of drought stress is an increase in oxida­ tion inside plant tissue. It's thought that plants resist the destructive effects Te l 215-886-6011 Fax 21 5-8 8 6-1 2 03 of oxidation with naturally occurring antioxidants. Bio-stimulants may help Pager 8 0 0-983-3430 boost their activity, thereby protecting plants. Biostimulants typically consist of mixtures of complex organic com­ pounds, but there may be a simpler alternative. Researchers Yiwei Jiang of Kansas State University and Bingru Huang of Rutgers University studied Nothing Runs Like A Deere the effects of calcium on drought-stressed plants and found that calcium provided protective effects that may relate to antioxidant activity. Using tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, the researchers treated (with TOM BRAGO DALE ANDREW foliar spray) some plants with calcium chloride and others with plain water. The plants were then subjected to drought stress and compared to others FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT, INC. (215) 661 -0390 that were supplied with ample water throughout the study. 419 Industrial Drive (800) 875-TURF North Wales, PA 19454 FAX: (215) 661-9161 Consistently, the calcium-treated plants showed greater tolerance to Web Site: www.finchlnc.com PARTS: (800) 78-DEERE drought than plants that only received the foliar water spray, as mani­ fested by better overall quality, higher tissue water content and higher chlorophyll content. A potential explanation for this might be that calcium directly affects osmotic (water) potential inside leaf tissue. However, the investigators sher son looked at this and found no such effects. Rather, they found that it was pompany/inc. increases in antioxidant activity that protected the plants against drought. S u p e r io r P r o d u c ts f o r t h e One specific result of this was a more intact cell membrane, which en­ T u r f a n d H o r tic u ltu r a l P r o f e s s i o n a l ables the plant cells to retain tissue water more effectively. M ark R e e d ( 610) 282-2381 fax ( 610) 282-2392 237 East King St. Malvern PA 19355 Could calcium sprays become a practical method of protecting PH. 1-800-262-2127 FAX (610) 644-7791 www.fisherandson.com against drought? The potential seems to exist. VERTI-DRAIN & 5 7 0 -6 0 2 -3 0 5 4 Earthworks R0TADAIR0N 8 0 0 -5 5 4 -4 6 6 3 *T u r f S a t e s & C o n s u C ta tio n DEALERS & CONTRACTORS FAX 5 7 0 -6 0 2 -3 0 5 3 Natural Organic Products y ANDRE 8c SON. (NC. E & M G olf S upply C o . TURF KING PRODUCTS & Joel Sim m ons A DIVISION OF H.V. INC. CONTRACTED SERVICES 9 5 0 SATHERS DRIVE, PITTST0N TOWNSHIP, PA 1 8 6 4 0 P.O. Box 278K www.soilfirst.com 6574 S. Delaware Drive Fax: 610-250-7840 SPECIALIST IN DEEP TINE AERATION JOHN VOJICK Martins Creek, PA 18063 Phone: 610-250-9560 V0ICE/FAX 1.8 8 8 .887.3770 EXTN 671 . .... . O T n rrT CELLULAR 1.607.768.057 5 2 MILL STREET STEPHEN MICHAEL RESIDENCE, VOICE/FAX 570.222.TU R F MONTROSE, PA 18801 800-732-TURF • Layout and Design • Typesetting I t ’s e v e r y p la y e r s r e s p o n s ib ilit y ... • Mac/IBM desktop publishing interface * Laser color separations ■ Repair ball marks * Scitex® electronic photo retouching * Full electronic prepress services ■ Replace or fill divots 31 Hill Street, P.O. Box 507 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0507 * Foil stamping, embossing ■ Rake bunkers 570-822-8181 • Complete bindery including FAX: 570-823-3579 saddlestitch and perfect binding A message fro m yo u r g o lf course superintendent a n d G C SA A — Continued from Page 4 CONSTRUCTION PLAN 9 1/4" 101/4" H h Special note: A 1 9/16" hole should be u sed w here the ranges for Eastern or W estern Bluebirds overlap with Mountain Bluebirds. Drainage corner cu ts X I FLOOR I approx 1a1 3/4" TORO. TURF EQUIPMENT MATT BROWN TELEPHONE: 215-340-5401 PAGER: 888-896-5094 IRRIGATION GEORGE SKAWSKI TELEPHONE: 215-340-5450 PAGER: 888-376-2074 EMAIL: g.skawski@philyturf.com "front“ and sid e of door to hold door closed with nail P *p 9 POCONO RO UNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION The'Boardof Directors & Advertisers o f ((Ch& B utts' IVishyou A d a M erry Christmas & J-Cajrpy Mew y earl