Page 12 - GM Winter 2021

species of insects. These insects are a major food source for so many species of birds including Hummingbirds, Kinglets, Cedar Wax Wing, Finches and Warblers who feed on the smallest of insects as their favourite food. Twenty- five years ago, we had no idea how dramatic the positive impact would be from our decision to discontinue use of any aquatic herbicides and insecti- cides on our golf course. Since this decision more than two decades ago, every biome within our golf course ecosystem continues to develop and flourish in a balanced and homeostatic state.
My old friend, Walter Weiss’s comment, when I was a young superinten- dent of ‘being in tune with Mother Nature’ is evident throughout the golf course and a testament of his wisdom and mentorship early in my career. Understanding that the use of insecticides on the golf course can be devastat- ing to the populations of many beneficial insects is an important step in moving away from using them, which will be the turning point towards an ecosystem in balance where turf and plant damage will not occur.
STREAMS AND PONDS ARE IMPORTANT TO ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
An important contributor to the diversity of our ecosystem at Cordova Bay is the number of small streams and the ponds that scatter throughout the property. These water bodies are home to several species that have enhanced the biodiversity on the golf course.
Of particular interest are the Pacific Tree Frogs that are found through- out the golf course and whose symphony of ribbits in the spring can go on for two months during their mating season. This frog, also known as the Chorus Frog, is about the size of a penny. These frogs eat a variety of insects, including spiders, and their ability to climb with the sticky pads on their feet makes them an excellent addition to any vegetable or flower garden to control unwanted insects.
Another species that has thrived in our herbicide free water bodies is the Rough Skin Newt. Newts lay single eggs attached to the stems of vegetation on pond edges. These eggs hatch in three to four weeks and then spend up to two years in the water prior to morphing into an adult in the later part of the summer. Beginning in late August or early September the migration of these adult Newts begins from the ponds throughout the golf course across our greens and fairways towards the forest where they will spend their adult life of up to twelve years. Every spring, the migration of these adults brings them back to our ponds from the forest where they breed to begin a new life cycle of Newts. Both adult and larval stages of Newts are carnivores feeding on a variety of organisms including insects, slugs, and worms.
Vancouver Island is home to four non-venomous snakes often seen in our gardens and around our ponds. Garter snakes and Sharp-Tail snakes will eat small fish, amphibians, tadpoles, insects, worms, and slugs. On the golf course, especially in our gardens, these snakes are certainly welcome additions to our overall pest management programs.
ORGANIC MANAGEMENT OF STREAMS AND PONDS
Since water bodies are such a dominant part of the overall layout of Cordova Bay, these areas can really enhance the natural beauty of our golf course or during the long days of summer, they can be an eyesore with stagnant water covered in floating pond weeds and algae. The decision to discontinue the use of aquatic herbicides in these areas has proven to be much more challenging in maintaining these areas than the insecticide ban was on our turf and garden areas.
12 • CGSA • GreenMaster