Playing in the Mud

As a child, I never liked playing in the mud. However, lately I’ve been involved in an activity that makes me realize what fun I missed in my younger years.

Ongoing Project

One ongoing project at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is to restore the grasslands that were altered, and in some respect destroyed, by the cattle industry that began in the late 1800s. The demise of habitat resulted in the endangerment of several species, most notably the masked bobwhite quail, which is now being bred on the Refuge in hopes of re-introducing them to a restored habitat.

Throwing seed to the wind is hardly an option, as the seed may not land where it’s needed. And, if it does, rodents and birds find it a welcome source of nutrition. Instead, balls are made from mud to protect the seed. And that’s what I’ve been working on in spare time this winter.

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Mixed Mud
Mixed Mud

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Visitors Learn about Seed Balls
Visitors Learn about Seed Balls

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Like Ping Pong Balls

Seed balls are about the size of ping pong balls. It’s taken me perhaps six to eight hours of work to make enough balls to only half-fill a five-gallon bucket. “See those buckets over there?” Refuge biologist Ann Chenevert-Steffler pointed to a corner of her office where four five-gallon buckets full of seed balls waited for a maintenance crew to disperse them somewhere on the Refuge. “It takes no more than an hour to scatter one of those buckets full of balls.”

Considering how long it takes to fill just one bucket, I wondered if my efforts would make a difference. However, if even a token attempt would benefit the restoration, I was game to fill at least one bucket during our winter commitment on the Refuge.

Protecting the Seeds

The “mud” is a combination of sand, clay, and water mixed to the consistency of Play Dough. Balls are rolled from a small amount of mud similar to rolling cookie dough to make gingersnaps. Then a depression is made in the ball with the thumb as a “well” for seeds. This needs to be accomplished with one hand, I discovered, to keep the other hand clean. If both hands are muddy, seeds stick to fingers rather than falling into the depression in the ball.

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Ready for Seeds
Ready for Seeds

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Seeds in Place
Seeds in Place

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Once the seeds have been deposited into the well, the outer parts of the mud are folded around them to protect the seeds within and secure them from rodent and bird activity. Balls are then dried in the sun for a day or two before placing them in a five-gallon bucket.

Dispersing the Seed Balls

When the buckets full of seed balls are taken onto the Refuge grounds and thrown about, the seed balls (now hard as walnut shells) remain inert until monsoon season. These rains soften the balls, dissolve the mud, and wash the seeds into the ground.  As the native plants are restored, habitat is created to allow re-introduction of masked bobwhite quail and other endangered species.

I found this project to be relaxing, productive, and good exercise for my hands. Since I regularly roll cookie dough, however, the only drawback to this good deed was the temptation to pop one of the “dough” balls into my mouth!

Seed Balls Drying in Sun
Seed Balls Drying in Sun

 

2 thoughts on “Playing in the Mud”

  1. That “mud-ball” making does look like fun and you are really good at it! Anything to help the habitat and those quail. Jeanne

    Reply

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