You may want to consider leaving one or two dead trees, which are needed by some species of birds for nesting. With kids, this could be risky, since dead trees drop branches. Obviously, you have to make that judgment call. There are huge developed areas with essentially no dead trees. Even many forests are being intensively managed over large areas.

It sounds like you're having a great time with your boy (he must be so proud of the work he's doing!) while creating a unique play area for your kids...I hope this wonderful weather holds on until you accomplish your goal this Fall.

And bird houses of the proper dimensions for specific cavity-nesting birds can substitute for snags quite easily in an urban environment with children. Much safer, unless you really did mean 50 acres.

Does Howie ask you if you want to 'deal or no deal' while he's perched on the rock?

If there are many trees or shrubs left at this point you might want to try and find out what some of them are, in case one or two aren't "junk".

There are tons of trees we are not cutting down. I have maples, elderberry, poplars, I think cottonwoods, and some others. There are also old stumps and nursing logs that we will be leaving for the wildlife...I am just cleaning it up a little so that things can actually navigate back there. Right now I think the racoons and such are even having a hard time getting around from the looks of all the old burrows and nests we have found...no sign of antying living back there now. Our goal is to create a great bird refuge.

Sounds awesome, except for having to deal with the ivy and blackberries.

Ivy and Himalayan blackberry two of the worst in this region. Taking these out should definitely improve habitat. You may have other weed species you haven't recognized yet, such as common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). There is a alot of this in some districts.

Very cool discoveries! Thanks for sharing about them, and your adventures with your son and pooch on this project. Keep us updated!

Take care,
Grant