Thanks to all who have written to me. I agree with Donna Scott about personal, paper letters. If necessary, I can print letters to present to the mayor. I would like to have copies of whatever is sent to the Mayor.
Letters should be addressed to: Mayor Ed Trufant and Board of Trustees, Village of Union Springs Chapel St. on the Lake Union Springs, NY 13160 ***_The path specs are_: Path is to be about 90 meters long, 1.5 meters wide & is to be 3 meters from the pond at the west end & at the widest point will be10 meters from the pond. (At one of the narrowest points about 1/3 of the way down the pond, is where I have observed the wood ducks & babies entering the pond. Whether their nest tree is still there, I can't say because I never walked along the pond since it was private property.) Dave Nutter has walked the perimeter & has presented good observations. (His precise pond bird counts yesterday were great!) Weather is getting nastier but if anyone else can, & cares to walk the proposed trail area & state an opinion, please do so. Note that the cleared area to the north of Shurfine is private property so walk from Rte. 90 westward. (A LOT of the litter comes from people who buy & eat their lunches at Shurfine & the pizza shop & throw their trash out the vehicle windows.) I have a copy of the lad's proposal. He quotes: "There was an interest expressed in the public surveys of having a nature center and trails within the community." Pg. 46 The Village Comprehensive Plan Recommendations for Natural Resources section says: "Promotion of nature trails or a nature center in the vicinity of these sensitive environmental area(s) (the North and South ponds) would also aid in the protection of the area." Pg. 37. (If I recall, this Village Plan was written in relation to the first meeting I attended 2 yrs. ago.) The lad said, "I think building the trail would help to enhance the natural setting of the Mill Pond ..... would promote a deeper appreciation for the bird life that uses the pond by educating the people who use the (proposed) trail, through trail signs. It would offer a quiet place for people in our village to come and enjoy some of the most beautiful wetland areas in the region. It would enhance our village, by developing a natural resource that we have & making it more accessible to our people." He proposes "small signs (miniature bird box shapes) along the trail that identify some of the local bird species that trail-walkers might see nesting or resting as they travel along their migratory route. ... would like to make a sign that welcomes people & serves as a location to share information about the history of the pond ... add 2 or 3 benches (along the path) to allow people to sit & enjoy the natural setting of the pond as well as observe & appreciate the natural wildlife that inhabits it." "If the Board accepts my proposal, I understand I will need to offer up another proposal that specifies more clearly the specific materials we would use & a clearer time frame for its completion." I must make a correction on my 1st letter. He identified a Red-necked grebe as being a red necked duck, not an eared grebe, as I wrote. Thanks again for taking up this not-well-thought-out proposal which has good intentions but needs birder level input. I don't want to squash his willingness. Perhaps some think we as birders are selfish in wanting to keep the pond a /nature/ environment "for us & the birds." My feeling also is that Frontenac Park has lots of walking, sitting area for the public to enjoy nature & birds that aren't so close as to be easily disturbed. Dogs are not permitted there (supposedly) but the ponds don't have that protection. Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
