Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 21 March Joe Giunta and I (Sy Schiff) went to see the damage from "Sandy". The path to Big Johns Pond is clear of debris, but most of the beautiful white birch trees are down and cut into logs. There were 3 male WOOD DUCKS on the pond. On the East Pond, the water level is very high and the entire shore line is beat down. Ducks are almost all RUDDY DUCKS.
Over on the West Pond, the OSPREY has returned and was perched on the nest platform. Again there were more RUDDY DUCKS, but little else. Near the shore a group of NORTHERN PINTAIL were feeding. A GREAT EGRET was across the way on the far shore. The tide was low and there are extensive mud flats close to shore near what was "bench 3", and extensive sand flats on the bay side. The cut into the pond is not excessively wide but appears to be quite deep. Not going to be an easy fix. Lots of speculation of what to do, but no definitive plan at present. Both ponds are salt water now and it remains to be seen as to what effect this will have on the wildlife and birding. Sy -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
