Who do we contact? What email? Will it actually be read?
Bob LewisSleep Hollow NY
From: Joshua Malbin <joshuamal...@gmail.com>
To: Arie Gilbert <ariegilb...@optonline.net>
Cc: Shaibal Mitra <shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu>; nysbirds-l
<nysbirds-l@cornell.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] 7-4 Jamaica Bay Queens East Pond Water Level
Management
The ranger I just spoke to at the refuge claims that they started draining the
pond early this year after problems last year, but that there has been too much
rain. He also says that at this point there's nothing they can do to get it
lower any faster.
Take that as you will.
On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 12:42 PM, Arie Gilbert <ariegilb...@optonline.net>
wrote:
Shai,
Can you elaborate on this problem a bit more?
I was under the impression that with the east pond's valve having been
replaced the water level problem could be mitigated and that NPS staff should
be attending to the task of lowering the water level as presumably they are
supposed to do.
What is the problem? Are they simply not doing their job?
Arie Gilbert
North Babylon, NY
WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com
WWW.qcbirdclub.org
.
On 7/13/2015 8:22 AM, Shaibal Mitra wrote:
Watching water evaporate is dull, especially when it is the turbid, viscous,
malodorous, and voluminous water of the East Pond. I stopped by the north end
this morning, hoping that the recent dry weather had improved matters to some
extent, perhaps enough to provide some habitat for longer-legged species such
as Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt Sandpiper, but I was disappointed. There is no
shorebird habitat at all at the north end. I startled one Least Sandpiper from
the trail itself, under a full canopy of trees, and watched a single Lesser
Yellowlegs calling disconsolately as it circled the deep water repeatedly
before drifting off over the bay.
Some photos of the dismal scene are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/109808209543611018404/LongIslandMiscellany2015#6170965175995819810
I'm not sure what can be done at this point. I'd certainly understand it if
Andrew were to take a break from his advocacy, perhaps to tidy up some gaps in
his year list up in the north country.
Shai Mitra
Bay Shore
From: bounce-119426911-11143...@list.cornell.edu
[bounce-119426911-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Andrew Baksh
[birdingd...@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2015 2:31 PM
To: nysbirds-l
Cc: Nyc ebirds
Subject: [nysbirds-l] 7-4 Jamaica Bay Queens East Pond Water Level Management
Several people have recently contacted me about the water level situation
on the East Pond, so I thought a visit and update was in order.
On this 4th of July, I visited the East Pond this morning to take a water
level read and to get a sense of where the pond level is at. As I suspected,
the recent rainfall has not helped compounded with drainage which is slow, the
water level remains IMO, too high for this date.
Reports out of Canada already show shorebirds staging on the prairies and
Isaac Grant who is in Virginia reported to me today that surveyors out there
have all ready seen multiple Wilson's Phalaropes and Stilt Sandpipers among the
several shorebirds reported out there.
With a West Pond basically out of commission, it is critical that the East
Pond, is ready for migrating shorebirds who need a place to refuel and rest. At
the current drainage I don't see this pond getting anywhere near the levels we
need to be within the next few weeks as we have ZERO flat exposure on the South
End which where we start seeing mudflats first.
I suggest to start calling these numbers to let NPS officials know how
concerned you are about the East Pond water level.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: (718) 318-4340 (pretty much they will take your
information but I can't guarantee anything will come of it. it)
Alternatively, you could contact Dave Taft: 718-338-3625 or Jennifer
Nersesian: 718-354-4665
Maybe one year we will get it right and this won't be necessary. For me, it
is very frustrating!!
A Happy and Safe 4th of July to all,
On Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 5:25 PM, Andrew Baksh <birdingd...@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear all,
As we are nearing mid June, some of us are already thinking about the
upcoming shorebird season. I have been working with NPS over the last few years
in monitoring the East Pond water levels and I wanted to report that drainage
on the pond has begun for 2015. Additionally, I have begun clearing the trails
to the pond.
The lowering of the pond takes some time so please don't go to the pond next
week and post that the water level is high. I will continue to monitor the
levels and report again on the status of the pond once ample shoreline is
available.
Cheers,
--
風 Swift as the wind 林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain Sun Tzu The Art of War
(\__/)
(= '.'=)
(") _ (")
Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
--
風 Swift as the wind 林 Quiet as the forest
火 Conquer like the fire
山 Steady as the mountain Sun Tzu The Art of War
(\__/)
(= '.'=)
(") _ (")
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