The conservation status of the EPCAL (Enterprise Park at Calverton) is unclear. The Executive Director of the LI PIne Barrens Society and I met with the Town of Riverhead Supervisor to urge the preservation of as much of the property as possible including the extensive grasslands that bracket both runways. He stated that legally the fate of the property is up in the air and that they're waiting on the NYSDEC's review of the development plan which calls for extensive conservation (about 1,000 acres), while accommodating large lot commercial development. The concern is will enough contiguous grassland habitat be protected and remain viable for overwintering raptors such as short-eared owl, of which from 2-4 have been reported most days. It is also critical for grasshopper sparrow and eastern meadowlark.
A more engaged birding public urging conservation of what is most likely the most significant grassland community in downstate New York could only be helpful and appreciated. John Turner On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM M B <sootysh...@gmail.com> wrote: > Open habitats like grasslands and marshes are my favorite! What is the > status of this site in 2025? I cannot find much online, except some eBird > reports and advocacy from the past in regards to development versus > conservation. What are the access points for the main area and smaller > piece to the north? Feel free to reply privately. > > Thanks, > Michael Britt > Washington, Twp NJ > -- > *NYSbirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird* > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* > -- > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") NYSbirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/nysbirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) birding_DOT_aba_DOT_org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
