[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Sightings & Landfill Grassland Project Begun
Surprisingly still relatively quiet today: only warbler was ongoing Pine Warbler singing/seen in pines between RV Campground and Croton Bay. Big influx of House Wrens this morning singing in every corner and uptick of singing Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Eastern Towhee. Small kettle (11) Broad-winged Hawks seen mid-day. Two American Kestrels seen hunting the native grass areas of the landfill. (A Northern Harrier, a grey ghost, was seen by other birders yesterday on the grassland.) Two male Purple Martins arrived today, singing and entering gourds on nesting structure by park entrance booth. (Third year for this project; here's hoping for another successful nesting year.) Of note: a 2nd martin nesting structure was added this spring, at Rockwood Hall State Park, ~4.5 mi S, in hopes of establishing a 2nd Westchester County Purple Martin colony. Also as a heads up to regional birders: the Croton Point Park landfill grassland restoration project has now begun with most of the landfill grassland mown this spring with exception of flagged areas of native grasses. The main path was closed temporarily today while targeted spraying for smooth bromegrass was done. This is the start of a two-year project. Saw Mill River Audubon is encouraging signage on site -- to be added soon -- to explain the project. More info below, if of interest. Brief project overview: Using state funding to its Soil and Water Conservation District, the County of Westchester is restoring grassland atop the former landfill at Croton Point Park. Larry Weaner Landscape Associates has designed this project and will be overseeing its implementation. The project is intended to curb less desirable, invasive plants in favor of more ecologically friendly native plants to improve wildlife habitat, especially for grassland birds. Thursday, May 23, 7:00pm at the Croton Free Library, Saw Mill River Audubon is hosting a public program to overview this project including a Q with presenters Larry Weaner and Jenna Webster, of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. Ongoing, Saw Mill River Audubon is glad to field questions or comments about this project and pass along any concerns, as may be helpful. We have been closely following the project plans and were invited to offer input, including referencing eBird records of grassland bird use of the project site, with ongoing thanks to all who eBird their visits to Croton Point Park. Anne Swaim Saw Mill River Audubon www.sawmillriveraudubon.org -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Sightings & Landfill Grassland Project Begun
Surprisingly still relatively quiet today: only warbler was ongoing Pine Warbler singing/seen in pines between RV Campground and Croton Bay. Big influx of House Wrens this morning singing in every corner and uptick of singing Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Eastern Towhee. Small kettle (11) Broad-winged Hawks seen mid-day. Two American Kestrels seen hunting the native grass areas of the landfill. (A Northern Harrier, a grey ghost, was seen by other birders yesterday on the grassland.) Two male Purple Martins arrived today, singing and entering gourds on nesting structure by park entrance booth. (Third year for this project; here's hoping for another successful nesting year.) Of note: a 2nd martin nesting structure was added this spring, at Rockwood Hall State Park, ~4.5 mi S, in hopes of establishing a 2nd Westchester County Purple Martin colony. Also as a heads up to regional birders: the Croton Point Park landfill grassland restoration project has now begun with most of the landfill grassland mown this spring with exception of flagged areas of native grasses. The main path was closed temporarily today while targeted spraying for smooth bromegrass was done. This is the start of a two-year project. Saw Mill River Audubon is encouraging signage on site -- to be added soon -- to explain the project. More info below, if of interest. Brief project overview: Using state funding to its Soil and Water Conservation District, the County of Westchester is restoring grassland atop the former landfill at Croton Point Park. Larry Weaner Landscape Associates has designed this project and will be overseeing its implementation. The project is intended to curb less desirable, invasive plants in favor of more ecologically friendly native plants to improve wildlife habitat, especially for grassland birds. Thursday, May 23, 7:00pm at the Croton Free Library, Saw Mill River Audubon is hosting a public program to overview this project including a Q with presenters Larry Weaner and Jenna Webster, of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. Ongoing, Saw Mill River Audubon is glad to field questions or comments about this project and pass along any concerns, as may be helpful. We have been closely following the project plans and were invited to offer input, including referencing eBird records of grassland bird use of the project site, with ongoing thanks to all who eBird their visits to Croton Point Park. Anne Swaim Saw Mill River Audubon www.sawmillriveraudubon.org -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
