I led the sector effort in the Manassas Battlefield. It was disappointing
overall. The grass has been cut so short in some areas that the habitat has
been rendered unsuitable for sparrows. The northeast portion was an oasis of
activity, with Bob Abrams's team reporting a good number of sparrows. Laura
Catterton's team surveyed Sparrow Alley and the defunct shopping center, with
Steve Sheffield reporting 42 American Tree sparrows. Avian activity in the
southeast sector just east of the Cracklebarrel was confined pretty much to
patches of poison ivy berries and juniper stands near open water. We found 2
female/young male Purple Finches in a juniper stand/poison ivy patch near a
stream. The open field was about as lively as a hospital morgue.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxx
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