[va-bird] Re: Monticello Park in perspective
- From: Joshua Taylor <snaptransit@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 10:19:40 -0700 (PDT)
It is not removal of invasives that
threatens birds in this area, it is proliferating McMansions, townhouses,
strip malls, big boxes, and the like, the result of American car-culture,
fueled (literally and figuratively) by cheap gasoline, and protected by a
variety of special interests.
Didn't realize I was a special interest... Josh TaylorBerryville/Herndon, VA
Breep@xxxxxxx wrote:I have to admit to being perplexed by the amount of energy
being expended on
the issue of invasive species removal in Monticello. On the one hand, I have
doubts as to how important it is to decrease the invasives in such a small,
disturbed piece of habitat. I am worlds more concerned with microstegium at
Huntley, for instance. On the other hand, it is not clear to me how big the
downside is for birds (or even birders) of removing the invasives right now.
Even assuming that removing the invasives will lead to a short-term decrease
in the attractiveness of the habitat to migrants, what are the ramifications
likely to be? It is possible that migrants will not be as attracted to the
spot and may stay more dispersed in the local area, or at least higher in the
canopy where they are harder to see. This would mean less good views of
beautiful birds for us. A fair concern, but I have yet to be convinced that
the effect would be significant.
What about the effect on the birds? First, I assume that as breeding
habitat, Monticello it is pretty unremarkable. Clearly, migrants are the
issue here. It is theoretically possible that they will be more stressed or
less able to conduct proper feather maintenance because of the invasives
removal. This could decrease survival or productivity of the birds at issue.
But, realistically, we are talking about a relative handful of mostly common
species. I'd be willing to bet that the relevance of Monticello to bird
conservation is so slight as to be effectively zero.
In contrast, some migratory stopover habitats are crucial from a conservation
perspective. The beaches of Delaware Bay and the associated horseshoe crabs
are a prime example. Another would be major wetlands in the Great Plains,
like the Platte River and Cheyanne Bottoms.
OK, I know: think globally, act locally. Monticello is what we are
intimately connected with, what we know. Others will protect the Platte and
Delaware Bay (and maybe we'll chip in by donations to Audubon or the Nature
Conservancy), but we are most effective with small, local issues like that we
can really sink our teeth into. Fair enough.
But . . . I still think we are misdirecting our efforts. Locally, breeding
habitat issues seem much more significant to me than migratory habitat. How
many of you (other than Charlie Creighton) have attended any of the public
meetings regarding the fate of Lorton, with some of the best undeveloped
habitat left in the county, most of which will be gone in the flash of the
eye? Or commented on the draft management plan for Meadowwood? Or done
anything to help preserve my own object of windmill-tilting, Bull Run Post
Office Rd.? Or, more generically, advocated vigorously for real changes in
public policy relating to sprawl? It is not removal of invasives that
threatens birds in this area, it is proliferating McMansions, townhouses,
strip malls, big boxes, and the like, the result of American car-culture,
fueled (literally and figuratively) by cheap gasoline, and protected by a
variety of special interests.
Please consider taking all the energy and outrage we witnessed over the last
week, and harness it and direct it towards the things will allow our children
not just temporary glimpses of avian treasure that belongs to someone else
(as wonderful as that is), but also a chance at appreciating our own heritage
of a diverse breeding and wintering avifauna. What a poorer community we
will live in if we have to go ever farther afield to hear whip-poor-wills and
woodcock, and see Kentucky and hooded warblers, and white-crowned and tree
sparrows. Fairfax County is almost completely developed, and the outer
suburbs are falling fast.
A colleague of mine who lives in Portland, WA, described to me hearing whips
from her bedroom as a child in Annadale. I don't want to have to explain to
my daughter why she'll have to leave the county to hear them.
Sorry for the rant. I claim sleep deprivation from yesterday's big day.
I'll try to post the non-political results tomorrow. Gotta go sleep, but we
got 117, off a bit from last year.
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
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