Rich,
Hello. Long time no talk.
In your advertisement for the NVBC walk at Huntley to look for Woodcocks,
you use the phrase "Despite
controlled burns of their preferred meadow, Woodcocks have been reported!".
Forgive me but that makes it sound as if the controlled burn is detrimental
to the Woodcock and its habitat. To the contrary. The burn is GOOD for their
preferred habitat of open, clear meadow adjacent to a forested habitat. We all
know they breed in these habitats which are disappearing in the immediate DC
area. Old fields or open meadows are fast becoming a thing of the outlying
counties. Controlled burns along with meadow restoration (which includes bush
hogging, clearing of debris and monitoring for invasives plant species) are
all important steps in the preservation of these habitats. Without this type
of management program, the meadows at Huntley would slowly disappear. They we
would be known as "the Woods of Huntley" or some other descriptive name.
Good birding,
PJ Dunn
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
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