[va-bird] bird use after fire





The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge completed about 200
out of 500 acres of prescribed burns for grasslands on Sunday and Monday.
It was amazing to see how rapidly raptors responded to the
opportunity--turkey vultures and black vultures were on the scene
immediately even as the fire was raging and even on the edge of the smoke.
Sharp-shinned and northern harriers landed onto the blackened surface
within minutes after the fire swept through.    Song and savannah sparrows
quickly returned to the fields to scavenge through the reduced litter.   A
couple of woodcocks were inspired to sing, peent, and display beside the
dwindling glow of an evening burn and the fading sunset.   This is a
two-handed job:  drip torch in one, binoculars in another!


Sandy C. Spencer, Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex
    (Rappahannock River Valley, James River,
     Presquile Island, and Plum Tree Island NWRs)
P.O. Box 1030
Warsaw, VA  22572
804/333-1470
804/333-3396 (fax)
Sandy_Spencer@xxxxxxx

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