Thanks Judy, This is a matter that needs to be talked about more. One issue
that I would like to see some group advocate against is the nicely mowed grass
along our interstates and other highways. This is a vast wasteland which could
be filled with native plants for our birds and other wildlife. It is being done
by some other states so why not Ky. We could start with the inner bluegrass to
add some balance to the acres of horse farm pastures. Someone out Tates Creek
in the horse farm area has planted natives with a sign for No Mowing along the
highway right of way. This is a start . Of course we must not forget that many
agricultural lands are being farmed with Roundup Ready plants and thus lots of
chemicals ... Even worse for habitat than mowed and grazed fields.
Sue
Sent from my iPad
On Oct 26, 2015, at 7:14 PM, Judy Lundquist
<jlq.sci@xxxxxxx<mailto:jlq.sci@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
There's no doubt that when people call it the "horse industry" they are calling
it like it is. It is an industry. I would not even call it agriculture, just
my opinion.
We can despair over this environmental disaster, or we can do something about
it. Some of us attended a recent lecture by Dr. Doug Tallamy, a University of
Delaware professor of entomology and wildlife ecology, who spoke on the
importance of native plant gardening related to biodiversity. One of his points
was the importance of individual land owners, even of very small suburban
plots. Given the amount of "landscaping" being perpetrated in the suburbs of
this country, he advanced the idea that if we took back even half of the
acreage now covered by lawns and reclaimed that land with native plants which
support insects, and therefore birds and other wildlife, we would transform a
huge amount of land for biodiversity. It would be far more than a long list of
big national parks could ever protect. There are not enough parks, and likely
never will be, but all that suburban land is just waiting to be liberated. May
I suggest that if enough of us take this seriously and educate ourselves on
what it takes to support biodiversity at home, and put it into practice, and
interest our friends and neighbors in the same, that we could simply overwhelm
the horse industry?
To start with I would recommend Dr. Tallamy's excellent book "Bringing Nature
Home". What you pick up at the garden store really matters. The lovely Asian
Ginkgo supports only one species of Lepidopteran. Our much lovelier native oaks
support 534. That's a huge bird feeder.
On 10/26/2015 8:15 AM, Mark Tower wrote:
I read this
article<http://www.birdwatchersdigest-digital.com/birdwatchersdigest/november_december_2015/?pg=91&pm=2&u1=friend>
in the most recent issue of Bird Watcher's Digest. Julie Zickefoose touched on
many themes in the column, but for a few paragraphs there is (in my opinion)
one of the most scathingly accurate assessment of the environmental life of the
inner Bluegrass. Gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.
Bird Watcher's Digest - November/December 2015
For more than 30 years, Bird Watcher's Digest has been entertaining and
informing bird watchers with our blend of excellent feature articles, bird
species profiles, accounts of birding adventures, and stunning art and
photography. Each 112-page issue of BWD covers a variety of topics from bird
feeding and wildlife gardening to choosing birding gear, and improving your
bird-spotting and identification skills. But most of all, BWD is delightfully
enjoyable to read from cover to cover. Why? Because BWD is created and
published by bird watchers, for bird watchers. We think you'll agree that once
you open your first issue of Bird Watcher's Digest, you won't be able to put it
down.
Read
more...<http://www.birdwatchersdigest-digital.com/birdwatchersdigest/november_december_2015/?pg=91&pm=2&u1=friend>
I'd say "enjoy," but it's really more like "read and weep."
Mark
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