To be fair to the author, she did say that there were places that have
birds. She's not ignorant of that fact. I took her point to be that
surrounding those places there are all too many vast swaths of space
that appears to be green yet is biologically barren.
Given all the research showing the dangers of merely fragmentary nature
preserves, these barren spaces should concern us. And, having lived in
four different states and three other countries, I have to say that the
inner bluegrass region has far more such barrenness than any other place
I've lived.
Are there exceptions, places where one can find birds and other
wildlife? Absolutely, and we should be grateful for them. But I think
there is also plenty of room for improvement. The more of us do with our
yards what David did with his property, the better.
Sydney
On 10/27/2015 10:10 AM, Rose wrote:
Exactly, Dave. The author should have talked to you or looked at our website,
or she could have gone to Shaker Village to see how farmland is being restored.
As to the horse farms, my CBC team birds on Ramsay Farm with very good results.
It's where we saw the Ross's goose a few yrs. ago.
Moreover, and perhaps more important, the horse farms and the will to preserve
them are the main roadblock to rampant urban sprawl and shopping centers that
have paved over so much land. She might have learned this if she had done a
little research. Instead she drove down one road and leaped to conclusions. She
could have stopped at Buckley Sanctuary on her way to Frankfort if it were
still there.
Rose
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 27, 2015, at 9:52 AM, David Lang <de_lang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I also found this to be true with my neighbors out here in Scott County. When
they subdivided the farm behind my original lot, the new neighbors immediately
cleared all the brushy areas in favor of big expanses of lawn. They even
offered to help me clear out my brush. However, that was not my plan. Instead I
have left my additional acreage to grow unmolested with the exception of
walking paths that I maintain. It has been wonderful to see the open
pastureland starting to succeed back into woodland over the past 15 years. I
look forward to the next 15+ years to watch the further progression. The truly
amazing thing to me is that I have not gotten any direct criticism for
departing from the norm and most of the neighbors seam to enjoy the wild area
with the walking paths.
I have been rewarded in my effort in having a good diversity of birds on the
property. My yard list now runs to 142 species. I usually get a nice mix of
migrants stopping in the spring and fall as well as resident birds in the
summer and winter.
Landscaping for wildlife is something everyone with a yard can do. I have had
the advantage of not really having had to do much, other than not mow. However,
for those in the city with smaller yards can still do a lot to move away from
big expanses of lawn by converting some of it to native plants and shrubs and
adding some brushy areas that provide food and cover for wildlife. Just look at
Lexington Cemetery to see what birds can be found in downtown Lexington.
David
From: Mark Tower <markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ASK <ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 12:20 PM
Subject: [ask] Re: Depressing article
I wanted you all to see Sydney's comment/question and my response to them.
If anyone has other thoughts (or corrections to mine) about this I'd be
interested to hear them.
Mark
________________________________________
From: Mark Tower <markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 12:17 PM
To: Sydney Penner
Subject: Re: [ask] Re: Depressing article
I certainly think this is an American thing in general. Folks that live in the
desert southwest try to have grass lawns. It's perplexing for sure. I'd love to
know the underpinnings of this theme. I've heard a couple things.
First, the primary original (and continuing) gardening influence in this country is
English. And England has plenty of manicured landscapes (with or without other things
other than grass). This remains the overriding sense of what is "beautiful" in
this country when it comes to human-influenced landscapes. As a side note, I find it odd
that most anyone can look at a truly natural landscape and appreciate beauty, even
powerful beauty. But they think (maybe subconsciously) that's ok for a state/national
park, but when it comes to their own property (large or small) they revert to the
standard landscaping.
Second, and I just heard this recently, the human attraction for the English
estate-look may be something of an evolutionary thing. Someone suggested that
the large overstory trees, well spaced, with good line of sight underneath was
the perfect combination of providing shelter, seeing prey, detecting danger.
Now the bluegrass region is a whole different animal. Somewhere along the way the typical horse
farm got to look the way it does. At this point, enough people find the horse farm appealing that
it has become the bluegrass "brand." It's what's unique for Lexington, and is it's
primary marketable feature. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any (not even a little) political
will to do anything to change the landscape features of the area. In fact, I've heard there's
plenty of farms that are no longer financially viable, but are kept up with outside money (?taxes)
to maintain the "brand."
Mark
________________________________________
From: Sydney Penner <sfp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 11:28 AM
To: markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ask] Re: Depressing article
I was able to read the whole article as a free preview, but it's
entirely possible that what it is possible to view for free varies from
user to user.
And, yes, the vast green deserts around Lexington are one of the most
striking -- and depressing -- features of the area. That was the first
thing I noticed from the air already when I first flew into Lexington.
What was considered good landscaping in the previous places I lived
always involved lots of trees and shrubs, not just large expanses of
manicured grass. In England, for example, a properly maintained estate
may have some manicured grass, but it will also have hedgerows and
trees. Never mind birds for the moment. Some of us think a landscape
just looks nicer if it is filled with trees, shrubs, herbaceous
ornamentals, etc. And, of course, that ends up being better for the
birds, too.
I'm still perplexed by the local fondness for manicured grass. Most
Americans seem to like their lawns, but it's carried to a further
extreme around Lexington. Any idea why?
Sydney
On 10/26/2015 10:57 AM, Mark Tower wrote:
Thanks, Rose.
Is everyone else having this problem as well?
________________________________
From: Rose <canonrose@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 9:33 AM
To: markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ask] Depressing article
You have to subscribe to read the whole article.
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 26, 2015, at 8:15 AM, Mark Tower
<markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:markdt7@xxxxxxxxxxx>> 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
