[CT Birds] Random thoughts

[COMINS, Patrick]

Quite a few marginally related thoughts on recent posts and news:

First off, kudos to The Nature Conservancy, CT DEP, Wyndham Land Trust and other partners on their $1.1M successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. This will help to protect 1100 acres in northeast CT in the Natchaug River Watershed, a key forested landscape in the state.
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=c8e664c0-c3cd-44c5-acb0-7a4d5b4a312c


Secondly regarding funding for wildlife, there are a couple of voluntary options for those who want to support wildlife conservation by the State.  Since it is tax season, there is an income tax checkoff option for funding of endangered species conservation in CT, so keep an eye out for the Endangered Species/Wildlife Income Tax Checkoff if you are like most folks and waiting to the last minute for your taxes.  Also, there are two Connecticut Wildlife license plates, one with a bobcat and the other with a Bald Eagle available from the DMV, the funding from which support the DEP Wildlife Division:

http://ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2702&q=323458&depNav_GID=1655
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325714&depNav_GID=1655

Also regarding forest history, some say that our forests were destroyed once before and our landscape has recovered, I will refer to Dr. David Foster once again who reminds us that unlike the last time our forests were cleared, this is a hard deforestation.  That is to say the current landscape changes are not for agriculture that has the potential to revert to forest at some point in the future, this clearing of the landscape is for hard infrastructure, housing, roads and business, structures that will not be abandoned and will not revert back to forest in the future.  Even if forest reverts on land cleared today, it will be permanently fragmented by the changes we are making. Additionally birds are facing pressures that were not present in the landscape in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, such as migratory collision hazards, pesticides, cowbirds in this part of the world, introduced predators (cats), invasive species...

Finally some bird sightings.

Several PALM WARBLERS at the Bent of the River yesterday, which provided a nice splash of color to remind me it is spring.  Now is the time of year to learn their song, as most were singing.  6 BLACK VULTURES were flying far overhead as I went into the Athenian Diner in Middletown for last night's COA Board Meeting.  They were way up and I ran back to my car to get my bins to confirm and sure enough all of them were Black Vultures.  Finally, had a nice treat with a male EASTERN BLUEBIRD in the yard this morning.  I know they're not uncommon, but it is nice to have one in such an urban/suburban setting.

Patrick Comins, Meriden.