I recommend that people check out the waterfowl on Mill Pond from the sidewalk area *before* venturing into the brushy woods along the south side, if you feel a need to go there at all, because going into those woods where the path and benches are proposed may scare off the waterfowl.
About mid-day Sunday I parked on the east side of N. Cayuga St (NYS-90), and saw no reaction from waterfowl. When I crossed the street to the sidewalk and adjacent lawn to look scan the birds, those along the east shore moved away from the shore but otherwise continued their activities. I counted 135 Gadwall, 22 American Wigeon, 1 American Black Duck, 67 Mallard, 13 Green-winged Teal, 10 Redhead, and 19 Bufflehead. When I moved to the gazebo to continue viewing (the first time I've used it), birds in the southeast corner of the pond were more agitated and several flew as they moved to other parts of the pond. After putting my scope back in the car I walked around the south edge of the woods near the store, noting litter along that edge and a Pileated Woodpecker moving repeatedly west away from me within the woods. Then I returned to the sidewalk and walked quietly into the woods along a path which may be what the scout proposes to widen and promote. I was pleased to see that after a few yards there was no litter. However the waterfowl were alarmed even though there was plenty of brush between me and the south shore. At first there was a northward migration within the pond, but by the time I got as far west as about the midpoint of the pond the ducks began to flush. As soon as they began flying out I turned back, but more than half the waterfowl left the pond altogether. My next stops were Frontenac Park and the Factory Street pond but neither of these areas held the ducks that left Mill Pond. My apologies to those hoping to see those birds. I hope they returned. --Dave Nutter On Dec 01, 2014, at 02:25 PM, John and Fritzie Blizzard <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks to all who have written to me. > > I agree with Donna Scott about personal, paper letters. If necessary, I can > print letters to present to the mayor. I would like to have copies of > whatever is sent to the Mayor. > > Letters should be addressed to: > > Mayor Ed Trufant and > Board of Trustees, Village of Union Springs > Chapel St. on the Lake > Union Springs, NY 13160 > > *** The path specs are: Path is to be about 90 meters long, 1.5 meters wide & > is to be 3 meters from the pond at the west end & at the widest point will > be10 meters from the pond. (At one of the narrowest points about 1/3 of the > way down the pond, is where I have observed the wood ducks & babies entering > the pond. Whether their nest tree is still there, I can't say because I never > walked along the pond since it was private property.) > > Dave Nutter has walked the perimeter & has presented good observations. (His > precise pond bird counts yesterday were great!) Weather is getting nastier > but if anyone else can, & cares to walk the proposed trail area & state an > opinion, please do so. Note that the cleared area to the north of Shurfine is > private property so walk from Rte. 90 westward. (A LOT of the litter comes > from people who buy & eat their lunches at Shurfine & the pizza shop & throw > their trash out the vehicle windows.) > > I have a copy of the lad's proposal. He quotes: > > "There was an interest expressed in the public surveys of having a nature > center and trails within the community." Pg. 46 > > The Village Comprehensive Plan Recommendations for Natural Resources section > says: "Promotion of nature trails or a nature center in the vicinity of these > sensitive environmental area(s) (the North and South ponds) would also aid in > the protection of the area." Pg. 37. > > (If I recall, this Village Plan was written in relation to the first meeting > I attended 2 yrs. ago.) > > The lad said, "I think building the trail would help to enhance the natural > setting of the Mill Pond ..... would promote a deeper appreciation for the > bird life that uses the pond by educating the people who use the (proposed) > trail, through trail signs. It would offer a quiet place for people in our > village to come and enjoy some of the most beautiful wetland areas in the > region. It would enhance our village, by developing a natural resource that > we have & making it more accessible to our people." > > He proposes "small signs (miniature bird box shapes) along the trail that > identify some of the local bird species that trail-walkers might see nesting > or resting as they travel along their migratory route. ... would like to make > a sign that welcomes people & serves as a location to share information about > the history of the pond ... add 2 or 3 benches (along the path) to allow > people to sit & enjoy the natural setting of the pond as well as observe & > appreciate the natural wildlife that inhabits it." > > "If the Board accepts my proposal, I understand I will need to offer up > another proposal that specifies more clearly the specific materials we would > use & a clearer time frame for its completion." > > I must make a correction on my 1st letter. He identified a Red-necked grebe > as being a red necked duck, not an eared grebe, as I wrote. > > Thanks again for taking up this not-well-thought-out proposal which has good > intentions but needs birder level input. I don't want to squash his > willingness. Perhaps some think we as birders are selfish in wanting to keep > the pond a nature environment "for us & the birds." My feeling also is that > Frontenac Park has lots of walking, sitting area for the public to enjoy > nature & birds that aren't so close as to be easily disturbed. Dogs are not > permitted there (supposedly) but the ponds don't have that protection. > > Fritzie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > > Rules and Information > > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > > Archives: > The Mail Archive > > Surfbirds > > BirdingOnThe.Net > > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
