I would like to suggest the possibility of a Purple Martin house. It
would be too expensive for the scout but perhaps some birders could
help. Fritzie.
*******************************************************************************************
Fritzie,
Attached, as well as copied below, is my letter. I hope it helps. I am
mailing by USPS a signed copy this afternoon, but you may also reprint it.
--Dave Nutter
243 Cliff Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
4 December 2014
Mayor Ed Trufant and Board of Trustees
Village of Union Springs
Chapel Street on the Lake
Union Springs, NY 13160
Honorable Mayor and Trustees:
As you know, Mill Pond is a gem. As a field trip leader for the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology's course, Spring Field Ornithology, I always bring my
students here. In fall, winter, and spring its calm, ice-free water
shelters a stunning array of waterfowl. What's better, they can all be
viewed from the east end near the sidewalk, even shy species which
prefer to keep their distance and stay near the brushy edges, including
Wood Ducks and Green Herons in the breeding season.
This past Sunday I found over 250 ducks, the majority Gadwall, but also
males and females of American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal,
Redhead, and Bufflehead, plus a single American Black Duck. Such a
wonderful study opportunity is typical at Mill Pond!
Having heard of a scout's proposal to encourage foot traffic in the
woods on the south side, I entered it for the first time on a small
path. I was pleased there was no litter within the woods, yet dismayed
that a Pileated Woodpecker fled. The ducks were so alarmed by a single
quiet person in those woods, not even close to the shore, that they
didn't just move away from that side of the pond, over half of them
flushed and left the pond altogether as I reached the midpoint. They did
not stop at Frontenac Park nor the Factory Street pond which I checked
shortly afterward.
I fear that people using the narrow woods on the south side of Mill Pond
will greatly diminish the value of this area, both for the birds and for
everyone who appreciates them. I urge that the habitat on the south side
be kept intact and that the energy of the civic-minded young man be
re-directed, perhaps to the east end of the pond.
There may be people who do not realize how unique Mill Pond is or who
would like to know more about the birds that visit. I have helped design
interpretive panels about birds along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in
Ithaca, and I would be happy to assist this scout and the Village of
Union Springs should a similar project be of interest. My email address
is nutter.d...@mac.com, and my phone number is 607-229-2158.
Sincerely,
David M. Nutter
On Dec 01, 2014, at 02:25 PM, John and Fritzie Blizzard
<job121...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Thanks to all who have written to me.
>
> I agree with Donna Scott about personal, paper letters. If necessary,
> I can print e-mai 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."
>
> 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:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/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/
--
Mill Pond letter.docx
Description: MS-Word 2007 document
