Because it seems to be a depressing day for bird news, and because numerous NY birders head to Sandy Hook on occasion (me among them), below is a posting from Tom Brown on NJ Birds from earlier today (with links he provided for comment) regarding a Park Service plan that is likely to have a major negative impact on Raccoon Alley perhaps the best migratory passerine trap at the Hook
Hi All, There are plans to build a large maintenance facility from the rusty barn north to racoon alley, it would involve a great amount of disruption, if not utter destruction of one of the most productive/important areas at Sandy Hook in terms of migrants and resident birds/wildlife. I've sent a letter to several people in park service, NJ fish and wildlife (DEP), NJ division of USFWS, some local papers, and will be sending to others as well. The first one to make this public was the electronic NJ Patch: http://patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/please-oppose-national-park-services-plan-build-new-maintenance-building#.VCmJhqjD-cx At the end of the article is a link to the Park Service's website where comments can be made. I do admit the letter is a bit long, but hopefully is informative. http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=237&CFID=10251541&CFTOKEN=18ee3c538549fd9-967CBED4-D1D9-FC8F-41CA7394A66DE95E&jsessionid=0D5BB84EC3C3A5D6BD6D0E9330D00F57.ParkPlanning cheers, Tom Brown L. Trachtenberg Ossining -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
