Re: [cayugabirds-l] Follow-up communication to Cornell re mowing of hay at peak nesting time
Wonderful. Thanks so much. Sent from my iPad On Jun 27, 2021, at 1:42 PM, Jody Enck wrote: Hello birders, After receiving lots of input, ideas, and resources from many of you, I put together the letter below and sent it to the President and one of the Vice Presidents at Cornell (as noted in the letter). Thanks to all who have expressed their concern and who provided important input to this very first step in developing a solution. Special shout out of thanks to Nancy Cusumano for her initial contact with the President, and to Suan Yong, Josh Snodgrass, and Ken Rosenberg for comments on an earlier draft of the letter. Martha E. Pollack President, Cornell University 26 June 2021 Dear President Pollack, I am writing as Chair of the Conservation Action Committee of the Cayuga Bird Club to communicate and amplify public dismay about recent, poorly-timed mowing for forage hay crops on Cornell lands during the peak nesting period for grassland bird species listed as being of special conservation concern by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I have been contacted by many local birders, including farmers and members of the Cornell University community who are saddened and angry about the situation. Recent research lead by Cornell scientists and published in the journal Science (see Rosenberg, K. V., et al. 2019. Decline of the North American avifauna. Science 365(6461)) found that nearly 3 billion birds have been lost from the U.S. and Canada just since 1970. Populations of grassland bird species like Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, and others have declined the most, down 53% in aggregate, accounting for more than 720 million grassland birds. Poorly timed mowing of hay crops, especially throughout the Northeast, is a major contributing factor in the decline in grassland bird populations. Rather than contributing to the problem, Cornell can help remedy population declines of grassland bird species by developing a plan for sustainable management of the substantial acreage of hayfields and other non-woody habitats under the University’s control. The Cayuga Bird Club stands ready to collaborate with Cornell in developing a plan. We already have accumulated relevant documents about research and practices aimed at timing of mowing and other management actions that would be of great use in developing a Cornell sustainable grassland management plan. For example, mowing earlier in the season before establishment of nests and when growing hay is of high forage quality can have nearly as much conservation benefit as delaying mowing to a time when quality of the hay forage is lower. We also have established contacts with federal and state natural resource agencies who are knowledgeable of possible financial reimbursement opportunities for which the University may qualify. Cornell University has an opportunity to be a leader among all Land Grant Universities by developing a model grassland management plan that could be adopted by other institutions throughout the Northeast and beyond. Such a management plan also could be consistent with Cornell’s sustainability initiatives. While the current initiatives are laudable, the focus on renewable energy, transportation and built environments, and even economic sustainability miss an important need. All of these actions are means to achieving the fundamental end of a full and functioning ecosystem of which we humans are a part and are on which we are dependent for our survival. The modern concept of “sustainability” emerged fairly recently in the famous 1987 Brundtland report, “Our Common Future”, prepared for the U.N. In that report, sustainability was described in terms of conserving the ecosystems and natural capital which are necessary for the basic needs and well-being of humans. The fundamental end of sustaining ecosystems and natural capital is noticeably missing from the Sustainable Cornell website. Indeed, it was unclear what individual from Sustainable Cornell would be the most important recipient of this letter. I am copying Vice President, Rick Burgess, on this letter because he responded to Nancy Cusumano when she expressed her concern about mowing. Also, I think it is somewhat ironic that one of four Cornell Chronicle articles headlined on the website of the Office of the President at Cornell, under the heading “Academic Distinction”, is this headline about the Science article I referenced earlier: “Nearly 30% of birds in the U.S. and Canada have vanished since 1970.” Knowledge about the plight of birds exists at Cornell, but does the administration have the willingness and commitment to actively address that plight?
[cayugabirds-l] Warblers in sapsucker
Magnolia, Black-and-white, ,and Canada Warblers just now on the north side of Wilson Trail Sent from my iPhone -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods
There was also an Eastern Kingbird by the small pond on the Wilson Trail this morning. Becky Hansen Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods
Enjoyed seeing Golden-Crown Kinglets, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Rusty Blackbirds on my walk in Sapsucker this morning. Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods
There was a nice, very active flock of warblers in the woods this morning. Birds I managed to see included Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Black-and-White Warblers, Northern Parula, Least Flycatcher, and Common Yellowthroat. There were many besides those. But the highlight for me was two Northern Waterthrushes over by the Sherwood Platform. Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods
Early evening amid a big group of chickadees and titmice I found one Cape May Warbler in the evergreens by the pond overlook near the lab. Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Salt Point
Two highlights of Salt Point this morning were a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and a Wilson's Warbler. Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods warblers
There were several Common Yellowthroats, a Black-and -White Warbler, and a Blackburnian Warbler in Sapsucker this morning. Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Rough-legs
I believe I probably saw those same two rough-legged hawks (that Kevin mentioned) this morning, at about 11, as I drove on Sapsucker Rd. north of the lab going to Rte. 13. The light one flew right along over the road and then the dark one came from behind and followed it for a bit. Afterwards the light one perched in a tree on the north side of Rte. 13 for a while before flying away to the north. Very beautiful to watch! Becky Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Bluegrass Lane
I went to look for the Blue Grosbeak where it has been reported. I did not find it but a large bird flushed from near the edge of the cornfield which looked to me like an American Bittern. It flew about 20 feet and dove back in. If anyone else sees it I would love to know if that is what it is. There was also a Northern Harrier cruising by. Becky Hansen Sent from my iPad -- 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/ --
