Hi Terry,
For
the past ten days, I have been hearing reports about heavy machinery being used
in wet riparian habitat throughout the park, including the Shipley Nature
Center. The fact that this work is being conducted during the avian breeding
season without apparent biological oversight is highly disturbing. Note that
Song Sparrows begin nesting in February, and multiple broods of Pied-billed
Grebes have been seen in the Prado Basin. Habitat alteration under the premise
of a homeless-relocation stratagem began a couple years ago at the park, with
some degree of guidance seemingly being provided by the local chapter of the
Audubon Society. Since the initial efforts at removing dense pockets of
vegetation within the park, removal activities have seemed to have increasingly
less to do with the problem of homelessness and more to do with the fulfillment
of a maintenance department wish-list. Kim was told that the recent removal of
willow trees around the pond and the reeds that were currently being gutted
with heavy equipment were preventive measures related to a mosquito-problem.
While I don't doubt that this was true, there is a right way (and time) and a
wrong way for this activity to be conducted in order to ensure the maximum
safety of wildlife, and I have heard nothing that reassures me that the right
way has even been attempted. In my opinion, the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife's primary purpose is for situations just like this.

 

Jim Pike

HB  

 

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