This morning, we began the flood-up of the Cummings tract. It is a beautiful site. Today marks the final day of actual dirt moving on the site, as crews are embellishing and enhancing the steep-sloped banks adjacent to water. This enhancement is for GGS benefit. This work should be completed today. Interesting note: Burrowing owls, one of the NBHCP’s covered species, have been spending a lot of time on the newly constructed Cummings preserve, especially around the rocked water control structures at the upper end of the managed marsh complex. Maybe scoping out new digs? Maybe moving in from nearby construction sites (north and east)? Don’t know, but it is gratifying to see this response so soon after the preserve wasn’t even a day past initial construction completion, especially this time of year. Going forward, it will be essential to minimize disturbance on the site so that we maximize chances covered species will colonize the preserve.
One Against Many?
The Conservancy uses a variety of tools to manage vegetation on its preserves, guided by a strategy known as “the soft path first.” One of those tools is grazing. Over the years, the Conservancy has used large grazing animals to manage marsh and adjacent upland vegetation, including Hereford, Black Angus, …