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.
Big bird
Photo taken by Conservancy staff at a Conservancy preserve, 2025. With this article is a photo of a Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) in flight. It’s on one of the Conservancy’s marsh complexes. While the Conservancy has prepared the preserves mostly for the benefit of the Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), …