Slowly but surely, beavers are taking down David Island on the Conservancy’s Silva tract. See the photo for recent evidence. There just aren’t any predators to keep their numbers in check. These trees are intended to be nesting trees for the Swainson’s hawk, one of the “primary species” the Conservancy is tasked to help out. The natural impulse is to not plant any trees anywhere near water. That is probably where we’ll end up going with this.
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), …