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Posted by Toe on 08:49:56 11/05/08
In Reply to: Tropical Kingbird, American Flamingo, White-tailed Kite And Other Goodies posted by Vince Lucas
The vegetation control is part of the mitigation requirements for the permitting process. This has been going on for 3 years, and always after they "nuke" the area the birding turns up a notch. However, in the past this control has taken place at the ideal time of year (March), which has cleared large patches of Cutler Wetlands for migrating shorebirds. The count in Spring on 2006 had huge numbers, including what may have been a state high of 45 White-rumped Sandpipers. Doing this control in November may not be optimal, since this is the time when we could get migrating rails and bitterns, two species which actually prefer some degree of vegetation cover.
Ducks, however, may find the area more attractive with more open area. As an example, last year the Flow-way was treated in late summer. By September there were good numbers of Blue-winged Teal showing up, plus many more shorebirds than at Cutler Wetlands, which was covered in vegetation. Duck numbers continued to increase at the Flow-way, culminating with the Eurasian Wigeon, among other species.
Bottom line, until an alternate as-yet undetermined management scheme for this site is found, this type of vegetation control is a necessary evil we have to live with. I think it's not a question of if, but wheather a question of when in the year is the best time to do it. We'll have to see how this year's spraying turns out.
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