Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 11:45:50 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Jed Kusterer Subject: Re: Blackwater Tree Planting Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-7 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline Hello all, 30,000 new trees at Blackwater? Won't that alter the habitat there? Will = the NWS be converting badly needed field and grassland habitat? =20 With so many old fields going to forests, mowed lawns or suburbia in = Maryland, wouldn't it be wiser to develop and maintain endangered natural = tall grass habitat? It is, after all, the orchard and meadow breeding = species of birds that are in decline in MD =AF Bobwhite and Grasshopper = Sparrows for example. I think the Boy Scout who asks these kinds of = questions should get a Soil and Water Conservation Badge for NOT planting = the trees! Seriously, has the NWS conducted an environmental impact = study?=20 I'll be sure to contact Forester Tom Eagle at the number below and ask. = If anyone knows more about this please let us know. =20 I am not sure what the NWS plan is and don't mean to "tar" it. I am sure = there are good peple working on preserving and maintaining Blackwater = properly. But, I think this is a good opportunity to ask questions. =20 In general, the importance of maintaining open land habitat (not mowed = lawns!) is just beginning to be understood by conservationists and the = concerned public. There is still a lot to be learned by all of us. =20 Not all birds (or wildlife) live in the woods! Jed Kusterer Washington DC =20 >>> Denise_Ryan@LCV.ORG 03/05/03 10:19AM >>> This Saturday (March 8) there will be a tree planting event at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, MD. They hope to plant over 30,000 trees as they celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Refuge = System. ..... The Volunteer Coordinator is Bev Waggoner and she can be reached at 410-228-8355....=20 If anyone has additional questions, Forester Tom Eagle may be reached at 410-228-2692 X 111. .... Boy Scouts working on the Soil and Water = Conservation Badge who plant 100 trees would fulfill a requirement for that badge. Denise Ryan Washington, DC =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com=20 with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =========================================================================