D.C. Monastery Needs Bird Surveyors
FROG (FROG@usgs.gov)
Fri, 19 Mar 1999 09:10:06 -0700
D.C. MONASTERY NEEDS BIRD SURVEYORS
The Franciscan Monastery is a 100 year-old community of 23 friars on
42 acres in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. near
Catholic University.
The garden staff at the monastery and a newly-established Garden
Guild are interested in better managing the grounds for wildlife. One
goal for 1999 is to create a baseline of already-present avifauna and
other creatures using the property. We are looking for volunteers to
give us a hand doing a survey--or a periodic series of surveys--this
year. It will focus on birds.
The monastery grounds feature formal gardens open to the public, but
also has a three-acre woodlot and 15-acre mowed field behind the
building complex.
The Garden Guild cannot guarantee, but there is a chance of
receiving a special blessing from Saint Francis, patron saint of
ecology, for involvement in this project. What we can guarantee,
however, is a bouquet of cut roses for each visit.
Please contact Steve McKindley-Ward in Mount Rainier, MD at
301-927-1720; Or: steveandmimi@juno.com Thanks!
This has been posted for Steve by Sam Droege, please reply directly to
Steve. I have been to the monastary grounds myself and they are
beautiful. They are very interested in increasing the attractiveness
of the grounds to native birds. They are thinking about converting
the 15-acre field into a native meadow, which would be wonderful. Not
only will you get roses, but you can help influence and monitor their
decisions for improving their back 40 for birds and other wildlife.
When I was there this winter, a winter wren was pip-piping all
throughout their grotto areas. Should be very good for migrants.
sam
When Nature had made all her birds,
With no more cares to think on,
She gave a rippling laugh, and out
There flew a Bobolinkon.
-Christopher Pearse Cranch.