I have not been back to Hughes Hollow in three weeks since finding my  
prothonotary nest boxes destroyed.  Today I was dumbfounded to find all the  
vegetation on either side of the main dike dead: the willows, grass, poison ivy,  
shrubs, wildflowers, the whole bit.  With it, the loss of some prime  nesting 
habitat.  This is also true on the cross dike headed west.
 
The destruction appears to be the result of massive herbicide application  
and one would assume that it was applied by the Maryland DNR.
 
Does anyone have any contacts in the DNR to check out the rationale for  
this, when it was done and the plan for the future?
 
Also noted, was the disposal of a dead dog in the left impoundment by one  of 
our stellar fellow citizens, or perhaps a dispatch of an unwanted dog on the  
spot.  In any case , it is digusting.  
 
The only birds seen were two pair of Blue-winged Teal, six Coots, and the  
usual other suspects.  
 
Bob Mumford
Darnestown