Bob Mumford wrote:
>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.
>
>
Bob,
The size of vegetation along dikes would suggest that it has been
managed in the past. I have only been birding there since 2003. How and
when was the vegetation cut back the last time? Maybe the duck hunters
complained that the dike was getting to overgrown to hunt from. You'd
think DNR would be more selective (aware?) on how they manage the
vegetation along the dikes. If you get any answers, please share on
listserve.
Andy Martin
Gaithersburg
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