Hi Byron & MDOsprey members

I visited the downstream side of the bridge this afternoon opposite the gas station & down the road you mentioned, which must have been the previous bridge's approach road.  If you stand right next to the bridge you can see along the entire span as you also mentioned.  From 5:30 to 6:00 i saw at most 6 birds.  All but one was on the VA end just away from the tarped area.  Some of these sightings may have been of the same bird entering and leaving the bridge.  Although i had 7 x 35 bins, I couldn't positively identify them except to be sure that they weren't anything common like starlings or rock doves; they came and went too fast.  I'm assuming they were Cliff swallows.  I guess you must have been able to observe from the upstream side as well, but i didn't try to.  There are several possible reason for the relatively few birds present not incl that the bridge work took out the colony:

1. Perhaps most of the young have all fledged at this point as was mentioned in the MOS letter to SHA or
2. Perhaps the colony was using the upstream side to access the nest area this afternoon

At this point, we may never know what happened and may only hope to see the colony re-establish itself during the next nesting season.  

The Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. hopes to be able to work cooperatively with the SHA in the future to avoid bird/bridge work conflicts and that may be the most useful long term approach in matters such as this.  However, given the delay (continuing to this moment) in response by SHA in this matter, my approach in the future would be to contact the enforcement branch of the US FWS at the outset and let them deal with the state.  It may still be worthwhile bringing this matter to their attention, however.  I'll be considering that option seriously in the next few days.  

If you get a chance, please revisit the site and let me know what you find.

Jim (Michael) Speicher

--- On Tue, 7/27/10, Byron Swift wrote:

> From: Byron Swift <>
> Subject: RE: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow colony potentially at risk due to bridge project
> To: "'MICHAEL SPEICHER'" <>
> Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 8:23 AM
> Yes, and on the right side (across
> from the gas station - that does not have coffee) there is a
> small road also that gives an overview. 
> 
> Byron Swift
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MICHAEL SPEICHER []
> 
> Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 9:24 PM
> To: Byron Swift
> Subject: RE: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow colony
> potentially at risk due to bridge project
> 
> Hi Byron
> 
> OK.  I guess you mean from the gas station parking
> lot.  I'll see what i can see later this week and keep
> you posted...Jim
> 
> --- On Mon, 7/26/10, Byron Swift <>
> wrote:
> 
> > From: Byron Swift <>
> > Subject: RE: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow colony
> potentially at risk due to bridge project
> > To: "'MICHAEL SPEICHER'" <>
> > Date: Monday, July 26, 2010, 5:56 PM
> > Sorry the delay, am in Maine right
> > now - I just look at them from a few feet from the
> side of
> > the bridge on the Va side, imagine you could also from
> the
> > MD side - the swallows are more or less in the middle.
> It
> > may be hard to see all clearly if the tarps are
> covering
> > part of the site, but if you see them repeatedly
> coming in
> > and out that is a pretty good sign things are active.
> Might
> > take a few minutes. Thanks - tell me what you see. 
> > 
> > Byron Swift
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: MICHAEL SPEICHER []
> > 
> > Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 2:27 PM
> > To: byronswift
> > Subject: Fw: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow colony
> > potentially at risk due to bridge project
> > 
> > Hi Byron
> > 
> > I never got word back from you about:
> > 
> > > Bryon, would you be able to keep an eye on
> > things?  I
> > > think you are in DC, so i know that's asking a
> > lot.  With
> > > that in mind, is it possible to monitor the
> colony
> > OTHER
> > > than from the water?  I'm in the Brunswick
> > parking lot
> > > Monday thru Friday.  If it's possible to
> monitor
> > things
> > > from the ground and if you can tell me how/where,
> i'd
> > be
> > > happy to do that...
> > 
> > If the colony can be monitored from the shoreline, can
> you
> > let me know?  If it's necessary to access the VA
> > shoreline, i'm not sure how to do that? I've always
> assumed
> > that the VA shoreline was private property. 
> Thanks
> > 
> > Jim
> > 
> > --- On Wed, 7/21/10, MICHAEL SPEICHER <>
> > wrote:
> > 
> > > From: MICHAEL SPEICHER <>
> > > Subject: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow colony
> > potentially at risk due to bridge project
> > > To: "Kurt Schwarz" <>
> > > Cc: byronswift,
> > juliemayn
> > > Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 8:10 AM
> > > Sounds good, but in the spirit of Ron
> > > Reagan, it wouldn't hurt to verify/monitor the
> > situation. 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Also, i have to say that it seems VERY unlikely
> that
> > a
> > > portion of the bridge work was done last year,
> UNLESS
> > SHA
> > > had in mind from the beginning to take care to
> > preserve the
> > > Cliff Swallow colony.  IF that were the
> case,
> > what would be
> > > the reason for the two week delay in responding
> to
> > our
> > > concerns?  There is also the fact that Ryan
> > Hughes didn't
> > > even know of the existence of the birds.  If
> SHA
> > is taking
> > > a policy position to act in an environmentally
> > friendly
> > > manner, you would think they would want to
> promote it
> > at
> > > every opportunity. 
> > > 
> > > Julie do you have any thoughts on this?  Did
> a
> > portion
> > > of the bridge work take place last year?
> > > 
> > > Bryon, would you be able to keep an eye on
> > things?  I
> > > think you are in DC, so i know that's asking a
> > lot.  With
> > > that in mind, is it possible to monitor the
> colony
> > OTHER
> > > than from the water?  I'm in the Brunswick
> > parking lot
> > > Monday thru Friday.  If it's possible to
> monitor
> > things
> > > from the ground and if you can tell me how/where,
> i'd
> > be
> > > happy to do that...
> > > 
> > > Jim (Michael) Speicher
> > > 
> > > --- On Tue, 7/20/10, Kurt Schwarz <>
> > > wrote:
> > > 
> > > > From: Kurt Schwarz <>
> > > > Subject: Re: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow
> colony
> > > potentially at risk due to bridge project
> > > > To: "MICHAEL SPEICHER" <>,
> > > 
> > > > Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 4:22 PM
> > > > I respectfully suggest that everyone
> > > > please refrain from further action on this
> issue.
> > 
> > > I've
> > > > just spoken with Bill Branch, Environmental
> > Manager of
> > > the
> > > > State Highway Administration's Office of
> > > Environmental
> > > > Design.  He informed that a formal
> reply
> > will be
> > > > forthcoming from SHA Adminstrator Pedersen,
> > which
> > > should
> > > > address our concerns.  He also informs
> me
> > that with
> > > > regard to the birds nesting on the Virginia
> > side,
> > > that
> > > > portion was painted last year, so they
> don't
> > appear to
> > > be in
> > > > any danger.  I have also heard that
> the
> > swallows
> > > have
> > > > found a way around the tarps, so apparently
> they
> > are
> > > not
> > > > being adversely affected.  In addition,
> per
> > Birds of
> > > > North America, they should be out of nest by
> the
> > end
> > > of the
> > > > month.
> > > > 
> > > > Mr. Branch also indicated that they want to
> take
> > > advantage
> > > > of this occassion to COOPERATE on future
> > projects,
> > > seeking
> > > > data from US on birds nesting on highways
> > structures,
> > > so
> > > > that future projects can be scheduled, etc.
> > around
> > > them.
> > > > 
> > > > So stay tuned, I'm hopeful of a postiive
> > outcome.
> > > > 
> > > > Kurt Schwarz
> > > > Conservation Committee Chair
> > > > Maryland Ornithological Society
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "MICHAEL
> > SPEICHER"
> > > > <>
> > > > To: 
> > > > Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 9:56 PM
> > > > Subject: Brunswick (MD) Cliff Swallow
> colony
> > > potentially at
> > > > risk due to bridge project
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > To:
> > > > David O’Leary,
> > > > Conservation Chair
> > > > Sierra Club Maryland Chapter
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > and
> > > > EARTHJUSTICE
> > > > Founded as the Sierra Club Legal Defense
> Fund in
> > 1971
> > > > Washington DC Office

> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Dear Sir or Madam,
> > > > 
> > > > Please find attached two documents detailing
> an
> > > apparent
> > > > conflict between a nesting Cliff Swallow
> colony
> > and a
> > > bridge
> > > > renovation project in Maryland. My feeling
> is
> > that the
> > > state
> > > > has been less than fully responsive to
> requests
> > to
> > > relate
> > > > how they are acting to safeguard these
> nesting
> > birds,
> > > which
> > > > are protected under federal laws and
> treaties.
> > One
> > > document
> > > > (Brunswick Cliff Swallow Colony.pdf)
> contains
> > most of
> > > the
> > > > correspondence to date between various
> > individuals and
> > > the
> > > > Maryland, State Highway Administration
> (SHA).
> > [This
> > > document
> > > > will be best read using the FIT WIDTH
> formatting
> > > option.]
> > > > 
> > > > Ryan Hughes, Chief, Structure Remedial
> > Construction
> > > > Division
> > > > ) seems to be the primary
> > contact
> > > person,
> > > > although i have also corresponded with
> Geoffrey
> > > McCammon.
> > > > 
> > > > The second document (MOSletter.pdf) was
> crafted
> > by
> > > the
> > > > Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. in
> response
> > to
> > > my
> > > > request for their help in this matter. It
> was
> > sent on
> > > > 7/14/2010 by e-mail, but as of 7/17/2010 SHA
> had
> > not
> > > > responded.
> > > > 
> > > > As this may be a matter where urgent action
> is
> > > necessary to
> > > > prevent the destruction of this colony, your
> help
> > is
> > > being
> > > > sought sooner rather than later. If you are
> > unable to
> > > assist
> > > > in this local matter, please inform me of
> > another
> > > "like"
> > > > group that may be able to assist us.
> > > > 
> > > > Please note also that although i am cc'ing
> > several
> > > > individuals on this e-mail, that is for
> > informational
> > > > purposes only. I am solely responsible for
> > contacting
> > > you
> > > > for assistance in this matter. Thank You.
> > > > 
> > > > Jim (Michael) Speicher
> > > > Jefferson, MD 21755
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > >
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> >       
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
>       
> 
>