I took a lunchtime walk around the Mall today.  Highlights were few:  Several Caspian Terns flying over the Tidal Basin and an adult Red-tailed Hawk soaring over the Mall in front of the National Museum of American History.
   The lowlight is definitely the renovation work that has begun on the DC World War I Memorial (commonly called  by me the "DC Veteran's Memorial").  The structure itself is desperately in need of renovation, and I'm happy to say that work has begun.  However, it seems that the renovation effort required the removal of all adjacent plants that could remotely be called 'understory'.  The azaleas, dogwoods and even the 40 ft hollies that lined the  walks to the memorial are all gone, leaving only the elms and oaks.
   Also,the area south of the horse barns has been cleaned of scrub, bushes, etc, leaving little but trees.  
   There are still some shrubs and understory in the area between the Veteran's Memorial and the WWII Memorial.
   All in all, this area south of the Reflecting Pool should feature poor birding for some time to come.

Jim

Jim Felley
Smithsonian Institution