Hi Gail,
Great to know they are in the back (south) end too. I spoke with NPS staff about 6 motnhs ago and that's when they told me about how the concessionier that runs the other 3 DC golf COurse wants to get permission from the NPS to turn the land into a golf Course for youth. She said NPS was doing a feasability study and would welcome bird observatiuons from the area (specificially the souther end). I got the feeling from them that they don't think development would be good for the site, and "ecological" reasons - like the presence of conservation sensitive birds on the site could push it one way of the other. My fear is that even if the golf people can't get the money to clean it up, some sort of report is produced that says the ecological value is small and therefore okay to develop in the future.
Jason
________________________________
From: Gail B. Mackiernan %3Ckatahdinss%40comcast.net%3E <>
To: Jason Berry <>
Cc:
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] YB Chat - DC
Hi --
We've generally found the Chats in the "back end" that is, beyond the jersey barrier. Also Willow Flycatchers. This part of the park is abandoned (you will see the old bathrooms etc.) because the raised area between the road and the river is an old dump site with some toxic materials, at least that's what a NPS employee told us several years ago. Any development would have to clean up the site first, very costly...
Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD
________________________________
From: "Jason Berry" <>
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 11:18:56 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] YB Chat - DC
Hi All,
This morning I went looking for the Yellow-breasted chats that presumably nested at Kenilworth Park (not to be confused with Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) last year. The NPS has chopped down a lot of the invasive pear trees and returned the area to more of a grassland habitat. Unfortunately I didn't find any chats there. Not to be deterred, I went over to the southern unit where the jersey walls block the abandoned road. Just after walking 2 minutes I heard a faint call of a catbird. Then I heard the call of a scolding wren. Then I but 1 and 1 together and realized it was a singing chat! I pished a little and the bird flew into view. I took some nice photos and wonder if the more brushy habitat in the southern area of the Park is now better than the more grassland area to the north?
Jason Berry
Washington, DC
P.S. it's important to note that both sections of Kenilworth Park are at risk for development - the south parcel by a proposed Kiddie Golf Course and the north fragmented by 2 possible Bike Paths.
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