Advocating for the birds - any county, CO

[Donna Stumpp]

I have been working this week with the rangers to see if we can't change the timing of some dam maintenance that likely has negatively impacted birds in the Standley Lake Open Space. I realized that this is an opportunity to share an inspirational story from Dave Leatherman that led me here. Perhaps it will raise awareness and/or inspire others to consider how they might advocate for birds in their local communities.

I met Dave Leatherman this past winter while looking for the Gyrfalcon in Fort Collins. He was kind enough to show me and a friend around his patch, Grandview Cemetery. He shared with us the work he's done with the Cemetery grounds management to help preserve trees that, while appearing ready for removal, were still providing important nesting habitat for birds. Through his work and conversations with the grounds management, he has been able to change the standard maintenance protocols and preserve some important habitat.

I am thinking of Dave as I watch a large excavator with a mowing attachment mowing all rabbitbrush and other small shrubs off the top 75' or so of the dam. I've noticed it on other years, but now that I'm birding, I'm keenly aware of how much the Meadowlarks and sparrows enjoy and nest in it. I'm cringing as I watch it mow, knowing how bad the timing is for the birds. So I reached out to the rangers, who explained that the dam manager (it's a separate entity) schedules the mowing, and that she'll bring this up with him tomorrow in a meeting that's already scheduled and see if they can't mow much earlier or later to avoid nesting season.

Thank you Dave for the inspiration to reach out to our local city, county and/or water managers with win-win solutions, and see if we can't raise some awareness of the impact of some management decisions on other parts of the ecosystem. Often there are alternatives (like mowing earlier or later in the season) where no one loses and the birds can thrive.

Donna Stumpp

Westminster, CO

[linda hodges]

Donna and fellow birders,

Thank you for the reminder that each of us can play a part in protecting birds and their habitat.

Please keep in mind that your local Audubon chapter can be a substantial resource, and often has established relationships with various community agencies that can prove helpful.

In addition, Colorado Audubon chapters are part of the greater Audubon Colorado Council (ACC), which addresses wildlife issues regularly, and collaborates on a variety of conservation matters. You are welcome to bring any concerns to them, your own chapter, or your regional chapter -Audubon Rockies.

With gratitude to all of you who go the extra mile for the birds,

Linda

Linda Hodges

Conservation Chair

Aiken Audubon Society

Colorado Springs

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[Donna Stumpp]

I am so excited to share some good news on the dam-mowing front! I talked with one of the rangers at Standley Lake today (I have volunteered there for a long time so we all know each other well), and she shared that the irrigation district who manages the dam, FRICO, said they had never considered the impact of the mowing on the nesting birds, and would be open to changing the mowing schedule in the future!

In fact, they even invited the Park Naturalist to their next meeting to share information with the team so they can learn and adjust the mowing schedule accordingly! I am so thrilled. The rangers are diligent in their support of FRICO and the dam by diligently citing people who tresspass, and she suspected these efforts have built goodwill, making them receptive to shifting the mowing. As we all know, those who control the water in Colorado have a tremendous amount of power. I'm so grateful these parties have a good relationship so the birds will fare better going foward!

Donna Stumpp

Westminster, CO

 

[Deborah Carstensen]

Great work!!! Deb Carstensen, Arapahoe county 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 22, 2020, at 5:15 PM, Donna Stumpp <donna....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Nicholas Komar]

Congratulation Donna. A great Lesson for all. 

Nick Komar

CFO President

On May 22, 2020, at 11:03 PM, 'Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Great work!!! Deb Carstensen, Arapahoe county 

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