Konterra Drive Pond, Prince George's County, Maryland, US - Hotspot

[Marcy Stutzman]

I just noticed that eBird created a hotspot for Konterra Drive Pond, Prince George's County, Maryland, US, so I made sure I updated my record.

Thanks eBird for being on top of this! It is interesting to me to see the variety of species being seen there. A friend of mine is a friend of the landowner, so I'll be forwarding him the eBird list so he can share it.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD 20724

[Gail B. Mackiernan %3Ckatahdinss%40comcast.net%3E]

That's been a hotspot for a while. Should everyone merge their various checklists for the Konterra area into this hotspot? (I did).

Unfortunately the area is slated for development, and has been for some time. However right now a lot of wildlife is enjoying it!

Gail Mackiernan

Colesville, MD

---

From: "Marcy Stutzman" <marcias...@netscape.net>
To: mdbi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2015 8:48:42 AM
Subject: [MDBirding] Konterra Drive Pond, Prince George's County, Maryland, US  - Hotspot

--
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com
Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html

[jugbayjs]

I hope Mike Bowen reads this. The existing hotspot needs re-named. Its current name is hardly indicative of the habitat of greatest value. I think the site was a former sand and gravel mine/quarry, and is now a reclamation site which as Gail mentioned has been slated for development. But it has been in its present condition more or less for MANY years. I think it should be named Konterra old field or Konterra reclamation site. It is an old field and that type of habitat has become rare in MD now, and is what draws all of the birds you are seeing or hoping to see at the site. I assume no one is going there to look at geese, which you can find anywhere and normally much closer if you want to see geese!

Jeff Shenot
Croom MD

[MikeBowen]

The eBird Hotspot just off Konterra Drive in PG County was originally set up some time in 2014 to recognize a pond right by the road that was attracting waterfowl. (That pond is currently frozen solid.) As Jeff Shenot pointed out, and as Jim Stasz advised me privately, the regular sightings of raptors here necessitates both a change in the name of the Hotspot and a small change in its location. The Hotspot has been renamed "Konterra Drive fields and ponds" and relocated closer to the center of the large open area. If and when the weather finally warms up, perhaps we'll be seeing waterfowl here too.

Michael Bowen
Bethesda, MD
eBird Hotspot Reviewer for Maryland

[Hugh McGuinness]

Just as an FYI, there was plenty of waterfowl using the pond on Saturday evening near dusk. The only thing I could ID at the great distance was Hooded Merganser. Can anyone advise about the best location for viewing the pond?

On a separate note, is there any chance this location could be converted into a grassland park? (It would have to be actively maintained to keep it grassland.)

Hugh

--
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com
Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html

--

Hugh McGuinness
Washington, D.C.