Date: 6/5/25 1:38 pm From: 'Chris Caster' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: RE: [ia-bird] Bird habitat destruction in the name Invasive species removal for Prairie and Oak Savannahs.
I am responding to this message to encourage listserv members to get involved locally. I do think we have a role to play. I have many times seen brush hogged places and wondered "why?" I haven't done anything with that though. I think if I saw it happening I should stop to inquire what the workers are up to. They might have a good explanation. I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on the appropriateness of their methods, but I am curious. I am concerned that the DNR is underfunded and managers could feel forced to prioritize efficiency in their methods. I don't believe that the DNR is an evil organization. I do believe that they would prefer to manage habitat for all Iowa wildlife. But what little I know about invasive species in Iowa, it seems that land managers are really up-against-it. They need our support.
I also love birding edge habitat because you do get more bang for your buck there. However I'm not worried that we are losing it in Iowa. It seems to me that since we have logged, drained and tilled nearly the entire state, almost all we have is edge habitat. Most of our woods, prairies, and wetlands are marginal habitat at best. I do appreciate that there is an effort to expand and better some of these places. But it is certainly a work in progress and those of us who care need to become part of the solution. Myself included.
Thanks.
Chris Caster
Coralville
From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> On Behalf Of Clayton Will Sent: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 10:33 AM To: IA-BIRD <ia-bird...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bird habitat destruction in the name Invasive species removal for Prairie and Oak Savannahs.
Hi everyone,
I have held off on writing this because I know it will not be accepted by some but have in the past spoke with The Army Corp, Iowa DNR and the Naturalist for Big Creek. All relating to the destruction of bird habitat such as seen most recently at Lost Lake Trail - Ledges State Park at Cherry Glenn a couple years ago. Big Creek State Park every year even to the point of girdling, chemical spraying, then removing mature trees along with invasives on as small as one acre plots to turn into prairie.
When I was young the Iowa DNR promoted the positive impact that "edges" had on wildlife. Today it is all about prairie and oak savannah, nothing else.
I could go to Cherry Glenn and sit in one spot and see twenty species of birds including Warblers, Tanagers and Cuckoos. After the area was cleared of all undergrowth there has been none of these because the edges are gone. The same way with the walking path at Lost Lake Trail -Ledges which was a go to spot for me and others to see warblers in the Spring. This year they were few and far between after a group that thought they were doing the right thing cleared all the forest floor.
I think IOU should get involved with input on what works for birds but when I was on the board told "Oh no, we can't get involved with that".
Many of you have been taught in college that it's all about prairie and Oak Savannah but there has to be a reasonable acceptance that we are observing negative changes in our parks with these methods.
I recently visited numerous parks such as Lacey-Keosaqua and you don't see the Brush Hog destruction along roadways in the parks that lay there for years as at Big Creek and Army Corp property. I hope they don't follow suit at DNR directive.
When asked about large tree planting projects I'm told "We don't have funds for that". Yet there is plenty of money for equipment to destroy habitat. When asked if they were going to replant with native species to replace as they call "low value" berry bearing bushes, "We don't have funds for that". There's plenty of money for burning prairie which I don't have a problem with but there has to be a return to tree planting and "Edges". I don't understand how trees around the edges would negatively impact the prairie. The North end of Bays Branch in Guthrie county once had a very large woods/prairie area that once a Prairie Warbler was reported there. Now it's nothing but stumps and very few birds.
IOU could have some input on this if the board would be willing to be proactive and ask these organizations to consider the edges we need for birds.
