Date: 7/11/25 12:26 pm From: Kathy Van Der Aue via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Fran's Hammo post on phrags - PS
At Birdcraft, our tiny pond was being consumed by phrags some years ago and
Fred Sibley smothered them with old carpeting. He left it for three years,
and when he removed it, the phrags were dead. The native plants have
returned but the phrags have not. I realize this is impractical for huge
jobs but it seems to work for a limited area.
Kathy Van Der Aue
Southport, CT
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM Angela Dimmitt via CTBirds <
<ctbirds...> wrote:
> As a ps - phrags are a major invasive alien species so apart from harm to
> nesting birds, there is every reason to cut them back and every reason to
> try to eliminate them, since they are choking out the native marsh
> species. They are an ultimate bully on the rampage.
> Angela DimmittNew Milford
> On Friday, July 11, 2025 at 01:40:49 PM EDT, MICKY KOMARA via CTBirds <
> <ctbirds...> wrote:
>
> I agree, the phrags at the park are out of control. I have gotten the
> park in the past to better manage this issue, and at one point I thought
> was handling it very well. Even the entrance road was neatly trimmed. But
> since then, there has been a change in maintenance staff. Also, the park
> itself does not own equipment capable of cutting phragmites in the marsh,
> and relies on another state agency up the road to do this for them, and
> only when that equipment is available. That said, about a month back, I
> contemplated asking the park to make more of an effort, but became
> concerned for the wrens currently breeding in those areas. So I think, at
> this point, clearcutting the phrags might not be wise. But I have placed a
> call into park maintenance to see if some small openings can be cut to
> provide views into Boulder and Swan Ponds, and then go at all of it, if
> possible, after breeding season. It is annoying. I agree. And relentless.
> This spring, the phrags in the drainage swales off west e
> nd parking were cut back to mere inches, and now are choked with towering
> phrags. If I could but wave a wand ...
>
> Micky Komara
> Westbrook
>
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