It might be interesting to get parties together to talk about management of
the fill. Or has this been done already? Blackberry is both a noxious
invasive weed, and a pretty good wildlife habitat. So CONTROL of blackberry
might be a better strategy for wildlife than outright removal. It would be
good for all the players, birders, horticulturists, Hikers, etc to meet and
share what they appreciate most about the fill and how to keep it in best
condition for all users.

My mother-in-law Helen Engle is an excellent facilitator of such things and
if there was interest to do this, she could probably be talked into lending
energy on this. Seems like a space might be found nearby to host such a
gathering at the UW.

Or has already been done?

Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com


-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Stuart MacKay
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 7:52 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Montlake Fill 9/1


This evening at the Fill:

4 least sandpipers on the central pond
2 ospreys flying around Union Bay
15 wood ducks in the lilypads at the SE corner - a 'personal best'
3 juv. green herons along the edge of Union Bay between the Fill and
Laurelhurst.

A great blue heron caught the most humungous catfish out on the
lilypads - it took a good 6 or 7 stabs to the head to kill it and just
about as long a time to swallow it. I am not sure how much energy
herons burn but I don't think this bird will need to eat for a few days.

I also noted, to my great amusement, was the series of "Why Mow the
Blackberry" notices that have appeared around the area - no doubt
stimulated by Connie's recent email sent to the Center for Urban
Horticulture and copied to this list. Seems that Seattle Audubon is to
blame for the early mowing of the area which lead to the untimely
demise of two Savannah Sparrow nests and much foraging habitat for the
various birds that used to inhabit the area, tsk, tsk.

The notice also states that the mowing is to control the blackberry but
a cursory search on the Internet yields numerous apparently
authoritative sources that state that mowing is generally not
effective, particularly if it is performed only once or twice a year -
as is currently the practise at the Fill.

Maybe short grass just looks nicer - to a horticulturist's eyes at
least.

Stuart
--
Stuart MacKay, Seattle, WA, USA

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