[mou] Sax Zim happenings

[Mike Hendrickson]

I still question the county and the state for the way they are handling the 
so call insect issue by mowing down the bog! The reason the Black-backed 
Woodpecker ( year round) and Three-toed Woodpeckers ( last winter ) are in 
the bog is most likely due to the insect issue. In the past  Black-backed 
Woodpeckers were not reported as much as they are recently. The Three-toed 
Woodpeckers last winter was a very good bird for the bog area these birds 
are very rarely seen by birders.  If logging down the "bend" on  Owl Ave was 
a good idea then I guess eradicating a migrant trap in the spring where on 
Big Days you could easily find abundant Blackburnian, Tenn, Magnolias, 
Black-throated Greens, Philadelphia Vireos and other passerines. Today its 
mowed down and I rarely stop here because the birds I mention above are gone 
or very hard to find.   You have to drive to other stands of woods that 
support these warblers! Also the stand of spruce and other conifers along 
Stone Lake Rd. use to have Black-backed Woodpeckers and Conn. Warblers! NO 
more!  The trees are mowed down!

By the way I am not only the NE birder that has issue with the logging 
practices in the Sax Zim Bog as I heard other birders chat about the issues 
as well!   Man has never EVER been able to manage habitats correctly. All I 
know is these managers spend more time correcting mistakes and creating more 
mistakes when managing habitats and wildlife. ( look or read about all the 
mistakes that happen when man decides to be managers of the land)  This will 
most likely be the same issue in the Bog.

So if you are going to help the Sax Zim area than the logging needs to stop, 
preserve the bog habitat as I read an article last month, that bog habitats 
are decreasing in the state. I also disagree with Sharon and not enough is 
being done by this Sax Zim group and so far the MOU org is doing a good 
thing by leasing land in the bog area and what I know so far the MOU will be 
hopefully leasing more land as well.  Thats progress vs. just talk.

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sharonks@mn.rr.com>
To: "Mike Hendrickson" <smithville4@charter.net>
Cc: "MOU-Net" <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: [mou] Sax Zim happenings


>
> As someone who has been attending the meetings I can say that one of the
> big issues being addressed is the misconception about logging.  Some of
> the trees had to be taken down due to exotic insect infestation.  The
> infested trees were removed to prevent the whole area being from losing
> trees.
>
> Another thing is that we are trying to find a way to work with locals so
> they won't get so angry at birders.  Some feel that it's a huge invasion
> of privacy having people stop in front of their homes with scopes and
> cameras to look at their bird feeders.  Though the law may be on the
> birder's side in this, it's not necessarily the neighborly thing to do.
>
> So far things are moving in a very positive direction and I am excited
> for the birding potential that will grow in this area.
>
> Sharon Stiteler
> Minneapolis, MN
> www.birdchick.com
>