A while back they got rid of non-native invasive vegetation at S. McKinney to improve the area and better support conservation efforts. I went to the blind today to look for ducks and was very surprised to see zero ducks and lots of heavy machinery (construction vehicles) instead. The whole area surrounding the pond was bare and had no more plant cover. Gone is the phragmites. It was explained to me before that phragmites were invasive. I’m hoping that’s why the pond by the blind looked so bare. I was curious if anyone knew if all of that was still related to the conservation restoration project. The heavy machinery in the same area as the relatively new Amazon facility across the road made me wonder if something less nature-minded and more industrial/commercial was going on. I realize marshes are generally protected and not going to Amazon but you never know. Does anyone know what is happening there? I saw 3 great blue herons, a RT Hawk, white throated sparrows, a junco, and that was about it. No ducks whatsoever. Thought I saw a harrier in the distance but it turned out to be a Red Tail. If anyone knows the status at S McKinney, I’d be curious to know what’s been going on there. Thanks! Ellynne Rey (Stamford)

There is a major restoration project taking place there to restore the habitat. I’m sure the National Audubon website or the McKinney website can give you more information. Sent from my iPhone Maria Stockmal East Haven > On Nov 30, 2021, at 11:22 PM, Ellynne Rey <ellynnerey@gmail.com> wrote: > > A while back they got rid of non-native invasive vegetation at S. McKinney > to improve the area and better support conservation efforts. I went to the > blind today to look for ducks and was very surprised to see zero ducks and > lots of heavy machinery (construction vehicles) instead. The whole area > surrounding the pond was bare and had no more plant cover. Gone is the > phragmites. It was explained to me before that phragmites were invasive. > I’m hoping that’s why the pond by the blind looked so bare. > > I was curious if anyone knew if all of that was still related to the > conservation restoration project. The heavy machinery in the same area as > the relatively new Amazon facility across the road made me wonder if > something less nature-minded and more industrial/commercial was going on. I > realize marshes are generally protected and not going to Amazon but you > never know. Does anyone know what is happening there? > > I saw 3 great blue herons, a RT Hawk, white throated sparrows, a junco, and > that was about it. No ducks whatsoever. Thought I saw a harrier in the > distance but it turned out to be a Red Tail. > > If anyone knows the status at S McKinney, I’d be curious to know what’s > been going on there. Thanks! > > Ellynne Rey > (Stamford) > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/