When I first starting birding I ran into some people on the boardwalk at
Hoover that told me about Magee Marsh so I drove up there. That was in
September when most of the migratory birds were already gone. I can only
imagine how beautiful it will be later this month when I go up there again.
One thing disappointed me though. There is only a small strip of bird
habitat south of the parking lot. I have to agree with Bill that
eliminating the parking lot is a good idea.
There is a lot to see between the visitor center and the lake that can be
missed by driving back there in a car. A hiking trail or even a tram for
those who aren't up to all that walking would be an excellent idea.
Al La Sala
Columbus, OH
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill
Whan
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Magee Marsh and Crane Creek
I have been told on good authority that the Crane Creek State Park
property has been transferred from the Division of Parks to the Division
of Wildlife (Magee Marsh WA), effective 1 May 2008.
I welcome correction from those who know more than I on this topic.
I
assume press releases, etc., will be forthcoming about this change. We
will all learn more soon.
What will the Division of Wildlife will do with this property? Much
of
the the currently very rare wooded beach ridge habitat--what makes the
Magee Marsh bird trail so significant for migrant passerines--was
destroyed to make the extravagantly large State Park parking lot. In
fact, the whole area took quite a beating from three governmental
agencies--Parks, Wildlife, and the Ottawa Refuge--and the public, over
the years as they all had their separate ways with it. Some rancor
developed, but with time--and efforts by birders--migrant passerines
were generally recognized as the major beneficiaries of what little
remained. The fact that tourists came from around the world to observe
them did not go unnoticed either. Nor did the fact that we all take our
toll on the habitat.
What's going to happen, I wonder, to that huge, dry, barren parking
lot, as well as any sand, etc., delivered to the site to support the
beach? Eliminating it could eventually lead to a doubling or more of the
critical habitat, with partial restoration of its role in the lives of
migrant birds. Seldom do Ohioans have an opportunity to actually
increase such an endangered habitat.
But, some will ask, even if we have lots more habitat and lots more
birds, where will we park when we come to see them? A fair, if selfish,
question. There may be less critical areas off to the east along the
shore for fewer vehicles, but I recommend we follow the Canadians and
not use critical bird habitat for parking. At Point Pelee, they run
shuttle buses from parking lots in less important areas during busy
seasons. Probably during much of the year at Magee a much smaller
parking lot well east of the current one would serve. Or we could walk.
We'd probably see a lot more that way.
I hope ODOW will opt for wildlife--especially birds--rather than
humans
as they manage this property. Their record is spotty in this regard. As
for us birders, if we can't sacrifice a small convenience for the good
of birds, I don't see how we can expect anyone else to. What do others
think?
Bill Whan
Columbus
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______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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