tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201378124228558245.post650538745568718889..comments2024-03-28T17:07:55.110-07:00Comments on Strategies for Stewards: from woods to prairies : Learning from Long-ago Leaders: Dick Buck and Roland EisenbeisStephen Packardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201378124228558245.post-65441770981661875462017-05-27T12:45:39.421-07:002017-05-27T12:45:39.421-07:00I enjoyed reading these reflections. I did have a ...I enjoyed reading these reflections. I did have a couple meetings with Roland Eisenbeis. I never met Dick Buck. <br />The FP seems more responsive (less insular) now. I wonder if it is or if they have just learned to project a responsive image.JWPbosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14235480168365185617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201378124228558245.post-24070578098397745122017-05-26T20:26:43.392-07:002017-05-26T20:26:43.392-07:00You looked just as idealistic and determined in th...You looked just as idealistic and determined in the 1970’s as you are today. I can see why they let the ‘prairie folks’ manage Somme Woods Prairie. They were probably thinking, “Give them something to keep them busy so they stop asking us stuff.” I don’t think anyone anticipated how much the initial effort would grow.<br /><br />I think people doing habitat management should realize that the backward steps the ‘prairie folks’ faced are not unusual when an area is managed by a bureaucracy. My local parks department (or their contractors) continues to spray herbicide on restoration areas to no discernable benefit and often mows during the dormant season before the conservation department has an opportunity to burn. <br /><br />One rather ironic outcome of the yearly mowing is it makes the areas easy for the geese to access. The geese then repeatedly graze on all the grasses, sedges, and even the spiderwort. The ironic part is one of the selling points for planting prairie species along the pond was it would deter the geese. I’m sure the geese would be deterred if the area could escape mowing for a season.<br /><br />I am hopeful that eventually signs will get posted along the restorations telling park district employees and contractors to not spray or mow without first consulting the conservation department. It may take many more thousands of dollars of damage and a mower or two getting stuck in the mud before signs get posted. However, I hope it won’t take too many more mishaps before the parks department consults its conservation staff before doing things.James McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813312887957290703noreply@blogger.com