Beautiful Great Blue Heron clings to santuary at razed wildlife habitat at the hidden gem of an Urban Wild, the Goose Meadow at the BU Bridge. Great Blue herons are endangered by human activity and loss of habitat, such as the "vision" of the Charles River Conservancy, Cambridge MA, that seeks to remove all the messy "bushes" along the Charles, remove all understory, and "dead" trees.
The statuesque form and elegant plumage of the Great Blue Heron make this one of nature's finest achievements. It is not surprising that its Asian relatives have figured prominently in Chinese and Japanese art for centuries. While the sight of the Great Blue Heron in motionless contemplation of a potential meal or sailing majestically across a vast salt marsh is always a rare treat, the species is presently becoming more common in New England.
The Great Blue Heron is relatively quiet compared to other members of its family. The heron releases a soft "kraak" when it is disturbed and in flight. Other calls of the heron include a "fraunk" when the bird is disturbed near its nest, and an "ar" when the heron is greeting other members of its species.
Although the DCR applied for a Chapter 91 licence, they proceeded without approval. They have destroyed the nesting area that was nearest the BU Bridge. They cut down healthy living trees and bushes, and cleared away "old" nests." they erected barriers so wildlife cannot come up onto the banks from the Charles River.
The Charles River Estuary lies on the International North Atlantic Flyway, and hosts those water birds that continue to migrate, as well as those who have sought santuary here due to climate change.
The DCR has repetedly lied in public hearings and in their writen documents, falsly claimint that there is no habitat here, and no wildlife. Clearly, this Great Blue Heron is fishing from the False Indigo.
The DCR maintains that the vegitation they are removing is nothing more than weeds, and is not suitable habitat for the Great Blue Heron, much less any other wildlife. They are clearly wrong.
The DCR has clear cut the banks of the Charles River, so bike riders can have a nice view of the river, thereby destroying habitat all along the river.
We at CIPAPA, are trying to get our elected officials to stop this unlawful and immoral destruction of this precious Urban Wild. However, it would appear that the real estate developers, the contractors that want to build a highway, and the Universities have donated to the campaign war chests of our elected represenatives, clouding their critical thinking skills, and making them blind to violations of Mass State Law, the Wetlands Protection Act.
Can you imagine if wildlife habitat like this was destroyed in Alaska under Gov Sarah Palin, or in Florida under Jeb Bush? Woiuld not the progressive, the liberals Democrats scream in outrage? Why then, in liberal, Democratic, progressive Cambridge, MA, do they turn their backs on our precious wildlife and thereby permit and even engage in habitat destruction?
I have been informed it is because the DCR wants to drain water off the BU Bridge adjascent to the Goose Meadow. however, there is a water treatment plant also ajascent to the BU bridge, right on the other side. Why can't they link to that? Or drain it into the drains they already have on the highway?
I was told by Jenifer Wright, Cambridge Conservation Commission, in a phone conversation this week, that there is not enough room there. My response is there is not enough room at the Goose Meadow without destroying the wildlife habitat. So, instead of linking to the water treatment plant, they are destroying the wildlife habitat. And elimination the wildlife, like this beautiful Great Blue Heron.
Are Obama's stimulous dollars being used for this destruction of the natural wildlife habitat? Do Obama supporters care about it? Are they committed to preserving and protectinmg wildlife habitat in this era of climat change and habitat loss?
We at CIPAPA strongly oppose the destruction of the Urban Wild on the East side of the BU Bridge, and urge Governor Deval Patrick NOT to sign the Chapter 91 Licence that will resullt in ongoing habitat destruction and removal of these beautiful Great Blue Herons from the Charles River Estuary forever. This bird was photographed in April of this year, and is still here, and may be resident or migrating, or using a partial, or modified migratory pattern due to climate change.
http://CIPAPA.blogspot.com
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You did a great job considering the location. Herons tend to be solitary and, once situated, unmovable - especially to all of us trying to capture their images.
I coaxed one to return and perform for a hour one morning in rain, then hail, then an invasion of other shorebirds.
If I may direct you to two close-up encounters with a couple of Herons on two occasions, search YouTube for:
the novitiate
and search for a second titled:
solitrude
(that's solitude with an R inserted, for a reason)
5random1 10 months ago
Niles and Frazier are out birdwatching and stumble upon big bird.
Deepwatersecret 1 year ago
Its Either Block the Gease with Sediment Tarps that are Enviromental Controls to Prevent Construction Debries from Entering the River or Completely Polute the River.
kimpossibleFF5 1 year ago
Great "scooping" and interesting commentary on the developing "Tragedy Along the Charles".
ernievpfs 2 years ago