Syracuse.com - Workshop for private landowners on wildlife and bird habitat management set for Saturday at Great Swamp Conservancy

[HuntingNY-News]

"We are bringing this high quality workshop as an opportunity to all private landowners to learn more from the professionals about how to gear your habitat towards the birds and animals that you want on your property," said Michael J. Patane, CEO/president of the Great Swamp Conservancy.

The following is a press release:

Audubon NY, the Great Swamp Conservancy, Ruffed Grouse Society and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are hosting a workshop for landowners from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Great Swamp Conservancy,8375 North Main Street in Canastota.

This event will educate landowners on the wildlife, in particular birds, commonly found in mixed agricultural and forested landscapes, how to encourage wildlife to use their property, and the resources, tools and potential partners available to help create habitat on their land. The workshop will be followed by a property walk from to to 3 p.m. to tour properties where different kinds of management have resulted in various types of bird habitat. Interested individuals can attend one or both for free, but registration is required for both. Bring your own lunch

"The Cowaselon Creek Watershed supports some significant tracts of grassland and shrub habitat supporting a great diversity of bird species, including Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Harrier, and American Woodcock," said Jillian Liner, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon New York. "Landowners in the region can play an important role in providing habitat to these species. This workshop will give participants the skills and contacts to make a big difference for birds and other wildlife on their properties."

"The same shrub and young forest growth that is essential to many migratory songbirds also provides much needed habitat for popular game species such as white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and Eastern cottontail", according to Andrew Weik, Northeast Regional Biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society. "Workshop participants will learn the techniques to improve their woodlots for these animals, as well as sources of assistance to get started in improving the habitat on their woodlots and shrubby fields."

"We are bringing this high quality workshop as an opportunity to all private landowners to learn more from the professionals about how to gear your habitat towards the birds and animals that you want on your property. We are lucky to have this group of speakers. Please come it will be a short meeting and I think you will find it very informational," commented Michael J Patane, CEO/President Great Swamp Conservancy.

"Since 2006, the NYSDEC Landowner Incentive Program has been partnering with landowners to conserve grassland bird habitat across the State," said Marcelo del Puerto from NYSDEC "We are working with landowners in this area and hope to increase that effort in the future."

This workshop is free, but registration is required by emailing or calling Jillian Liner at ([email protected]), 607-254-2437. Registration deadline is Friday.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog