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Preserving
homes for river's birds |
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The shores of the Catawba River lakes are fast filling with homes,
marinas and other development. The waters teem with boats in summer.
But the islands? They're for the birds.
Those undevelopable patches of land scattered throughout the lakes
are a veritable oasis for herons, osprey and other wildlife.
"This is a piece of the habitat puzzle," said Tim
Gestwicki, regional manager of the N.C. Wildlife Federation. "(The
islands) are certainly threatened dramatically right now with the high lake use."
On Lake Norman, the volunteer Adopt-an-Island program has improved
conditions on the islands by picking up more than 40,000 pounds of trash in
less than two years. Now, the N.C. Wildlife Federation and Duke Power want to
go a step further by creating wildlife habitats on the islands on all the
Catawba River lakes -- including Lake James, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Hickory, Lake
Norman, Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie.
Like Adopt-an-Island, volunteers would be assigned islands to take
care of, Gestwicki said. Island Habitat Adoption volunteers will be trained to
make the natural habitats more inviting for wildlife.
"The gist is to bring some attention to what was categorized
as the 13th most endangered river in the country," Gestwicki said.
The Federation approached Duke Power about creating the island
program. The two groups have worked together on other programs, so Duke wanted
to be a partner, said Duke spokeswoman Mary Green in an e-mail.
"I go fishing there, I canoe there, I go out and bird-watch
there," said Jay Wylie, the program's volunteer coordinator. His volunteer
job will be helping Gestwicki organize the program and evaluating sites for
possible habitat improvements. "I thought it would be a good way (to give
back)."
On Lake Norman, Gestwicki said, the Wildlife Federation plans to
work with the Adopt-an-Island group, not compete with it or take it over.
"The Bralleys are doing a heck of a job," he said of
Chuck and Sandra Bralley, volunteer coordinators of island clean ups (solely in
Lake Norman). "This is not a competition program. Some of the islands will
actually be a part of both the programs."
If the Catawba River program succeeds, the Wildlife Federation
hopes to take the model to other N.C. rivers and lakes, Gestwicki said.
The first island was adopted Oct. 24 -- Sadler Island on Lake
Wylie.
The federation has spent the fall collecting wood duck boxes and
other habitat enhancements and lining up volunteers who want to adopt islands.
Individual families, scout groups, fishing clubs and community associations can
volunteer.
Responsibilities include cleaning the islands of litter if needed,
adding osprey perches, wood duck boxes or brush piles to improve wildlife
habitats and then maintaining them. Other cavity-nesting species such as barred
owls, prothonotary warblers, bats and flycatchers will be emphasized. Gestwicki
would also like people to keep records of birds, butterflies or unusual plants
they find on the islands. Planting vegetation to stabilize shorelines from
erosion problems as well as to benefit wildlife is also an important component
of the program.
"It's a way for the people who live along the lakes to get
involved," Wylie said, a way that will improve the islands for boaters who
visit them and animals who live there. "It's not their fault that the
areas were developed."
TO LEARN MORE
Contact the N.C. Wildlife Federation at (704) 377-4696.