Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

I hadn't taken the kayak out to shoot in a while. So I decided to take it for a spin on the nearby regional park lake.

Up at 4:30am to get everything packed and be out on the water by 6:00am sunrise, I shoved from the shore at 6:01. Not bad timing, so I was hoping for a great day. When I reached the back part of the lake, I noticed that people have been clearing some of the shoreline.

YIKES!!! I assume the park personel had adavanced on the wetland like an invasion since I last visited two years ago. There first attack removed all of the old half submerged cottonwood and willow trees. The second stage consisted of a full assault on the shoreline and removal of a large part of the cattails and surface water vegetation. Of course they were very careful to let the water hyacinths alone. The main invasive plant that is taking over all the waterways in CA since it's introduction.

The resulting avian fauna display I was expecting, was greatly diminished. No egrets, herons, bitterns, and now the majority of the birds are coots, Canada Geese, and grackles.

With much patience, I was able to capture a few interesting shots. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed capturing them for you. Enjoy

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RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Very nice

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Thanks

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Very nice Bozsik, so sad about work done by the Park personel

vonzip Loc: cape cod

Good captures both. Sometime we (park service personnel) think we have good intentions but it doesn't always pan out. vz

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Excellent results, David.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

I think they are seeing that the whole perimeter of the park would be easier to maintain if it all had lawn for people to picnic on. They probably didn't realize that clearing all the dead stuff and the trees eliminates the habitat for the wildlife. They were thinking, "well, this will provide more space for the animals and be easier for us to maintain", win,win. They see all the geese, coots, starlings and grackles in the cleared areas, so it must be good for the birds to have more open space. I now have to search for another spot with some vegetation with the standing water. It is difficult here in CA because we don't have any natural lakes like some of the other states. We have some at high elevations, but nothing other than Tahoe that is very big. None of them support a extensive littoral zone for fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.

Well, I guess it means I have to visit you guys in Florida, right? LOL

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

You are correct. I have worked with people in the past that were doing EIR preports before developers can begin their work. Many of them really don't have much knowledge on how ecosystems work, and how everything is interconnected. And then their report is used to determine whether or not some one can develop the land. It hurts both the developer and the wildlife, because many things weren't considered that should have been.

Sometimes the developers are shorted, and sometimes the wildlife. The funny thing about this lake is that the area they did the work on is about 1/3 of a mile from any of the facilities, and virtually nobody was going back there.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Nice set! Good to have you back on the job David.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Thanks Mike

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Nic set, David and very sorry about your experience and it seems to be happening far too often in many places.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

It is part of the human condition. Population is ever growing, and the consumption of land is part of the product. I am happy I lived when there was an abundance of wildlife in many areas of CA and access was greater to those places to visit.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia