"State of the Regional Birds" w. Sharyn Magee, Hannah Suthers @ D

Princeton, N.J. -- D&R Greenway Land Trust, which has preserved nearly 21,000 acres of wild habitat in central New Jersey, will host an important lecture on the State of Birds in our region on Tuesday, February 4. Doors open for light refreshments at 6:30. Presentation begins at 7pm. Cornell Ornithology Lab has recently released a report estimating that North America has lost an estimated 2.9 billion birds since the 1970’s. A major factor in this reality is habitat loss. The State of Birds lecture on February 4 is free and open to the public. It will be held at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton. To attend, call 609-924-4646 or email RSVP@drgreenway.org.

Key birders, Sharyn Magee and Hannah Suthers, of Washington Crossing Audubon have monitored local bird populations for decades, particularly on D&R Greenway’s 400-acre St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell. Their reports impact the larger database upon which the Cornell study is based. Participants will learn of trends observed locally. Magee and Suthers will identify birds most at risk in our area. A major driver in their own birding experiences is the importance of expanding habitat protection, protecting native species, especially bird life.

The new study on the dramatic decline of bird populations was led by the Cornell Ornithology Lab and published in the journal Science in October. The study found more than 1 in 4 birds have disappeared. Particularly startling is the realization that most impacted seem to be historically common species, such as sparrows, blackbirds, warblers, and finches. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/09/nearly-30-birds-us-canada-have-vanished-1970

“We are seeing these declines in local bird populations,” reveals D&R Greenway President & CEO Linda Mead. “This lecture is a rare opportunity to hear from the front-lines of wildlife conservation. The Cornell study is a wake-up call for everyone who cares about wildlife. One solution is joining our 31-year mission to preserve natural habitats. There are important but simple steps individuals can take in daily life to protect birds.” Mead reveals that “Sharyn and Hannah are special people who have devoted many years and profound expertise to helping citizens understand and protect bird life.”

Hannah Suthers will be sharing a lifetime’s work. In addition to visual counts, Suthers has faithfully collected data through “bird misting” - a practice that involves setting up a net on two poles, much like volleyball, to catch and release birds. This allows the ornithologist an up-close look to assess characteristics, including size and health. This technique used by trained scientists provides significant, detailed data. Suthers has conducted this time-intensive research weekly, throughout most of the year, in the same spot in the Sourlands for forty years. This provides unique data that can’t be found elsewhere.

The results of the birders’ lifetime work are used by D&R Greenway to inform its management activities on preserves. In addition to preserving land, D&R Greenway’s staff promotes healthy wild animal and plant life through careful land stewardship. The staff plants and protects native plants that support bird populations such as oak, hickory, black cherry, arrowwood viburnum, lowbush blueberry, black chokeberry, and bayberry. D&R Greenway’s stewardship team ensures plantings are protected from deer browse with individual fences while the plants are getting established.

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D&R GREENWAY LAND TRUST IS IN ITS 31ST YEAR of preserving and protecting natural lands, farmlands and open spaces throughout central and southern New Jersey. Through continuous preservation and stewardship -- caring for land and easements to ensure they remain protected and ecologically healthy in perpetuity -- D&R Greenway nurtures a healthier and more diverse environment for people and wild species in seven counties. Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission, D&R Greenway’s mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and for the future. Since its founding in 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently preserved 20,903 acres, an area 25 times the size of New York City’s Central Park, including 31 miles of trails open to the public.

The Johnson Education Center, a circa-1900 restored barn at One Preservation Place, Princeton, is D&R Greenway’s home. Through programs, art exhibits and related lectures, D&R Greenway inspires greater public commitment to safeguarding land.