Trimming the pastures and watching out for Bobolink

     Our 83-year-old Dad was recently out trimming the pasture fields around the property and barn even though we don't have animals on the farm anymore - it looks nice to keep these fields trimmed.

     Dad bought this Ford tractor in the summer of 1978 - we only use it occasionally now.  

     Dad was sure to watch out for the bobolinks birds.  My niece is working for The Island Nature Trust this summer helping to inform Island Farmers about this endangered bird.

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Young Lady from Cascumpec puts her studies to good use
June 25, 2014 West Prince Graphic www.peicanada.com

by Rachel Kameka Finley ( rachel@peicanada.com )

Image: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bobolink/lifehistory

     Shaylyn Wallace from Cascumpec has completed her first year of Holland College’s Wild Life Conservation and is currently employed with the Island Nature Trust for the summer. She is focusing her attention on raising public awareness about the barn swallows and bobolinks species of birds and educating people on how they can help to save the birds and also how to increase their population here on the island.  “We’re trying to find people who have barns that do not have steel roofs and asking them if they can possibly leave them open during the nesting season. A lot of people now have paved driveways and we’re asking those people to at least make a mud puddle because the swallows create their nests using mud.” Larry Tuplin from West Devon owns one of the farms where Ms Wallace has been conducting some of her research and gathering information regarding the barn swallows nesting activities. There are about 20 nests built along the rafters of the barns ceiling and countless birds currently making themselves at home there. When asked if he is concerned about sharing his workplace with the small creatures Mr Tuplin said, “I’m more of a nuisance to them than they are to me, but they put up with me.” He doesn’t seem to mind them at all.“They eat a lot of insects including mosquitoes”, added Mr Tuplin.  The other species of bird that Ms Wallace is attempting to help are the bobolinks. “They nest in hay fields and on the ground, so when hay harvest season comes too early many of the their nests are destroyed and their babies are killed and sometimes the adults as well. We’re trying to delay the harvest season until July 7, hopefully by then the babies will be off and on their own. If people have big yards of 3 acres or more we would like to see them wait until July 7 to cut their grass or if there are abandoned fields we’d like to see them remain a grass land instead of filled in with trees.” noted Ms Wallace.  Another thing that Ms Wallace is doing with the Island Nature Trust over the summer months is installing nesting ledges in barns all across the Island preferably in an ideal nesting atmosphere that is safe for the barn swallows. Which Ms Wallace stated is a barn that does not have a steel roof and where the doors can remain open for the birds to be able to fly in and out freely.  Shaylyn is the daughter of Glen and Diane (Jeffery) Wallace of Cascumpec.  If anyone is interested in helping out with the Island Nature Trust or would like to know more information Ms Wallace can be contacted by email at islandbirds22@gmail.com