By Jerry Sullivan
So my list had a schizoid quality. It combined a number of species from the endangered and threatened list with species that are common as dirt.
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When I wrote the list there was little opportunity for testing its accuracy. “Yes! We have no savannas” could have been our state song. But lately ecological-restoration projects have been helping the native landscape make a comeback. I am deeply involved in these projects–both professionally and emotionally–so I have a strong rooting interest in them, and I am always happy to see evidence of their success. I am also hoping that reality will vindicate my list.
We have now cleared the arrowwood from a substantial part of the site. The huge old bur and white oaks are visible again, and conditions are such that we can hope that they’ll reproduce–something they could not do when the arrowwood was densely shading every square foot of ground.
We’ve got orchard orioles at Swallow Cliff too. Our common oriole in this part of the world is the familiar orange and black northern oriole. This is the bird that used to be called the Baltimore oriole because its colors were the same as those on the coat of arms of Sir George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore.
One year’s data is too slim a thread to hang any heavy conclusions on, but I do feel a certain satisfaction at the possibility that my predictions about the effects of restoration will come true. I will miss “putative” if I have to change the title of my list to plain old “Birds of the Savanna.” However, I think I’ll be able to bear the loss.
