Indoor Program — Dave Winston: Love Your Patch!

Birders often have a favorite “patch,” a birding spot they love to visit again and again. But how do we take care of those beloved haunts, for our own and others’ future enjoyment? Tonight’s speaker has plenty of suggestions and he’s eminently qualified to deliver them. A lifelong and Master Gardener who spent three years at the NY Botanical Garden, he has been President of the Board as well as Head Steward of Stamford’s 83-acre IBA Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary since its inception in 2006. Basically, it’s all about stewardship, with a long term view being critical. But what exactly does that mean?  On our patch, we must look to the protection of the soil biology, plants, insects, invertebrates, small and larger mammals, and the birds that we hold so dear.  For example, how do we manage the forces of ecological succession to maintain desired habitat—because plant life changes with the succession and food quality is affected.  Some plants provide berries for birds; others, food for insects, which are important food sources for birds.  And different plants offer their food at different times of year: some provide berries in winter; others, in June.  Ideally, we want to assure bountiful food and shelter during migration times. How do we accomplish all of this? These considerations and questions are just some that Dave will help us ask and answer as we look for ways to provide the richest possible habitats for our wildlife. Dave’s talk, drawing as it does on the manifold lessons he’s learned managing Cove Island’s habitat, will be a veritable classroom for the rest of us.