"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it."
― Laurence J. Peter
Though this is somewhat old business, how many of you are aware that the City of Middleton plopped down a solar array over southern Wisconsin's largest concentration of Bobolink nesting habitat at Morey Field? It's true. One may argue the case that we really do need alternate forms of energy, but the reason this was installed probably wasn't a case of Middleton being conservation-minded ― no, it was likely to prevent future airport expansion. Thus, perhaps the parcel was doomed anyway.
But knowing Richard Morey, he knew Curt Caslavka and I began leading field trips over a decade ago on this parcel of land, and actually encouraged us to keep doing so. He knew what was there. Former Public Lands Manager Penni Klein knew the Bobolinks were there, but I can't speak to what the current one does or doesn't know. I suspect any expansion would have likely been in the eastern part of the field where the Bobolinks wouldn't have been impacted. Did the City of Middleton conduct any environmental or wildlife impact studies? I'm unaware of any. Anyway, it's a solar array ― yay! We're all so very green!
This is simply yet another sad example of how imperiled grassland birds keep losing ground. I would have thought a veritable Wisconsin Bird City would have been a bit more sensitive to the plight of Bobolinks and other prairie species, but I guess scoring political points is more important than avian conservation.
What is a Wisconsin Bird City supposed to do?
"Bird City Wisconsin provides highly visible public recognition to municipalities that understand that healthy communities are the sum of many parts, including birds. We support our communities in their efforts to protect and manage green space, educate their citizens, build and erect nesting structures, landscape with native plants, reduce threats to birds like collisions and outdoor cats, and generally make urban areas both friendlier for birds and places where people want to live and work."
"Bird City Wisconsin provides highly visible public recognition to municipalities that understand that healthy communities are the sum of many parts, including birds. We support our communities in their efforts to protect and manage green space, educate their citizens, build and erect nesting structures, landscape with native plants, reduce threats to birds like collisions and outdoor cats, and generally make urban areas both friendlier for birds and places where people want to live and work."
Middleton doesn't deserve this recognition. Naturally, there's nothing that can be done about it now. The Bobolink colony has already been dramatically reduced in numbers ― those birds that may have found suitable habitat elsewhere would be extremely fortunate. However, given the nature of high nesting site fidelity, the chances are against that positive outcome. Because of Middleton's dimwitted deeds, Curt and I will no longer lead this field trip.
Want to write someone and tell them how empty-headed and contradictory this was to the mission of Wisconsin Bird Cities?
Mayor Gurdip Brar: mayor@cityofmiddleton.us
Photographs taken when Bobolinks had a better situation at Morey Field.
All images © 2021 Mike McDowell