and Tobiah Schulman, Conservation Commission member
The Hinesburg Conservation Commission (HCC) has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to continue habitat management at Geprags Park in 2024. Work took place the weekend of February 23-25, 2024, and involved cutting and grinding woody vegetation to both remove invasive species and promote the dense new shrub growth that is important to priority shrubland bird species in Geprags Park.
Since 2012 the HCC has been working with Audubon Vermont to manage Geprags Park for priority shrubland bird species. These include golden-winged and blue-winged warblers, American woodcock, Eastern towhee and brown thrasher. Geprags was, in the past, home to one of the only hooded warblers in the state. Past work has focused on removal of invasive plant species (primarily honeysuckle and buckthorn) and maintenance of native shrub communities. These shrub communities, dominated by dogwoods and viburnums, provide important nesting habitat and a reliable food source for fall migratory birds. They also produce an abundance of flowers that are great for pollinators.
This work will create the disturbance necessary to promote the dense shrub regeneration these birds need. While small areas will look a bit shorn at first, the regrowth that happens will be incredibly beneficial for the birds and keep them coming back to Geprags Park and thriving. Mark LaBarr of Audubon Vermont will be offering a bird surveying walk and workshop at Geprags Park on June 1. Stay tuned for more information.
For more information, contact Audubon’s Mark LaBarr (mark.labarr@audubon.org) or the Hinesburg Conservation Commission (hinesburgcc@gmail.com).