Download June 2012 Commissioner Carnell Foskey Nassau County

June 2012
Commissioner Carnell Foskey
Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums
Eisenhower Park Administration Building
East Meadow, NY 11554
Dear Commissioner Foskey:
As a user of Stillwell Woods Preserve, I am writing to support Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon’s efforts
to encourage Nassau County to properly manage a significant majority (2/3 of the approximately 20
acres) of the back field of the Preserve as a grassland/meadow. I also support implementing an
invasive species removal program (targeting mainly multi flora rose, mugwort and oriental bittersweet)
in the field as well as a mowing regimen that would not permit mowing in this area between April 15
and August 15th, when wildlife is utilizing the grasslands for cover and breeding purposes.
I also support keeping the 1/3 of the field maintained for the Silent Flyers continually mowed, or at least
mowed prior to April 15th, with regular mowing throughout the spring and summer in order to discourage
wildlife from utilizing the taller grass that would result, thereby resulting in the deaths of animals when
the area is mowed.
Thanks to the County’s decision to leave a portion of the back field in its natural state, grasses and
wildflowers have returned to the area, thereby creating important wildlife habitat that is utilized by a
wide variety of bird and butterflies (including monarch butterflies, an iconic species in North America
which faces an uncertain future due to habitat destruction in the US as well as its Mexican wintering
grounds).
Numerous stands of common milkweed, which Monarch butterflies depend on for feeding and
reproduction, have been observed in the field. Milkweed is an important wildflower, host plant to not
only butterflies, but over 400 species of insects, which then in turn provide an important food source for
birds.
Stillwell Woods Preserve is an under-appreciated natural resource in Nassau County. To date, over 80
species of birds, as well as 40 species of butterflies, have been documented here. In addition, the
Eastern Box Turtle, a state listed species of special concern, has been documented in the
Preserve.
Grasslands are our fastest disappearing ecosystem and it is vital that we preserve whatever grassland
we can on Long Island. Nassau County has the wonderful opportunity to properly manage one of the
last remaining parcels of grassland in the county. I urge you to protect this preserve for the benefit of
both wildlife and the enjoyment of the community. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Name______________________
Address____________________________________________________________