Wooded Island and habitat history, birds, and the future 2007: restoration agreement at last?
This page is presented by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, its Parks Committee and its website, www.hydepark.org, with cooperation from Jackson Park Advisory Council. Written by Gary Ossewaarde, HPKCC Parks Chair.
To: Birds
and Birding home page, including in Jackson Park and with links to birding
organizations
A bird register in Jackson Park 2003
Birds
to watch for in Jackson Park 2003
Purple
Martins and houses in Jackson and South Shore Cultural Center parks 2004-05
Osaka
Garden in Wooded Island
Wooded
Island Doug Anderson 2003 tour.
The Old Oak.
Lagoon History/Rehab.
Bob-o-link
Meadow.
Dogs and Wooded Island.
Compare
with the Washington Park
Arboretum.
Parks support organizations links.
Conservation links - at end of the
Green page.
Here:
Good
news/bad news, based on a June article in the Tribune: The bird counts
plummeted in most natural areas in Illinois in late 2006 and in 2007, thought
to be largely due to West Nile. However, counts went up in the one area restored
though extensive removal of buckthorn and other invasives.
Bird number severe decline in 2006 may be due to similar forces, and storm death
of many trees, more than to partial removals on Wooded Island.
In 2007, bird numbers are slowly rebounding on Wooded Island. A Chicago Audubon
article was supportive of the Park District policy of selective removal of invasives.
A major summit of all the interested parties, including scientists such as Doug Stotz of Field Museum and facilitated by Friends of the Parks resulted in a road path to progress on Wooded Island forest management and new planting. However, the park district natural areas people want time to develop a comprehensive plan over the early fall 2007, that it will it will vet with the expert institutions and organizations and birding groups. Meanwhile, work in the natural areas will be confined to Bob-o-link Meadow despite invasives gaining in strength on the Island. See the following features.
Hyde Park Herald coverage, August 22, 2007. by Georgia Geis
Birders, Park no longer at odds
A heated debate between two of Jackson Park's most devoted groups has finally been resolved, with birders on longer protesting Chicago Park District plans to remove some of the invasive growth in the park.
Last January, Hyde Park resident and longtime birder Doug anderson, outraged by a decline in bird numbers at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, declared that, after 33 years, he had led his last bird tour. Anderson blamed the Chicago Park District's October 2006 clearing of he area, as well as storm damage, for the lack of birds.
Eight months later, Anderson has gained a better opinion of the Park District's restoration efforts, and he still gives occasional bird watching tours. "The bird number are not as bad as I had thought," said Anderson regarding the number of birds spotted at the Wooded Island, which he believes is still dramatically diminished at almost half of most yeas. Anderson said bird watchers can still catch glimpses of Robins, European Starlings and Cardinals at the island, though Woodpecker and Bluebird sightings have become very rare.
Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) vice president Ross Petersen said he thought the situation was blown out of proportion. Petersen said that non-native invasive trees and plants must be cleared out of the beloved bird habitat. "If you leave the Mulberry, it will destroy all the other species," said Petersen.
This summer, Friends of the Parks hosted two meetings between members of the park district, JPAC, bird watchers, including Anderson, and Doug Stotz, a bird expert from the Field Museum. "We all went home happy after these meetings," said Erma tranter, head of Friends of the Parks.
Adam Schwerner, director of natural resources for the park district, said the area can not be left alone. Like all "natural areas" in the city, Schwerner said, it must be managed by removing fast-growing, invasive species. schwerner said some people encouraged him to move forward quickly and start restoration clearing, but he wanted to wait until everyone could discus the plans.
Petersen said the park district was doing the right thing clearing invasive species, which include White Mulberries, Alder, Buckthorns, and Ailanthus, or "Trees of Heaven." Without biological controls in the area, this vegetation literally takes over, killing native plants and making the area dense and almost impenetrable.
Petersen point out the areas of wooded Island that used to boast beautiful vistas of the surrounding lagoons. These "windows," he said, have been almost entirely filled in with invasive trees.
Schwerner said that opening of the vistas is something park patrons can look forward to in the coming years. The work in Jackson Park will be very gradual to minimize the impact on bird populations. Anderson said he agrees with the park district plan as long as they live up to their promise to replace the invasive trees with more healthy native trees like Washington hawthorns, Elderberry and Red Barbs, including varieties of the very slow growing oaks.
Stotz, a leading bird expert who got his Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Chicago in 1990, agrees that the clearing must be very gradual and should not be done during the spring and fall bird migration. "This is not going to happen overnight," said Stotz.
Petersen points out that the center of Wooded Island is an oak savanna first envisioned by the founder of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, in 1891. In the true savanna, the enormous oak trees were spread far apart, with their branches stretching out high over the floor, providing shade yet adequate sunlight for the shorter brush and grasses below.
"The park district has done a good job of recognizing the significance of places like Wooded Island," said Petersen. "I hope we are back on track and can put this controversy behind us."
[Picture captions: "An invasive species, ailanthus altissima, commonly known as "Tree of Heaven," spoils th beautiful vista of the lagoon in Jackson Park. The plants have also wreaked havoc with the surrounding ecosystem."
"An oak tree lies uprooted after two severe storms in 2003 and 2006."
"An example of the canopy oak trees provide."
Ross Petersen shows toppled oak trees that will be removed by the Chicago Park District due to their massive size."]
by Gary Ossewaarde
Jackson Park and specifically Wooded Island has for decades been known as one of best places for birds and to see birds in the Midwest and perhaps the world. Especially in spring and fall, millions upon millions of birds pass by on the Lake Michigan Migratory Flyway, many stopping for rest, food, water and shelter. Other birds use the park year round. For over 30 years Doug Anderson has led morning tours two and more times a week.
History, habitat and landform
Jackson Park has been reworked several times as landform and habitat. As found by white settlers, it was a mix of sandbars, marshes, and lake Michigan embayment, several of the former hosting oak savannah. Little of the park was developed before 1890, even by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose 1871 plan envisioned the park as peninsulas and lagoons, playing and picnic fields. Wooded Island (or rather peninsula) was a sandbar thought to be thousands of years old and the latest (probably for a long time) succession phase was as an oak savannah, surrounded by marsh and old beaches.
For the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Olmsted designed-- as a centerpiece for the respite of fairgoers-- a large central island that was really the old oak savannah sandbar noted above, spread out and surrounded by a set of deepened lagoons that would connect to Lake Michigan via the Fair’s Court of Honor to the southeast and to the northwest to a grand canal going all the way to Washington Park’s lagoons (the canal part of the plan left unrealized except for preparatory hollowing). Even though he was overruled as to the solitude and the barring of exhibits on the island, he planted a vast array of land and water plants, by no means all native, and doubtless with little knowledge or maybe thought as to whether they might spread wildly and choke each other out. The main feature representative of civilization was a Japanese Ho O Den or phoenix temple and associated features and housing in the southwest corner of the island.
After the Fair and up to 1905, Olmsted's firm redesigned the Wooded Island and lagoons, adding many land and water plants, including a large number of willows, most of which reached the natural end of their lives late in the 20th century. Left intact on the island and other places such as south of the Columbia Basin during and after the Fair were several centuries-old stands of burr oaks and many other trees attractive to birds and wildlife. One major new feature was the Rose Garden in the center-south of Wooded Island.
The Rose Garden and much of the Island by the middle of the 20th century was progressively neglected and underwent several phases of abandonment to wild growth followed by clearing and either thin and thicker planting according to various templates. Looking at an aerial photograph of the Island from the late 1930s, the growth seems thinner than at any time before the start of the 21st century. However, experienced persons, including Doug Anderson, say the vegetation had grown very thick in the 1930s-50s and remained so until recently, except for sections virtually clear cut under various reconstruction plans carried out by the park district in the 1980s and later. Also starting in the 1970s, new and expanded Japanese gardens and structures with adjacent park setting lawns were installed in the northeast part of Wooded Island, the lagoons connections with the harbors were severed and whole parts of the lagoons filled in for a Nike missile base. (Community uproar aborted plans to build part of the base on Wooded Island.) After dismantling of the base in the 1970s, some of the base was turned into Bob-o-link woods and meadow, the latter an example of turning inability to grow anything high due to compaction of the base into an opportunity for an additional wildlife habitat that has been very productive for birds and other wildlife.
Productivity and reconstructions
Experts from conservation groups prepared indices of bird productivity in Jackson Park in 1990s, showing the wonders of this spot and serving in development of a template for planting that is widely approved to this day. At the end of the old century, a series of reconstructions and replantings were undertaken in the island and the lagoons, including recreation of eroded former islands and shore and an effort to restore circulation and aeration in the lagoons, neither completely done nor completely successful. In fact, most of the planting (which did not entirely follow the template) were not maintained or were crowded out or actually killed by invading plants. Many thought and continue to think that Wooded Island and the then-remaining sub islets were overly cleared and the new plantings were at the least insufficient in attracting and serving bird populations. Many new plantings died from fluctuating lagoon levels, drought, and lack of attention and replanting. In 2003, a storm microburst felled many large trees including oaks throughout the park, including Wooded Island. In October 2006 another storm felled over 70 trees, leaving the canopy considerably more sparse. Top
Many, including members of the park council and park district staff, felt that the various layers or stories (all necessary to a healthy habitat) were out of balance—a thick under story increasingly composed of runaway invasive plants and brush that some said contributed to safety concerns and cut off historic vistas, but not enough mid story and top canopy. Disagreement developed over whether and which non-native and so-called invasive plants are really productive to birds and should remain (see below). The council and park district began a more aggressive program of removing invasives and overgrowth in parts of the island, but could not keep up--and when they did, the noticeable difference caused objections, especially when they caused or coincided with drops in bird numbers.
Some, including especially birders have called the removals of fall 2006 a clearing and excessive and attribute a severe decline in bird counts they made to th clearing. They issued, especially in early 2007, postings, letters, and other protests appealing for a moratorium on removals, faster and better planting that includes some said to be bird-useful species that raised doubts on the other side, and to not use the short-life contact herbicides to kill garlic mustard and brush trees such buckthorn and white mulberry.
Council leaders say that relatively little has changed or been eliminated on the island and that the perhaps over aggressive removal was in only 5 percent of the island. The park district is firm on the need, including with volunteer workdays, to remove invasives and other overgrowth and apply the herbicide as well as to plant a biodiverse, bird and wildlife friendly habitat. But the District wants the plan to be one that all parties can agree on.
See about the favorable outcome but moratorium on Wooded Island at the top of the page.
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Some realities (see also letter below) Efforts at sound management of original or reconstructed habitats have been stymied in recent years by what trained naturalist experts consider mistaken ideas. Why naturalists, the park district and Jackson Park Council favor removal of "invasives." No one proposes to remove all non-native species or even cleanse out all invasives (if that could even be done). So which?
Heavy removals on Wooded Island are done in checkerboard fashion. Only about 5 percent of the island recently has undergone extensive removals. More removal on the island as a whole was done by storms and subsequent removal of dead limbs (some of which should remain for birds) and "widow makers" than by invasive clearing. Planting, especially of ground cover and low shrubs, is the most urgent need, already begun in winter 2007 and to continue as plant stock being grown gets ready and timely. Late in 2007, the park district is expected to begin replacing trees lost to storm damage. Replanting of the lagoon-edge plants put in during the early 21st century is uncertain because controls to the fluctuation an circulation of the lagoons put in at that time have apparently failed. Regrowth on the island will take time. Application of fast-decay herbicides will continue. This is necessary to keep up. From time to time, brush has to be cleared from paths and around benches for security reasons. Side paths are widened and covered with wood chips. Volunteer
teams are absolutely necessary to maintaining the natural areas. The site
stewards (team leaders) of the various natural areas meet with each other
and experts regularly. Friends of the Parks will be having a symposium
series in April on natural areas management. If you would like to help
with the jackson Park program, call Ross Petersen, 773 486-0505. For Burnham
Sanctuary (north of 47th) call George Davis, 773 268-4856. |
Some letters. Those judged by this editor (GO) to look toward reasonable, implementable ideas are printed at length.
One letter by a Hyde Parker bird watcher sees no point in “species cleansing.” She says the island is largely little-visited, unsafe and remote anyway; why risk what’s there to try to turn it into a “4-star native species preserve” as another letter writer favored. She said the money should be spent on removal of trash and litter. Another accuses the council and district of trying to create a mythical or at best one-moment past for the Island. This writer says the removal was too great, it is impossible to stop time especially with climate change accelerating, and an “oak savannah” is not as productive to birds as what wants to grow there naturally—including a monoculture of wild onions.
Weighing in are others that said that beavers, which recently reappeared but moved on, should be encouraged to locate in the park, perhaps as a living museum, despite evidence that if they are present in any considerable number they tear down the trees.
Two letters in the February 7 2007 Herald urging patience and consideration of the reconstructive policy:
Elizabeth Wyman: Give Wooded Isle time
The removal of non-natives for native plants at Wooded Island holds some wisdom. In a plan that's been tried out North Park Village, a vigor of life was seen. It may not be immediate, but I have been told by the National Audubon Society that bringing in the native plants helped bring back more butterflies, bees, birds and other forms of native live. I is for the good of our park that this has been done. Let's face it, the Chicago Park District or organizations relying on volunteers can only do things in certain ways. Wooded Isle might not be all that pretty now, but in two years it will be spectacular.
Carolyn Ulrich, editor, Chicagoland Gardening magazine: Change in Wooded Isle wont happen overnight.
There appears to be some confusion about why non-native plants are removed from natural areas such as woods or prairie. Nostalgia for some romanticized past has nothing to do with it. Rather, the purpose is to restore th area to a state of health so that birds, bees, butterflies, other insect pollinators plus wildlife such as fish, amphibians and mammals can thrive.
Non-native plant species do not generally provide sufficient, or the right kind of food and shelter. Any healthy habitat requires an abundance of plants native to the area, and the more diversity the better.
Those who attended Pat Armstrong's Jan. 31 lecture on native plant landscaping at Augustana Lutheran Church (sponsored by the Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee) were amazed to learn that she has counted up to 86 different kinds of birds on her one-third acre corner lot in Naperville, which is planted with 330 different native Illinois flowering plants, trees and shrubs. She saw 53 different birds on the site last year, and her butterfly population is also impressively rich. Such bounty simply doesn't happen on a landscape dominated by lawn, non-native trees, and geraniums.
Just because a plant is green doesn't mean it is good. Kudzu (aka "the plant that ate the South") looks pretty, but we now know that introducing it from Japan in the 19th century was a terrible mistake. since its natural insect enemies do not live here, there has been nothing to stop its voracious scramble through the countryside where it now covers seven million acres, having choked out everything in its path.
As for Wooded Island, removing non-native plants is laudable in principle, but removing them in stages rather than all at once would no doubt have been a better approach.
What's important now is to ensure that the cleared area is replanted with native plants this spring. Also, we need to be aware that it takes time for any plant to mature. beneficial change may occur, but it won't happen overnight.
Adam Schwerner, Director of Natural Resources, Chicago Park District
Hyde Park Herald, February 28, 2007
Alarmed at the article entitled "Silent Spring" (Jan. 3), Hyde Park Herald readers should know td hat Wooded Island exhibits numerous essential features of a park that includes history, beauty and ability to provide habitat for animals. A balance needs to be reached between these sometimes competing priorities and it is the responsibility of the Chicago Park District to reach this balance.
During the latter part of last summer, the Chicago Park District met with community members, and contractors to create an action plan for the overgrown area that volunteer tours guide Doug Anderson refers to in the article. Anderson, who was invited to all the meetings, was apparently unable to attend. It was determined during these site visits that there was an excessive amount of unmanaged growth that had occurred in recent years. Most of the excessive vegetation was in the form of invasive species of plant that do not provide many of the region's birds, and most migratory bird species, with a diverse food supply.
Buckthorn, a prominent part of what was removed on the island, is a non-native large shrub/small tree that, when left to grow unchecked, will smother all other types of plants and create a curtain of foliage. Buckthorn is highly invasive and makes it difficult to maintain the integrity of the environment. This plant actually is unhealthy for birds, causing them digestive difficulties.
Because the 'natural' systems of our parks are systematically affected by human beings, those human beings must also be responsible for managing the problems. Part of this management responsibility is controlling non-native and invasive species that do not have natural enemies to control their pooulati8ons. The work that was done at Wooded Island this fall will restore t he island to a more historically appropriate planting and in the short term will provide bird species with a richer more varied environment within which to flourish.
Recently, we have had productive discussions with Doug Anderson and look forward to working with Mr. Anderson, the Jackson Park Advisory Council and the community regarding the continued restoration efforts on Wooded Island.