It’s always exciting to visit our ecovillage site and see how construction is progressing. Even more exciting is catching glimpses of animals, and to know that our ecological community is being supported while the landscape is changing. In late spring, a northern mockingbird was spotted feeding on the ripening fruits of a serviceberry (aka Shadbush, Juneberry) planted in one of the rain gardens, which capture and filter stormwater runoff and allow it to soak into the soil.
During a recent site tour for visiting members, two of our frequently seen red-tailed hawks were observed. One of them landed on sloping bank of an erosion and sediment control basin, while the “jug-o-rum” call of a bullfrog was heard nearby. A variety of other birds, groundhogs, and deer are often seen, and occasionally, wild turkeys. We anticipate that the careful planning and design of our site, as well as our future land stewardship, will continue to provide the important ecosystem services that sustain both our human and wildlife neighbors.
– Becky Lubold, RCE Founding member
