During my time at Belle Isle I have been fortunate enough to be a part of some amazing and important projects. The incredible amount of wildlife present in the area truly astounded me. Coyotes, Fisher, rabbits and hundreds of species of birds, among others call this home. A respite for both ourselves and wildlife.
Being a part of the banding program at the park has brought me closer to birds than ever before, and I have come to learn firsthand how important habitats like Belle Isle are for so many species. In particular, the beautiful salt marsh sparrow, the only bird to nest in the high marsh. Both the sparrow and the habitat which it resides are threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. Many pairs of salt marsh sparrows breed and nest at the reserve, all the more reason why Belle Isle is such a special and important place.
For my own part I have been conducting research into naturally combating invasive species in the area. This summer while in the field conducting salt marsh sparrow surveys, we observed a native plant, marsh elder, that appeared to be outcompeting the surrounding invasive reed phragmites. We have transplanted several marsh elders in the reserve to test this observation. If it is successful, marsh elder could help to strengthen the marsh and restore habitat. It is much better at preventing erosion, provides more food for pollinators and seed eaters and has been shown to increase biodiversity over phragmites. This could help to fortify the marsh against rising sea levels and increase overall biodiversity in marsh habitats.
The dedication and knowledge of those I work with has been truly inspiring, and being a part of stewarding Belle Isle has been the experience of a lifetime for me.
By: Norman Buchman – Reservation Staff
