Monthly Feature Hosted By:
	Anthony L. Williams, CGCS at Marriott’s Stone Mountain Golf Club in Georgia

Environmental stewardship at the golf facility often requires a variety of personal skills and encompasses many projects. Some of the most dramatic stewardship efforts are habitat projects. There is something special about fledglings first appearing in a nesting structure that results from a concentrated effort or project. That fledging scenario reminds us of the importance of our role as stewards of the Earth and how every small effort makes a difference.

This month we are featuring a great case study that captures the spirit of stewardship and is by Brian Sepot of Longshore Club Park in Westport, Connecticut. This case study is a snap shot of the synergy that is created through stewardship, community involvement, and of course the majestic osprey. The Osprey project began as a way to add nest sites for Osprey along Long Island Sound and Grey’s creek.

One of the heroes in this project is Chris Kosinski, a local Boy Scout, who used this project to help him reach the very impressive rank of Eagle Scout. Permits were obtained and Chris built the actual nesting platform with the help of his parents and fellow scouts. Materials were donated by the local power company and on installation day yet another volunteer stepped forward with a bucket truck to place the nesting platform on top of the 45 foot support pole.

The team work on this project is very impressive and is only overshadowed by the two Osprey fledglings that called this inspired habitat home in 2008. Take the time to check out the pictures that document the details of this case study and the next time you are planning a habitat project consider expanding the team by gathering resources and involvement from the entire community.

June's Guest:
	Amanda D. Rodewald Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology School of Environment & Natural Resources The Ohio State University

Brian Sepot shows how habitat management can promote conservation of sensitive wildlife, such as the Osprey. Habitat describes the food, cover, water, and space (e.g., places to raise young) requirements for a species. Because the needs of each species is unique, habitat management is most successful if one first identifies the target or focal species, as Brian Sepot and Boy Scout Chris Kosinski did when they decided to improve habitat for Osprey. Thus, specifying goals, in terms of species or habitats, should be the first step of any management effort. Explicit goals help you concentrate efforts on activities that likely to achieve the desired result.

In terms of implementation, a variety of habitat management strategies can be effective – from modifying the vegetation (e.g., planting trees), to landscaping with native plants, to installing special habitat features (e.g., nest boxes or platforms). As a next step to the Longshore Club Park project, other elements of Osprey habitat could be improved. For instance, maintaining vegetation buffers around the tidal estuary may improve water quality and, consequently, food resources for Osprey.

Keep in mind that the long-term success of any management effort requires not only careful planning and implementation, but also evaluation. The Boy Scouts might monitor the number of young produced by birds using the platform as a measure of success. Care should be taken to avoid attracting birds to areas that cannot support successful reproduction (i.e., ecological traps). This case study highlights the role that thoughtful habitat management plays in improving the conservation value of golf courses.