For those of you who are bird watchers and have spent time along the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Town of Greece, Island Cottage Woods is familiar territory. Located along the east side of Island Cottage Road, north of the Lake Ontario Parkway, this small plot of forest is part of the Braddock Bay Important Bird Area.
Genesee Valley Audubon Society members have joined with the Genesee Land Trust, which protects the Island Cottage Preserve, to reforest it now, before it needs it. The Genesee Valley Audubon Society received a $1000 Collaborative Funding Grant from National Audubon for this reforestation project. The Preserve is composed of between 60-80% ash trees. Now, before the ash trees are attacked by the Emerald Ash Borer and begin to die, we are going to plant new trees.
Oak, bur oak, sycamore, hackberry and serviceberry will be included in the reforestation planting. The oak trees feed over five hundred insect species that feed native birds. The fruit and insects from the sycamore, hackberry and serviceberry trees will add to the variety of the food supply and shelter.
Volunteers are needed to help plant 100 saplings and place protective tubing and stakes. Join us on Sunday, April 26, at 9:00 am, if you are interested in volunteering. Bring work gloves, a shovel if you have one, wear boots, and dress for the weather. Please call June Summers, (585) 865-6047, to register.
Driving Directions: Exit off of Rte 390 onto Latta Road. Go east to the first intersection — Island Cottage Road. Go north on Island Cottage Road. The entrance to the Preserve is off of a small portion of Old Island Cottage Road on the east side immediately adjacent to the “Lake Plains Waterfowl” club house.
Approximate Address of Parking: 1000 Island Cottage Road, Greece, NY.
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