The White Oak Trail will be getting a butch haircut soon. Refuge staff will be mowing this brushland field as part of their habitat management plan. Bushlands require periodic maintenance to regenerate and support dependent wildlife – like the American Woodcock, a bird that uses brushland during nesting, brood-rearing, and foraging activities.

So, be prepared. The White Oak Trail and surrounding brushlands along Pleasant Plains Road will look very different after mowing. But brushlands regenerate quickly and new vegetation will emerge in less than a year, bringing in many kinds of songbirds.

Sure, the White Oak Trail will seem a little bare and open for a while, but this is a great opportunity to track and enjoy emerging vegetation as the field regenerates over the coming year. Active management helps to sustain both brushland and woodcocks – and ensures successful Woodcock Walks each Spring.

Photos: Marilyn Kitchell