The trees are leafing out, the marsh marigolds are blooming, and the West Rutland Marsh is sparkling after volunteers descended upon the area on May 7 as part of Vermont’s annual Green Up Day. Seven RCAS members joined town residents and other volunteers in the cleanup. Thanks to Dave McDevitt of the Nature Conservancy, our task was made easier by a team of ten AmericCorps of members, who used their day off to help with the huge task.
Mounds of tires, mattresses, computers and televisions, bags of household trash, and the usual roadside trash of fast food wrappers and beer cans were pulled from the roadsides and ditches around the marsh. Despite the mess, the birds were singing brightly, and while they may not appreciate the efforts, visiting birders in the coming weeks will.
If you haven’t visited West Rutland Marsh lately, now is the time! Most of the migrants are back including American and Least bitterns, Virginia Rail, Sora, and Marsh Wren. We await the arrival of the flycatchers, Willow and Alder, and maybe some surprises.