LOCALadk Magazine

28 Fall 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk The riparian zone is the strip of land bordering a stream or river. The ecological communities in this zone are critical in many ways to the health of the river itself. They provide flood control, nutrient cycling, erosion control, buffering of runoff (from roads, pastures, croplands, forestr y, and urban areas), wildlife habitat, and so much more. Moreover, riparian zones provide many social amenities – places to walk, hike, fish, bird watch, etc. Many books and papers have been written on these topics, and countless conser vation efforts around the world are focused on riparian restoration. Here, we'll narrow our focus to riparian areas as wildlife habitat, and in particular habitat for birds along the Ausable River and its tributaries. Birders, using eBird, have identified a number of "hotspots" for birds along the Ausable River and its tributaries. Places where significant aggregations of birds may be found include areas such the Chubb River where 110 species have been recorded in the lowland boreal habitat bordering the river; Inter vale Lowlands Preser ve (173 species) beside the Ausable River's West Branch in North Elba; Hulls Falls Road and Cemeter y Road Wetlands (126 species) along the Ausable River's East Branch in Keene; and Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area (168 species) at the river's mouth on Lake Champlain. But one need not visit hotspots to find birds, as many species may be found wherever there are intact riparian habitats along the river. Here are six common species you might encounter while kayaking or fishing, or while walking or driving alongside the river. A familiar bird is the Western Os- prey. This fish-eating raptor nests all along the lower reaches of the Ausable and its major tributaries where they build large stick nests. Sometimes confused with the Bald Eagle, another resident bird along the Ausable River, ospreys are dis- tinguished by the dark patches on their under wings and their dark eye stripe with a white cap. They are excellent fishers, averaging a catch ever y 12 minutes or one in ever y four dives. This one has captured a yellow perch. For The Birds: Riparian Birdlife Along the AuSable River By Larry Masters

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