The New Inhabitants of Shawangunk Grasslands
To the untrained eye, Shawangunk Grasslands National Wild Refuge is nothing more than a 597-acre parcel of unimpressive barren land. The preserve is composed of a somewhat unremarkable set up: a small parking lot, a viewing platform and a few aged observation blinds scattered on an arid field.
However, more “eagle-eyed” visitors will notice that the Shawangunk Grasslands are teeming with life. The park is home to 167 species of birds, as well as packs of coyotes, deer, foxes and minks. Recently, a new species has begun taking over Shawangunk, and wildlife photographers migrated from all over to capture the perfect shot.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, wildlife photographers have flocked to the Shawangunk Grasslands. During the winter months — the park’s busiest time of the year — hundreds of photographers can be seen camouflaged in the foliage or eagerly standing on the viewing platforms and trails, waiting for something to happen.
“Wildlife photography is all about patience and opportunity,” John Marcelo, a retired military officer turned photographer says. “You never know when a bird will take flight and catch its prey, so you have to be ready. Shawangunk is special because it’s filled with life. It provides us with so many chances to capture an amazing shot.”
Marcelo, a retired military officer turned photographer, is a regular visitor to the Shawangunk Grasslands. He is a member of the Friends of Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, a volunteer group that helps raise funds for the reserve.
“There is a real sense of closeness within this community,” Marcelo continues. “Most of us first came to Shawangunk because of our love of photography, but it’s easy to fall in love with this place, it’s what unites us.”
Shawangunk Grasslands, however, did not always have a friendly atmosphere. The preserve was once used as a pilot training site for the U.S. Army during World War II; before its preservation, the land was in danger of becoming uninhabitable.
“The grassland ecosystem has become increasingly rare, and it is our job to protect the land,” Jared Green, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer explains. “We create controlled fires and regularly mow the area in order to keep the grassland from turning into forest, a habitat most of the wildlife here would not be able to prosper in.”
A major contribution to the FWS’s continued intervention within the reserve is the lack of essential herbivores like bison and elk that help slow down the land’s rapid growth. Another contributing factor is the increase in residential and commercial development that has turned grasslands like Shawangunk into a scarce resource.
The FWS works closely with the Friends of Shawangunk in order to protect the reserve. Their efforts have allowed the park to install new benches and bird feeders, while also enlarging the viewing area. The two groups also host events to promote wildlife protection. Recently, they have also partnered up with the Hudson Valley Beekeepers Association, which has set up numerous beehives around the park.
“At the end of the day our priority is to protect the land,” Green says. “We love having visitors coming in and out of here, but this refuge is for the wildlife.”
