Comment EI-17486
Received or sent (printed as 4/22/2009)
I would like STB to authorize a study to determine that there are no endangered or threatened species on the Harsimus Branch, which includes much habitat at its eastern end (the protected Embankment between Marin and Brunswick) and its western end near Waldo. There's a webcam in Jersey City that keeps watch on a peregrine falcon nestbox on top of 101 Hudson Street in Downtown Jersey City. According to a web site, the building's tenants were alerted to the birds' presence, and have acted as the stewards of their resident endangered species ever since. In 2000 the pair produced 2 young, and every year since has seen 3-4 chicks fledge. In 2005 four eggs were laid but only 3 hatched." A web entry for April 8, 2009 says: "...we are still anxiously awaiting the appearance of the first egg in the Jersey City nest. Last year, the falcons at 101 Hudson began incubation of four eggs around March 29, which means the first egg was laid around March 21. In comparison, the birds are more than two weeks behind last year’s schedule." This site is just a short flight from the Harsimus Branch, which provides habitat for critters that these birds of prey no doubt find tasty. No study has been done to see if these endangered birds use the site, but it would be odd if they avoided it. Just like the residents of 101 Hudson, residents along the Harsimus Branch care about the wildlife that has moved into their neighborhood. STB cannot say that there are no endangered or threatened species there if no one has ever looked. This site is just a short flight from the Harsimus Branch, which provides habitat for critters that these birds of prey no doubt find tasty. No study has been done to see if these endangered birds use the site, but it would be odd if they avoided it. Just like the residents of 101 Hudson, residents along the Harsimus Branch care about the wildlife that has moved into their neighborhood. STB cannot say that there are no endangered or threatened species there if no one has ever looked."
Submitted by: John Donnelly
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/AB-167/sub/1189X/comment/EI-17486 · back to the docket sheet