WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902. (301) 206-8100. Fax:(301) 206-8186. E-Mail:communications@wsscwater.com

Yellow-billed Cuckoos spotted in Pigtail Recreation Area

Birders saw or heard 32 varieties during outing

LAUREL (June 15, 2009): Ospreys, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Acadian flycatchers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, the loud rattling Belted Kingfisher and the gray Tufted Titmouse’s echoing voice were among 32 bird species spotted or heard last Saturday by the Howard County Bird Society and other visitors on a bird walk in the Pigtail Recreation Area in Dayton, Md.

The outing was sponsored by Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).and marked the reopening of the Pigtail area to the public after being shut down for several years because of low water. Pigtail is a protected wooded area on the shores of Triadelphia Reservoir.

Other species spotted or heard included: Cooper ’s Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Prairie Warbler, Scarlet Tanager and the Indigo Bunting.

Recent rains have allowed WSSC to have all of the boat ramps open for the start of summer. The recreation areas are open daily from dawn to dusk, with the exception of this Saturday when the Brighton Dam recreation area is closed to the public.

The WSSC’s recreation areas are:

• Big Branch Recreation Area, 14810 Triadelphia Mill Road, Dayton, 21036
• Pigtail Recreation Area, 5525 Greenbridge Road, Dayton, MD
• Triadelphia Recreation Area, 2600 Triadelphia Lake Road, Brookeville, 20833
• Supple Lane Recreation Area, 16904 Supple Lane, Laurel, 20707
• Brown’s Bridge Recreation Area, 8067 Brown’s Bridge Road, Fulton, MD 20759
• Scotts Cove Recreation Area, 11004 Harding Road, Laurel, MD
• Greenbridge Recreation Area, 3310 Greenbridge Rd., Brookeville MD 20833

To view some of the birds that were seen last weekend, click on Howard County Bird Society’s website: http://howardbirds.org/photo_page/hcphoto.htm.

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WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, with a network of more than 5, 500 miles of fresh water pipe and nearly 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Serving customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties since 1918, our drinking water has always met of exceeded federal standards.