SOUTHBURY - Thanks to a two-to-three year study now underway under the auspices of the Audubon Center at Bent of the River, a flock of 14 Khatadin sheep may safely graze on seven acres set aside at the 34-acre Tappe pasture on East Flat Hill Road, the Gateway to the Purchase. The sheep, with their guard donkey Jink, arrived from Mississippi on August 2 after their owner, Charles Munford, a graduate student at the Yale School of Forestry, had sent out an all points e-mail to land trusts and nature centers requesting hospitality for the flock, which would accompany him to Connecticut. The flock, in effect, is also going to college.
Leslie Kane, Bent of the River Director, saw a perfect opportunity to create a model for a study of the impact of haying versus grazing on plant and animal diversity on the property donated by Mrs. Bea Tappe in 2005, which is held under the stewardship of the Bent and the Southbury Land Trust.
The Land Trust retains an agricultural easement, and title to the property is now held by Audubon, which is responsible for best practices management.
Haying on the contiguous 12 acres will continue thanks to the services of town resident George Stone. Environmental consultants BL Properties Environmental Resources Group, based in Meriden, have volunteered to document the information as it evolves.
"These sheep will allow us to see the different effects of haying and grazing side by side," said Ms. Kane. "The property has been well taken care of by haying, but questions have come up regarding what other agricultural activities could diversify the flora and fauna on the property."Already benefits have been quantified. The sheep have helped with the land management by feasting on intrusive invasive species such as autumn olive, multiflora rose, bittersweet and poison ivy.
Noting that Audubon's primary mission is to birds, Ms. Kane said that insects and small rodents are disturbed as the animals rotate through the five pasture "pulses," which may attract insectivores and raptors to gobble up the prey.
Livestock manure may attract dung beetles, flies and worms which other birds find delicious.
"This is one way for us to see for ourselves the changes that may take place. We are very grateful that Mr. Munford is willing to work with us to document what is happening on our property."
The property was purchased for $492,000, with a grant of $249,375 from the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. The Town of Southbury added $172,000, and the remainder was raised by the Land Trust.
At the time, Land Trust president Tom Crider commended Mrs. Tappe, who died in 2005, for selling her property "at considerably below market value."
