May/June - Four Harbors Audubon Society
May/June 2015 Serving Stony Brook, Setauket, Port Jefferson, Mount Sinai, Smithtown and the surrounding areas THE FOUR HARBORS HERON .. . e su A Message from the President 2 s i is In th Birdsong 3 No Swan Song on our Watch 4 In Search of an Owlet 5 Why Didn’t They Tell Us? 7 Trivia 12 Birds of the Month 14 Calendar of Events 5/2/15: Love My Park Day 5/9/15: Avalon Gardens Bird Walk, 8 a.m. 5/27/15: Bringing Nature Back – One Yard at a Time—Native Habitat Shade Garden Walk and Talk at Commack Library, 7 p.m. 5/9/15: Frank Melville Memorial Park/Mill Pond 6/1/15: Audubon general meeting and presentaBird Walk, 11 a.m. tion, Bringing Nature Back - One Yard at a Time – Native Habitat Sun Garden Walk and Talk at 5/9/15: International Migratory Bird Day Smithtown Main Branch Library, 7 p.m. 5/16/15: Birds and Migration Around the Frank 6/6/15: Sweetbriar Fair, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Melville Pond, Emma Clark Library in Setauket, 6/13/15: Avalon Gardens Bird Walk, 8 a.m. walk to follow at Frank Melville Park, 10 a.m. 5/16/15: Featherfest, Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Sanctuary, Oyster Bay 6/13/15: Frank Melville Memorial Park/Mill Pond Bird Walk, 11 a.m. July 12 – 18: Invasive Species Week 1 May/June 2015 A Message from the President Spring could not come soon enough this year! I’m so thankful for all the green I’m seeing and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our neo-tropical migrants: those birds that overwinter in Central and South America and either breed here or pass through on their way north. The “early birds” are already here (pine and palm warblers,) but there are dozens more species to come! Join our bird walks so you can experience this amazing migration. You will see birds of every color in the rainbow and hear many beautiful songs! Make sure to check your backyard regularly and keep the birdbaths full! Most are insect eaters, so there is no need to feed-they will eat your bugs! Yea for natural pest control! Which brings me to the sad portion of my message: I work at Sweetbriar Nature Center, and we rescue injured and orphaned animals. Last week, we received a call of an injured great-horned owl in Smithtown. Our rehabilitation supervisor, Janine, reports that it was most likely poisoned, and after convulsing, the magnificent owl succumbed. We need to stop using all the chemicals that are so readily advertised and available. Not only are they harmful to wild and domestic animals but to people as well; Roundup was declared carcinogenic last week. There are many ways to care for your property. Send us an e-mail; we would be happy to answer questions you might have. See you outside, Susan Krause Four Harbors Audubon Society Board Susan Krause, President Luci Betti-Nash, Vice President Sue Beck, Field Trip Director Joyann Cirigliano Atlantic Flyway Projects Coordinator Patrice Domeischel Communications/Newsletter Joe Kelly, Photographer Jim LaRosa, Webmaster Elaine Maas, Education Coordinator Diane Spitz, Treasurer/Conservation Chair 2 May/June 2015 Birdsong Sue Avery I might have been dreaming when I heard the first robin’s solo. Soon, I was awake enough to hear a beautiful sound that was coming from high up in the tree canopy outside my window. There was a percussive warble from a house wren; “toolili” from a blue jay; fluting orioles, cheering cardinals and a strident song from a tufted titmouse. By now I was alert and trying hard to distinguish all the birds that were singing in a wonderful symphony. The chorus reached a crescendo and then faded somewhat as the rising sun cast its golden glow on the bedroom wall. I had been enthralled by this ethereal sound, which lulled me back to sleep. I was comforted by the realization that all was right with the natural world on that spring morning. The dawn chorus is a performance that has been repeated every diurnal cycle for millennia. It has been said that birdsong is “energy derived from sunlight expressed as sound.”1 Indeed, it is in the dawn hours of springtime that the chorus is at its most intense. Male songbirds announce to all that they have survived the night. As the sun rises they perch high in a conspicuous place and with heads thrown back, beaks wide open and syrinx shaking, they put forth song. It is as if they put in all they have to defend their territory and to attract a breeding mate. The quality of a bird’s song is an indicator of fitness and the lovelorn suitors will often time their dawn singing so as not to be out sung by a different species. Songsters in urban areas that have to compete with ambient noise, tend to sing louder and at a higher pitch. Birds would rather sing than physically fight for their territory. So it seems that the tiniest birds have the loudest songs. The feisty Carolina wren, weighing perhaps a third of an Photo by Joe Kelly ounce, delivers its ˡ Mark Cocker, Nature Watch, Guardian Weekly song “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle” at ten times the power of a much heavier bird. A wonderful example that we should follow! Aggression used to defend a territory expressed as music. Woodpeckers whinny and laugh, robins sing a carol, nuthatches have a nasal trumpet. There are whistles, warbles and trills; squeaky mechanical sounds; chick-a-dee-dee-dees, fee-bees, pee-wees and even a cat’s meeoow. The message is heard by all and no, one thing suffers as a result. As I walk in the woods I am teased by the redeyed vireo as it calls repetitively, “Here I am, where are you?” I resist a futile attempt to focus my binoculars on this small, grey bird, which is somewhere up there amongst the unfurling leaves of a tree. I have learnt to recognize its song and I am quite content to only listen. I am relieved that it has returned safely from an arduous journey to southern climes and back again. The song “Sweet, sweet, sweet, a little more sweet” guides me to spot with ease a yellow warbler flitting amongst Photo by Joe Kelly catkins. A background of cerulean sky highlights a bright yellow bird, which will be our cheerful companion all summer long. My favorite song of all is that of the wood thrush, a sound that is so pure and spiritual it is difficult to render phonetically. “Ee-o-lay” does not do justice to this chorister’s anthem. To hear a wood thrush sing on a morning in May is to visit a cathedral, a mosque or a temple, where human souls are rejuvenated. 3 May/June 2015 No Swan Song on Our Watch Elaine Maas Early last year, the DEC released a plan to eliminate mute swans from New York State. Following a barrage of public protest, mostly in the form of letters and emails, the DEC retracted its original proposal. Last month, a revised proposal was released. from overhead.) Result? Embryos are permanently damaged, cease to develop, and/or embryos suffocate inside the oiled shell. Adult swans will be permitted in municipal parks and private areas, only by licensed permit under new terms of "regulated possesOnce again, Four Harbors Audubon Chapter is sion." According to these new DEC specificaopposed to the plan. Whereas the new proposal tions, "...measures are needed to ensure that those alludes to taking a "regional approach," its swans do not reproduce or leave those areas..." ultimate goal remains the same throughout New York State: total elimination of mute swans. To achieve this goal, all municipal and private parks may keep adult swans provided they An estimated 1600 mute swans live in the Long be flightless, that is, clipped (a procedure that Island-metropolitan NYC area, based on pre- must be done more than once per year,) or winter counts last taken in 2011. (The actual popu- "pinioned." (Pinioning is surgical removal of lation after this severe winter may be much small- bones at the wing joint, rendering the swan permaer.) This number has remained stable for nearly 30 nently flightless.) years. Mute swans live in concert with other waterfowl, and are cherished by countless visitors to public and private parks throughout our area. Maintaining flightless, nest-barren swans in licensed public/park areas "...will require commitHere are the basics of the plan: ment of funding...from (those) who wish to see non-lethal options used…” because DEC will use The current population of an estimated 2200 "non-lethal methods" only where "practical and mute swans in NYS will be reduced to 800, with timely." In other words, private funding must be minimal numbers in tidal areas. The majority of available to maintain any swans. Long Island's swans live in tidal waters. The populations will be reduced through several methods. DEC methods of reduction include: live capture, euthanasia, and established hunting seasons on tidal water swans, termed "shooting of free-ranging swans." There will be no more cygnets (baby mute swans) in New York State. All eggs laid by mute swans on Long Island will be "addled" (shaken to disrupt tissue attachment,) and/ or oiled (sprayed 4 Swan Song, (continued) The DEC was criticized extensively last year for failing to provide valid scientific evidence for removing mute swans from our area, and it failed in this second report to do the same. The data used, both in the last report and in this one, is generally dated, non-regional, inconclusive, and invalid. Conclusions regarding swan population impact were overwhelmingly speculative, rather than substantive. Still DEC remains on the same course, to eliminate the mute swan from our state. We will not be deterred. No parts of this socalled new proposal are satisfactory. Indeed, the practice of pinioning is revolting to say the least. Let's be clear: pinioning maims an otherwise healthy flight bird. To consider this cruel and inhumane practice as the preferred means of keeping adult swans in our region insults our sensibilities, and undermines the integrity of the DEC. May/June 2015 In Search Of An Owlet Joe Kelly I’m a guy who enjoys photographing Mother Nature in all Her varied forms. Folks that know me are aware of this and sometimes they give me a head’s up for photo ops. More than several times my friends have directed me to potential shooting sites. It’s good to know fellow nature lovers. More often than not, it’s those same folks that lead me to some of my favorite sightings. This time it was my friend Patrice who piqued my interest with her amazing photographs of a baby great -horned owl in its nest. I loved her shots. I was wowed. It seems that a pair of great-horned owls had taken up residence in an old Coopers hawk nest and produced a rather large and fluffy owlet. I had seen baby great-horneds before, but this is not something that gets old in my book. I wanted to see if I could capture some photos of my own. By the time you read this, the deadline for public response will have passed (April 24, 2015.) However, it will still be helpful to contact Governor Cuomo, as well as your State Assemblyman and your State Senator, and voice your outrage at the possibility of such a swan elimination plan. Send your concerns to: Governor Cuomo’s Office: 1-518-474-8390 Assemblyman Steven Englebright (District 4): [email protected] Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick District 8): [email protected] State Senator Kenneth Lavalle (District 1): [email protected] State Senator John Flanagan (District 2): [email protected] Please do your part to save our swans. If nothing more, please write one sentence: This sort of thing is much easier said than done. Trust me. On my first visit to the nest site, I was escorted there by my friends Sue and Diane. Sue is my boss at Audubon and Diane is the sole caretaker of the park in which the nest is located. I followed the two of them along the trails till we reached the nest site. "I oppose the DEC Mute Swan Plan." Thank you. 5 May/June 2015 Owlet (continued) I must confess that I was enjoying the day much more than I was paying attention to where we were going. It was the middle of March and there was still plenty of snow on the ground, including a few icy patches, but it was a relatively warm day with lots of sunshine and very little wind. A fine day for birding. We got to the nest site and Sue pointed out a rather large dead stump of a tree that she and Diane used as a marker. Both ladies pointed out the nest to me. At first, I couldn’t see it. At second, I couldn’t see it either. Do you remember the phrase “not seeing the forest for the trees?” Well, in this instance it was a case of not seeing the tree for the forest. And when I finally managed to see the nest and the baby I took as many shots as I could. I shot from up close. I shot from afar. I shot from different angles. I walked on and off different paths trying to get a decent shot of the young one. And I got nothing. Sometimes that’s just how it goes. That’s a bit of a lie. There are lots of times that I miss the shot. I am a master at missing the shot. I decided to give it another try, so I went back about a week later. This time I came equipped with a pair of cameras, one of which was connected to my biggest lens and a tripod. The tripod was necessary because the camera/lens combo is heavy and it’s very difficult to focus without proper support. I am no one’s idea of a spring chicken and I can use all the support I can get. a kid anymore. Despite having been practically hand -led to the nest site, I promptly got myself lost. I must have zigged when I should have zagged. It’s a gift: I can get lost anywhere. I wandered the trails for just over an hour before I caught a glimpse of my quarry. I hadn’t found the nest but I managed to observe one of the adults flitting amongst the canopy. Actually, “flitting” is a complete misnomer because these are big and heavy birds. They don’t “flit” anywhere. Their flight is both ponderous and magnificent. I followed as best I could. Mind you, I was no longer looking for any nests at this point. I was looking for a shot of this beautiful bird. Great-horned owls really are quite awesome. As I was tracking this bird I found myself face-to-face with the marker tree that Sue and Diane had pointed out to me. I had managed to come across it from the opposite direction that Sue and Diane had taken me. The marker tree made locating the nest much easier. After all, it was right above me. I maneuvered my camera to a couple of appropriate shooting spots and fired away. It was fun but my best shots of the day were of the adult steadfastly ignoring me. And so it goes. You can try to plan your shots but Mother Nature always has the last word. She’s everybody’s boss. So there I am, back at the park. I’m toting about twenty pounds of camera equipment, most of it over one shoulder or another. I keep switching shoulders because the weight catches up to me. Again, I’m not May 2nd is “Love My Park Day”. Volunteer to work in a local State Park or go to the Parks and Trails website for a list of events: www.ptny.org Photo by Joe Kelly 6 "Why Didn’t They Tell Us?" Joyann Cirigliano I was recently speaking with a local Sierra Club member about another member who attended a lecture on pollinators and was upset because he was unaware that pollinators were having such major issues. His rather plaintive comment was, "Why didn't anyone tell us?" My first, rather ungracious, reaction was to think, "Well, why didn't he ask?" which was followed almost immediately by, "Hmmmm, maybe he doesn't know exactly what TO ask." After all, environmental issues aren't exactly mainstream news, but perhaps they should be. Which led me to contemplate: "If the average person knew of what was going on with the planet and all the issues it's faced with, and were given easy ways to help fix the issues, would it make a difference?" I'm hoping the answer is "Yes." So I'm going to attempt to bring to light the major issues that the average person should be aware of. Now, you're probably wondering what makes me an authority capable of speaking about all of these issues. After all, I'm not a scientist. As a matter of fact, aside from having a rather large network, both in the environmental and horticultural arenas, plus reading lots of articles from myriad sources about these issues which I'll be citing as source material below, I frankly have no idea why I should be the one. I'm just like everybody else out there. I have just as many issues, personally, as the next human. I have no spare time. I wonder whether my home will ever be paid off. What about my son's college tuition? Is my husband going to lose his job next year? We're all in the same boat, and no one has time for outside issues when we all come home so tired from work that we don't have the energy to worry about anything else. But we all need to, if we can hope to have a chance of working together to repair all the environmental issues before things become dire. Looking at all of the data and weighing in all of the timing, it appears that if we do nothing, many issues will become problematic within the next 20-50 years. That's an evolution- May/June 2015 ary blink of an eye. And, just so you all know, I'm not an alarmist. I'm also not a tree-hugging bunnysnuggler. I'm just as inclined to make rabbit stew... and while birds are reasonably important to me, I tend to look at the whole picture, and the interconnections between all of it. Like I mentioned above, I'll be including links to the articles cited, so that anyone who would like to read the material and draw their own conclusions, can. In any event, here goes... First, let's look at it from a bird perspective. This is an article for Audubon, after all. Sadly, birds are in trouble. Many species have numbers in steep decline, due to a number of environmental issues. Habitat destruction, suburban sprawl, forest fragmentation, invasive species, feral cats, pollution, and climate change are being blamed for this. ˡ Of course, not everyone agrees to the causes. In fact, here's an article that says it's not climate change, but a combination of factors that are causing declines. And, it shows wetland birds are on the increase due to heroic efforts in wetland restoration. The author doesn't, however, take into account that climate change will threaten shorebirds at a later date, due to sea-level rise. 2 As you all can see, I read a lot of different articles because I have a deep-seated need to find emerging issues and to see if they tie to existing issues, and I like to understand how everything is intertwined. I also try to determine whether or not the sources could be biased in one direction or another. Unfortunately, all the articles above are in agreement that bird populations are in decline. Of course, the reasons why birds are in decline are issues in themselves. They don't affect just bird populations, they affect the entire ecosystem. Habitat destruction, forest fragmentation, and suburban sprawl are pieces of the same puzzle and are major contributors of habitat loss.3 7 Why Didn’t They Tell Us? (cont.) All are part of a human-dominated landscape, as are invasive species and pollution. We, as a species, do not adapt to our environment, but adapt our environment to suit ourselves, to the detriment of the natural world. Invasive species are becoming more prevalent and difficult to eradicate.4 At last estimate, 30 percent of the plant species found in NYS are non-native species. The biomass for invasives is growing. Since most insects don't eat non-native plants or their seeds, invasives easily spread to the areas we've disturbed, like roadsides, empty fields or our backyards. Birds eat the berries, which help to spread the seeds even further. The biggest future threat to the planet is humaninduced climate change. Yes, almost all the scientists agree that climate change is real.5 Humaninduced climate change is probably the biggest threat to the planet and its ecosystems. It's responsible for the shrinking of the glaciers at a faster than normal rate, the warming of the ocean, which, in turn, is responsible for more severe weather, droughts, extremes of temperature and rainfall amounts during storms, more severe shifts in the jet stream, and current shifts in the oceans. If we cannot get our greenhouse gas emissions down, there will be a severe rise in sea-level, temperature, and severe weather.6 I find it disturbing that the southern tip of Florida and most of the Keys will be under water if the sea-level rises by the 3 feet they're predicting by 2100. This doesn't even take into effect what will happen to the world's coral reefs. Between sea-level rise, water temperature increases and the fact that coral polyps grow very slowly, the coral reefs will not be able to grow fast enough to keep up with the predicted changes.7 Plants can't keep up with climate change either.8 If we expect them to survive, we may have to help them migrate north or upslope. They migrate very slowly and won't be able to keep up with the predicted change. And that's not even taking into account what the weather will be doing while the cli- May/June 2015 mate is changing. Plus we're having soil degradation issues.9 And I don't even want to think about the megadrought I keep hearing about that is supposed to hit our grain-belt in approximately 35 years if we don't lower our greenhouse gas emissions.10 Last but not least of the really big issues is the fact that pesticides and pharmaceuticals are showing up in our waterways and even our rainwater. We don't know what the long-term effects of low doses of pesticides will have on ourselves, wildlife or the rest of the ecosystem, but I'd prefer not to ingest them if I can avoid it.11 The pharmaceuticals have actually affected aquatic life, even at such low doses. I really think we're using too much Roundup if it's showing up in rainwater. Plus, the World Health Organization has recently determined that it causes cancer.12 There are plenty of other environmental issues, like bees and neonicotinoids, habitat loss for monarch butterflies, other butterfly and moth numbers generally in decline (these are songbird-food, after all, so if their numbers are down, less baby birds will be fed,) hypoxia in shellfish beds, declines in fish populations, declines in eelgrass beds, coastal dune shifts, Sudden oak death syndrome, Southern pine beetle/emerald ash borer/Asian long-horned beetle infestations, et cetera, ad nauseum. Most of these are part of the above-mentioned bigger issues, and I've spent many a sleepless night worrying over them, too. Of course, the planet could be hit by a meteor tomorrow, or the plates could shift under Yellowstone National Park, causing catastrophic atmospheric issues, so...problem solved. Scary stuff...So, now you know. Will you help? It seems hopeless, doesn't it? Well, IT’S NOT!!! We just all need to do what we can to help. The phrase, "We all hang together or we'll each hang separately" keeps coming to mind. 8 May/June 2015 Why Didn’t They Tell Us? (cont.) And there are plenty of easy everyday things we can shopping! Leave them in the car so you always do, especially to combat the biggest issue, Global have them with you. Warming. I'll start with some small things and work Buy a water purifier for your fridge, and a therup to bigger things. mos or non-disposable water bottle for each famRe-use and Recycle. It cuts down on petrochemical ily member.13 use. Unplug your TVs when you're not home. Believe it Go back to cooking food instead of buying pre- or not, a lot of electronics really suck up electricity, pared food. First, it's healthier and second, it cuts even when they're not on. down on packaging which winds up in the landfill. When an appliance breaks and cannot be repaired, Eat less beef and pork. Cows and pigs are major buy an "Energy Star" model. They're more effiproducers of methane, which is another greenhouse cient. gas. The less beef/pork we eat, the less pigs and cows, the less methane produced. Have your Electric/Gas company come in to do Compost your organics, like banana peels, coffee an energy evaluation on your house. grounds, potato peels, etc. It helps build soil. Change your showerheads for water-efficient Don't flush your pills down the toilet. Bring them models. to your local pharmacy where they can incinerate them. Lower your heat in the winter, and wear a sweater. Change the incandescent bulbs for LEDs. It saves Raise the temperature on your AC in the summer, and wear a bathing suit. electricity and drops your electric bill! Plant a tree. Or 2. Or 3. The average tree can abIf you can, car-pool, ride a bike, or use public transsorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per portation. year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Not too shabby. Now for some of the bigger stuff: Plant some native plants. They'll help boost the local ecosystem, and they take less water than a lawn. Pull out invasive species and replace them, preferably with native plants. Help out at a park or other open space by pulling out invasive species there, too! If you can, stick a native plant in the hole made by the invasive you removed. Stop spraying pesticides and herbicides and overfertilizing your lawn. Use a slow release fertilizer if you need to fertilize at all. Lawns don't need as much nitrogen as chemical companies would like us to believe, and if you stop spraying pesticides, the good bugs will keep the bad bugs in check. Write letters to your politicians asking them for stronger policies on Greenhouse Gas emissions, Invasive Species, and Open Spaces. Hand-write them! Call their offices about the same things! Caulk around your windows and doors. Buy more energy-efficient windows and doors. Re-insulate your attic. If you have cesspools, upgrade to a septic system and have it pumped every 3-5 years. Use reuseable bags for grocery shopping...or any 9 May/June 2015 Why Didn’t They Tell Us? (cont..) Think about purchasing a Hybrid car. They're more expensive, but less gas consumption, especially as gas prices climb, make them about the same price as a regular car over their lifetime because you buy less gas. And burn less gas! Buy or put up Solar Panels. There are many companies with programs that are zero cost and you rent them your roof in return for a lower electric rate. There are many other things you can do to help out the planet. Here are a few websites to check out. There will be some overlap, but hey, a good idea's a good idea! 14 And here's one for kids.15 So, now you know. Or you have the means to find out. What will YOU do? Personally, I plan on winning the Mega-Millions lottery, paying off my house and my son's tuition, and then quitting my job and devoting my life to fixing the environment. All I need is a dollar. I already have the dream! ˡ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130621-threatsagainst-birds-cats-wind-turbines-climate-change-habitat-loss-scienceunited-states/ 6 http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com/sea-levels-map.php 6 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/energy.html . 6 http://gfdl.noaa.gov/index/knutson-climate-impact-of-quadruplingco2 7 http://coralreef.noaa.gov/threats/climate/ 7 http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/threats-to-the-reef/ climate-change/what-does-this-mean-for-habitats/coral-reefs 8 http://science.time.com/2011/08/19/how-climate-change-is-turningplants-and-animals-into-refugees/ 8 http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/eyes-on-environment/ fleeing_the_effects_of_climate 9 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/soil-erosion-ewg-losing -ground-report_n_848096.html 9 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/opinion/sunday/the-hiddenworld-of-soil-under-our-feet.html?_r=0 10 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/todaysdrought-in-the-west-is-nothing-compared-to-what-may-becoming/2015/02/12/0041646a-b2d9-11e4-854ba38d13486ba1_story.html 10 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/u-s-headed-mega-drought21st-century-scientists-warn/ 11 http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/pes-heefgrw85.aspx 11 http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp? ID=2909#.VTcRzk1_nIU 11 http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/pharmawater_site/ day1_01.html 1http://www.google.com/url? sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved= 11 http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115883/drugs-drinking-water -new-epa-study-finds-more-we-knew 0CDoQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stateofthebirds.org% 2F2014%2520SotB_FINAL_low12 http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp? res.pdf&ei=jLggVZ2WBsfosAWF34CQCw&usg=AFQjCNGjxcVTfk ID=2909#.VTcRzk1_nIU jk9aUVByeYxXtxc0jPyw&sig2=KvJ4Ryei_0_yc1b5mChfXg ˡ http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/130225.html 13 http://thewaterproject.org/bottled_water_wasteful 2 http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/10/11/about-those-declining-birdsdue-to-climate-change/ 14 http://www.epa.ohio.gov/pic/facts/30years/tips.aspx 3 http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/threats-to-wildlife/habitat-loss.aspx http://amphibiaweb.org/declines/HabFrag.html http:// blogs.cornell.edu/bioee1610/2011/12/09/urban-sprawl-and-habitatfragmentation-2/ 4 http://nyis.info/pdf/NYS_ISTF_Final_Report.pdf http://ny.audubon.org/invasive-species-0 5 http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/ 6 http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/02/new-york-in-2080-9degrees-warmer-39-inches-of-sea-level-rise/385594/ 14 http://www.50waystohelp.com/ 14 http://greatist.com/happiness/ways-help-environment 14 http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/480/files/ original/108_Things_To_Do.pdf?1350305833 14 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/ 15 http://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/610.html 10 May/June 2015 WITNESSING THE WOODCOCK DISPLAY Four Harbors woodcock walks were very productive this year! Woodcock enthusiasts joined us for our annual walk at Avalon Preserve on March 24th. And FHAS board members explored David Weld Preserve as well three days later. Seriously, witnessing the woodcock mating display is addictive! What excitement! The show began about 7:15 p.m. with the distinctive “preent” calls these birds are so well known for. Suddenly the first bird of the evening flew horizontally and directly overhead, and the show commenced with the aerial acrobatics and sound effects that kept our eyes glued to the sky and our ears attuned. The calls and displays were still continuing an hour later when the cold and dark forced us to depart. Our conservative estimate of each night was at least eight, and most likely more, woodcock at each site. At Weld, we were able to view the descending birds as they alit on the trail ahead of us. Although the light at this point was very dim, we had great views of this normally secretive bird. If you are wondering what the result may be of this dramatic display... Woodcock Chick, photo courtesy Sue Avery Wildlife and Butterfly Festival Sweetbriar Nature Center Saturday, June 6, 2015—10am to 5pm 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown, NY 11787 Featuring the grand opening of the beautiful enclosed butterfly garden. Along with the usual crafts, games, face painting, animal shows, and craft vendors there will be live bands, a perennial plant sale, and much more. Food and refreshments available for purchase. $10/vehicle, no pre-registration required Coming Soon! Look for Part 2 of Don’t Let Go—Balloon Release, in an upcoming newsletter. Bird and Butterfly Breakfast at Sweetbriar Nature Center Look for Details in our July/August newsletter 11 May/June 2015 TRIVIA Some Interesting Facts About John James Audubon and Birds of America 1. What name was Audubon given by the British? 2. How many prints are included in Audubon’s Birds of America? 3. By what process was the original work engraved? 4. Due to its size, by what name was the folio itself referred? 5. What was the cost of publishing the work? 6. What became of the engraved copper plates used to create the prints? Answers on page 13 Local Residents Enjoy Film Presentation The Four Harbors Audubon Society recently presented the Dark Hollow Films documentary, The Condor’s Shadow, at the Port Jefferson Library. Additional viewings of the film will be scheduled in the near future. See our website for further information. 12 May/June 2015 “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers By Emily Dickinson December 10, 1830—May 15, 1886 “Hope” is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul - Join Sue Krause on May 16, 2015 at 10 a.m.as she presents a birding program, Birds and Migration Around the Frank Melville Pond, at Emma Clark Library in Setauket. The program will be followed by a bird walk at Frank Melville Park. Contact the library to register. And sings the tune without the words And never stops - at all ANSWERS TO TRIVIA And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard And sore must be the storm That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land And on the strangest Sea Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of Me. 1. The American Woodsman 2. Audubon’s Birds of America consisted of 435 life-sized watercolors depicting 497 North American bird species. 3. The original edition was engraved in aquatint. Some refer to it as the “greatest picture book ever produced and the finest aquatint work.” ˡ 4. Each species was depicted in life size, necessitating the use of “double elephant” size paper, hence the work was known as the Double Elephant folio. 5. $115,640. Today, the cost would amount to $2,000,000. 6. Audubon’s widow sold the plates, and almost all were melted down for scrap. Are you a poet? Send your original nature-related poem to [email protected], and see your work in print! ˡ Wikipedia Go Natural! If you don’t want to use Roundup or other similar products, here is a more natural solution: 2 cups vinegar 1 tablespoon liquid soap (not anti-bacterial) 1 tablespoon or more salt The Ivory-billed Woodpecker now thought to be extinct Mix, and spray on the weeds in your driveway or path 13 May/June 2015 BIRDS OF THE MONTH MAY Blackburnian Warbler JUNE Prairie Warbler This beautiful warbler, named after the English botanist, Anna Blackburne, is the only warbler species with an orange throat. With its vibrant black and orange plumage, it is reminiscent of an oriole, but cannot be mistaken for long due to its behavior and smaller size. The prairie warbler was first described by the French Ornithologist, Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (1748-1831) and was named by Alexander Wilson in 1810 based on specimens obtained in the “prairie.” Although this species is not commonly found in prairies, the shrubby, regenerating forest it may be found in was once referred to as such. This habitat is now known as a “barrens.” The song of the prairie warbler is a buzzy, ascending group of notes. John James Audubon described the warbler as having “no song excepting a delicate soft whirr, ejaculated whilst it stands erect on the top of some rank weed or low bush.” The Blackburnian is a bird of mixed mature forests of hemlock, spruce, and hardwoods, and breeds in coniferous forests as far north as Alberta and Newfoundland in Canada, to the Great Lakes, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. It is estimated that 57 percent of the global population breeds in Canada’s boreal zone. The Blackburnian forages in the upper forest canopy making them difficult to locate unless you hear their high-pitched song. One brood is produced annually, and a nest of three to five, but usually four, brown-spotted eggs may often be found up to 85 feet from the ground. Following the nestling period, the family splits, and the care of the fledglings is shared, each group accompanying the male or the female parent. Insectivorous, they are especially partial to the spruce budworm, but will also eat fruit in the winter and during migration. In their recently released climate change report, Audubon lists the Blackburnian warbler as “climate threatened.” Based on report projections, this species will “most likely have to adapt to new regions well north of its current breeding range.” An early successional bird, the species depends on disturbed habitat, shrub/scrub, including mixed pine -oak barrens, old overgrown fields and pastures, and open shrubby areas to nest. A clutch of 3-5 eggs, usually four, is produced. Incubation is about 14 days, and the eggshells are often eaten by the female after the young hatch. The prairie warbler nest is commonly parasitized by the brown cowbird. The nest may be abandoned when this occurs. Oftentimes, however, the prairie warbler will construct a “false bottom” over the offending egg including her own first-laid eggs, and begin the process again. The prairie warbler nests on Long Island. You may locate one of these birds - look for its distinctive facial pattern and listen for its “zzee-zzee-zzee-zzee song as you walk along. As always, be respectful and mindful of nesting birds. 14 Sweetbriar Nature Center Birdseed Order Form May/June 2015 Order your birdseed to help the birds through the winter Product Cost / Bag Scarlett Basic, 20 lbs $16.00 Scarlett Classic, 20 lbs $20.00 Scarlett Ultimate, 20 lbs $26.00 Scarlett Patio / Deck, 20lbs $45.00 Scarlett Outdoor Finch Blend, 20 lbs $36.00 Scarlett Cardinal Blend, 20 lbs $29.00 Scarlett Woodpecker Complete, 20 lbs $40.00 Scarlett Fruit and Berry Mix, 20 lbs $40.00 Black Oil Sunflower, 25 lbs $26.00 Black Oil Sunflower, 40 lbs $38.00 Black Stripe Sunflower, 25 lbs $37.00 Black Stripe Sunflower, 40 lbs $56.00 White Millet, 25 lbs $28.00 Safflower, 25 lbs $35.00 Sunflower Chips, 25 lbs $59.00 #2 Sunflower Chips, 25 lbs $34.00 Cracked Corn (Medium), 25 lbs $15.00 Thistle (Niger), 25 lbs $43.00 Peanut #2 Split, 25 lbs $46.00 Peanuts in Shell Fancy, 25 lbs $63.00 Natural Beef Suet, one case (12) $56.00 High Energy Suet Cake, one case (12) $23.00 Suet Cake, peanut butter, one case (12) $32.00 Total Total Due Order by July 17, 2015 - Pick Up July 26 between 11a.m. - 2 p.m. Fill out and mail with check or credit card info to: Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Dr., Smithtown, NY 11787 YOU CAN ALSO PAY WITH PAY PAL WHICH IS ON THE SWEETBRIAR WEBSITE Name_______________________________________________________________Phone____________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________ City___________________________State____________Zip__________________E-Mail address_________________________ Credit Card Info:___Visa___Master Card___ Card Number_________________________Exp.Date_______Security#____ There will be a 3% processing & handling fee for all credit card sales 15 May/June 2015 Feather Fest: A Celebration of International Migratory Bird Day Saturday, May 16th from 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary 134 Cove Road, Oyster Bay, NY Celebrate spring and Long Island’s diverse migratory bird species returning from their winter away at Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary’s second annual Feather Fest! Enjoy a guided birdwatching walk led by an experienced naturalist, bird-themed crafts and games for the kids, purchase a wildlifefriendly native plant, have an up-close encounter with one of the resident migratory avian ambassadors, and learn how you can make your own space a bird haven. $2 suggested donation Wanted: Volunteers for Be A Good Egg! Audubon New York is looking for volunteer beach docents. Interested in helping to monitor shorebirds? Audubon is participating in International Shorebird Surveys and is looking for volunteers to cover some of our survey routes. Submissions are made electronically through eBird’s International Shorebird Survey portal (ISS eBird) using your regular account and it’s a great way to help contribute to data. We’re also encouraging birders to pay special attention to shorebird legs this season! Band and flag resightings are very important to shorebird managers and help us learn a lot about migration patterns and survival. To learn more about the survey protocol, submitting data, and reporting band sightings please email Emma Carpenter ([email protected]) for more information. Help us increase awareness of beach-nesting birds while spending a day at the beach! Being a volunteer involves talking to beachgoers about beach-nesting birds, the importance of sharing the beach, and encouraging beachgoers to sign a “Share the Beach” pledge. It’s also an opportunity to connect with people about birds and share what you know! Interested in volunteering for one of our scheduled beach days? Please email Laura: [email protected]. Lido Beach Town Park: May 23rd, July 5th Point Lookout Town Park: May 24th, July 12th Jones Beach State Park Field 2: July 4th, July 11th Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Four-Harbors-Audubon-Society/152428014767332 Follow Four Harbors on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com\4harborsAudubon You may also e-mail us at: [email protected] 16
© Copyright 2024