1. pets
2. birds

May/June 2015
Serving Stony Brook, Setauket, Port Jefferson,
Mount Sinai, Smithtown and the surrounding areas
THE FOUR HARBORS HERON
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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]
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