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CROWS
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 1997
50 years ago. Crows on the beach?
Robert Laskowski, an Audubon Society director from Islip, called me right after the Fall Newsletter went to the printers to discuss crows. He maintains that crows were very rare on the beach 50 years ago. His observation is that crows don’t like to fly over open water. Crows in profusion didn’t appear in the Oak Beach and Fire Island areas until after the Robert Moses Causeway Bridge was built in the mid 1950’s.
Crows are opportunistic, continued Mr. Laskowski, and they will take young birds or anything else they can find for food. They also take advantage of the garbage and trash cans and dumpsters on the beach. Keeping the dumpsters and other trash receptacles tightly shut will help to eliminate these pesty birds that cause so much grief to other bird populations.
Mr. Laskowski specifically suggested that I contact Brian Zitani at the Town of Babylon Department of Environmental Control to find out how the crows drastically affected the Cedar Beach tern colony.
THE BAD BOYS OF BIRDING
Crowlady, No 4 / 2002
Crows are amazing birds, but because of their great success in adapting to mankind, they have been branded a "nuisance." (One might argue that there are no nuisance animals -- only nuisance people. But that's a debate for another time).
Crows are only doing what all creatures do -- surviving and making a living. They actually benefit mankind by being the great garbage disposers of the bird world. They eat just about anything that won't eat them, and this does get them into trouble. For all the good they do picking up our garbage, getting rid of stinky road kill, gleaning insects, beetles, bugs and maggots from fields and carrion, discouraging hawks from "their" territory -- thus protecting some of our beloved songbirds - they will also take eggs, young birds, baby squirrels and anything tasty (like dog food) left in backyards.
Mankind has made it very easy for crows to survive by making such a mess of this world -- our garbage dumps, picnic tables, fast food joints, backyard gardens and litter all provide a smorgasbord for the enterprising crow. The warmth radiated by city streets makes for comfortable roosts, even in winter. The relative safety provided near human habitats - as opposed to farmers' fields where shotguns and traps are still the norm -- attract huge flocks of these smart and enterprising birds. So, for any human to criticize the crow for being a -- well, a crow - is purely short sighted. If it were not for humans, crows would still be struggling to live off the land, not the fat of the land we provide.
It's surely rather interesting that humans badmouth an animal for having the same characteristics that make mankind so successful: adaptability, intelligence, perseverance, tenacity and an ability to call any place home, no matter who lived there before.
This article originally appeared in the September 18, 2002 issue of "The Beakly News", a free newsletter of the AOL Birding Community.
WHY BIRD COLONIES?
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 1996
When I walk across Cedar Beach with the students during the STBF Educational Program, I always tell them about the Tern Colony. Sometimes I get the question, "Why do you call it a colony?". It prompted me to look into why birds colonize.
For those of us who have been "mobbed" by terns or gulls, when approaching their territories, we know that one advantage for the birds is group protection. Predators are more quickly discouraged when the birds gang up on them. And, the colony's early warning of a potential predator offers the birds the time to take evasive action. On the other hand, a crowded group also presents a better target and the likelihood of at least one sure kill for most predators. When a predator finds a colony, the hunting part is facilitated, only the kill is left in doubt. It seems that only the birds in the middle of the colony are safe and the birds residing along the perimeter are at risk.
The closeness of a colony makes the birds more vulnerable to disease causing parasites, which is a negative factor. Also the group dwellers must compete with each other for food and nesting sites. Some birds are known for sneaking their eggs into another's nest, thus burdening the foster parents.
The good news is that most colonies have such a large number of birds in them, that even the most greedy predator will be satisfied before there is a noticeable dent in the population. Sometimes colonies of more than one species exist in close proximity, and the smaller birds utilize the larger bird species as guardians against predators. Scientists also believe that colonial birds feed more efficiently. Some studies make a case for a birds communicating "shopping tips". True, or not, in many different species it has been observed that birds that return to the nest with food are followed on their next trip by other birds from the community.
The urge of birds to live in colonies probably cannot be explained by just one or two reasons, but increased protection and food would have to be high on any list.
TERN COLONIES UPDATE, 1997
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 1997
Brian Zitani filled us in on the tern colony situation in the Town of Babylon.
At one time the tern colony at Cedar Beach was the largest colony in the North-East. As many as 12,000 nesting pairs were counted at Cedar. In 1996 not one fledgling survived the summer.
The colony which had thinned to 1000 pairs was abandoned due largely to predation. The Least Terns left the colony in June and the Common Terns left in July. No Roseate Terns were confirmed nesting at Cedar Beach and the Black Backed Skimmers left when the Common Terns did.
The normal bird colony practices of using sentries and group attacks had become less effective because the Cedar colony had thinned and was spread out over an area too wide for group support.
The predators are primarily crows and secondarily foxes. Other gulls and Night Herons are also responsible for some takings. Additionally, the increasing population of feral cats has been seen in the beach colonies. Because of this predation problem the Town of Babylon is considering a trapping program for foxes and feral cats. In the case of the cats traps they will use the “Have a Heart” traps and will make sure that the traps are put out in the morning and checked in the afternoon. The program will be conducted with the Animal Shelter personnel assisting. Residents who have pet cats may want to assist with this program. Save the Beaches will be involved also.
The other beach tern colony in Babylon Town, between Gilgo and West Gilgo was also wiped out this past summer. The problem there was a wash out from a summer storm high tide. The bay island tern colonies are thriving. While the bay island environment is generally considered a second choice for terns the Babylon bay islands are attracting more and more terns. However, it’s believed that terns nest in the same place where they fledged, so it can’t be proven that the beach terns simply migrated over to the bay. In 1996 the largest tern colony was on the north side of Captree Island.
A CHAT ABOUT BIRDS
Sallie Phillips
No 4 / 1997
I spoke with Brian Zitani, from the Town of Babylon Department of Environmental Control, to get an update on the Osprey population in Babylon. He reported that in 1997 there were 4 active nests. Three on Oak Island and one at Gilgo (east). Two of the Oak Island nests produced two fledglings and the others just one for a total of six ospreys fledged this year. (Since Norm Aripotch was involved in erecting all of the platforms involved, I think he should feel like a proud papa.)
Brian and I speculated that the same nests might be utilized next year since some experts believe that a male bird returns to his territory each year to mate. Because it takes three years for sexual maturity, the 1995 youngsters should be mating in 1998, hopefully on the other 6 platforms we have erected in the area.
Talk turned to Great Blue Herons. Since I see at least three of them in back of Gilgo East all winter, I thought that they had decided to stop migrating, like so many geese in the area. Brian tells me, however, that the Great Blues who summer here have moved south and the Great Blues in residence now are from further north, probably Canada. In any case, it’s quite funny seeing a Great Blue Heron on an Osprey platform perch. With his long skinny legs and huge body, the illusion is amusing.
Crows were the next topic. There is much concern about their ever increasing numbers. They are stealing eggs and baby birds from nests all over the barrier islands. They became more prevalent with the increasing height of trees. Some even say that when the pines are all dead and gone the crows will be gone. One crow problem was recently studied. In that case the crows nesting in the pines were believed to be the predators in a nearby tern colony. According to Brian, that particular situation was observed and it turned out that the crows in question were not the predators, as believed. I, myself, have frequently seen crows flying off with Redwing Blackbird hatchlings.
There are two types of crows at the beaches: the Fish Crow and the Common Crow. The Fish Crow is the smaller (17 inches) and has a different call. Both species are very intelligent and omnivorous. They consume almost everything including insects, wild berries, fruits, eggs, small hatchlings and carrion. In fact, the Fish Crow is so named because it feeds on dead fish not because it catches it’s own fish.
Brian reports that in some areas there is an “open season” on crows. The gun being one solution to eliminating these pesky birds.
Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 1997
As previously explained in this and other issues, the South Shore Estuary Reserve is the area from Atlantic Beach Bridge to the Shinnecock Canal; from the creek headlands to the Atlantic Ocean low tide. By legislative action the Reserve was designated and the processes designed to formulate a management plan and promote rehabilitation were originated. Four committees were formed to study the area. One of them, the Technical Advisory Committee distributed a draft report on Coastal Colonial Waterbirds in October. The report represents the findings of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and “suggests preliminary recommendations to guide management, protection, and restoration efforts in the reserve area.” What follows are these recommendations:
· It is recommended that waterbird feeding areas be recognized and protected. Further investigation and delineation of key feed areas are needed for the SSER, and Long Island overall, to understand the habitat and area needs for these species fully.
· It is recommended that efforts be made to eliminate and reduce human disturbances of nesting colonies during the critical nesting season.
· It is recommended that active habitat management and vegetation control be used to enhance physical habitat conditions favorable to breeding bird colonies, and to discourage the proliferation of gulls, human-associated species, and natural predators.
· It is recommended that dredged material deposition can and should be designed to enhance, and not destroy, habitat on nesting islands and beaches.
· It is recommended that SSER beach erosion control projects recognize the dynamic nature of barrier island over wash and breaching, and the needs of fish and wildlife species that occur in near shore waters, on beaches and dunes, and in back barrier bays and marshes.
· It is recommended that acute and chronic impacts of contaminants on colonial nesting waterbirds and their forage be investigated, and contaminated foraging areas be given a high priority for remediation.
Roy Reynolds, No 4 / 1995
The use of bird decoys is most often associated with duck hunting. However, decoys do not necessarily have to lead to a bird's demise. On August 30th STBF sponsored a lecture by Mr. Bob Grover on Water Birds, Endangered Species and Sea Shore Ecology. He shared his unique brand of bird watching, which includes the use of decoys, to attract birds for a closer look and photographing.
Highlights of the lecture included a summary of some of the shores birds that frequent the barrier beaches. These include the Piping Plover, Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern and the Semipalmated Plover. It was pointed out that although the sandy beaches appear to the layman to be void of life, they actually contain an abundance of food for the shore birds, such as insects and marine organisms. This explains why they are always pecking in the sand.
It was also indicated that the "Jones Island" barrier beach, which is the body of land that extends from the Jones Inlet to the Fire Island Inlet is one of the most prolific shore birding areas on Long Island. He attributes this to the existence of the large areas of marshland which exist immediately to the north of the barrier beach. The lecture then took an unexpected turn as Bob explained the theories behind the formation of the barrier beaches of Fire Island and Jones Island. Fire Island is a large sand spit that originates from the Southampton area and extends all the way west to where it terminates at Democrat Point and the Fire Island Inlet. It continues to extend west, as the prevailing littoral drift carries sand in that direction. On the other hand, Jones Island was actually a series of islands which were connected when the Ocean Parkway was built in the 1930's, giving rise to a group of marsh islands, protected by the man made barrier island. This island does not react the same way to erosion as its neighbor to the east (Fire Island).
Bob often sets his decoys in the marsh area to the north of Oak Beach for bird watching. He also personally designs, carves and paints the decoys and has experienced very good luck in attracting the birds he desires. Bob has offered to provide the plan(s) for carving shore bird decoys and for constructing a wood duck box.
Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 2003
Feathers are a great evolutionary development and rival almost any technological devices dreamed up by man. They enable over 8,000 bird species to take off and go anywhere they want to, and they can provide identification, beauty, camouflage, cover, waterproofing, insulation, and balance for their owners. A large bird, like a swan may have as many as 25,000 feathers while a tiny hummingbird may count less than 10,000 feathers in its plumage. There are four main types of feathers: down feathers, body feathers, tail feathers, and wing feathers. Generally, more than ? of a bird's feathers are the smaller ones covering its head and neck.
Regardless of the size, purpose, and location, all feathers are made from a protein substance called keratin. It's the keratin that gives a feather great strength and flexibility. A feather starts as pulp inside a tube called a sheath. As it grows within the sheath, the tip of the feather gradually emerges from the sheath. Eventually the sheath falls away leaving the fully formed feather. As feathers develop, they split apart to form a mesh of filaments that link together. At this point the feather's blood supply is cut off leaving it quite dead. The feather serves its purpose for a time and when worn out it will be discarded during a process called molting.
Each feather has a shaft which is hollow and contains the dried remains of the pulp. The bare bottom tip of the shaft, or quill, is embedded in the skin of the bird and is attached to muscles. Along the outer part, or vane, of the feather thousands of barbules come out from barbs which come out from the shaft, or rachis. Parallel barbs are locked together by hooks and catches along the barbules. Having numerous short barbules on barbs that are closely packed and smoothly locked together, and thereby forming a single continuous surface for air to flow over, is critical for a bird's flight feathers. Down feathers, by contrast, have fewer barbs which are much longer and may not have barbules at all. Birds that can't fly, like ostriches, have downy feathers without barbules on their useless wings.
The design and arrangement of the wing feathers are the key to the bird's flying ability. Compared to the other parts of the bird, they are relatively few but each one is important and must work with the other wing feathers to create the correct surface necessary for flight. These feathers combine strength with lightness and flexibility. The feathers on the outer edge of the wing are called flight feathers. The primary flight feathers (those farthest out on the wing) provide the flying power as the bird brings its wings downward. The outermost primaries are used for maneuvering by spreading open or closing up in flight. Nearly all flight feathers are narrower on their leading edge, a design which causes lift as they slice through the air. To reduce disturbances during flight, some birds' primaries are slotted and splaying out the primary wing feathers provides stability. More inward on the wing are the secondary flight feathers which form the curve that provides lift for the bird. The innermost tertiary flight feathers shape the wing to the body of the bird and serve to prevent turbulence during flight. Over the flight feathers on the wing and closer to the bird's body are coverts which, while covering the base of the flight feathers, form a curved surface to enable lift. The alula is a group of feathers close to the body which is held open in slow flight to prevent stalling. The type of flight necessary for the bird's lifestyle determines the overall shape of the wing. For instance a broad, rounded wing is needed for the quick take off and acceleration of birds that live on the ground. Generally birds that fly powerfully and rapidly have pointed wings which give them enough lift without too much drag.
As birds evolved, the part of the backbone that made up a tail in other animals was lost and replaced with feathers. The shape and the size of these feathers vary greatly from bird to bird. But generally, there are tail feathers (the outermost), tail coverts, and rump feathers. The tail feathers are the longest and have stiff shafts. When spread out they act as brakes to slow the bird as it lands. Depending upon the species, tail feathers may also be used as a support, a balance, a rudder, and/or a display. The shorter tail coverts cover the base of the tail feathers and smooth the air flow over the tail in flight. Rump feathers, which have thick down, are shorter yet and provide insulation.
Body and down feathers, which far outnumber tail and wing feathers, satisfy many needed functions. For the many different bird species they may provide insulation, water proofing, camouflage, mate attraction, egg incubation, and/or balance. The way these feathers are needed determines whether or not their barbs lock together. Down feathers are found next to the bird's body and their barbs fluff out rather than lock together. Down is a fine insulation for the bird and is used in many man-made products as insulation and cushioning. Some body feathers are downy at the base near the body and sleek toward the tip. Some feathers are split to form two different halves, one downy and one tightly packed, attached to the same shaft.
Many birds, especially water birds, waterproof their wings so that they are flight ready at all times. These birds oil their feathers with the substance from a gland at the base of their tails. Using its beak, the bird oils and realigns its feathers at the same time. Efficient flight depends upon feathers being free of water, smoothed out, and lined up in the proper position, so preening is critical not cosmetic. Most beach folks have noticed cormorants standing on pilings with their wings outstretched, drying off. These diving birds, which can stay underwater a very long time, lack the oil glands that provide waterproofing for other water birds.
The most noticeable characteristic of feathers is the color. The feather colors and patterns are used for camouflage on some birds and for attraction in others. In many bird species, the plumage on the female is dull for camouflage purposes while on the male color abounds. Some male birds use their brilliant courtship plumage in a choreographed display to attract mates. Sometimes birds have plumage that changes seasonally. For instance, having gray and brown feathers in the warm weather to look like the ground cover and white feathers in the winter to blend in with snow is a useful hiding strategy. Changing feather color is accomplished during the molting process. Molting is the shedding of old worn-out feathers to make room for new growing feathers and it generally occurs at least once a year. Many birds are unable to fly during the molting stage.
Sallie Phillips, 1 / 2003
Did you know that a hawk can see a rabbit from two miles away? It can see a dime from 1200 feet. From that distance (4 football fields) a human with good vision can't see anything smaller than a grapefruit.
Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 2000
In the fall of the year, those of us on the outer beaches are quite aware that we are in the “Atlantic flyway”, the name given to the easternmost North American migration route. Migration is essential for the survival of many birds.
The seasonal availability of food is the key reason for the fall migration. In the Northern Hemisphere, as the days get colder and shorter and plants and insects die off, the food supply for birds becomes diminished. Going south to find food is the answer to a survival concern. In the spring, as the days grow longer and their wintering areas become drier and hotter, the birds move north, where the weather conditions are cooler and food is plentiful. Finding an uncrowded nesting site away from predators is also a survival urge which prompts migration.
The distance that a bird travels during migration varies among species. Arctic Terns hold the record, since some travel from the Arctic to the Antarctic. It is generally accepted that the barn swallows hatched in our area will winter in South America but other swallows may stop in the Carolinas.
How do they find their way? That is a question that has puzzled many. Many birds migrate in flocks and it is believed that experienced adult birds lead the way so the route and destination is passed on from generation to generation.
Some birds travel alone. How do they know the route? It has to be instinct that guides them. Birds that migrate in daylight hours may navigate by using the sun’s position as a guide. Birds that travel at night may used star configurations to find their direction. It appears that birds use the earth’s magnetic field as an aid. Some birds have an instinct that is sensitive to the magnetic field and it allows them to use it as a directional reference. Possibly, some birds use their sense of smell to follow remembered odors along their flyway, while others rely on recognizing familiar landmarks on their route.
The hows and wherefores of bird migration have caused many to speculate and study the behavior but the whys are obvious. As a survival urge, migration takes birds to the most inhabitable climate where there is enough food and nesting places are available.
Sallie Phillips, No 3 / 2004
Every spring, while escorting the students across the Cedar Marina camping area for the bay life activity, I experience an encounter with a killdeer. This year was no exception. A killdeer pair seems determined to nest in that loose stone and concrete area which, starting the Friday before Memorial Day, will be crowded with campers - vehicles and people. The adult killdeer has its own method of nest protection. It distracts any would-be predators. It limps along the ground with an injured or broken wing pretense until the intruder is lured away from the nest, and then the killdeer flies off leaving the predator wondering what happened to its sure meal.
The killdeer, Charadrius vociferous, is the largest of the "banded plovers" averaging about 9 inches in length. This bird with brownish gray plumage on its back and a white underside has two dark brown bands across its white chest and another band which goes from its bill, under its eye and around its head. The very top of its head is also a dark brown and, when the bird is seen in profile, it looks like a fourth band. There is a red ring around each eye. In flight there is one white strip across each wing. Reddish-orange shows on the killdeer's upper tail and lower back while in flight or when displaying. The legs are pinkish gray. Males and females appear the same except when the breeding female has brown markings on her face. A killdeer has a dark pointed, extended bill suitable for foraging for bugs.
This bird's scientific name means "noisy plover" but its common name imitates its call, a shrill "kill-dee(r), kill-dee(r), kill-dee(r)". Plovers are generally considered shorebirds but the killdeer range is widespread inland across fields from savannas to high altitude areas throughout Canada, the lower 48 States and south into South America. Temperature is the key factor in its choice of habitat. Most killdeer remain all year in place and they migrate only when the temperature becomes extremely cold and snow covers their food sources. Killdeer are highly adaptive to environmental variations and they have been able to adapt to human altered areas including parking lots, golf courses, and farms. The primary consideration in the selection of nesting area for the killdeer seems to be the view. A killdeer prefers an open area with an extended sight line.
As early as March, killdeer mating commences when the male claims a territory. The nest is usually a bare indentation in the substrate of the selected habitat. The male attracts his mate by a series of two-note calls and an aerial display. The female lays a clutch (from 2 to 6) of buff colored eggs with black blotches on them. The eggs are more roundish than oval and over an inch in diameter. Both parents share in the incubation of the eggs which lasts from 24 to 28 days. The chicks usually fledge in 25 days and they will reach maturity before the winter. A killdeer pair may have 2 broods each year. In the early 1900's killdeer were hunted widely and were almost wiped out in some areas of the US. Now they are not found on any endangered or uncommon species list. Killdeer are mostly solitary but they may occasionally flock with other birds in the non-breeding season.
Sallie Phillips, No 2 / 2003
We have a bird clock which plays the call of a kingfisher every time the clock hits 9:00. It's cute, but what I enjoy more is to watch the belted kingfisher diving for its meal. Along the bays and coves of Long Island I have plenty of opportunities to do so. Compared to most of the birds, like gulls, that perch on pilings and posts around the docks, the belted kingfisher seems fairly small and maybe it goes unnoticed.
The belted kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon, is about 12 inches in length and is bluish gray on its back, wings, tail and head. It has a white chin, neck and underbelly. A band of the slate color crosses its front from its back to its chest. The male belted kingfisher has just the one gray belt, while the female has a second lower belt of reddish-orange. In the bird kingdom it is one of the few species where the female is more decorated than the male. Across its slate-colored wings and tail there are small dots of white which vaguely connect to form narrow stripes. This kingfisher is most easily recognized by its configuration. It has a big head with a shaggy crest; it has a large dagger-like bill; and its legs are quite short.
As its name indicates, the kingfisher eats mostly fish. But, its diet can include other prey, like crayfish, shellfish, small birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects. In a pinch the kingfisher will eat berries. Generally, this bird will perch along the waterside watching for a meal to swim by. Small fish, under 6 inches in length, are the favored catch. The kingfisher dives head first into the water. The technique includes: hovering over the water; taking a steep vertical plunge; spreading the wings to stop the dive; and snatching the fish while submerged. Generally the belted kingfisher catches its prey within two feet of the water's surface. The dining technique usually involves banging the fish on a hard surface to stun or kill it and then flipping it up in the air to gulp it head first. The indigestible parts of the fish are disgorged later. Often a pile of fish bones and scales, crustacean shells, etc. accumulates below a kingfisher's favorite perch.
The belted kingfisher nests in a tunnel which is dug near the top of a vertical bank. The 4 inch diameter tunnel is dug out with beaks and feet by both of the mates and may be 3 to 6 feet long with a nesting chamber, which is about 6 inches high and 12 inches across, at its end. The female lays 6 or 7 white eggs, which both parents take turns incubating for 23 to 24 days. The young acquire their adult plumage in 18 days but remain in the burrow, fed by one parent at a time, for a month. For the first 10 days out in the open the chicks practice retrieving the fish that their parents drop for them. After that they do their own fishing.
The kingfisher's nesting area is generally miles away from its fishing grounds so they are forced to defend two territories. After the chicks have become independent the parents split up and each defends its individual feeding grounds. In breeding season belted kingfishers are found across Canada, from the Aleutians to Labrador, and in most of the contiguous 48 States. Their winter range is the West Indies and south to Panama and northern South America. Some belted kingfishers stay in their summer range if they can find open water.
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 1997
Mergansers show up in the bays, lagoons, creeks and coves along the south shore of Long Island to spend the winter. All three of the North American species find their way south and to the coast to enjoy the fish and milder environment. These fish-eating ducks are unique among ducks in having slender, compressed bills, hooked at the tip and with serrated edges, that they use for seizing fish and other prey in underwater dives. Because of their diet they taste fishy and are seldom hunted for food.
On wing, they hold their slender bodies very straight and horizontal and their flight is rapid. The North American species, Common or American, Red-breasted and Hooded, all have white wing patches and, except for the
Common male, all show a crest.
The Common Merganser is the largest of the varieties at 22 to 27 inches long and an average wing span of 37 inches. With a white body and dark wings and back, the Common male’s sleek head is dark green, almost black, and is seldom crested. The female has more of a crest and has a distinct white throat showing a sharp contrast between neck and breast. While they favor fresh water, the brackish water of the South Shore coves and bays is home to some of the fish they pursue. They resemble submarines when they swim low in the water and disappear without a ripple.
The Red-breasted Merganser is more common along seacoasts in the winter. 19 to 26 inches long with a wing span around 33 inches, both sexes have shaggy crests and the male has the reddish-brown chest patch for which it is named. The female’s head is duller in color than the Common and she doesn’t have the sharp contrast at the neck. The Red-breasted spends much of its life on salt water. More social that the Common, they assemble in large flocks around the salt marsh channels, inlets and beyond the breakers off shore. They frequently follow gulls to find a school of fish and then swim in a group to corral their prey into a shallow area where few fish escape the darting serrated bills for which the mergansers got the nickname “sawbill”.
Hooded mergansers are the smallest of the North American species of mergansers. They average 17 inches long and 26 inches across their wings span. The male has a black-bordered white crest, black face and two black bars in front of its wing. The female is brownish gray with a white breast and a buff-colored crest. Not normally considered a coastal inhabitant, “Hoodies” were counted on the Babylon Barrier Beach during the 1990/91 winter bird inventory which was part of an environmental study.
We hope you have fun watching these sleek diving ducks.
By Mary Ellen Hackett, No 4 / 2003
As the seasons change and the beach appears to freeze over, I find that it is a great time to observe the migrating ducks. Masses of these ducks congregate on the warmer bay and marsh waters. Though it is sometimes hard to decipher one type of duck from the large flocks, I've gathered the descriptions of a few of the most common birds.
One of the most common winter ducks is the bufflehead, Bucephala alberola. It is approximately 13 to 15 inches in length. The male appears almost puffin-like with white under parts and a black back. Its head may appear black but has glossy green and purple. Its most prominent feature is a white patch from the back of its head to its eye. The female is almost entirely dark with a white spot on its cheek.
Another of our visiting ducks is the beautiful oldsquaw, Clangula hyemalis. Approximately 19-22 inches in length, the male is heavily patterned with sweeping black and white. The male also has a long black tail feather. The female lacks the long tail and patterning but still has a similar pattern, though not as bold. Both birds have a relatively stubby beak with black near the base and then orange then black again at the tip. It is difficult to observe these ducks for long because of their ability to dive under-water for long periods of time. The oldsquaw has been caught in nets up to 200 feet deep and has stayed under water for over two minutes.
In the 1990's count of the migratory birds one of the accounted ducks was the greater scaup, Athya marilla. Extremely similar to the lesser scaup, the greater scaup has a black-white-black underbelly. Its back is gray and at a close range you can see the white and black zigzags that make it appear this way. The male's head is solid black with a glossy green. Both sexes have a yellow eye and blue-gray bill. The only difference is that the female has a white ring near the base of the bill. When flying these birds have along white stripe under the wing.
There have been reports of the ruddy duck, Oxyura Jamaicans. This is a rather small duck at 14-16 inches. Most noticeable is that the long black tail is often held straight up. During the winter it is difficult to tell the male and the female apart. They both are dusky-brown with a whitish front and cheeks. The only difference is that the female has a dark line going through the cheek. Also the male's bill changes from blue during the breeding season to black during the winter.
Other duck-like birds we see during the winter months are the 3 types of merganser and the common loon. During this time of year the common loon is shades of gray with a darker backed neck with white around the eyes to the bill and down the breast. Considered rare due to excessive hunting is the redhead, but it has been accounted for in past census of migratory birds. There have also been accounts of the ring-necked duck which looks similar to the scaup except with a darker back.
Mary Ellen Hackett is in the 10th grade in Babylon High School.
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 2005
Many, many greeting cards display pictures of birds and it seems that cardinals appear on a large percentage of them. One bird watcher I know regularly counts the birds pictured on the Christmas cards that he receives. His informal census always has cardinals in the majority. Beautiful red cardinals on a white snow background, what card maker could resist that image? You could make a case for the northern cardinal being the most popular song bird in the US. Seven states name it as their state bird. In the eastern part of the US the cardinal is a permanent resident and its numbers have increased over the last 200 years. Once considered a southern bird, the cardinal's range has spread northward and has only been in New York and New England since the middle of the 20th century.
The northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, is a medium sized song bird, about 7 ? to 8 ? inches in length with a 10 inch wingspan. Related to grosbeaks, it has a heavy conical coral-colored beak which is well adapted for cracking seeds. Both sexes of cardinals have large crests on their heads. A male cardinal is entirely bright red except for a black mask and darker red feet. The female cardinal also has a dark mask but she is a dull sooty tan color with red on her crest, tail, and wings. The juvenile cardinal looks similar to the female but it has a black beak. One interesting fact is that more brightly colored male cardinals hold forth in areas with more vegetation and they feed more. They also beat out duller hued males in the reproductive race.
It is rare to see a cardinal without spotting its mate in the area. The pair stays together throughout the year. Bonding may become looser in the early winter but by late winter they strengthen their bond and start singing and feeding together. Cardinals seem to prefer to build their nests in open woodlands but they are also known to choose backyards, parks, gardens, and farms for nesting. The nest is an open cup of twigs and stems which is stuffed with leaves and lined with grass. The nest is situated in a thicket of vines or twigs in a bush or small tree. Man-made paper, plastic, etc. is sometimes used to fill in the outer layer of the bowl. The female usually lays a clutch of 3 buffy bluish or greenish white eggs spotted with brown but there could be as many as 5 eggs in the nest. The eggs are incubated by the female alone. The male feeds her during the 12 to 13 days of incubation. While on the nest the female cardinal sings a song which some observers believe signals her mate about when to bring food. The new-born helpless hatchlings are covered with sparse gray down. Their father continues to feed them and their mother. In 9 to 10 days the youngsters fledge but they are still fed by their father while their mother prepares for another brood. Generally cardinals have 2 or 3 broods each year.
The cardinal diet consists mostly of seeds, buds, and fruit with insects added when available. The male feeds the fledglings mostly insects which he stuffs down their throats. His instinct to feed is so strong that he sometimes feeds other species. In North Carolina a cardinal was photographed feeding goldfish in the pond which was in the area he had staked out. While he may be gracious to other species, the male cardinal fiercely defends his breeding territory from other male cardinals. When a male sees its reflection, it will likely fight off the "intruder" by pecking at the glass for hours.
Sallie Phillips, No 1 / 2004
Every year I put out nesting boxes on the salt marsh meadow for tree swallows. It is my fondest hope that many, many tree swallows find homes and eat many, many mosquitoes. More often than not, my boxes end up housing English (house) sparrows. I have tried not deploying the boxes until May 1st (that worked one year); I stopped putting out birdseed to take away the sparrows' attraction to my area; and sometimes I have taken down the boxes to remove the sparrow nest. What I have finally concluded is that the common little house sparrow is more determined that I am and I am left completely frustrated by it.
English (house) sparrows are not native to North America. They were introduced in the 1850's to assist in eradicating insect pests like cankerworms and dropworms and to alleviate the homesickness of European immigrants who missed their familiar birds. They were released in Brooklyn in 1853 and subsequently introduced into 100 US cities. By 1886 they had spread across a million square miles of North America. By 1905 they were in residence throughout most of our country and were considered urban nuisances and agricultural pests.
House sparrows thrive near human habitation with reliable food sources. They compete with native birds for food and nest sites and put bird lovers in the awkward position of despising them for just being where humans put them in the first place. These adaptable birds nest behind store front signs, in the rafters of home improvement stores and garden centers, in any enclosure with a hole large enough to slip through, and on just about any protected ledge available. In short, these birds will nest in any suitable man-made structure. Along with grasses and feathers, they use human litter, like bits of paper, cloth, and plastic, as nesting material.
In North America there are many species of sparrows, but the house sparrow is not one of them. The Passer domesticus is classed as a weaver finch. Most North American sparrows are migratory, house sparrows are non-migratory. Weighing up to 1 ? ounces, they range in size from 5 ? to 6 ? inches in length and have a wing span up to 9 inches across. They resemble native sparrows but have shorter legs and thicker conical beaks. The female house sparrow has a streaked brown, tan, grey back, an unstreaked dingy white breast, and a whiteish line over each eye. The male's back is also streaked, but it has a grey crown, rust colored eye lines, white cheeks and, most noticeably, a black bib (throat patch), and a black beak.
House sparrows reach sexual maturity at one year. They breed from March through August and usually have 2 to 4 broods each year. In some cases they may have as many as 7 broods in one year. There are from 3 to 5 whitish-grey, blotchy eggs per clutch. Incubation, which is primarily the duty of the female, lasts from 11 to 14 days and the hatchlings fledge in about two weeks. The young are fed by both parents even after leaving the nest.
Normally a sociable bird, in breeding season the house sparrow will take on a different personality. A male house sparrow aggressively defends his nest site and will throw other birds out of their nests. Sometimes a male will pair with two females and defend both nests. In this instance, the females will turn quite vicious to each other. When the male can only assist one of his wives with raising the chicks he will usually help the first hatched youngsters. The other female may enter the nest of her competitor and destroy the eggs or chicks, to insure the assistance from her partner in feeding her young. Close observers have noted that the male house sparrows with the biggest black bibs seem to dominate the males with smaller bibs. Both females and males will give way to the guy with the biggest bib It is supposed that the bib indicates age, maturity, and condition, and the male with a bigger bib is more likely to be a better mate. Evidence shows, however, that the male with the big bib is only a better mate some of the time.
The house sparrow's diet consists of seeds, buds, flowers, fruit, berries and scraps from human garbage. Even with plenty of food on bird feeders in the area, this scrappy little bird will annoy gardeners by ripping off and shredding the petals of flowers. Some people notice that house sparrows have a preference for yellow flowers
I found this 1964 quote from Joe Marshall, an ornithologist: "This loud and messy bird shares with two other species, Rattus rattus, and Homo sapiens, traits which make the three of them a blight upon the earth: omnivorous food habits, the ability to colonize every corner of the world, and an inordinate capacity to procreate - in geometric progression".
By Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 2001
The peregrine falcon is considered to be the fastest bird. This symbol of grace and speed was also the fastest bird to graduate from the “Endangered species list” in the US.
Peregrine falcons were never very abundant. And then, in the late 1940’s their numbers went into a sharp decline. By the middle of the 1960’s the species had been eliminated from almost all of the eastern US. High concentrations of the pesticide DDT were found in peregrine falcons and other birds of prey. The peregrines accumulated DDT in their tissues by feeding on birds that had eaten contaminated seeds and insects. DDT concentrations interfered with eggshell formation and falcons laid eggs with shells too thin to survive incubation. The peregrine populations dropped as too few young matured to replace their elders as they died off. In 1970 peregrines were listed as “endangered” by the federal government.
In 1972 restrictions were placed on the use of DDT and later the Fish and Wildlife Service established peregrine falcon recovery teams. With the reintroduction of captive-bred chicks and the protection afforded by environmental protection laws the peregrine falcon numbers grew and it was removed from the endangered species list in 1999.
The peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, is about the size of a crow - 15 to 20 inches long with a 40 inch wing span. Like other birds of prey, the females are larger than the males. Adult peregrines have blue-gray wings, dark backs, and pale undersides. The best identification mark is the facial pattern, a white face with a black vertical stripe, like a tear stain, below the dark eyes. Immature birds are browner and have darker undersides.
Peregrine falcons usually reach breeding age at two years. In the spring the male arrives at the nesting site and performs an aerial acrobatic display to attract a mate. Generally the female lays 4 eggs which hatch about a month later. They are staunch defenders of their nests. The peregrine nest is found not constructed. Typically, it was a depression on a cliff ledge. But in flat or coastal areas, some peregrines utilize man-made structures like towers, skyscrapers or bridges. On rare occasions they will use an old stick nest or a tree cavity.
The peregrine falcon diet consists primarily of other birds such as shorebirds, songbirds, ducks, starlings and pigeons. One favorite of the peregrine is the mourning dove. Flying high over their intended victim, the peregrine dives and strikes in mid-air, killing the bird with a sharp blow. The speed of this dive has been estimated over 200 miles per hour.
Most peregrine falcons are migratory, and those that breed in Canada often hunt along the barrier islands along their migration route. Those birds that breed south of Canada migrate lesser distances and some don’t migrate at all. Whether resident or just passing through, this very talented hunter could be real threat to the recovery efforts of the “threatened” colonial shorebirds and plovers.
By Sallie Phillips, No 2 / 2004
Each year redwing blackbirds are among the first birds to arrive on the salt meadows and marshes of Long Island. In the middle of February, even if there is snow on the ground, the male redwings show up to stake out their territories. Boundary disputes are normal as the males fly at each other, and make a noisy fuss.
A redwing blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, is 7 to 9 inches long and has a sharply pointed black bill. The male redwing has a true-black plumage except for the epaulet-like red patch, bordered in yellow, on each wing. An immature male redwing looks similar to the adult male but its epaulet is paler and its black feathers are edged with brown. The female redwing has heavily streaked underparts, brown and white upperparts, and pale epaulets. The female and the immature male may have beaks that are lighter than the adult male's but all redwings have black legs and feet.
Redwing blackbirds are migratory birds that prefer marshy areas in breeding season. The males arrive north first to establish their territorial claims. Females arrive later and scatter over the marshes, out of sight in the sedges and reeds, but near the males. Each female sets up her own nesting area and drives off other female intruders. When everything is established, the female will invade the territory of the nearest male trying to attract his attention. Until he is ready to mate he will drive off the female, who will continue to return, not discouraged by his rebuffs. When the male is ready, he will allow a female to stay in his area and courtship ensues. The courting male perches on a reed or branch; spreads his tail; ruffles his feathers; and half opens his wings to show off his brightly colored epaulets. The female, below in the marsh grasses, is also treated to his gurgling song. In a nesting colony, where the females and males are equal in number, monogamy is practiced. However, where there are more females, each male may have a harem with as many as 5 females. The final arrivals to the nesting colony are the yearling males. They take a stab at courting but are unsuccessful when the females rebuff them and the older males chase them off. They end up roaming in bachelor flocks.
Redwing nests are made by the females who create baskets of aquatic vegetation and rushes with boggy mud as mortar. Lined with fine grasses, the nests are attached to reed stems or bush branches close to the ground but above tidal water. The female redwing lays 3 to 5 greenish-blue eggs which are spotted with brown and purple. She does all of the incubation, but her mate keeps watch to drive off intruders like crows, hawks, and herons. Incubation takes about 13 days and the young are naked and blind when they hatch. Ready to leave the nest at 10 days the hatchlings become good climbers and swimmers before they can fly. The young are fed insects and worms while in the nest. Their diet becomes mainly vegetarian as they are raised. Sometimes the male parents assist with feeding, but generally they act as sentries and defenders in the nesting area. With many avian, amphibian, and mammalian predators across the marshes, many young redwings don't survive. The species is prolific, however, and each couple generally has two or three broods each breeding season.
Once fledged, the young redwings leave the marsh area with the females, who continue to feed them for a few more weeks. A male will remain in the area until all of the nestlings of his harem are fledged. In July and August large flocks of redwings are upland, feeding on grain during the day and back on the marsh at night. The males are in exclusive flocks separated from the flocks of females and youngsters. By the end of October, the redwings have left for their winter quarters in the Southern US and Central America.
By Sallie Phillips, No 2 / 1999
Every June evening, shortly after dusk my husband and I get treated to a serenade of quavering whistles that could only be described as screeches. We have a screech owl residing under our neighbors deck right outside our bedroom. After so many years, we consider it our lullaby.
Found throughout the continental US, screech owls are the only small owls with “ears” in the east. They are about the size of a robin (8-10 inches) but with a wide wing span (22 inches). Its plumage is gray, brown or rust with a facial disk which is the same color as its head. It has yellow eyes Its call is a mournful tremolo usually running down the scale.
Owls are large headed, short necked birds of prey. They have exceptionally large eyes which are fixed in their sockets in the front of the face. An owl must turn its entire rounded head in the direction it wants to look. This feature, along with its flat heart-shaped face makes the owl look almost human. The facial disk conceals the large external ear flaps. Some owls, including the screech owl, have conspicuous ear-tufts.
Owls are mostly nocturnal and best seen and heard around dusk. They fly silently while hunting for rodents and other small mammals. They possess sharp hooked bills and powerful talons to aid them in catching and eating their prey. Female owls are generally larger than males but otherwise they look alike.
Screech owls, although small, are fearless in defense of their nests and will strike at the head of a passing human at night. If they are discovered in the day-time they will freeze in an upright position and may be able to escape detection due to their smallness and, depending upon their coloring, and background.
Screech owls lay any where from 3 to 8 eggs in a nest which is in a box or tree cavity. They do not line their nests with grasses or other material.
SHORE BIRDS IN 2002
By Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 2002
Unfortunately, the 2002 STBF and Cub Scout effort to attract the terns back to Cedar Beach by installing decoys on the beach was unsuccessful The common terns, roseate terns and skimmers have abandoned the Babylon beaches in favor of the lower bay islands for their nesting colonies. It was believed that the birds moved away from Cedar to avoid the increasing number of predator red foxes and feral cats on the beach that had threatened their existence. Attracting them back to their historic nesting colony site at Cedar Beach may take relocating the decoys or another ploy.
The count of nesting shorebirds on the Town of Babylon beaches for 2002 included: 1.) piping plovers - 17 nests - 14 successful pairs - 24 fledged young and 2.) least terns - 60 pairs - 9 fledged young. The piping plover success rate is commendable but what happened to the least terns? The speculations include the destructive occurrence at Gilgo Beach in late June (see Newsletter Vol. 12 no. 3), and increased populations of ghost crabs and red foxes not to mention the ever-present crows.
Ghost crabs are chick predators and everyone agrees that their population exploded along the 20 mile beach expanse of Jones Island in 2002. A mild winter could possibly explain the increased numbers of these crabs that hibernate by burrowing in the sand. A build-up of the beach by the Corps of Engineers could have assisted the ghost crabs by having their eggs deeper in the sand which protected them from gulls in the spring. (See articles in Beach Habitat)
The hope is that the dying off of the trees, tall enough to support nesting, is reducing the island's crow population. (See articles "Bad Boys…" and "Birds on the Beach")
Meanwhile, the red fox population on Jones Island has been increasing every year because pickings are good for them and they have no predators present on the island. Red foxes are excellent hunters, threatening the shorebird and rabbit presence on the beaches. They are also scavengers, taking full advantage of the human visitors and their trash, in and out of cans, on the beaches. For a few years, the Town of Babylon hired a trapper in an attempt to reduce the red fox numbers but that trapper is no longer available and no replacement has been hired. (See articles under Mammals)
SHORE BIRDS IN 2003
By Sallie Phillips, No 3 / 2003
A call to Brian Zitani of the Town of Babylon Department of Environmental Control provided us with the results of the shorebird count for 2003 on the Town's beaches and bay islands. There were 11 breeding pairs of piping plovers nesting this year: 5 from Gilgo to West Gilgo Beach, 1 in Gilgo State Park, and 5 at Cedar Beach. These pairs produced 20 chicks that fledged. The "recovery rate" of 1.5, which was assigned to Babylon by the federal authorities, was exceeded again this year. Despite this positive news there was a criminal "taking" at Gilgo Beach. Two of the nest exclosures were cut into and a human perpetrator reached in and took piping plover eggs. In all 5 eggs were taken. One cannot imagine what would prompt someone to steal the eggs of these protected shorebirds.
On the beach at Gilgo there were 18 pairs of least terns but only 12 fledglings. Several conditions, including the wet and cold spring, are the possible causes of the poor production of least terns this year. On the bay islands in the Town of Babylon the shorebird census included: 1,185 adult common terns, 150 black back skimmers, and 2 roseate terns.
Brian also mentioned a few other interesting observations this nesting season. There were two merlins visiting Gilgo during two weeks in June. Merlins are small but, nevertheless, they are falcons and they prey on shorebirds. Generally merlins visit us in October as they migrate back south from their nesting territory; having them here in June, harassing nesting least terns and plovers, is a problem. The nesting ospreys north and east of Gilgo transplanted an autumn olive bush to their platform in early July. By the end of August the plant is about 2 feet high, thriving and spreading. It will be interesting to see if the plant survives the winter.
By Sallie Phillips, No 4 / 2004
Every year the New York State Department of Conservation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service require a count of nesting shore birds. In the Town of Babylon this task is managed by Brian Zitani of the Town's DEC. Brian shared his results with us.
In 2004 there were 16 nesting pairs of piping plovers on the beach. Only 13 chicks fledged, however. This result is quite below the assigned quota for Babylon. Many more chicks hatched but they were taken by predators. The results of the least tern nesting were even sadder. There were 15 pairs of least terns who attempted nesting on the beach. Their colony started the season in an area between West Gilgo and Gilgo. They moved eastward 6 times, in their attempt to find a safe area, ending up at Cedar Beach very close to a recreation area. By the middle of the nesting season it became necessary to take steps to rid the beach of the red foxes which the evidence showed were the offenders. A trapper was hired and 17 foxes, mostly adults, were removed from the barrier island. As reported in previous newsletters: the red fox is not native to the barrier island; it is not native to Long Island; it is not native to North America. This very smart "introduced" predator has become a very serious problem in the efforts to increase the numbers of "endangered" and/or "threatened" shore birds
On the Town of Babylon bay islands 720 common tern adults were counted in nesting colonies at 5 locations. In the same areas 14 adult roseate terns, 70 adult black skimmers, and 30 adult oyster catchers were counted cohabitating with the common terns. The bay island shorebird census did not include counting chicks.
Every 3 years wading birds and gulls are also counted. Brian reported 89 nesting herring gulls at 2 locations and 32 nesting great black back gulls at 3 locations. By visual count 15 great egrets, 15 snowy egrets, 2 glossy ibises, and 1 black crowned night heron were recorded in 2004. For wading birds, the count does not include all of the birds observed in Babylon when feeding; only the birds in the area of their rookery are counted.
On another subject, I asked Brian about the many cormorants totally covering the island in the middle of Argyle Lake in the Village of Babylon. I jokingly wondered if the Village had stocked the lake with tons of fish. While I had not noticed it until 2004, Brian told me that the nesting colony of double crested cormorants have been using that island for 6 years. I only noticed them this year because so many of them were perched in a leafless tree and therefore visible from the road. I was told that not only was the tree dead but all of the vegetation on the island is now dead. It is a frequent problem with cormorants; their droppings are very acidic and, with a colony of about 50 birds, everything in their habitat will eventually be killed off. It's not likely that the cormorants will return to Argyle Lake next year. Not only is everything dead on the island but the Village has cut down the dead tree in which the birds perched.
STATUS
New York State and Federal agencies maintain lists of species that are protected by regulations because of concerns about losing native species to extinction. Of the birds aforementioned: piping plovers and roseate terns are "endangered" in New York; common terns and least terns are "threatened"; and the black skimmer is in the "special concern" category. The wading birds in the previous column are "protected" (so they may not be hunted) under a Federal Migratory Bird Act.
By Sallie Phillips, No 3 / 2002
The snowy egret, Egretta thula, is the other all-white wading bird enjoying the breeding season in our area. Compared to the great egret, it is rather small, about 20 inches with a wingspan of 38 inches. It has a black bill with yellow facial skin at the base and it has long black legs with yellow feet. The snowy's plumes on its head, neck and back are recurved giving it a fluffy look, hence its name.
As with other herons and egrets, the snowy breeds once a year and the females lays 3 to 5 pale greenish-blue eggs. The nest of the snowy is like that of the great egret, a platform of twigs and sticks in a tree or in a spot at least 7 feet above ground. In Eastern North America snowy egrets breed in colonies in coastal areas from New England to New Jersey. They winter south of South Carolina.
The snowy egret's diet consists of fish, crabs, amphibians and insects. This wading bird's feeding technique is what most sets it apart from its egret relatives. It rushes through the shallow water chasing schools of small fish and shrimp. This sprinting behavior attracts other birds, who because of the stark whiteness of the snowy, can see it from far away and know when to come to the feast. So, unlike the great egret, the snowy is seldom a solitary feeder. The snowy egret neared extinction because its beautiful plumes were also highly prized for ladies apparel in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Protection laws were put in place and the snowy population has recovered.
By Greg Petty, No 2 / 2000
Driving back and forth to the mainland everyday, though some mainlanders see it as an arduous task, I revel in the beauty of our natural surroundings and the animals that inhabit them. I am sure that most of my beach neighbors feel the same. Anything that threatens that environment, such as the devastation of the pine trees, garbage discarded from a passing car or an injured animal is extremely disturbing.
On one sunny July afternoon last year while driving home, I came upon a male mallard stranded in the middle of Ocean Parkway. It was obvious the poor fellow had been hit and was unable to move to safety from the speeding cars that passed him on either side. Pulling over, I knew I had to get him out of the road, even if just to let him die in peace beneath a Russian olive. I moved quickly to avoid cars, using my shirt as a blanket to cover and calm him. Upon scooping him up I realized his right wing was broken, one eye was closed and bloody, it also appeared that his beak was fractured; in short, he was a mess. Instead of the side of the road, I decided his deathbed should be a quiet corner in my garage, followed by a burial the next day to keep his carcass from the crows and other scavengers.
I placed him on the passenger seat, and on our journey home, surprisingly he was able to reposition himself so as to keep me in focus with his good eye. Once home, I sectioned off a corner of the garage and placed the duck on a bed of grass and leaves. On the outside chance he might eat or drink (although I surely doubted it) I left him with water and wet bread.
Before retiring for the evening, I checked on my patient, and found, as expected, none of the bread or water had been touched. He was in the same position I had left him and appeared to be barely alive. I went to sleep that night trying to think positively about the duck’s fate. The scenario that was playing out was certainly better than any, had I not picked him off the highway. The following morning I arose early and was anxious to bring finality to the story which I was sure would involve the use of a shovel. To my amazement, as I walked down the stairs to the garage I was greeted by my feathered friend on his feet, peering over the walls of his confinement. His food and water dishes were empty. His wing and eye were the same but his beak seemed to be normal. Perhaps what I mistook for a fracture was his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth (if ducks have tongues?) due to severe dehydration. I thought, what a lucky creature, lucky that our paths crossed, lucky that he pulled through the first night...the name stuck. NOW, what to do with Lucky?
All I could do was provide more bread and water; Lucky needed serious medical attention. I remembered passing a wildlife refuge center several years back on Bay Shore Road in Bay Shore. Hopefully, the center was still there and might be the answer or have an idea where I might find help. What I found was Wings over Long Island, run by June Fazio, a helpful and caring woman who wanted to see Lucky as soon as possible. In writing this article, I asked June for information on her organization; I’d like to share this with you.
Months later Lucky is doing well. Although he could not be released to his wild habitat, he has become a surrogate father. He and his new mate will help raise this year’s new group of orphaned ducklings.
MALLARD FACTS
1. Mallards are the most widespread and numerous of all of our ducks. They are found in wetlands throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although the mallard prefers still and shallow inland waterways, ponds, rivers, lakes and marshes, this duck may also be found on the ocean, especially during the winter migration.
2. Most other ducks shy away from people but the mallard is willing to live close to human populations. It may be the fact of their willingness to live with man that guarantees their survival. It is believed that mallards were bred by ancient Egyptians and, in fact, they predated the domesticated chicken. All types of domestic ducks are descended from the mallard except one South American variety.
3. Mallards eat a wide range of food, including grains, grasses, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. They feed by dabbling in the water, sifting the water through their bills, and by grazing under water and on land. To reach submerged food sources they upend themselves rather than dive, hence their preference for shallow water.
By Sallie Phillips, No 3 / 2000
Swallows are very popular summer visitors to Long Island. Aside from their beauty and grace they are natural weapons in the battle against the mosquito. From the family of passerine birds, swallows are distinguished by their long pointed wings. They have small legs and feet. And, they have round heads with short bills with wide mouths, well designed for feeding on flying insects. They are almost totally insectivorous, eating flies, mosquitoes and gnats.
Swallows are swift and graceful fliers, eating and drinking on the fly. It has been estimated that a swallow may cover 600 miles per day gathering food for its nestlings. All swallows migrate only by day and they feed on insects as they travel, thereby enabling them to make great distances each day. They are social birds, traveling in flocks and in, some cases, nesting in colonies. They gather in huge flocks, which can include more that one variety of swallow, in late summer and by the end of September they vacate their northern breeding area.
There are three varieties of swallows common in our area: the barn swallow, the tree swallow and the purple martin.
The barn swallow is the most common swallow, world wide. It is a long-distance migrant that breeds in the northern hemisphere and winters in the southern hemisphere, sometimes as far south as Argentina. Most barn swallows nest in man-made structures, where they construct a mud and grass cup, reinforced with feathers and soft material, supported by a sheltered ledge or rafter. They average around 6 inches long and have deeply forked tails. Barn swallows are blue-black above with creamy underparts and chestnut throats and foreheads. Female barn swallows are duller in color and their tails are shorter that males.
Tree Swallows are about the same size as Barn swallows but their notched tails lack the deep forked profile. They have metallic steely blue-green upperparts and white underparts. Tree swallows lay 4 to 6 white eggs in a feather lined cup of grasses installed in a tree or a nest box. They don’t migrate as far south as barn swallows and can feed on berries in the winter if they find insects scarce.
Purple martins are our largest swallow, averaging over 7 inches. The adult male is a dark steel blue all over while the female and young have gray underparts and foreheads. They lay their 4 or 5 white eggs in a clump of plant material stuffed in a natural cavity or in an apartment-style martin house. They prefer to nest in colonies rather than singly and a martin house is a special structure designed with this in mind. The practice of erecting a group house to attract these insect eliminators was used by early new world settlers and their native American predecessors who hung clusters of hollow gourds near their precious crops.
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