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May 22 - June 5, 1979 - The Wonderful World of SpringWIN i .10 INTERVIEW: Richard Marks, Superintendent, Fire Island National Seashore INTERVIEW: George Biderman, President, Fire Island Association plus... Fire Island Newsmagazine- May 22 - June 5, 1979 page 17 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SPRING By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Paul Stoutenburgh is a retired educator and a former naturalist for the National Park Service. He writes a column called "Focus on Nature" for eastern Long Island Newspapers. Recently I had the rare opportunity to visit Fire Island in the spring. Leaving the marina, in a dense fog, I had the feeling of embarking on an adventure: and an ad- venture it was. Each time I go to Fire Island I find something new and fascinating. This time it was the spring season. Half -way across the bay I could make out the fleet of clam boats low on the horizon. I was far enough away and there was just enough fog to give the illusion of a Japanese water color. Everything seemed to be fixed in time. Even before we arrived I knew spring was here because the terns were back. Those graceful long - winged birds of the open sea ... one flew by with a fish in its bill. A Mother's Day gift from dad; it was to early to be feeding young. By now the sun was clear and bright, yet off to the left and right was a low haze. Straight ahead on the low horizon lay Fire Island. Closer and closer I came and slowly the land before me became tinted with a myriad of white patterns that later were to reveal themselves as beach plums in full bloom. I hoped the rain and fog had not hindered their pollination, for if foul weather Sometimes known as juneberry, the shrubby shadblow tree is the first to blossom and give its fruits to those who know the secrets of wild pies and jams. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh comes for too long when the blossoms are out, the bees and insects aren't able to do their job. I know this, for back home my bees stay inside their hive and seldom venture out 'till it's fair weather. The winter had left its mark on the dock; part had been torn away while most of the pilings were lifted high in the sky and tilted. Once again man was bending to the weight of nature and once again the pilings and docks would have to be reassembled for the new season. It was good to be back. The soft white sand told us that once again Fire Island would be part of our lives. To celebrate our arrival, Nature had put on a show of white blossoms throughout the beach. Shadblow, that bushy shrub that can grow into a small tree, was just about past its bloom. We could already see the small :ruit starting where the blossom had been. This smooth gray- barked tree is the first to fruit on the island. For some reason few people use the berries, which are delicious in pies and jams. Another blossom that greeted us was the bearberry. This is a wonderful dense green mat that acts as a ground cover on much of Fire Island. Later it will have a green berry through most of the summer that eventually will turn to scarlet red in the fall. This red berry is not too tasty for it's pithy and flat. Its flower now was in the form of a tiny creamy chandelier. One reason Fire Island is blessed with so many birds and animals is the masses of berries the bearberry produces. It's also one of the reasons why Fire Island is still here, for it does a fine job of holding the sand from blowing away. Being low and defenseless, it has problems with people and like the dune grass cannot take much pedestrian traffic. Those who have either of these plants around their home are doubly endowed and should take special care to prevent their destruction. They will do more to hold the sands from shifting than anything else. In the thickets everywhere I was greeted by the many land birds common to Fire Island. Spring had finally released them from their winter home in the South and now we were to have them on the island as summer residents. Each in his own way was busy selecting his nesting site, and then challenging anyone who moved into it. The red- winged blackbird claimed the wet areas to build their woven nests in. The Grey Catbird along with the Brown Thrasher and the black and white and rust- colored tow bee prefer the thickets. Each bird and animal adapts to a certain type of area and will not nest in any other. We don't have many of the tree nesters because there is a lack of big trees. Soma people supplement this lack of trees with bird boxes. Those who do, do especially well with tree swallows. At the Watch Hill complex there are over 50 tree swallow boxes and most all have occupants. Each bird will eat thousands of insects throughout the day, including mosquitoes and green flies; one can see why it's a worthy bird to encourage to nest on the island. Perhaps this might be a good summer project to build. Almost any shape about 6" square, and about 8" high with a 11/4 hole will do. No perch to stand on is necessary as in the natural world the swallows use old woodpeckers' holes and are used to clinging to the tree. Put it on a stake about six feet high along the shore or in the marsh area preferably and I'm sure you'll have a pair of tree swallows come spring next year.