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August 30, 2007 - Pipes Cove, preserved16A • The Suffolk Times • August 30, 2007 Pipes Cove, preserved The wetland area of Pipes Cove makes an ideal place for the great blue heron to stalk its prey of killifish, small marsh ro- dents or even an eel that might be feeding in the shallows. If you are lucky and sharp -eyed, you will find the Jack- in -the- pulpit that grows in the woodlands of Moores Woods and Pipes Cove. It's an interesting plant that produces a bundle of As long as residents of the area can remember, there have been ospreys nesting in the Pipes Cove area. The rich waters that abound in bunkers, flounder and other fish make the area the ideal place for an osprey to nest. Walk the road edges of Moores Woods or Pipes Cove in the springtime and you will see wild geraniums blossoming along with a wide variety of other spring flowers that make your walk more rewarding. Conservation and preservation of unique parcels of land have had their good days and bad days. Aug. 18 was a good day, for it celebrated the acquisi- tion of Pipes Cove, west of Greenport, an area of woodlands that, with its freshwater ponds and a saltwater estu- ary, is quite unique. I became acquainted with this area years ago, when I passed by it daily on my way to Greenport School, where I taught for 20 years. I became even more interested in it when I dis- FOCUS covered it had ospreys nesting ON nearby that I kept track of NATURE each year. A good part by Paul of the Pipes Stoutenburgh Cove area is salt marsh that runs from the Main Road to the bay. Through this marsh the drainage basin of Moores Woods to the north flows out into Pipes Cove to the south. The drainage basin starts at Silver Lake in the north of Moores Woods and meanders southward, where it eventually empties into Pipes Cove. Moores Woods, for those who are not familiar with it, is that great wooded area between Route 25 and the North Road that's bounded on the east by Moore's Lane. One of the en- trances to this unique parcel of wood- land ties to the north of the road that leads down to the Silver Sands Motel. The Nature Conservancy spear- headed this complicated acquisition but none of it would have happened without the cooperative efforts of the Federal Fish and Wildlife, the state, the county and local officials, plus dedicated citizens all working together to make this acquisition a reality. The complete acquisition is not finished yet.'Ibere is still much to be done, but we're confident it will get done. The affair that Barbara and I at- tended made us feel good. No longer does the osprey have to be concerned about its nesting areas being taken over by houses and man's activities, nor will the wildflowers and plants that grow in the area have to worry that roads and living space will re- place them. And herons, egrets and a multitude of other birds and animals can keep their world a place much as it has always been. If you look to the south from the mainland of Pipes Cove you see Shelter Island as a backdrop. In the waterway between these two areas is the busiest boating traffic to be found anywhere on our East End. Day and night, boats of all sizes and shapes pass through this relatively narrow body of water. Pipes Cove is an area where boat- ers often stop over and stay a night or two. Just off the busy boating lanes, it's quiet and well protected from storms and traffic. When completed, this acquisition of land and water will create a protected diversity of plant and animal life from Long Island Sound to the north to the waters of Pipes Cove to the south — a greenbelt of natural beauty for all to enjoy. The Suffolk Times • August 30, 2007 PlIpes Dreserved k Times photos by Paul Stoutenburgh �w V The wetland area of Pipes Cove makes an ideal place for the great blue heron to stalk its prey of killifish, small marsh ro- dents or even an eel that might be feeding in the shallows. r Walk the road edges of Moores Woods or Pipes Cove in the springtime and you will see wild geraniums blossoming along with a wide variety of other spring flowers that make your walk more rewarding. Conservation and preservation of I unique parcels of land have had their good days and bad days. Aug. 18 was a good day, for it celebrated the acquisi- tion of Pipes Cove, west of Greenport, an area of woodlands that, with its freshwater ponds and a saltwater estu- ary, is quite unique. I became acquainted with this area years ago, when I passed by it daily on .my way to Greenport School, where I taught for 20 years. I became even more interested in it when I dis- Focus covered it had ospreys nesting ON nearby that I kept track of NATURE each year. by Paul A good part of the Pipes Stoutenburgh Cove area is salt , marsh that runs from the Main Road to the bay Through this marsh the drainage basin of Moores Woods to the north flows out into Pipes Cove to the south. The drainage basin starts at Silver Lake in the north of Moores Woods and meanders southward, where it eventually empties into Pipes Cove. Moores Woods, for those who are not familiar with it, is that great wooded area between Route 25 and the North Road that's bounded on the east by Moore's Lane. One of the en- trances to this unique parcel of wood- land lies to the north of the road that leads down to the Silver Sands Motel. The Nature Conservancy spear- headed this complicated acquisition but none of it would have happened without the cooperative efforts of the Federal Fish and Wildlife, the state, the county and local officials, plus dedicated citizens all working together to make this acquisition a reality. The complete acquisition is no finished yet. There is still much to be done, but we're confident it will get done. The affair that Barbara and I at- tended made us feel good. No longer does the osprey have to be concerned about its nesting areas being taken over by houses and man's activities, nor will the wildflowers and plants. that grow in the area have to worry that roads and living space will re- place them. And herons, egrets and a multitude of other birds and animals can keep their world a place, much as it has always been. If you look to the south from the mainland of Pipes Cove you see Shelter Island as a backdrop. In the waterway between these two areas is the busiest boating traffic to be found anywhere on our East End. Day and night, boats of all sizes and shapes Pass through this relatively narrow body of water. Pipes Cove is an area where boat- ers often stop over and stay a night or two. Just off the busy boating lanes, it' quiet and well protected from storms and traffic. When completed, this acquisition of land and water will create a protected diversity of plant and animal life from Long Island Sound to the north to the waters of Pipes Cove to the south a greenbelt of natural beauty for all to enjoy. V As long as residents of the area can remember, there have been ospreys nesting in the Pipes Cove area. The rich waters that abound in bunkers, flounder and other fish make the arei the ideal place for an osprey to nest. If you are lucky and sharp -eyed, you will find the Jack -in -the pulpit that grows in the woodlands of Moores Woods and Pipes Cove. It's an interesting plant that produces a bundle large red seeds in the fall.