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August 09, 2007 - Beach nesting beautiesP. { The Suffolk Times • August 9, 2007 • 11 A S,Jloik Times photos by Paul Stoulenburgh From left: This handsome black- and -white shorebird has just recently moved into our area. This bird does not like busy beaches, which accounts for why it is found on Plum Island, Gardiners Island and, this year for the first time, Robins Island. This small plover is having a hard time finding beaches it can nest on. If this trend keeps on the way it has this bird will probably become extinct in the not - too-distant future. Beach nesting beauties We received a call from someone in Orient the other day who was walking along the beach when she spotted a rather large, colorful bird she had nev- er seen before. In order to get a better look, she went FOCUS back and got her binoculars. The ON bird was the size of a small herring NATURE gull with a tong b Paul red beak. With a y better look she Stoutenburgh could even see its red eye. I told her it sounded to me like an American oystercatcher, one of our most striking shorebirds. It's a bird that is fairly new to the mainland. It's not new to the islands to the east, for it has nested there on the beaches for years. The first place I saw it on the mainland was at Orient State Park, which makes sense, for the park is not far from Plum Island, one of the islands they nest on. I was happy to hear recently that a pair was reported nesting on Robins Island. One of the traits of this handsome black - and -white shorebird is that it leaves its nest when danger ap- proaches Its first tactic is to try to lure you away from the nest, so it runs and hopes you will follow. If that doesn't work, it takes flight in hopes you'll be- come discouraged and go away. The eggs, like those of other beach nesters, are camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings The ability to blend in is true of the young oyster- catchers as well. They spend but a day in the nest and then they're off with their parents, learning what all young oystercatchers must know in order to survive. To hide, they usually take cover amongst the riprap of the upper beach where they will remain motion- less until the danger has passed. The unique bill on this bird is about the size and shape of the blade of a clam knife. This blade -like bill of the oystercatcher has the unique ability to slip into a partially opened mussel or clam as they feed and cut the abduc- tor muscle, making it easy to get at the meat. It is also used to flip over stones and debris to get at sand fleas and marine worms and other choice tidbits that are hidden there. But then there's always that special case when things go really bad, such as when the bill of the oystercatcher does not cut the mussel and the clam Top: This least tern is a welcome indicator of fish below. When 50 to 100 terns dip and dive into a feeding frenzy it brings attention to the spot. Now all the fisherman has to do is cast his lure into the surrounding area and he should get a fish. Bottom: The common tern is having a difficult time finding a place to nest. At one time common terns nested in all our bays, from River- head to Orient Point. Today you would be hard - pressed to locate one nesting colony of these friends of the fishermen. clamps down on the intruding blade of the oystercatcher. In this case the bird is usually doomed because the clam won't let go.The bird will die a slow death for it is difficult to By or get to food. Such is the hazardous life of the oystercatcher. While reminiscing about the Ameri- can oystercatcher that nests on our beaches occasionally, it reminded me of other shorebirds that also choose our beaches to nest on. The one that comes to mind first is the little spar- row -size piping plover that arrives here from the south about the same time the ospreys do, which is about the middle of March. Many's the time I've watched these early arrivals trying to find something to eat as wintry blasts pelt them as they run along the water's edge, probing here and probing there. Their nest is but a depression in the sand, sometimes they will decorate it with bits of clamshell or seaweed. Nesting sites are becoming harder and harder to find as man takes over the beaches with his blaring radios, sun- bathers, beach umbrellas, picnics, par- ties, dogs and vehicles It would seem these intrusions would be too much for it to tolerate, but all is not lost, for groups of volunteers seek out the nest- ing sites and mark them and put up signs telling why the area is off limits In some cases wire enclosures are put over the nesting plovers so dogs, cats, fox, raccoons and others can't get at the nesting plovers inside. Of course, there will always be those who object to closing off a section of the beach for some insignificant bird. I can appreciate that, and I believe all parties can be satisfied with a little give- and -take on both sides. Some of those tiny sand - colored plovers live for five to 10 years and most return to the same nesting area each season after spending the winter in the southern part of the United States and the Ca- ribbean. Other beach nesters that fly our bays and creeks are the common tern and the least tem. Both get their food by hovering over an unsuspecting spear- ing or other small fish, and then, when all conditions are ready, they drop and plunge into the water with hopes of catching their prey. They're not always successful, so then it's try and try again. The common tem is larger than the least tern. Both from a distance look all white, but each has its black splash on top of its head and a sharp, pointed beak. When I was a kid there were good colonies of terns nesting on the north end of Robins Island, Meadow Beach and other undisturbed areas of sand. Since those early days of abundance, there have been sporadic tries at nest- ing, but most colonies have failed due to extreme high tides, raccoons and man's interference. There was a time when I helped in the survey of tern colonies Here's where you can see, and occasionally feel, the dive - bombing effect these small birds use to protect their nesting sites As a tern attacks you, you had better carry a long stick and wear old clothes The stick is used over your shoulder so when the tem dives on you it doesn't hit your head. I've known people who pooh - poohed the idea of carrying a stick and paid for it with a bloody head. The reason for the old clothes is that when the bird dives on you, it loses control of its waste and lets go on your hat or shirt — but then that's all part of the game. Most fishermen know these small white birds, for they often tell where there's good fishing. They swoop in when fish break water in a feeding frenzy, and by casting your lure into the feeding frenzy you catch fish. It's as simple as that. So let's keep our eyes out for our two local terns, the common tern, which is the larger, and the least tem, the daintier of the two. Both are reli- able fish tinders And don't forget to look for the small piping plover and the more recent addition to our beach nesters — the oystercatcher. The Suffolk Times • August 9, 2007 e c nestitn 0 eautites -received a call from someone in Orient the other day who was walking along the beach when she spotted a rather large, colorful bird she had nev- er seen before. In order to get a better look, she went FOCUS back and got her binoculars. The 0 N bird was the size of a small herrin€ NATURE gull with a long red beak. With a by Paul better look she Stoutenburgh could even see -- its red eye. I told her it sounded to me like an American oystercatcher, one of our most striking shorebirds. It's a bird that is fairly new to the mainland. It's not new to the'islands to the east, for it has, nested there on the beaches for years. The first place I saw it on the mainland was at Orient State Park, which makes sense, for the park is not far from Plum Island, one of the islands they nest on. I was happy to hear recently that a pair was reported nesting on Robins. Island. One of the traits of this handsome black- and -white shorebird is that it leaves its nest when dancer av- r, 'W Suffolk Times photos by Paul 5roaches. Its first tactic is to try to lure you away from the nest, so it runs and topes you will follow. If that doesn't work, it takes flight in hopes you'll be- .ome discouraged and go away. The eggs, like those of other beach nesters, are camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings. The ability to blend in is true of the young oyster- catchers as well. They spend but a day in the nest and then they're off with their parents, learning what all young oystercatchers must know in order to survive. To hide, they usually take cover amongst the riprap of.the upper beach where they will remain motion- less until the danger has passed. The unique bill on this bird is about the size and shape of the blade of a clam knife.This blade -like bill of the oystercatcher has the unique ability to slip into a partially opened mussel or clam as they feed and cut the abduc- tor muscle, making it easy to get at the meat. It is also used to flip over stones and debris to get at sand fleas and marine worms and other choice tidbit: that are hidden there. But then there's always that special case when things go really bad, such as when the bill of the oystercatcher does not cut the mussel and the clam clamps aown on the intruding blade of the oystercatcher. In this case the bird is usually doomed because the clam won't let go. The bird will die a slow death for it is difficult to fly or get to food. Such is the hazardous life of the oystercatcher. While reminiscing about the Ameri- can oystercatcher that nests on our beaches occasionally, it reminded me of other shorebirds that also choose our beaches to nest on. The one that comes to mind first is the little spar- row -size piping plover that arrives here from the south about the same time the ospreys do, which is about the middle of March. Many's the time I've watched these early arrivals trying to find something to eat as wintry blasts pelt them as they run along the Water's edge; probing here and probing there. Id Their nest is but a depression in e sand, sometimes they will decorate it with bits of clamshell or seaweed. Nesting sites are becoming harder and harder to find as-man takes over the beaches with his blaring radios, sun- bathers, beach umbrellas, picnics, pat- ties, dogs and vehicles. It would seem these intrusions would be too much for it to tolerate, but all is not lost, for groups of volunteers seek out the nest- ing sites and mark them and'put up signs telling why the area is off limits. In some cases wire enclosures are put over the nesting plovers so dogs, cats, fox, raccoons and others can't get at the nesting plovers inside. Of course, there will always be those who object to closing off a section of the beach for some insignificant bird. I can appreciate that, and I believe yA, T ,a" A Top: This least tern is a welcome indicator of fish below. When 50 to 100 terns dip and dive into a feeding frenzy it brings attention to the spot. Now all the fisherman has to do is cast his lure into the surrounding area and he should get a fish. Bottom: The common tern is having a difficult time finding a place to nest. At one time common terns nested in all our bays, from River- head to Orient Point. Today you would be hard - pressed to locate one nesting colony of these friends of the fishermen. all parties can be satisfied with a little give- and -take on both sides. Some of those tiny sand- colored plovers live for five to 10 years and most return to the same nesting area each season after spending the winter in the southern part of the United States and the Ca- Other beach nesters that fly our bays and creeks are the common tern and the least tern. Both get their food by hovering over an unsuspecting- spear- ing or other small fish, and then, when all conditions are ready, they-drop and plunge into the water with hopes of catching their prey. They're not always successful, so then it's try and try again. The common tern is larger than the least tern. Both from a distance look all white, but each has its black splash on top of its head and a sharp, pointed beak. When I was a kid there were good colonies of terns nesting on the north end of Robins Island, Meadow Beach and other undisturbed areas of sand. Since those early days of abundance, there have been sporadic tries at nest- ing, but most colonies have failed due to extreme high tides, raccoons and man's interference. There was a time when I helped in the survey of tern colonies. Here's where you can see, and occasionally feel, the dive - bombing effect these small birds use to protect their nesting sites. As a tern attacks you, you had better carry a long stick and wear old clothes. The stick is used over your shoulder so when the tern dives on you it doesn't hit your head. I've known people who pooh - poohed the idea of carrying a stick and paid for it with a bloody head. The reason for the old clothes is that when the bird dives on you, it loses control of its waste. and lets go on your hat or shirt — but then that's all part of the game. Most fishermen know these small white birds, for they often tell where there's good fishing. They swoop in when fish break water in a feeding frenzy, and by casting your lure into the feeding frenzy you catch fish. It's as simple as that. So let's keep our eyes out for our two local terns, the common tern, which is the larger, and the least tern, the daintier of the two. Both are reli- able fish finders. And don't forget to look for the small piping plover and the more recent addition to our beach nesters — the ovstercatcher_