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January 25, 2007 - Birds take center stageThe Suffolk Times • January 25, 2007.7A T 9 photos by Barbara Left: If you have a mockingbird in your area, you can bet there Is a berry bush of some sort nearby. The mockingbird will chase every bird that comes near Its cache of berries. Above: The sharp eyes of John Brush Sr. alerted the bird world to this Western kingbird, a rather rare visitor he found feeding In his berry bushes. It's a handsome bird, with a bright yellow underbelly. Birds take center stage Recently John Brush Sr. of Cu- tchogue discovered a bird new to him in his back yard. I spoke to John and he, being a true birder, was excit- ed to tell me about his find. He said on those warm days when bugs were flying, the kingbird was catching insects just like a kingbird is supposed to do. It's when the temperature drops and the insects don't ON fly that it resorts to berries and fruit. John was inter- ested in seeing the kingbird hover like a hummingbird as it attempted to pick the colorful bittersweet berries from the vines near his house. Every once in awhile, someone will notice something different about a bird they've seen. This difference was noted by John, who reported his Find of a Western kingbird to the world of birders, which immediately drew birders to the site. To some it would be a bird they would add to their life list; to others it was enough to just see and marvel at this hand- some yellow - bellied Western fly- catcher from far away. Barbara and I wanted to see this visitor from the west, so after follow- ing our son's directions, we found ourselves sitting in our car waiting for our rarity to return to its favorite berry bush. We waited and waited, but no kingbird. There were blue jays, cardinals and others eating the ber- ries that should have drawn the king- bird — but no kingbird One hour passed. Wed give it 15 minutes more ... then it was there. Barbara immediately clicked away. I don't think it was even a minute before our common Northern mock- ingbird flew in and chased our prize away. It wasn't going to let any for- eigner feed off its food supply. Un- fortunately, the short time Barbara had to get a good shot just wasn't there. It's ironic that the one thing that stood in our way was our common Northern mockingbird. Fifty years ago, there weren't any mockingbirds around. It was in the 1950s that Roy Wilcox, one of Long Island's great naturalists, and I had been birding along Dune Road in Southampton when we watched a mockingbird (a rarity then) fly into a low pine tree. Upon investigating, we found its nest and eggs, the first known nesting mockingbird on Long Island. From that meager sighting, this Southern species of mockingbird has gradually increased in numbers so that today it is one of the most com- mon songbirds we have on the island. If the kingbird stays around, well go back and try for more photo- graphs It is such a treat to have something as unusual as this Western kingbird visit our area. For those of you who are not famil- iar with our Northern mockingbird that was giving us trouble, it's a gray bird about the size of a robin, but trimmer, with a long tail. Its color is a nondescript gray brown with a pale underbody. Probably the best iden- tification marks can be seen when it fees Then it shows the bold white patches on the wings and tail. An interesting observation about mockingbirds when they are feed- ing on the ground is their habit of raising and lowering their wings in a sort of jerking motion. I've seen this flashing exercise in other birds also. It is believed that the movement Focus NATURE by Paul Stoutenburgh Catch Paul Stoutenburgh every week in TIMES/REVIEW NEWSPAPERS. casts a quick shadow that chases out insects and therefore makes them easier to catch. The name mockingbird surely is appropriate, for its ability to mock other birds is endless Years ago I was photographing birds in the pine barrens with Dennis Puleston when a mockingbird decided to show off to the world its repertoire of calls We stood there amazed at what we were hearing: the calls of chickadees, robins, blue jays, and the raucous call of the crow. For 15 or more minutes this treetop mockingbird poured out one call after another. It's from the South that the Northern mockingbird comes, and there it is called the "King of Song." The best part about this bird's songs, and I emphasize "songs," is its night performance. There's noth- ing quite like its melodious song when the moon is up and stillness takes over the night. We're told those nightly recitals of the mock- ingbird are done by the males only. That makes sense. Reminds me of a gallant lover singing below some sweetheart's bedroom window. (Let's not get carried away herel) Mocking- birds were once kept in cages, where their calls could be heard throughout the house. This is a bird that likes people. You'll find them nesting in the bushes around your home and garden, along the barrier beach, in pines and thick- ets almost anywhere. This is a bird that seemingly has no fear of other birds During nesting time it will dive - bomb your pet cat or dog, particularly if they happen to pass near its nest. We checked what photos of the Western kingbird Barbara was able to get in the time the mockingbird let the visitor stop by for a few berries before it drove it away. We found we had a few shots and for now they would have to do until we got a chance to get back in hopes that resident mockingbird might just be busy somewhere else. It's all part of the game we play. In the South, the mockingbird Is called the `King of Song. i�. Since 1,985 r, "orfinanteaux originals Restoration, Rebuilding & Reupholstering 17th & 18th Century, Contemporary & Commercial Furniture Teresa Wilmshurst 513 Fifth Street 477 -1185 Greenport The Suffolk Times • January 25, irds take center stake Recently John Brush Sr. of Lu- tchogue discovered a bird new to him in his back yard. I spoke to John and he, being a true birder, was excit ed to tell me about his find. He said on those warm days when bu s were flying, the kingbird was catching insects lust like a kingbird is supposed to do. Focus It's when the temperature N drops and the insects don't fly that it resorts to berries NATURE land fruit. John was inter-.. ested in seeing the kingbr by Paul hover like a hummingbird Stoutenburgh as it attempted to pick the colorful bittersweet berries from the vines near his house. =off Of I .. s„w Aw Suffolk Times photos by Barbara Stoutenburg It: If you have a mockingbird in your area, you can bet there is a berry sh of some sort nearby. The mockingbird will chase every bird that comes ar its cache of berries. Above: The sharp eyes of John Brush Sr. alerted bird world to this Western kingbird, a rather rare visitor he found feeding his berry bushes. It's a handsome bird, with a bright yellow underbelly. every once to awhile, someone will notice something different abou a bird they've seen. This difference was noted by John, who reported his find of a Western kingbird to the world of birders, which immediately drew birders to the site. To some it would be a bird they would add to their life list; to others it was enough to just see and marvel at this hand- some yellow - bellied Western fly- catcher from far away. Barbara and I wanted to see this visitor from the west, so after follow- ing our son's directions, we found ourselves sitting in our car waiting for our rarity to return to its favorite berry bush. We waited and waited, but no kingbird. There were blue jays, cardinals and others eating the ber- ries that should have drawn the king- bird — but no kingbird. One hour passed. We'd give it 15� minutes more ... then it was there. Barbara immediately clicked away. I don't think it was even a minute before our common Northern mock- ingbird flew in and chased our prize away. It wasn't going to let any for - ooff its food supply. Un- ortunately, the short time arbara had to get a good hot just wasn't there. It's onic that the one thing hat stood in our way was ur common Northern Fifty years ago, there eren't any mockingbirds around. It was in the 1950s that Roy Wilcox, one of Long Island's great naturalists, and I had been birding along Dune Road in Southampton when we watched a mockingbird (a rarity then) fly into a low pine tree. Upon investigating, we found its nest and eggs, the first known nesting mockingbird on Long Island. From that meager sighting, this Southern species of mockingbird has gradually increased in numbers so that today it is one of the most com- mon songbirds we have on the island. If the kingbird stays around, we'll go back and try for more photo- graphs. It is such a treat to have something as unusual as this Western kingbird visit our area. For those of you who are not famil- iar with our Northern mockingbird that was giving us trouble, it's a gray bird about the size of a robin, but trimmer, with a long tail. Its color is a nondescript gray brown with a pale underbody. Probably the best iden- tification marks can be seen when it flies. Then it shows the bold white patches on the wings and tail. An interesting observation about mockingbirds when they are feed- ing on the ground is their habit of raising and lowering their wings in a sort of jerking motion. I've seen this flashing exercise in other birds also. It is believed that the movement casts a quick shadow that chases out insects and therefore makes them easier to catch. The name mockingbird surely is appropriate, for its ability to mock other birds is endless. Years ago I was photographing birds in the pine barrens with Dennis Puleston when a mockingbird decided to show off to the world its repertoire of calls. We stood there amazed at what we were hearing: the calls of chickadees, robins, blue jays, and the raucous call of the crow. For 15 or more minutes this treetop mockingbird poured out one call after another. It's from the South that the Northern mockingbird comes, and there it is called the "King of Song." The best part about this ird's songs, and I emphasize "songs," is its night performance. There's noth ing quite like its melodious song when the moon is up and stillness takes over the night. We're told those nightly recitals of the mock- ingbird are done by the males only. In is called the `King of Son, 111M mazes sense. Reminds me of a gallant lover singing below some sweetheart's bedroom window. (Let's not get carried away here!) Mocking- birds were once kept in cages, where their calls could be heard throughout the house. This is a bird that likes people. You'll find them nesting in the bushes around your home and garden, along he barrier beach, in pines and thick - ts almost anywhere. This is a bird hat seemingly has no fear of other birds. During nesting time it will dive - bomb your pet cat or dog, particularly' if they happen to pass near its nest. We checked what photos of the Western kingbird Barbara was able to get in the time the moc mg ird let the visitor stop by for a few berries before it drove it away. We found we had a few shots and for now they would have to do until we got a chance to get back in hopes that resident mockingbird might just be busy somewhere else. It's all part of the game we play.