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August 10, 2006 - Bats, birds & bugs, oh my!12A • The Suffolk Times • August 10, 2006 Bats, birds &bugs, oh my! Barbara and I are sitting outside with a small fire in our "fire pit " We have been here since we ate dinner. Now, in the dusk of the evening, we watch the night world come alive with the blft&- ing lights of fireflies. Then, as we strain our eyes to catch each movement in the fading fight, bats show up to perform their part of the show. They dazzle us with their unbelievable display of flight. There must be at least three of them as we watch, zigzagging in and out amongst the trees. FOCUS Sometimes they come up to us ON real dose. Then they are lost in NATURE the darkness of the trees again. by Paul Off in the back - Stoutenbul'gh ground we still hear tree frogs calling. The males are calling for a mate to join them down at the pond for a bridal get - together. Then there's that loud buzzing that drowns out all other sounds For the first time this season we've heard the sound of the cicadas or, as some locally call them, locusts (Of course, a true locust is a grasshopper.) Then there are always the sounds of the smaller insects that fill the air with their chorus of eve- ning sounds Barbara counted 33,34, 35 blinking fireflies in one minute just in our back yard. Reading up on fretlies, we found where someone recorded that a frog ate some fireflies and they could see the fireflies still blinking away inside the frog We used to tolled fireflies in a jar when we were kids Then we would watch them as they continued to light up in the jar. It's gotten so dark now I can't see anything but the flashing of the fireflies I'm sure the bats are still there, but we just can't see them. On an entirely different subject, Barbara and I saw something interest- ing the other day. As we came up the driveway and looked across the pasture, it was literally swarming with swal- lows There were tree swallows and barn swallows Evidently some winged insects were hatching out with the hot, humid weather we've had, and all the swallows in the neighborhood had ral- lied round to take advantage of the easy picking After taking the groceries in, I went out and just watched them How grace- fully they fly. They dive and ghde and fly up agam-They most always swing bads to one spot in the pasture. Evidently that is where the insects are hatching out No wonder Mother Nature has to produce insects by the thousands so that a few might escape the onslaught of birds If we didn't have the birds around, wed be overrun by insects So when somebody says to you, "What good are those birds ?" tell them the true story. Anyone who has done any flying can appreciate the maneuvers these birds go through. Sometimes they go into a "stall" and fall back to pick up an insect they missed. Other times they'll just swoop in to capture a flying insect on the wing or spiral up after their prey. It was a "show of shows" just sitting there and watching. I marveled at the birds' erratic flight Barbara came over and joined me. She counted between 50 and 100 swal- lows working over the pasture in the R, A;;�• 4. r i Suffolk Times photos by Barbara and Paul Sloutenhurgh If you want to see this trim cedar waxwing, look for a tree or bush that pro- duces berries or some kind of fruit. We have these fruit- eaters occasionally hero on the North Fork. Count yourself lucky If you come across one feeding on your berry bush. past hour. Most swallows worked in the 15- or ?A -foot zone. A few were up higher. I imagined some insects up there thought they were getting away by flying high, but the sharp eyes of the swallows picked them up. Then, within an hour, the pasture was dear of insects and the swallows were gone. We had been sitting under an old cherry tree; the cherries are not very good, but they do attract the birds. While sitting there, a real treat came along; a cedar waxwing flew in to sam- ple the cherries What a trim bird the waxwing is We have them on the North Fork, but very sparingly. We often find small groups of cedar waxwings on our Christmas Bird Count. We usually see them around a fruit tree or shrub that has berries At this time of the year, we don't see the small groups, as the birds are nesting In all the years I've been in- volved in binding, I've only once found a pair of nesting cedar waxwings. They have a definite flight. I could recognize them as they flew in, then I'd see them hanging upside down and right side up, picking off the themes. I don't know if they ate the cherries whole or spit out the pit. When fruit is swallowed whole and the pit or seed passes through the bird unharmed, this often starts the process of creating a new tree. Here's how it works: That seed or pit is dropped on a viable growing spot and, if a squirrel or mouse doesn't find it and eat it the seed or pit might start to grow. Even if it should escape the hungry mouse or squirrel and start to grow, there's always the possibility of a deer or rabbit that likes young tender seedlings and nips it oft It's a difficult world to survive in, but nature usually wins by creating an abundance of seeds, pits, insects, birds, animals, etc Despite all the obstacles, some do make it I stayed seated under my cherry tree until the poor fight told me it was time to go in. The only sound I heard was a sharp, panicky call from a robin. What was it so excited about? I walked over to where the robin was calling. Often, if a bird like a robin sees a cat or fox will make a big fuss, letting the neighbor- hood know about it. After all, many a young robin has fallen prey to a ma- rauding cat or fox. As I approached where the sound was coming from, suddenly this huge bird flew over my head. It was a great horned owl. So this was what our robin was all excited about — the "tiger of the woods" Evidently it was head- ing out on its nightly foraging and the robin was letting the world know it was about Great homed owls are often found living near our homes We seldom see them, for they fly only at night. Often we'll hear crows making a loud ruckus; the reason for the ganging up and calling is that they have found a great homed owl roosting and are trying to chase it out of the area by harassing it. We've had a pair of great homed owls for years nesting somewhere in the vicinity, for we often hear their "Who-who ... who-who" call. This is our largest local owl and it is strong enough to carry your pet cat away if food be- comes scarce. That is most unlikely, however, for there are enough cotton- tails and other suitable small rodents to satisfy its appetite. We often see bats flying around just at dusk. It could be a red bat or the more common brown bat. They are masters of the airways, snapping up flying Insects of all sorts. Occasionally one will fly Into your house, and I guaran- tee It will create quite a commotion. They won't harm you; don't kill them. Open the doors and windows, turn out the lights and let the bat find Its way outdoors. e Suffolk Times • August 10, 2006 Bats, birds oh M �V �*! phi w UgSq Barbara and I are sitting outside with a small fire in our "fire pit." We have been here since we ate dinner. Now, in the dusk of the evening, we watch the night world come alive with the blink- ing lights of fireflies. Then, as we strain our eyes to catch each movement in the fading light, bats show up to perform their,part of the show. They dazzle us with their unbelievable display of flight. There must be at least three of them as we watch, zigzagging in and out amongst the trees Focus Sometimes they come up to us ON real close. Then they are lost in NATURE the darkness of the trees again. by Paul Off in the back - Stoutenburgh ' ground we still hear tree frogs calling. The males are calling for a mate to join them down at the pond for a bridal get- together. Then there's that loud buzzing that drowns out all other sounds. For the first time this season we've heard the sound of the cicadas or, as some locally call them, locusts. (Of course, a true locust is a grasshopper.) Then there are always the sounds of the smaller insects that fill the air with their chorus of eve- ning sounds. Barbara counted 33, 34, 35 blinking fireflies in one minute just in our back yard. Reading up on fireflies, we found where someone recorded that a frog ate some fireflies and they could see the fireflies still blinking away inside the frog. We used to collect fireflies in a jar when we were kids. Then we would watch them as they continued to light up in the jar. It's gotten so dark now I can't see anything but the flashing of the fireflies. I'm sure the bats are still there, but we just can't see them. On an entirely different subject, Barbara and I saw something interest- ing the other day. As we came up the driveway and looked across the pasture, it was literally swarming with swal- lows. There were tree swallows and barn swallows. Evidently some winged insects were hatching out with the hot, humid weather we've had, and all the swallows in the neighborhood had ral- lied round to take advantage of the easy ,y UgSq Barbara and I are sitting outside with a small fire in our "fire pit." We have been here since we ate dinner. Now, in the dusk of the evening, we watch the night world come alive with the blink- ing lights of fireflies. Then, as we strain our eyes to catch each movement in the fading light, bats show up to perform their,part of the show. They dazzle us with their unbelievable display of flight. There must be at least three of them as we watch, zigzagging in and out amongst the trees Focus Sometimes they come up to us ON real close. Then they are lost in NATURE the darkness of the trees again. by Paul Off in the back - Stoutenburgh ' ground we still hear tree frogs calling. The males are calling for a mate to join them down at the pond for a bridal get- together. Then there's that loud buzzing that drowns out all other sounds. For the first time this season we've heard the sound of the cicadas or, as some locally call them, locusts. (Of course, a true locust is a grasshopper.) Then there are always the sounds of the smaller insects that fill the air with their chorus of eve- ning sounds. Barbara counted 33, 34, 35 blinking fireflies in one minute just in our back yard. Reading up on fireflies, we found where someone recorded that a frog ate some fireflies and they could see the fireflies still blinking away inside the frog. We used to collect fireflies in a jar when we were kids. Then we would watch them as they continued to light up in the jar. It's gotten so dark now I can't see anything but the flashing of the fireflies. I'm sure the bats are still there, but we just can't see them. On an entirely different subject, Barbara and I saw something interest- ing the other day. As we came up the driveway and looked across the pasture, it was literally swarming with swal- lows. There were tree swallows and barn swallows. Evidently some winged insects were hatching out with the hot, humid weather we've had, and all the swallows in the neighborhood had ral- lied round to take advantage of the easy Suffolk Times photos by Barbara and Paul Stouten If you want to see this trim cedar waxwing, look for a tree or bush that duces berries or some kind of fruit. We have these fruit - eaters occasiol here on the North Fork. Count yourself lucky if you come across one fee on your berry bush. After taking the groceries in, I went out and just watched them. How grace- fully they fly. They dive and glide and fl, up again. They most always swing back to one spot in the pasture. Evidently that is where the insects are hatching out. No wonder Mother Nature has to produce insects by the thousands so that a few might escape the onslaught o birds. If we didn't have the birds arounc we'd be overrun by insects. So when somebody says to you, "What good are those birds ?" tell them the true story. Anyone who has done any flying can appreciate the maneuvers these birds go through. Sometimes they go into a "stall" and fall back to pick up an insect they missed. Other times they'll just swoop in to capture a flying insect on the wing or spiral up after their prey. It was a "show of shows" just sitting there and watching. I marveled at the birds' erratic flight. Barbara came over and joined me. She counted between 50 and 100 swal- lows working over the pasture in the past hour. Most swallows worked in the 15- or 20 -foot zone. A few were up higher. I imagined some insects up there thought they were getting away by flying high, but the sharp eyes of the swallows picked them up. Then, within an hour, the pasture was clear of insect,, and the swallows were none. had been sitting under an old i tree; the cherries are not very but they do attract the birds. sitting there, a real treat came a cedar waxwing flew in to sam- cherries. What a trim bird the ink. is. We have them on the North fork, but very sparingly. We ofts on our ;man groups of cedar waxwing Christmas Bud Count. We usually see them around a fruit tree or shrub that has berries. At this ti ou °s the s the birds don ,t see the small gr ars I've been in- are nesting. In all the y e volved in birding, I've only once found a pair of nesting cedar waxwings. They have a definite flight. I could recognize them as they flew in, then I'd see them hanging upside down and right side up, picking off the cherries. I don't know if they ate the cherries whole or spit out the pit. When fruit is swallowed whole and the pit or seed passes through the bird unharmed, this often starts the process of creating a new tree. Here's how it works: That seed or pit is dropped on a viable growing spot and, if a squirrel or mouse doesn't find it and eat it, the seed or pit might start to grow. Even if it should escape the hungry mouse or squirrel and start to grow, there's always the possibility of a deer or rabbit that likes young tender. seedlings and nips it off It's a difficult world to survive in, but nature usually wins by creating an abundance of seeds, pits, insects, birds, animals, etc. Despite all the obstacles, some do make it. I stayed seated under my cherry tree until the poor light told me it was time to go in. The only sound I heard was a sharp, panicky call from a robin. What was it so excited about? I walked over to where the robin was calling. Often, if a bird like a robin sees a cat or fox will make a big fuss, letting the neighbor- hood know about it. After all, many a young robin has fallen prey to a ma- rauding cat or fox. As I approached where the sound was coming from, suddenly this huge bird flew over my head. It was a great horned owl. So this was what our robin was all excited about — the "tiger of the woods." Evidently it was head- ing out on its nightly foraging and the robin was letting the world know it was about. Great horned owls are often found living near our homes. We seldom see them, for they fly only at night. Often we'll hear crows making a loud ruckus; the reason for the ganging up and calling is that they have found a great horned owl roosting and are trying to chase it out of the area by harassing it. We've had a pair of great horned owls for years nesting somewhere in the vicinity, for we often hear their "Who -who ... who -who" call. This is our largest local owl and it is strong enough to carry your pet cat away if food be- comes scarce. That is most unlikely, however, for there are enough cotton- tails and other suitable small rodents to satisfv its annetite. '4 IMt ° h� „ % 7 Ne often see bats flying around just at dusk. It could be a red bat or the more common brown bat. They are masters of the airways, snapping up flying nsects of all sorts. Occasionally one will fly into your house, and I guaran- tee it will create quite a commotion. They won't harm you; don't kill them. Dpen the doors and windows, turn out the lights and let the bat find its way