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March 16, 2006 - Why we worry about waterSA • The Suffolk Times • March 16, 2006 Suffolk limos photo by Paul 9toulenburgh Suffolk Times photo by Uennis Puleston Left: If you follow up to the end of many of our creeks and other places here on the East End, you will often find fresh water running out from underground. This blend of fresh and salt water eventually Is mixed with all the rest of these brackish blends and Is called an estuary. Above: One of the smallest and most striking members of the merganser family Is the one seldom seen here on the East End, the hooded merganser. Why we worry about water MY I10PL IN WRITING this column Is that by taking you here and there, to see this or that, you, too, will become more interested in the world around you,just as Barbara and I havc.Then once we've understood how those "wonderful parts" fit together, includ- ing ourselves, there will be an upsurg- ing of concern and the masses will demand that our planet be given the respect and care it so urgently needs. With that little introduction, come with me down our long driveway and across the road to the head of the creek, where the 50- degree ground- water runs out from under the bank. By now most of you know there is no mythical underground spring of fresh water from Connecticut nor is there a pipeline from any other source. Our only source of fresh water is what is directly under us. Think of it as a huge bucket of fresh water that can only be replenished by snow or rainfall. And further remember, the salty Sound is on one side and the mighty, salty Atlantic on the other; both hold that bucket of fresh water in its place. But beware: If given a chance, these two salty op- ponents will try to sneak in and replace our fresh water with salt water, and be- lieve me, this can happen if we use too much of our precious fresh water. Think of the problems this "bucket of water" faces. Water is being used every day by each and every house- hold, by irrigation systems, by industry, and the list of uses goes on and on.Then add to this po- tential use, the pollution of FQ our "bucket of water" with ON chemicals, sewage, fertilizers, oil, and pesticides of all sorts. There's more to our water than just turning on the faucet. My, we've taken a long time to get across the road to the creek. Let's move as quietly as possible as we approach the creek. It's here we find the water is still open. ICs here the fresh water and salt water mix to create brackish water, and it's here the killifish, worms of all sorts and seeds from the marsh abound; it's these goodies that our wildlife depends on during the winter months. Our quiet approach paid off, for, almost under our feet, a pair of hooded mergansers became aware of our pres- ence and swam as fast as they could away from us. This duck is our smallest and one of the most handsome ducks you will see anywhere on the North Fork. It was exciting to meet this sel- dom -seen member of the merganser family. It is usually found in freshwater swamps, rivers and ponds rather than in our salty creeks, but then there's always the exception $ and here it was right in front of us. The most striking feature of this mostly black -and- white male is the large, white fanlike crest that it can raise and lower, depend- ing on what the situation calls for. Al courting time we see this little fellow busy going through all sorts of gyrations, such as raising and lowering its large white headdress and throwing its head back over its body, all the time chasing his lady fair in hopes of her accepting him. This little, hooded merganser is one of three mergansers we see here on Long Island. The most common is the red - breasted merganser that has been showing off in front of the dull, brown- ish female for the past month or so. The largest of the three mergansers is the common merganser, who was C U NATURE by Paul Stoutenburgh C'Ju.(axv axui. �lJcl�. e�p.n. ` are welcoming Spring 2006 with our newly added services. Infroduc''"8 Aqua Reflexology 30 minutes of pressure point Therapy with the help of warm rolling water. improving blood circulation and enhancing your emotional in(] physical halance. 00 Thu service alvi formed �- mr tv7'State Ncemed 3lazage Therapist visit us ar paulixak.com 55 Route 48 • Maltituck, NY 11952 • Phone 298 -1119 I- IOU16: toes., Wed., Sat. 10 am - 6 pm, 1'hurs., Fri. 10 am - a pm MOVIE GUIDE A public service of Times /Review Newspapers Shows begin Friday, March 17 Mattltuck Cinemas Call 298- SHOW(7469) for daily showtimes. The Shaggy Dog (PG) Failure to Launch (PG -13) The Hills Have Eyes (R) She's the Man (PG) Eight Below (PG) Aquamarine (PG) 16 Blocks (PG -13) V for Vendetta (R) Greenport Theatre Closed for the winter. Reopening Spring 2006. also showing oft' in his colorful attire in hopes of attracting a male. This mer- ganser. like our "hoodie," is seldom seen here on our north shore.The smallest, as I said earlier, is the hooded merganser. Of the three mergansers, the common and hooded nest in tree cavities and often compete with the handsome wood duck for nesting sites. The closest this little hoodie has come to nesting here on our East End was some years back when one nested in a hollow tree at Mashomack on Shelter Island. Sorry to say, l was told the nest failed. All mergansers have that long, pen- cil -like bill that has rows of sharp teeth all along each side. It makes gathering those slippery little fish much easier. All three mergansers are classified as divers as they spend most of their time gleaning the bottom for every bit of nourishment thev can find. Keep an eye out for Um little hoodie,who could pop up anytime in your creek. Farther up the creek in an open spot was a great blue heron; evidently it had staked out a spot where killifish were still active. Its huddled -down position told me it was not at all happy. Usually when you're that close to a great blue heron it will fly off. It looked like this one didn't have the energy to move and that told me it might not make it if the sun didn't come out and warm it up. I saw this slow death acted out in Orient some years ago when cold and ice prevailcd.Tllc first day I noticed the heron was when I saw it standing on the ice at the far end of a little gut- ter that ran through a patch of phrag- mites.The second day when 1 came to check on how it was doing, l could see it had slumped down onto the wet ice but its head was still functioning, for it watched my every move. The third day was the final day for this once -hand- some great blue heron. There it lay, a lump of depleted feathers undignified and frozen in the ice. Nature some- times seems cruel, but it is her way of weeding out the weak and giving the strong a second chance. The News - Review • March 16, 2006 we worry about water Focus ON NATURE by Paul Stoutenburgh ft: If you follow up to the end of many of our creeks d other places here on the East End, you will often find ash water running out from underground. This blend of ash and salt water eventually is mixed with all the rest these brackish blends and is called an estuary. Above: ie of the smallest and most striking members of the )rganser family is the one seldom seen here on the East Y HOPE IN WRITING this column is that by taking you here and there; to see this or that, you, too, will become ore interested in the world around you, just as Barbara and I have. Then once we've understood how those "wonderful parts" fit together, includ- ing ourselves, there will be an upsurg- ing of concern and the masses will demand that our planet be given the respect and care it so urgently needs. With that little introduction, come with me down our long driveway and across the road to the head of the creek, where the 50- degree ground- water runs out from under the bank. By now most of you know there is no mythical underground spring of fresh water from Connecticut nor is there a pipeline from any other source. Our only source of fresh water is what is directly under us. Think of it as a huge bucket of fresh water that can only be replenished by snow or rainfall. And further remember, the salty Sound is on one side and the mighty, salty Atlantic on the other; both hold that bucket of fresh water in its place. But beware: If given a chance, these two salty op- ponents will try to sneak in and replace our fresh water with salt water, and be- lieve me, this can happen if we use too much of our precious fresh water. Think of the problems this "bucket of water" faces. Water is being used ev ry day by each and every household, by irrigation systems, by industry, and he list of uses goes on and on. Then add to this potential use, the pollution of our "bucket of water" with chemicals, sewage, fertilizers, oil, and pesticides of all sorts. There's more to our water than just turning on the faucet. My, we've taken a long time to get across the road to the creek. Let's move as quietly as possible as we ap- proach the creek. It's here we find the water is still open. It's here the fresh water and salt water mix to create brackish water, and it's here the kil- lifish, worms of all sorts and seeds from the marsh abound; it's these goodies that our wildlife depends on during the winter months. Pur quiet approach paid oft for, ost under our feet, a pair of hooded gansers became aware of our pres- s and swam as fast as they could Y from us. This duck is our smallest one of the most handsome ducks will see anywhere on the North Fork. It was exciting to meet this sel- dom -seen member of the merganser family. It is usually found in freshwate swamps, rivers and ponds rather than in our salty creeks, but then there's alwa s the exception and here it was right in front of us. The most striking feature of this mostly black -and- white male is the large, white fanlike crest that it can raise and lower, depend ing on what the situation calls for. At courting time we see this little fellow busy going through all sorts of gyrations, such as raising and lowering its large white headdress and throwing its head back over its body, all the time chasing his lady fair in hopes of her accepting him. This little, hooded merganser is one of three mergansers we see here on Long Island. The most common is the red - breasted merganser that has been showing off in front of the dull, brown- ish female for the past month or so. The largest of the three mergansers is the common merganser, who was also showing off in his colorful attire in hopes of attracting a mate. This mer- ganser. like our " hoodie;' is seldom— seen nere on our norm snore. ine smallest, as I said earlier, is the hooded merganser. Of the three mergansers, the common and hooded nest in tree cavities and often compete with the handsome wood duck for nesting sites. The closest this little hoodie has come to nesting here on our East End was some years back when one nested in a hollow tree at Mashomack on Shelter Island. Sorry to say, I was told the nest failed. All mergansers have that long, pen- cil -like bill that has rows of sharp teeth all along each side: It makes gathering those slippery little fish much easier. All three mergansers are classified as divers as they spend most of their time gleaning the bottom for every bit of nourishment they can find. Keep an eye out for the little hoodie, who could pop up anytime in your creek. Farther up the creek in an open spot was a great blue heron; evidently it had staked out a spot where killifish were still active. Its huddled -down position told me it was not at all happy. Usually when you're that close to a great blue heron it will fly ofE It looked like this one didn't have the energy to move an( that told me it might not make it if the sun didn't come out and warm it up. I saw this slow death acted out in Orient some years ago when cold and ice prevailed. The first day I noticed the heron was when I saw it standing on the ice at the far end of a little gut- ter that ran through a patch of phrag- mites.The second day when I came to check on how it was doing, I could see it had slumped down onto the wet ice but its head was still functioning, for it watched my every move. The third da was the final day for this once -hand- some great blue heron. There it lay, a lump of depleted feathers undignified d frozen in the ice. Nature some- times seems cruel, but it is her way of weeding out the weak and giving the trone a second chance.