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November 30, 2006 - Everyone's talking turkey12A • The Suffolk Times • November 30, 2006 Everyone's talking turkey Thanksgiving is over, but that hasn't stopped the reports of "wild turkey" sightings from Riverhead to Orient. Recently we had a call from neighbors about a turkey in their yard. We've been hearing about more and more sight- ings of turkeys in Brookhaven, Wading River, Riverhead and Mattituck, and most recently three along the highway in Cutchogue — so this sighting near us didn't come as a complete surprise. With our camera and binoculars in hand, we were off to check on our neighbors' turkey. Sure enough, FOCUS when we ar- rived, there was a turkey stroll- ing about as if it were part of the by Paul family. Cameras StoUtenburgh Were clicking to capture this new arrival to the neighborhood. This wasn't a really wild turkey — it was much too friendly. Il must have come from someone who had raised it, and it had wandered away. "Through the years it has been known that turkeys taken from game farms do not have the human avoid- ance behavior typical of wild birds and are likely to become a nuisance. "The quote is from the state's publication "Long Island Wild Turkey Restora- tion." Perhaps that is what we are see- ing now when the so- called wild tur- keys have lost their fear of man. The turkey spent a good deal of its time poking at the shiny parts of a car parked in the driveway. Could it be it was seeing its own reflection in the shiny wheels, bumpers, head lights, etc. and wanted to challenge that reflected image? I know this pattern of birds pecking and flying at their reflection, sometimes in windows, is often found in robins and other birds in their court- ship display, but the season for that kind of shenanigans has long passed. The last report was of three turkeys wandering along Albertson Lane. It seems turkeys by themselves or in groups have found the North Fork a desirable place to live. Keep your eyes out for our largest bird; you never know when one might turn up. While you are at it, look for a wandering peacock that has been re- ported walking around and enjoying :J, *ittr �C i - its freedom in Southold. There has always been an interest by the public and the stale in having tur- keys reintroduced here on Long Island. There were even public hearings on the subject back in 1970. The result of those meetings was to not do anything except for trial programs in Hither Hills State Park and South Haven Park in Brookhaven. In 1993 Hither Hills Slate Park re- ceived five toms (adult males), four jakes (immature males) and 16 hens. South Haven Park received three toms, four jokes and 17 hens. A second re- lease in 1994 went to the Wertheim Na- tional Wildlife Refuge in Brookhaven. Since then, there have been other re- leases, plus in some areas turkeys have started to breed and reproduce. On an entirely different subject, we look what will be our last ride of the season out into the bay last week. Down at the dock the marsh that sur- Ti.__ _ _V_ - L The yellowlegs Is one of the last migrants to leave our area. It's a bird of our creeks and ponds. Its alarm call Is given when Its feeding area Is entered by man. Its call warns other birds, 'Beware: St,lfolk Tlmaa pholoa by Paul and Sa,bera Stwl.e I ub Left: This turkey sees Its own reflec- tion In the shiny parts of a car. We can only speculate that It wants to do battle with this Intruder who dares to enter Its domain. Above: You can see that the turkey's head and bill are well equipped to feed on Insects of all sorts, plus acorns and wild seeds that turn up In their wanderings. h s rt real red anywhere but on its head.The same is not true with the naming of the x' yellowlegs. All you have to do is lake a look at the bird and the name fits it very well. The yellowlegs was sticking around rounds us was by now in its last phase so that it might fatten up for its long of splendor, seed heads had ripened on migration south. Seeing that its migra- the thatch grass (the (all marsh grass) tion takes a lot out of it, there has to and already the sparrows had found be a reserve of fat built up for it to them and were busy moving from one meet the challenges it has to face along seed head to another. They must like its way. The same was true of the yel- company, for they were feeding Logeth- lowlegs that was feeding alongside the er, and our presence scared them away. highway we saw this week in a farm As winter wears on, the tall thatch pond that was left after the rains. grass will start to break down and be- Out in the bay we scared up our win - come part of the marsh's compost. This ter population of sea ducks, those rug - along with other detritus is converted ged divers that somehow can glean the into nutrients that will be taken up by bottoms for enough nutrients to make the plankton and zooplankton that them one of the most rugged ducks form the base of the food chain found you'll find anywhere. These are our in our creeks and bays. scoters — the white - winged, the surf One could think of the decaying and the black scorers. All visit our bays marsh grasses much like the fallen and Sound. They can rip a mussel from leaves in the forest, Each It seems turkeys its holdfasl and swallow ure year the leaves die and y it whole. Then with their fall to the ground, where, by themselves or powerful gizzard, crush through the years, they In groups have the mussel and absorb the decompose much like found the North nutritious meal. That seems the marsh grass and add almost impossible to me, nutrients to the soil, Fork a desirable yet it's not unusual; wood which eventually acts like place to live. ducks and mallards crush fertilizer to the trees and acorns and hickory nuts plants found in the forest. in the same fashion. Anyone who has As we made our way to the bay, we cracked a hickory nut knows how dif- could again see vast sections of the ficult it is to do, let alone trying to get marsh that have disappeared for some any meat out of them. unknown reason. This die -off is no little Loons are back in the bay, along with matter — in some places whole areas the homed grebes, What a contrast in have been reduced to nothing but mud- size these two make. The one thing they dy bog with not a trace of the marsh have in common is their ability to dive. grass. Take a moment and look back So much is the loon known for its div- lo what I've written about the marshes ing it's called the great diver in the U.K. creating the nutrients for the base of And so, our fall days will keep on the food chain and you can see why I'm growing shorter and shorter as winter so concerned. takes over. The eels and crabs in our There were sections of healthy creeks will live out the cold buried in marsh and it was there we saw one lone the soft ooze of our creek bottoms, shorebird, a yellowlegs. Sometimes we Heartbeats will slow down for many of wonder about the name given to a bird. nature's creatures, a stillness will Lake For example, think about the name over our world, only to be shattered by given to our "red - bellied woodpecker." an occasional winter storm. But then, You really have to look hard to see any as our world tips back, a warmth will red on its belly, Yes, we can see a slight prevail and life again will flourish in all touch of pink, but surely there isn't any its splendor. The Suffolk Times • November 30, 2006 veryo e ; s talking turkey .nom � l / � x � lnu a Suffolk Times photos Paul and Barbara Stoutenbui ,d _ x ,P - + tion in the shiny parts of a car. v an only speculate that it wants to 4 Ull � It Seems tUrke S enter its domain. Above: You can sE y that the turkey's head and bill ai ` well equipped to feed on insects in groups have all sorts, plus acorns and wild seec that turn up in their wanderings. found the North most recently three along the highway Fork a desirable in Cutchogue — so this sighting near us lace to live. didn't come as. a complete surprise. , in hand, we were off to check on our .nom � l / � x � lnu a x a . Suffolk Times photos Paul and Barbara Stoutenbui ,d Left: This turkey sees its own refle - + tion in the shiny parts of a car. v an only speculate that it wants to 4 ; ' attle with this intruder who dares It Seems tUrke S enter its domain. Above: You can sE y that the turkey's head and bill ai ` well equipped to feed on insects in groups have all sorts, plus acorns and wild seec that turn up in their wanderings. x a . gin+ lbw , � y M. � ' r ✓J �,�1 � w"whi N R v.i` . 9,ny . Y � +N wq. ny' Thanksgiving is over, but that asn t stopped the reports of "wild turkey" sightings from Riverhead to Orient. Recently had It Seems tUrke S we a call from neighbors y about a turkey in their yard. We've been by themselves or hearing about more and more sight- in groups have ings of turkeys in Brookhaven, Wading River, Riverhead and Mattituck, and found the North most recently three along the highway Fork a desirable in Cutchogue — so this sighting near us lace to live. didn't come as. a complete surprise. With our camera and binoculars in hand, we were off to check on our Sure enough, FOCUS when we ar- 0 N rived, there was a turkey stroll- N A T U R E mg about as if it were part of the by Paul family. Cameras Stoutenburgh Were clicking to capture this new arrival to the neighborhood. This wasn't a really wild turkey — it was much too friendly. It must have come from, someone who had raised it, and it had wandered away "Through the years it has been known that turkeys taken from game farms do not have the human avoid- ance behavior typical of wild birds and are likely to become a nuisance." The quote is from the state's publication "Long Island Wild Thrkey Restora -- tion-" Perhaps that is what we are see- ing now when the so -called wild tur- ceys have lost their fear of man- yellowlegs is one of the last migrants to leave our area. It's a bird of our ks and ponds. Its alarm call is given when its feeding area is entered by . Its call warns other birds, `Beware. The turkey spent a good deal of its time poking at the shiny parts of a car parked in the driveway. Could it be it was seeing its own reflection in the shiny wheels, bumpers, head lights, etc. and wanted to challenge that reflected image? I know this pattern of birds pecking and flying at their reflection, sometimes in windows, is often found in robins and other birds in their court- ship display, but the season for that kind of shenanigans has long passed. The last report was of three turkeys wandering along Albertson Lane. It seems turkeys by themselves or in groups have found the North Fork a desirable place to live. Keep your eyes out for our largest bird; you never know when one might turn up. While you are at it, look for a wandering peacock that has been re- ported walking around and enjoying its freedom in Southold. There has always been an interest by the public and the state in having tur- keys reintroduced here on Long Island There were even public hearings on the subject back in 1970. The result of those meetings was to not do anything except for trial programs in Hither Hills State Park and South Haven Park in Brookhaven. In 1993 Hither Hills State Park re- ceived five toms (adult males), four jakes (immature males) and 16 hens. South Haven Park received three toms, four jakes and 17 hens. A second re- lease in 1994 went to the Wertheim Na- tional Wildlife Refuge in Brookhaven. Since then, there have been other re- leases, plus in some areas turkeys have started to breed and reproduce. kun an entirely different subject, we took what will be our last ride of the season out into the bay last week. Down at the dock the marsh that sur- rounds us was by now in its last phase of splendor, seed heads had ripened on the thatch grass (the tall marsh grass) and already the sparrows had found them and were busy moving from one seed head to another. They must like company, for they were feeding togeth- er, and our presence scared them away. As winter wears on, the tall thatch grass will start to break down and be- come part of the marsh's compost. Thi along with other detritus is converted into nutrients that will be taken up by the plankton and zooplankton that form the base of the food chain found in our creeks and bays. One could think of the decaying marsh grasses much like the fallen leaves in.the forest. Each year the leaves die and fall to the ground, where, through the years, they decompose much like the marsh grass and add nutrients to the soil, which eventually acts like fertilizer to the trees and plants found in the forest. As we made our way to the bay, we could again see vast sections of the marsh that have disappeared for some unknown reason. This die -off is no little matter — in some places whole areas have been reduced to nothing but mud- dy bog with not a trace of the marsh grass. Take a moment and loop back to what I've written about the marshes creating the nutrients for the base of the food chain and you can see why I'm so concerned. There were sections of healthy marsh and it was there we saw one lone shorebird, a yellowlegs. Sometimes we wonder about the name given to a bird. For example, think about the name given to our "red- bellied woodpecker." You really have to look hard to see any ed on- its belly. Yes, we can see a slight touch of ink, but surely there isn't any real re anywhere but on its head. The same is not true with the naming of the yellowlegs. All you have to do is take . a look at the bird and the name fits it very well. - The yellowlegs was sticking around so that it might fatten up for its long migration south. Seeing that its migra- tion takes a lot out of it, there has to be a reserve of fat built up for it to meet the challenges it has to face along its way. The same was true of the yel- lowlegs that was feeding alongside the highway we saw this week in a farm pond that was left after the rains. Out in the bay we scared up our win- ter population of sea ducks, those rug- ged divers that somehow can glean the bottoms for enough nutrients to make them one of the most rugged ducks you'll find anywhere. These are our scoters — the white- winged, the surf and the black scoters. All visit our bays and Sound. They can rip a mussel from its holdfast and swallow it whole. Then with their powerful gizzard, crush the mussel and absorb the nutritious meat. That seems almost impossible to me, yet it's not unusual; wood ucks and mallards crush acorns and hickory nuts in the same fashion. Anyone who has cracked a hickory nut.knows how dif- ficult it is to do, let alone trying to get any meat out of them. Loons are back in the bay, along with the horned grebes. What a contrast in size these two make. The one thing they have in common is their ability to dive. So much is the loon known for its div- ing it's called the great diver in the U.K. And so, our fall days will keep on growing shorter and shorter as winter takes over. The eels and crabs in our creeks will live out the cold buried in the 'soft ooze of our creek bottoms. Heartbeats will slow down for many of nature's creatures, a stillness will take over our world, only to be shattered by an occasional winter storm. But then, as our world tips back, a warmth will prevail and life again will flourish in all