June 11, 9161 - The Towheew
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EVA
THE TOWHEE
Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven
by Paul Stoutenburgh
Focus on Nature
Cuchogue
tell when he is heard in 'the "Wonderful" to mean "f u 1 I of
(Today Keith McKenna is our
can
inviting everyone around to wonder."
guest writer. He teaches Eng-
has a
woods
"have some TEA."
There we are. I am filled with
lish in Riverhead and
poetic hand that I am sure you
What is "great" about a
amazement and wonder and awe
can exist
will enjoy. —P.S.)
Towhee? It must be obvious by
that such a creature
about in the ap-
A Bird Watchers Manifesto
now that it's an emotional thing.
He touches a sensitive chord in
or even come
parently random order of nature.
By Keith McKenna, Brookhaven
my own makeup. To borrow from
Is it after all not random? Is
there a higher order, an eternal
The other day I was driving
Emily Dickinson —
These questions are not for
home from school with my reg-
"I feel for him a transport of
plan?
science. These are questions of
ular companions who have by now
cordiality —'
beauty and love and the soul.
grown accustomed to interrup-
The real question is not,
They are a matter for the spirit
tions in whatever conversation
might be going on while I exclaim
„What's 'Great' about a Tow-
is, "What's
and not for the mind.
I
over some bird which happens by
heel" It rather,
great about any bird ?" or,
This then is my manifesto:
shall observe Nature in all her ,
at that moment.
"What's great about any living
courses. I shall learn and record
"There's a Towhee," I ex-
thing ?" or ,What's great about
her body of factual information.
claimed. "That's a great l i t t l e
Nature in her relation to God and
I shall regard her with intellec-
bird!"
Man ?"
tual curiosity and communicate
My friend, heaving a sigh at the
Once again it is a matter of
as well as I can my findings to
now lost train of thought, turned
feeling. It can be stated simply.
others. When all this is done and
belligerently to me and asked,
I love the Towhee. My "transport
1 may be concerned only w i t h
"Would you mind telling me
of cordiality" is, properly inter-
myself, then I shall love her and
what's 'great' about it ?"
preted, a feeling of passionate
worship at her feet.
I mumbled some embarrassed
devotion.
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
reply, recognizing that the word
But let me goon. Science
Dennis Puleston reports: Brook -
certainly seemed a little exces-
provides me with an excellent
haven — May 25 - Blackpoll Warb
'
sive when considered in retro-
tool. Through its works I may
ler, Pine Warbler, W i l s o n s
spect; nevertheless I was moved
learn and have learned. I may
Warbler.
to think about the reasons I must
discover that all sorts of things
Brookhaven —May 31 Bobolinks
have had somewhere in the back
can be found about the Towhee's
Brookhaven — June 1 - Tennessee
of my mind to cause me to apply
habits and movements. I read and
Warbler
the word. What is written here is
. 1 file the information in my
Brookhaven — June 2 Blackpoll
the result of my reflections.
memory.
Warbler, Red Crossbitls
Well, then, what is "great'
about a Towhee? It's a personal
The trouble is that science
Dennis Puleston, Arthur Cooley,
Jennifer Puleston, Peter Puleston
matter, I suppose. First, he's a
doesn't answer my self- searching
It can't. What is
report: Quogue — May 30 - West -
handsome little creature. His
question.
"Great" about a Towhee ?, I still
ern Sandpipers, Knots, W h i t e-
colors are bright, and n a t_u r e
to have combined them in
ask, and only my feelings answer,
rumped Sandpipers, Northern
seems
the best of taste.
Perhaps a poet is needed here.
Just now the woods around my
Phalarope.
Philip Hubert reports: Brook-
He presents an admirable pic-
He
of industry, for he is always
home are filled with wonderful
haven — June 2 - Red Cfossbills
Henry Halama reports: Brook -
busy, and even when I see him
little birds called warblers. They
in many colors and �t hey
haven — June 2 - Pine Grosbeak
eating I have the thought that he
is only prudently keeping up his
come
brighten the scene considerably.
L R Ernest reports: Southamp-
ton — May 28 - Green Herons,
strength for the work which lies
But look back a second = the
be and
Lady Slippers have been bloom -
ahead.
Finally, he is an altogether
warblers may colorful
they certainly do brighten any
ing, Broad - winged Hawk, Purple
Vireos
courteous individual, as anyone
scene — but I used the w o r d
Finch, Warbling