June 02, 1963 - Treetop Warblersf
Focus on Nature by Paul Stouteriburgh, Cutchogue
This week Dennis P u I e s t o n
brings us all an urgent message
concerning conservation. It is
hoped that you, our public, will
give this problem strong "a-
sideration and perhaps come up
with a solution worthy of the ele-
gant area discussed below. PS.
GUEST WRITER
DENNIS PULESTON
I A Woodland Gem
With the growing encroachment
of civilization into our country-
side, we are finding more and
more that our only remaining un-
spoiled natural areas are small,
isolated spots, surrounded by the
works of man. Into these oases,
the surviving wildlife t e n d s to
concentrate, and for this reason
Central Park in the heart of New
York City and the Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Sanctuary in the Brooklyn
marshes are such fruitful spots
for the naturalist. I am o f t e n
intrigued to hear reports of the
rare migrant bird species, as well
as many of the commoner tran-
sients, that are observed in Cen-
tral Park. 0,nd unquestionably the
Jamaica Bay marshes attract a
greater abundance of breeding
waterfowl and migrant s h o r e-
birds than any other comparable
area on Long Island.
How do the birds manage to
find these islands of food and
shelter in the midst of so many
miles of inhospitable stone and
concxete, while on their amazing
journeys from the tropics to their
breeding grounds in the cool
northern forests? No doubt it is
because of their isolation t h a t
such a r e a s attract so m a n y
birds, and concentrate them so
that they can be more readily
observed than in more r u r a l
regions, where they would tend
to be scattered. An area such as
this in East Sayville has been a
real mecca for many groups of
enthusiastic amateur ornitholo-
gists during recent weeks. This
is the 39 -acre estate, now aban-
doned and up for sale, w h i c h
once belonged to members of the
Roosevelt family. It lies just east
of the center of Sayville, on the
south side of the Montauk High-
way, and west of an attractive
but shallow lake which is part
of a small stream flowing into
the Great South Bay. For some
reason, migrant warblers a n d
other species of the s m a l l e r
insectivorous birds have b e e n
pouring through these woods in
numbers that have been noted
n o w h e r e else on Long Island.
Also, many unusual species have
rewarded the watchers, who have
risen before dawn to put in a few
hours there before beginning the
day's work.
For my part, I can say without
reservation that on several occa-
sions this month I have seen a
higher concentration of migrant
warblers in this one small tract
than I have ever seen elsewhere.
To be in the midst of one of
these early morning waves, be-
fore the birds have had the
chance to separate after t h e i r
night -Iong flights, is the ultimate
thrill for the ardent ornithologist.
The upper branches of the oaks
are swarming with the l i t t l e
creatures, as they feed voraci-
ously on small caterpillars of the
inch -worm variety, thus replenish-
ing their energies for the next
leg. in their travels to the breed-
ing grounds. As each one flits
restlessly from twig to twig, the
utters the series of notes that
passes for his spring 'song'. Most
of these songs are little more
than insect -like buzzing or lisping
notes, which belie the n a m e
'warbler' that has been given to
this l a r g e family of passerine
birds. Yet, while their v o i c e s
may be mediocre, their plumages
are glorious, especially in t h e
males. Brilliant yellows predom-
inate, but red, green, blue, chest-
nut, bay„ orange, black, and
white also make up the feather
patterns of their butterfly -1 i k e
creatures, always so active and
so vividly alive.
Since one can identify as many
as twenty -four different species
of warbler in this Sayville tract
on a fine May morning, the tax
on the visual acuity of the ex-
cited observers is at maximum.
Once a rarity si spotted, the finder
is eager to share his discovery
with his companions, and he does
his best to direct their attention
to the right spot in some tall oak.
When there may be as many as
a dozen birds flitting tirelessly in
that same .treetop, this is n o t
always easy. After an hour or so
of this kind of watching through
the binoculars, one finds that the
muscles at the back of the neck
have developed quite an a c he
from the constant head - tipping.
In addition to the great num-
bers of the commoner warblers
we have seen here this spring,
we have been fortunate in spot-
ting such rarities as the Hooded,
G o I d e n- winged, Cerulean, Ken-
tucky, Wormeating, and. Wilson's
Warblers. The peak waves came
on the mornings of May 19 and
21. On these two days, the pre-
dominant species were the Bay -
breasted and Blackpoll Warblers.
I have always considered brie
Bay- breast as something of a
rarity, but here we had at least
half a dozen in a single tree.
It was impossible to even begin
to count the hordes.
Yet the warblers are only one
segment of the abundant wildlife
to be enjoyed in this pleasant re-
treat. The beautiful Rose - breasted
Grosbeak has been abundant;
many Baltimore Orioles and Scar-
let Tanagers enrich the woods
with their joyous outpourings of
music. In the lower shrubs, where
the dogwood blooms profusely,
the pensive flutings of the Wood
Thrush can be heard, and the
strange, ventriloquial whistlings of
the Veery, which sound as if they
were coming from within a long
silver pipe. From the s w a m p y
borders of the streamlet Northern
Water- thrushes, Yellow Warblers,
and Yellowthroats are c a I ling,
and the Ovenbird shouts "Teach-
er, teacher, teacher" stridently
from the forest floor. Among the
many woodland flowers are car-
pets of Lily- of -th•e- valley, and here
and there one finds clumps of
pink Lady •Slipper, a rarity now
in most of our woodlands. But
it would requirg many pages to
detail all the delights of this un-
spoiled natural area.
But unfortunately, I must
qualify that word 'unspoiled'. The
careless and the vandals are hard
at work, and unless they can
be curbed a few more ,years will
see this lovely place converted
into an unsightly garbage dump,
or even worse, it may be black-
ened by fire. Already there are
several small seared areas. Here
and there we find heaps of gar-
bage, thoughlessly tossed into the
woods by the kind of people for
whom I can hold nothing b u t
contempt. Some individuals feel
they have the right to cut down
trees and help themselves to the
shrubs. Even worse, many trees
show deep wounds from axe
marks, made by boys who obvi-
ously lack proper parental train-
ing in a respect for our natural
resources.
For those ^of us who love such
a place, and treat it with the re-
spect that it deserves, it is pairn-
ful to think of its probable fate.
Even if it is not entirely van -
dalized or burnt, it may fall into
the hands of a developer, who
will undoubtedly have no com-
punction in ordering his bull-
dozers to make the area suitable
for rows of suburban -type
dwellings.
How can such an exceptionally
beautiful and fruitful wild area
be saved for the enjoyment and
edification of future generations
of Long Islanders? We can only
hope that some conservation -
minded group of citizens, or our
County or State officials, can
find a means for acquiring it for
controlled public • use. On 1 y by
such means cans' this woodland
gem continue to enrich the lives
of those who can find the truest
expressions of beauty in on r
natural world.
Please send any comments or
observations to Paul Stoutenburgh,
Box 105, Bay Ave, Gutchogue,
N Y.
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
Laurence Ernest reports:
Southampton — May 18-20
Scarlet Tanagers (2) .
Wood Pewee •
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Spotted Sandpipers (3)
Knots
Semipalmated Plover
Dennis Puleston reports:
Upton — May 21
Philadelphia Vireo
Brookhaven — May 21
Wilson's Warbler
Water Mill — May 24
Yellow- throated Vireo
Cerculean Warbler
Canada Warbler
Gnatcatcher (pair nesting)