April 04, 1985 - The Egrets ReturnPage 12A
The Suffolk Times
The Egrets Return
By PAUL STOUTENBURGH
How do you like the hot and cold wea-
ther we've been having? One day is
shirt sleeve weather, then a few days
later hailstones come down like mini-
ature moth balls. Guess this is the way
nature works itself out of winter and
into spring.
I wonder how the new arrivals from
the south feel about it. The robins, red-
wings, grackles, ospreys, common and
snowy egrets and others are going to
have it pretty hard until this conglom-
erate weather passes. But the lengthen-
ing day has triggered an inner urge that
even cold weather can't stop.
The early arrival of seven snowy eg-
rets in Corey Creek, Southold, was nice
to hear about. These handsome, all -
white birds are easily spotted and can-
not be confused with others if you just
remember a few simple facts about
them. They are called the "golden slip-
per bird" because of their identifying
yellow feet. No other egret has yellow
feet. Therefore it separates them from
all other white egrets.
The cattle egret, about the same size,
is the same one you see on TV when
Focus en
Nature
you see a film of wildlife in Africa. It
has found its way to our shores but is
not found in our salt marshes.
Look for the cattle egret in open in-
land grass areas. Pastures around cat-
tle are ideal and each year during the
spring migration we look forward to se-
eing one or two of these white egrets
stalking insects in our pasture. Their
habit of following the grazing cattle en-
able them to pick up insects that the
cattle disturb as they slowly graze
across the stubble. On close examina-
tion, the cattle egret also has a bit of
reddish- orange on its head, back and
chest that no other white egret has.
Egrets Do Not Nest Here
The great egret is all white but twice
the size of the snowy and is far less com-
mon. None of the white egrets nest on
the mainland of the north shore but
hopefully this will change in the near
April 4, 1985
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
SNOWY EGRETS ARE BACK- -Seven of these handsome egrets from
the south were spotted by a young man in Corey Creek, Southold. They
don't nest on the North Fork, but look for more secluded spots like
Gardiners Island and Plum Island.
Your wait is over...
We are pleased to announce the
Grand Opening
of our furnished models
Come look us over, you'll be glad you did!
The Incredible Location on
in the Convenience Center of the
The area abounds in Long Island's
famed recreational and cultural
amenities. Nearby golf and country
clubs, white sandy beaches, the
sparkling waters of Long Island
Sound or Peconic Bay for sailing or
fishing. Shopping and transporta-
tion are close and museums,
libraries, houses of worship and
health facilities are all in the area.
the
Hamlet of Southold.
The carefree lifestyle that offers fun
and friendship in an attractive environment.
Congenial yet unobtrusive.
Luxurious, yet affordable.
z
1 I, a
a
• Spacious room sizes • Gourmet kitchens • Sunny breakfast
room with door to patio in some models • Wall-to-wall
carpeting • FULL BASEMENT • Individually thermostatically
controlled central air conditioning and heating • Wood
burning fireplaces • Cathedral ceilings
2 bedroom, 2 full bath, one story townhouses from $125,900
The only Adult Community like it on the North Fork
At Founders Village, the designs are exciting and built for
today's living. The layouts will suit your every special
personal taste. The value, the beauty, the spacious liveability
is brought to life by decades of experience. You'll love
living here.
Directions: L.I. Expressway to last exit 73 (Orient, Greenport, CR 58).
Drive approx. 41/2 miles on CR 58. Turn left onto Northville Tpke.
(CR 43N) and drive to the intersection of Sound Ave. (Sound Ave.
becomes North Rd. CR 48). Turn right going East approx. 14.5 miles to
Youngs Ave. Turn right 1/4 mile to Founders Village.
Sales Office Phone: (516) 765 -5452
The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from the sponsor.
future. They nest on Gardiners Island
and Plum Island and in the past on Ro-
bins Island.
The snowy egret was almost wiped
out by the millinery trade in the early
1900s, ladies' decorations on hats were
the chief reason for their demise and
market gunners thought little of going
into a heron rookery and shooting the
adult bird right off the nest which, of
course, left the eggs or young to perish
a slow death. Thank goodness conser-
vationists rallied and put a stop to this
slaughter and now we have strict laws
protecting all birds.
Today the greatest threat to most
wildlife is not the market gunner but
the loss of habitat. This single factor is
slowly eating away at populations of all
species from the local terns that nest
on our beaches to the great elephants
of Africa. As man becomes more effi-
cient in clearing and filling the land
with his agriculture and assortment of
businesses and homes, habitat is the
loser.
The great expanses of wilderness --
the Amazon basin, the great plains of
Africa, the tundra of Alaska and a host
of other places -- are being probed today
for profit and use. It's -like so many
things right here in our own town that
are up for a challenge. You can't have
it both ways. Country and so- called
progress are always on a collision
course and it is going to take some dif-
ficult decisions and planning to keep
the ship afloat.
Plant World Budding
Along with the influx of migrant
birds from the south, we've been ex-
periencing a budding in the plant world.
Slowly the swamp maple buds are turn-
ing their elegant silhouettes to a mass
of red. The willows down by the pond
have taken on a yellow -green tinge
which shows the sap of life is once again
flowing through their cambium layers.
The pussy willows are full out in all
their furry splendor and the cultivated
crocus and daffodils about our homes
are adding color and beauty to the
homestead.
Pregnancy has taken over the animal
world and soon the squirrels, rabbits,
raccoons, opossums, foxes and others
will be giving birth. Already the terror
of the night, the great horned owl, has
probably had its young. This early nes-
ter that few ever have the pleasure of
seeing has been incubating through our
winter months.
There are records of snowfalls cover-
(continued on page 14A)
Page 14A The Suffolk Times April 4, 1985
ouTDOOR
DFCM
HELP YOU
One over - broiled sirloin and the whole
house smells like a short-order grill for hours.
To clear the air and bone up on your
barbecue skills, take it outside with a deck.
As a do- it- yourself project, a deck is a
most affordable way to add breathing space
and value to any home.
But to do the job right, you'll need a
few choice cuts of Western Wood.
For regular or treated lumber, supplies,
and plenty of how -to information, see us
first —your one -stop decking supply center.
We've got everything you need for a
job well done.
WTSUMN WOOD.
THE ORIGUNAL
MIRACLE PRODUCT.
RIVERNEAM
BUILDING SUPPLYCORP.
303 Ostrander Ave. 3 Railroad Ave.
Riverhead, N.Y. East Hampton, N.Y.
727 -3650 324 -0300
Fleet Lumber Kitchen Cabinet Showroom
Rt. 25, Greenport 431 E. Main St., Riverhead
477 -1906 727 -1400
Focus...
(continued from page 12A)
ing bird and nest with snow during
these rugged times of winter. The
reason for this is that the owl does not
depend on the arrival of a species to
feed its young. It's on the prowl all
winter and its food is in supply through-
out the year, while say the osprey must
wait for the warm water so the eels and
flounders will stir out of the mud. The
robin must also wait until the ground
thaws and the worms and insects are
moving about.
Each part of nature's great system
has its day. Everything must be timed
just right for the pieces to fall in place.
Through trial and error through eons
of time, each species has evolved its own
niche with its own requirements. The
remarkable part about this grand plan
is that it works and it works well pro-
vided man doesn't alter the system.
Think about it.
Rotary Fund Raiser
SOUTHOLD - -The Southold Rotary
Club is preparing for the April 30 draw-
ing for its annual fund raising event for
community projects. Only 100 tickets
will be sold at $100 apiece. The grand
prize again this year will be a nine -day
trip to Europe for two, along with
$1,000 in expense money. Fifty other
prizes will be awarded. For further in-
formation, call Gary Strang at 765 -4455
or John Kramer at 765 -3811.
Lithuanians to Meet
PECONIC -- Members of the Lithua-
nian community are invited to attend
a meeting at the Peconic Lane Civic
Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
Heading the agenda will be a discussion
of the "Lithuanian Day" festivities
planned for Sept. 15. For further infor-
mation, call Alice Graff at 727 -5126.
RIVERHEAD TOOL CORP.
523 Pulaski St.
Riverhead
727 -5510
NEW LOCATION
823 North Hwy.
Southampton
283 -8700
CONTRACTORS!
Join Us On
APRIL 4 APRIL 5
in Riverhead in Southampton
9 A.M. - 5 P.M. 8 A.M. - 4 P.M.
It's
to
BOVITCH®
CONSTRUCTION FASTENING CENTER
CONTRACTOR SALE
• 30% off List Tools
• 20% off List Nails & Staples
• FREE Prizes
• Refreshments
• Great Discounts
See Demonstrations on the
�! Latest in Fastening Tools
Plans are available for:
Contemporary • Colonial
Victorian • Traditional
-' • Post and Beam (Deck House).
Or we'll work with
your architect
on your land or ours.
RENOVATIONS - SOLAR INSTALLATION'S • LICENSED PLUMBING
•
gaMinertbay
construction co.
81 GARDIAER'S BAY DRIVE SHELTER ISLAND 749 -0182