Loading...
April 30, 1987 - Spring and SurvivalSpring and Survival By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Few of us are privileged in this day and age to get close to the natural world. The outdoors has been re- placed by the modern world of trin- ketry so that much of what was com- mon years ago is unknown today. Yet every once in a while there are the lucky few who are alert and in- terested in witnessing some of na- ture's intimate ways. Not far from my home, a weeken- der watching four young fox cubs frolicking across the water called me yesterday. People from across the street and down the road had gathered to witness these furry little pups playing and tumbling about in the late afternoon sun. It was a perfect spot for a den, across the water from where there were people and homes, on a yet un- developed piece of woods. Even though I knew that four healthy, young, robust foxes needed to be fed might mean fewer chickens in my coop, I couldn't help but be excited watching their adventures as they ran about testing their new skills against each other. They'd dart under a clump of cedars and then rush out chasing one another through the salt hay of the meadow nearby. Every once in a while they'd stop and their noses would test the fresh new world of the marsh. It was the way it had been for centuries, the rebirth of a new generation and its education in the world about them. An Unusual Sight The world of young cubs such as these is becoming a rare sight here on the East End as more and more habitat is gobbled up by develop- ment. It's like the old saying, "You can't have your cake and eat it, too." That's a hard concept to get across to some people and those who do realize it are at a loss as to how to change the system under today's pressures. But those are problems for another time. This is Sunday morning with the sun shining and, for a time at least, it's not raining. Heavy rains in the spring can be disastrous to those who are close to the earth, and every farmer knows that the seeds he's planted with a combination of heavy rains and cold weather will produce poor crops. Even my neighbor, who I consider a meticulous gardener, tells me that one -third of his pea crop has rotted, making him replant it. There is a similar problem for our birds and animals who choose to nest on open ground. Years ago, when I did a lot more photographing than I do now, I photographed a nest of horned larks, a bird that builds its nest on the open ground, on open, wind -swept land. I'd put up a blind or hide to photograph the bird and had good luck in recording the female on her eggs. Rains Drown Young Then I left for a period of a week or so during which we had three days of i heavy rain. When it finally did clear I went back with all my gear in hopes of photographing the young. The young had hatched all right, but the rains had flooded the nest and the young were all dead. It was heartbreaking to see, but those of us who.:, }eve clpge -to ;the - aatu�al• wgiejd -, Focus on Nature know it was just one of the tragedies that all wild things sooner or later face in their world of survival. In this case, the horned lark would probably nest again since it is such an early nester. Rabbits also build in a shallow de- pression on the ground and when-tor- rential rains come they, too, can fall prey to nature's prolonged wet and cold. Most birds protect their young and eggs from the rain by staying "tight" on the nest, but young rabbits are left alone in the nest during the day when the mother is away. She returns at night to feed and clean them. The nest, a wonderful combi- nation of leaves, grass and fur taken from the mother's body, does an ex- cellent job of insulating the young. It's almost like a down jacket around them, but nevertheless, heavy rains can still seep in. Just this week, Tim, a good friend of mine, reported he'd seen his first clutch of young woodcock. This is one of the birds that nests on the ground, but made it through our heavy spring rains. Years ago, I photo- graphed a woodcock in an oak woods and when I developed the film I could hardly find the bird in the picture be- cause it was so well camoflaged. Worms on the Menu It's a bird of wet areas -- swamps, pond edges, anywhere the soil is soft so it can use its long bill to probe for worms. Tim's sharp eyes saw the bird and its young crossing the road and, luckily, stopped. The mother bird tried to lure him away with a broken wing act that many birds use to dis- tract an intruder from their young. The little ones by instinct froze to the road and Tim, being afraid to leave them there, moved them off to the side. As he drove away, he looked back to see the mother flutter back to the young and off into the bushes. All this goes to prove there are many pitfalls faced by our wild plants, birds and animals, not only from man but from natural events. Hopefully, there will always be sur- vivors so that we can all enjoy our wildlife. �c Ufique ~0100 Main Road, Aquebogue, New York 11931 • P.O. Box 605 Phone 722 -3944 FLAGPOLES. Yardarms /Gaffs. Installation Specialists. FLAGS. National, State, Foreign, Marine and Custom Flags. Old Flags Earn a Trade -In Allowance. VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FREE DELIVERY WORLD CLASS NAUT/CAL/A ANN/N 8 COMPANY Est. 1847-- Flags 8 Flagpoles DAVEY 8 COMPANY, LONDON ltd. 1883 -- Lamps 8 Nautical Hardware The Suffolk Times /April 30, 11987 /Fade 11A Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh FOX CUB - -This is the time of year that young foxes start to explore the world about them just outside their den. IN THE DINING ROOM ON DECK OR TOPSIDE MARINE ROOM. Restaurant And Marina Reserve now for Mother's Day May 10th. Opening Friday, May 1st for our 118th season. For reservations call 477 -0627. Our topside deck din- ing area overlooking scenic Greenport Harbor and Shelter Island is available for special functions or just excellent dining. MARINA OPEN MARINA TELEPHONE: 477 -0355 Free wharfage for luncheon and dinner patrons.