April 10, 1980 - Spring Brings Butterflies, Ospreys, Other ThingsSECOND SECTION The *u f f o th Z:i nee 5
April 10, 1980
Spring Brings Butterflies, Ospreys, Other Things
The magic wand of spring has really
started the change of color on our lawns
and fields to green. How much more alive
the world looks and how much it does for
the human spirit. My heart breaks for
those indoors who cannot get out and
breathe the fresh new air and feel the
mellow warmth of the sun. Perhaps that is
one of the major reasons for my continual-
ly writing, to give some of those less
fortunate a chance to walk with me in the
great outdoors.
All of us at one time or another, I hope,
have had the wonderful opportunity to be
out in the woods in the spring, for there is
so much to see then. It was here just last
week that we saw the mourning - cloak, or
more descriptively called "yellow edge ",
our first butterfly. It's one every country
boy knows, for it is the first in a long
procession of color delights that greet us
throughout the summer. It came like
magic, fluttering and then gliding through
the bright sunlight. This butterfly is the
first one out and has a distinctive yellow
edge along its wing. This against a dark
body makes it a magnificent jewel to see.
Most other butterflies winter over in
cocoons or in the egg stage, but this
butterfly winters over in its handsome
adult stage. Imagine the tales it could tell
of where it hid to escape the winter winds
with its snows and cold. Yet, hidden
somewhere, this delicate butterfly waits
until the temperature warms up enough to
make the fluids in its cold body circulate,
then it's out to stretch its wings. Some-
times we find them in the middle of winter
for a quick moment as the sun warms the
air, but usually we think of it as a
springtime first before any of the other
butterflies.
Easter Proves Perfect Day
Easter was a perfect day. Looking back
I can remember other Easters warm and
sunny like this one, but they were far back
and few at that. Most have been cold and
oftentimes the weather miserable. One I
ro1W G1cJt'NJfs'i
especially remember was when our fam-
ilies got together for Easter Sunday dinner
and our kids had made a six -foot snow
bunny in our front yard. It had snowed the
night before and the cars were getting
stuck in the driveway. How things change.
No one could complain about this Easter
though. City folks were out checking their
places. Boat yards were humming with
curious people. Some raked leaves, while
others just strolled about enjoying the
warmth of the day.
I had taken the opportunity to put a
mooring out in the bay for our boat
because much of the work involved getting
wet and a warm day makes that kind of
work a lot more comfortable. Over in the
creek where I keep the boat small flocks of
bufflehead and red- breasted merganser
ducks were busy courting their ladies fair.
They're comical to watch as they rush
about the water, almost walking out of it in
their mad rush and frenzy. All this activity
with their heads tilted back and their bills
pointing to the sky.
I'm not sure who was chasing whom, but
I do know the ultimate result will be
pairing off and then heading to the far
north to nest. Sometime there will be such
confusion on the water that the whole
scene will explode into nothing and a
sudden dive by all, leaving the surface
blank except for the froth and bubbles left
by the excitement. Whether or not that
frenzy still goes on under water I can't say
but I'm sure of one thing when they pop up
to the surface, they start their antics all
over again.
RETURNING OSPREY - -So far the returning osprey population looks
good. Reports from all over the East End seem to indicate that there is a
slow but steady increase in the osprey population.
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
Ospreys Back In Force
Peconic, makes our reestablished osprey
Jim Bogden and Bob Gloria of Orient
population something to be proud of. These
have been keeping me well informed on
nests on man -made platforms have lured
ospreys returning out in their neck of the
all these magnificent birds back to their
woods, along with a report from Mr.
original areas. I can remember seeing
Heaney on the Plum Island ospreys. Here
birds nesting in all these areas years ago,
around Cutchogue and Mattituck I have
and it surely is rewarding to see them
been keeping track of them and am
slowly coming back.
pleased to say the overall picture looks
We're not out of the woods as yet and the
very good so far for the osprey.
birds are still on the state's endangered
species list, but we are learning some of
The pair at Husing Pond in Mattituck is
the solutions to making the system work in
back. When w0 were out putting the
this complicated world of ours. Let's hope
mooring in we saw the pair over on Broad
we're big enough and wise enough to make
Meadow Beach at Nassau Point and a new
the right decisions now and in the future so
pair are playing house over on Wickham
that our children can reap the rewards of
Beach between New Suffolk and Cut-
life we have enjoyed in this magnificent
chogue. This, coupled with the more
determined pair at Goldsmith's Inlet in
East End.
PAUL STOUTENBURGH
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