January 07, 1982 - Counting the Birds of Gardiner's IslandSECOND SECTION
The * Timr5 JANUARY 7, 1982
Counting the Birds of Gardiner's Island
Each year around this time the National
Audubon Society holds its annual Christ-
mas Bird Count throughout the country.
From the frozen tundra of Alaska to the
sunny shores of Panama, birds are counted.
From as far west as Hawaii to the eastern
coasts of Maine, rugged birders search out
and count birds from before dawn to dusk.
Each count area covers a 15 mile circle. Each
circle is divided into various sections. It's a
gigantic operation and the results are
tabulated each year in Audubon's one -inch
thick American Birds.
I participate in three of these counts here
on the east end of Long Island. A few weeks
ago a group of us flew to Gardiners Island to
cover that area for the Montauk count. It
was a cold, windy day, but knowing the
problems of birding during these bleak
times we had prepared well with long johns,
heavy wool socks, down jackets, gloves and
hoods. Those plus a hearty lunch, binoculars
and something to drink completed our
outfit.
We landed on the small strip at the south
end of the island where we were greeted by a
sign that read "Private Air Field -- Please
Leave." We had previously made
arrangements with the owners to fly over but
nevertheless the sign reinforced the idea that
we were trespassing and should get our job
done and be gone.
The area we were to cover was from Whale
Hill to the airport including the big fresh
water pond called Tobaccolot. Gathering
all our belongings, we headed over the moor -
like country at the south end of the island to
the edge of the great cliffs which overlook
Block Island Sound.
We found a break in the cliff where deer
traveled up and down to the sandy beach
below. The sun had started to warm things
up and down on the beach behind the banks
we were protected from the fierce northwest
wind that persisted in letting us know it was
king out there.
To greet us just off shore were a pair of
harbor seals trying to grasp every bit of
warmth the early sun had to offer. They laid
head -to -head on a flat rock, their tails grace-
fully upturned like some modern sculpture.
Our presence startled them and they slid into
the water only to surface a short distance
away, their heads looking like footballs with
big white whiskers.
Deer Browse on Seaweed
The early sun painted the great banks a
golden hue and the odd shapes of sand and
clay gave the area a foreign look. We could
have been anywhere in the world. There were
no human footprints on the seven miles of
beach but what we did see were deer tracks
everywhere. Evidently the deer browse on
seaweed for we would often see one as we
rounded a point. Looking up it would dash
off up the beach till there was a spot in the
bank to climb and then disappear above.
The count was on in earnest now. Gulls,
scoters, cormorants, mergansers started to
fill up our list. High above in the shrubbery
we could see the yellow - rumped warblers.
Now a red - tailed hawk glided by. Then
another. On and on we went, heading for our
rendezvous ahead at the south end of
Tobaccolot Pond. Here we'd go inland and
our other party would take the beach.
One last look off shore in hopes of
spotting the magnificent gannets that
occasionally swing in shore close enough for
us to see. No luck. There was our party now.
We compared notes. They headed off to the
north and we headed into the underbrush
along the south end of the pond.
By now it was time for refreshments. We
started to sit down in a heavily grassed area
when all of a sudden a barn owl took off
almost under our feet. It apparently was
resting after a long night of hunting.
We knew our other party had gotten close
to the ducks in the pond because flock after
flock of black ducks moved out along with
mallards, wigeons, canvasbacks, and
buffleheads. Small groups of teal, ruddy
duck and others mingled among the bigger
ducks, all in great flights heading south. It
was a wild life show of real splendor. Now
the slower geese started to string by, their
long necks outstretched, their heavy wings
beating a slower cadence than the ducks.
They came so close our binoculars could pick
out their black, beady eyes.
All day we added to our list. Rough - legged
hawks always seemed to be in sight along
with the red tails. A pair of wood duck took
off from the forest floor. Were they eating
acorns? Hear the Carolina wren singing?
How many whitethroats do you estimate in
that flock? Did you see the catbird in the
thicket? Who has a field guide so I can check
this sparrow I just saw? Be quiet. There's a
flock of turkeys... one... two... three...
four... five... six... seven... eight. Oops!
Thev've seen us. There they go.
Best Bird -- Bald Eagle
Our big thrill came as we worked our way
along the wet edges of the pond. Out from
the north, on great out - stretched wings, flew
a bald eagle. As it glided by, our glasses could
pick out its huge hooked bill. The bird is
overpowering and at close range we could
only get part of it in our glasses. We were to
see him throughout the day moving from one
lookout to another. No matter when he went
by we'd all stop, glasses up to feast our eyes
on a bird not often seen.
In the late afternoon light our plane flew in
to take us off. We were tired but with a good
feeling of tiredness. Out in the air all day on a
magnificent island we couldn't help but feel
elated.
The final tabulation of all the counts in the
Montauk area were taken that night.
Probably somewhere in the neighborhood of
128 species were seen. The official numbers
will come in later after more exact checking
of species and areas.
PAULSTOUTENBURGH
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WILD TURKEYS -- Although a large bird, a wild turkey can fly quite well
when forced to. Their usual escape is to keep down and run for cover,
where their color soon blends in with the landscape.
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
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