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February 23, 1995 - The Waterways and Flywaysof Florida6A • The Suffolk Times • February 23, 1995 The Waterways and Flywaysof Florida By Paul Stoutenburgh with white flecking but the night heron Central Florida — the land of lakes. We've been pushing southward in hopes of getting into warmer weather. When we first arrived the temperature couldn't be better. For days we dwelt in the warmth of Florida's sun but then the jet stream took a dip and our balmy weather changed to wind and cold. As a matter of fact, it broke five -year records. In the yards of many Focus on homes, sheets and blankets were draped over "tender loving" Nature plants that might succumb to the unheard -of cold. One morning, we awoke to a white frost and people walked wrapped in warm, winter clothes, some with earmuffs, some with gloves. Most here can't cope with that kind of weather. To me, it wasn't half bad, a mere 30 degrees, but then we were fresh out of the north. Right now I'm writing from a lovely campground in south - central Florida where the temperature has moder- ated and as the Chamber of Commerce keeps telling us, "The sun always shines." This campground even has a golf course and is not crowded a bit. Birding looks good although we haven't been here long. Along the way here we passed waterways and canals that make up a huge drainage network that con- nects to the Caloosahatchee `We're not River that borders this camp- ground. When we got here we sure just what took a short walk to the river lurks in the that's part of the intercoastal waterway and watched a huge undergrowth yacht go through, leaving its two - foot -high wake to dash down here— along the shore. This is all part of the Army Corps of alligators, Engineers Flood Control Project. Years ago I read about a what.' mysterious bird in Florida that lives almost exclusively on large, freshwater snails. It was a fantastic article in the National Geographic that told how it was photographed for the first time with its unusual habit of dining on snails. The name of the bird was the limpkin. Ever since that time, whenever I have been in Florida, I have tried especially hard to add this somewhat secretive bird to my list. Once I saw it from a distance but only for a moment; today I saw it close up for five or 10 minutes. It was feeding at the edge of the river where Barbara and I had stopped to view a huge gar, or possibly pickerel, basking in the shallows nearby. The limpkin was one of those rare sights that "made our day." It could be mistaken for an immature night heron that we have at home — sort of brownish doesn't have the long heavy bill and long legs of the limpkin. On our way back we passed a slough where I was hoping to jump some ducks or herons when all of a sudden, no more than 10 feet away, a common snipe sprang into the air, giving its rasping "scaip — scaip" call. It's a bird that's on the hunting list and is fair game for all, although I personally think it's got more than a good chance of escaping any gunner because of its swift and erratic flight. I photographed this handsome shorebird on Narrow River Road in Orient years ago. It was one of the best pictures I've ever taken. We followed its flight in hopes of rais- ing it again but when we heard some- thing rustling in the bushes nearby we thought better of it. We're not sure just what lurks in the undergrowth down here — alligators, snakes or what. Later, we went exploring the area to the east just a short distance where we saw some of the many locks on this cross - Florida waterway. It was in the town of Moore Haven and it reminded us of one of the forgotten western towns you'd see on TV with its wide streets and dilapidated stores and homes. At one time it must have been a thriving center, but for one reason or another it seems to be fading away. Yet, there's something special about towns like this. Harking Back to Yesteryear We had to stop and shop for a few nuts and washers at the local hardware store that had not yet been taken over by one of the big national chains. It was run by two gray - haired ladies and it was pure joy to watch the comings and goings of that back - street store. Someone needed a quart of paint, another charged some nuts and bolts to his account, and still another had a set of keys made — all this with friendly laughter and local gossip. Everyone seemed to know everyone else. It made you feel good that Mr. Big had not taken over here as yet. On our way back we saw huge clouds of smoke and if we were back home we might have thought the pine barrens were afire. But no, here it's a common thing to see for it's part of the sugarcane harvest to burn the dried leaves and stubble leaving only the thick cane standing. Then this is harvested with great, huge com- bines and taken to be processed. What was so interest- Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh GREAT BLUE —Even though most herons migrate south, some don't get the message and try to make it through the winter here. In the south they have easy picking in the unfrozen waters. i_ws 'pw ■ M M1M =w�I= 75 Years Ago Feb. 20, 1920 Not This Year: The Washingtonian Temperance Society of Orient has been celebrating the 22nd of February for 76 years and it has become quite a noted affair. This year there will be no celebration on account of the sickness and bad weather. Higher Farm Wages Wanted: It is said that in some sections of Suffolk County farm laborers are demand- ing wages as high as $150 per month for working 10 hours a day. Monday evening the committee of the Farm Bureau for Mattituck and vicinity met for the purpose of consider- ing the demands made by workmen there and a resolution was adopted granting an increase of about. 15 percent. 50 Years Ago Feb. 23, 1943 Bodies of British Officers Found: The bodies of two young men in the uniforms of lieutenants of the British Navy were found on the beach of Long Island Sound, about three- fourths of a mile east of Pier Avenue, Northville, early Tuesday afternoon by John Cybulski, who was walking along the beach. There were "Mae West" type life preserver vests on the bodies, which were frozen stiff ing about this operation was the large number of cattle egrets that dashed in and out of the fiery, burning rub- ble to snatch up fleeing insects that were trying to escape the fire. There were literally hundreds of these white birds working the edge of the smoldering, charred fields. We saw the cattle egrets all along the roadsides hunting up insects as we drove south. To think 40 years ago this bird was absent in the New World. Today, they are found throughout South America and all along our east- and are believed to have been in the water for several days. It is assumed that, while flying over the Sound, some- thing went wrong with the plane, that a forced landing had to be made and the plane was wrecked. 25 Years Ago Feb. 27, 1970 Northville Plant Opposed: Shoreline residents of Northville strongly affirmed their opposition Sunday to a proposed fuel oil desulphurization plant at a meeting of the Northville Beach Civic Association. Leaders of the group announced that they will carry the fight to the Riverhead Town Board, which will have the final say on the applica- tion of Fuel Desulphurization Inc. for the rezoning of 470 acres of farmland from agricultural to industrial use. Assurances by company president David Scoll that the $150,000,000 installation would not pollute land, air or water were received with unconcealed disbelief by the 160 men, women and children in attendance. Scoll, attending at the association's invitation, spoke from a lectern to which was affixed the oil- soaked body of a dead duck. In full view of the audience, its presence was unknown to the speaker until after the meeting. His reaction was: "My God, how horriblel" ern seaboard as far north as Canada. They look like the small, white herons (snowy egrets) we see in our creeks and marshes during the warmer months of the year but they have a dif- ferent habitat. The cattle egrets are upland rovers and seldom visit the salt marshes. We see them on Long Island usually in open fields and particularly in pastures where cattle graze. They get their name from the fact that they are associated with cattle, who, in their grazing, chase up insects that the cattle egrets feast on. Their origin is Africa and how they got across the great ocean is anyone's guess. The earliest records are around 1953 when they were first spotted in North America and from that small beginning they have prospered to the extent of now being common. So, the next time you see a white egret in a field or pasture, look for its buff on the crown, breast and back and you'll probably have seen another new bird from the south that has worked its way north to our backyard. Tomorrow, it's more exploring around Lake Okeechobee.