July 25, 1996 - Hummingbird Makes an AppearanceSA • The Suffolk Times • July 25, 1996
Hummingbird Makes an Appearance
I saw my first returning shorebirds the other day, low
over the water, right on time. They have already been
north past the tree line of Canada and have had their
young in that vast area of emptiness. Now they'll
migrate south, stopping here and there to replenish
themselves, until finally they'll spend our winter, their
summer, on the open spaces of Paraguay in southern
South America.
One of the stopovers here was at a sod farm where I
saw seven Baird's sandpipers. The name, I'm sure, means
little to most but to those who know the name they're
quite unusual, for they seldom reach our east-
ern shores. Their migration route is more
western and central United States. Often these
rarities occur because of storms and weather
systems that blow these bits of fluff off their
course. Along with them were more familiar
shorebirds, but to see Baird's sandpipers is as
rare as seeing an Eskimo walking down Main
Street.
It all goes to show that if you wait long
enough and you're in the right spot you'll
usually see what you want and then some. A perfect
example of that occurred yesterday. Some of you might
remember that I wrote about hummingbirds a few
weeks ago. I said I hadn't seen any around my yard for
years and how I had planted bee balm (Oswego tea) and
trumpet creeper in hopes that these tantalizing flowers
would attract them. Well, it worked. I was sitting in the
garden yesterday a mere six feet from a clump of now -
flowering bee balm when Mrs. Hummer came along and
checked out each blazing red flower with her long beak.
We here in the east have to be satisfied with just one
species of hummingbird, the ruby- throated hummingbird.
It's the only one east of the Mississippi, but out west and
through vast areas of the south into South America there
are over 300 species of these flitting jewels.
Each one is especially adapted to pursue its livelihood
through its sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes
straight, sometimes curved up, sometimes curved down
bill — all designed to fit into a special kind of flower.
Not only does the hummingbird get its reward with its
long bill reaching inside the flower for the sweet nectar,
but it also helps pollinate the flower. In some cases the
hummer is the only one who can do that special job of
pollinating and without its help, we're told, some flowers
would soon become extinct for there would be no fertile
seeds. Here at my bee balm the hummingbird is just one
of many taking advantage of its nectar. Bumblebees and
butterflies are continually working the blossoms.
To watch this little bird, with its tiny feet tucked up
under itself, hovering back and forth, up and down on
almost invisible wings (they beat over 50 times per sec-
ond) is one of nature's highlights. We have two butter-
fly bushes nearby and she had to visit them also. At one
time she chased a butterfly away and immediately bus-
ied herself in the flower the butterfly left. To a butterfly
I'm sure that long pointed bill was a formidable weapon
and not one to argue with.
The male has the dazzling red throat that almost
seems to be illuminated from within. It sort of works
like some of those newfangled signs you see in the back
windows of some cars. They change colors as your
direction changes. It's the reflection when the feathers
are just right that gives the male that burst of color that
seems almost electrifying and so incredibly beautiful.
Most birds and animals have had their
young by now and most of the young are
learning the tricks and tribulations of sur-
vival. I had a call —just after we'd had one
of those downpours and high winds — with
reference to a downed osprey in someone's
front yard. It was a little late at night and all
were concerned that the osprey might come
to some sort of harm from a roving raccoon
or dog or cat if left outside. What had proba-
bly happened was that the young osprey was
flying and had gotten soaking wet during the downpour,
or perhaps it didn't know how to take care of itself and
so came down to the ground. Whether it was flying or it
was blown out of a tree we'll never know, but it surely
was wet and cold.
It was a good healthy bird so I suggested putting it in
a box and then putting it in the garage out of harm's
way. The next morning it was let go and as it left the
box it hesitated for a moment and then took off. It was
good to see the adults and the kids from around the area
so interested. It was a chance for them to see an osprey
up close. Without their concern perhaps we'd have one
less osprey to watch and enjoy.
Focus
on
Mature
by Paul
stoutenburgh
Mushrooms Abound
The rain that downed the osprey was just one in a
long series of wet affairs we've been having through our
spring and early summer.
Lots of gray clouds, over-
cast, sprinkles, rain and `Now all we
plenty of dampness have
all added up to great need is some
weather for mushrooms. good old fash
Have you seen them? g
They are all about. It's a ioned summer
mycologist's paradise out
there. It's just too bad weather.
Ady Schrieber isn't
around to enjoy them and
to rally his Mushroom Club into collecting them. He
was from the `old school" where part of your early
upbringing was to know your mushrooms and that
knowing, when it comes to mushrooms, is pretty serious
i wi9w ■ ww1= nd wi§=
75 Years Ago
July 22, 1921
Famous Yachts in Greenport: The steam yacht
Corsair, owned by J. Pierrepont Morgan; the schooner
yacht Vagrant, owned by Mr. Vanderbilt and commanded
by Capt. George Monsell of Greenport; and Modesty,
owned by James A. Stillman; have been in Greenport
Harbor recently.
Southold Fire District Expands: At a public
meeting of the taxpayers in Southold Fire District Saturday
night, it was voted to enlarge the present fire district by
annexing that part of the Southold Union Free School
District not in the fire district, making the boundaries of the
fire district identical with the school district.
The acquired property in the enlarged district takes in all
the valuable estates bordering on Long Island Sound, two
miles distant from the village. Some of these people refused
to sign the petition, claiming the fire department would be
able to render little or no protection in case of fire on their
places. By annexing the additional taxable property, it is
proposed to equip the fire department with more modern
apparatus and add to it a chemical engine.
50 Years Ago
July 26, 1946
Classified Advertisements: Bungalows for sale
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
INDIAN PIPES —These curious plants do not
manufacture chlorophyl as green plants do. They
get their energy from dead and decaying plant
matter found throughout the forest floor.
business. I'm always leery about what's an edible mush-
room and what isn't. Especially when the bad mush-
rooms often grow near the good ones.
If you've been out looking at all these various shapes
and sizes of mushrooms you've probably seen, as I have
in our woods, the Indian pipes. These odd plants have a
close relationship with the fungi and usually at this time
of year if you find mushrooms you'll find Indian pipes
as well. These ghostly -white pipes are six to eight inch-
es tall with a few scaly leaves on a slender stem. At the
top is the drooping pipe (flower) which, when mature,
turns upwards. Often during the wintertime a sharp eye
can find the upturned, dried, brown skeletons of the
Indian pipes.
And summer moves into high gear. Farmstands are
bulging with new potatoes, onions, broccoli, carrots,
beans — peas and asparagus have already passed — and,
of course, sweet corn, the vegetable no summer can do
without, is gearing up. Soon we'll have fruits of all sorts
to look forward to. Some are already showing up. Now
all we need is some good old - fashioned summer weather.
— At Peconic, furnished four- and five -room waterfront
bungalows with garages and all improvements. $3,000 and
$3,500. Alfred Teves, Southold.
House — Two - family for $3,500. Also, six -room house
on Main Street, Greenport, for $2,000. Henry B. Moore.
Bungalow for rent — At Southold, three -room furnished
bungalow on the water for last two weeks in August and
September, $25 per week.
Old Home Week: The celebration of final victory for
the allied nations, storming the beaches of the islands in the
South and Central Pacific only a year ago, will be observed
in Greenport with a four -day program under the sponsorship
of Burton Potter Post No. 185, American Legion.
25 Years Ago
July 22, 1971
Narcotics Council Formed: The Village of
Greenport has taken the first steps toward formation of a
Narcotics Guidance Council with the appointment by Mayor
George Hubbard of six members of a steering committee.
The committee, which will work toward the establishment
of a council, announced it has already received over $500 in
contributions toward the development of a narcotics program
for the community. Up to $4,000 in expenses will be reim-
bursed by the NYS Narcotic Addiction Control Commission
and it will match the next $8,000 spent by the community.
August Program Set
For Indian Museum
SOUTHOLD —The Long Island
chapter of the New York State
Archaeological Association will sponsor
its summer program for children in
grades 3 to 6 at the Southold Indian
Museum the week of Aug. 26 from 9
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participants will make Indian pottery,
investigate wigwam construction, work
with Indian crafts, lore, legends and
music. The program will end on Aug.
30 with an Indian feast for friends and
relatives. Students will receive museum
tack pins and patches.
The cost is $70 per child, $55 for
members' children and grandchildren,
which includes materials, mid - morning
snacks, pins and patches. Registration is
limited. Applications should be submit-
ted by Thursday, Aug. 1. Checks should
be made payable to Southold Indian
Museum, P.O. Box 268, Southold,
11971.
We cover the waterfront
The Suffolk Times