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July 11, 1996 - A Few Words on Behalf of the CrowJuly 11, 1996 • The Suffolk Times • 7A A Few Words on Behalf of the Crow Is it my imagination or are there more crows around now than ever before? For a time some years ago you hardly ever saw a crow. Now they seem to be every- where and when you don't see them you can usually hear them. I wouldn't mind their presence, but I know particularly now during the nest- ing season that they are up to no good. All you have to do is follow their flight and you will usually see enraged birds in pursuit dive - bombing them and driving them away, the reason being Mr. Crow is after someone's eggs or young. I've often seen them fly off with a baby robin or other baby bird in their bill as they are driven out of the area by bom- barding birds. Just last week there was a terrific com- motion in our woods, mostly by blue jays and blackbirds. I thought they'd dis- covered their arch enemy, the owl, and were harassing it, but no, it was a crow they were scolding and I wondered why. Upon close examination I found the rea- son: A bird's nest had been robbed of its precious treasures and everyone in the bird world was in anger. Crows are early nesters and hungry mouths have to be fed. The easiest pick- ings and probably some of the most nutritious are eggs and newly hatched birds. The species matters not. As a young inquisitive person I found my first crow nest atop an old pine tree not far from where we lived. I remember climb- ing up to investigate it. Old pitch pine limbs and bark and needles can be for- midable obstacles to a thin - shirted climber and I can recall the scratches and torment I went through climbing to the top of that pine. even each bird is different. I once pho- tographed a brown thrasher who literally flew at me in rage as I set up my camera for a family portrait. Crows, like blue jays, are noisy fel- lows, always seeking an argument with each other or warning the others of some impending danger such as a sly cat or fox prowling nearby. Years ago crows were not protected. That was when they were on the decline. Hunters often shot them, which made them very leery of any upright figure — man, woman or child. Today the crows in my back pasture and woods are brazen, often coming to my bird bath to bathe and when we have suet out they'll come right in and help themselves. They are smart birds. I no sooner go out to feed the chickens and leave and they'll be right there to help themselves to a free meal. Today crows are on the protected list and cannot be hunted except during the winter months. Focus on Mature by Paul Stoutenbutgh Protecting the Family When I got there I was able to look into the roughly built stick nest and see a clutch of four eggs that were still warm. There was no sign of either the male or female crow but I knew they weren't far away. Some birds will protest your being near their nest while others will sneak away out of sight until you are gone before they return. Each species and Crows roost during the winter in great flocks in isolated woodlands. We once had a crow roost here on the North Fork, but no more. To be truthful, I don't know now where "our crows" go to roost. A crow roost is something to see. As the sun starts to set crows from all over the island stream into one location to spend the night together. Years ago when we had one of the largest rookeries in Jamesport, I got up in the lee of a hedgerow with a fierce northwest winter wind blowing and watched the crows come in. In those windy days they'd come in low over the frozen fields, their whole bodies pumping their big black wings in a determined drive toward the roost. I've often looked eye to eye at them as they "swished by," surprised at my presence. It was one of the great moments in being alive to witness this great movement of birds. Once there they'd walk around the fields out of the wind talking amongst themselves. Others would be in the trees seemingly discussing the day's adventures. One memorable evening when I was coming home from work, it was snow- 9 wsyw ■ ..wL nwwL 75 Years Ago July 8, 1921 Island's First Cake Mixer: Peter Rust, proprietor of the Sanitary Bakery on Front Street, Greenport, has just had a new cake- mixing machine installed. This is the first machine of its kind on the island and is a great labor- saving device. It will do the work of at least two men. Lightning Strikes Twice: The barn owned by C.A. Congdon of Shelter Island was struck by lightning during the storm last Thursday. The damage, however, was slight. This is the second time Mr. Congdon's premises have been struck, as some 10 years ago their kitchen was somewhat damaged by lightning. 50 Years Ago July 12, 1946 News From Around the Island: Clark Gable visited East Hampton for a few days' visit, making his headquarters at the 1770 House, and playing a few rounds of golf and visiting with friends there and in neighboring Hamptons. His appearance at the Maidstone Club on Sun- day, where he had luncheon with friends, put a few femi- nine hearts a- twitter and on Saturday night a lot of disap- pointed first-nighters at the Montauk Island Club's opening stayed for hours in the hope that a rumor of Gable's appear- ance there would come true. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh COMMON CROW —There seem to be more and more crows around these days. That spells disaster to nesting birds, for crows are noted for vandaliz- ing any bird's nest they find. ing. I knew where the crows had been roosting so I stopped the car by the side of the road and walked into the woods. It was about dark and the crows had long since located themselves in the treetops. There was no wind and the snow came down in gentle, quiet flakes, giving a hushedness that only snow can bring. Then, as the snow kept falling, I started to hear the slightest stirring above and a soft, almost murmuring sound. The crows had heard my movement below and were moving before me. As I advanced those above moved, always just out of sight. I knew they were there, but the darkness, the snow and the mys- tery of it all created such an atmosphere that I turned and left them to their tree- top sleep. I'll always remember them. A Fair Shake for Snakes Before closing I want to tell you about a call I got about a snake. Snakes, like many wild things, are having a hard time in today's world. I'm afraid ignorance and old wives' tales still saddle many people when it comes to snakes. It's too Duck Farms Threatened" . Suffolk County duck farmers, facing near ruin because of the shortage of feed, produced approximately half of the national duck output in 1945, according to an announcement by C.H. Wilcox of Center Moriches, president of the Long Island Duck Grow- ers' Association. As disclosed several weeks ago, duck breeders in Suffolk look at the shortage of feed as being so serious that most of the 90 farms are forced either to ship their breeding ducks to market or sell their eggs instead of permitting them to hatch. 25 Years Ago July 8, 1971 Southold Votes Budget Down, Again: Closed gates on the school tennis courts have served notice this week to residents of the Southold School District that the school is now on an austerity budget. This means no tennis, baseball, softball or soccer facili- ties will be available to community use in accordance with minimum building and grounds maintenance in the limited budget. Taxpayers rejected the second budget offered to them last Thursday. The original budget, including a $275,000 bond issue, had been voted down last month. bad, particularly here on Long Island, where there are no poisonous snakes. Thank goodness there are still some who have risen above old superstitions and get along with our snakes very well. My telephone caller was just such a person. She said her son had brought a snake home and wanted to doublecheck its identity. They had already looked it up in their books and thought it was a milk snake. I said I'd be right over and sure enough, they had identified it cor- rectly. It was a harmless milk snake. It has somewhat the coloration of the poi- sonous copperhead and so it is often killed unnecessarily. This orangeish- brown blotched snake was a good two feet long and had just shed, for its skin glistened like new. Milk snakes get their name again from an old superstition of the snake drinking milk from cows. The only truth to the story is the fact that snakes are often found around barns because that is where the best hunting for rats and mice can be found. All our snakes are benefi- cial, some getting rid of mice and rats, etc., others liking insects. All have a place in our world. Why we think we have a right to kill anything but the cute and pretty things I'll never know. Sure we have to have a place for our homes and gardens but let's always make sure there's a place for wildlife, which in- cludes the snake. MAWITUCK SANITATION EAST END ECOLOGY LTD. 800 WICKHAM AVE. MATTITUCK, NY John DiVello & Sons. RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL GARBOLOGISTS Container Service 1 yd. through 8 yd. Roll-Off Service 15 yd. through 30 yd. 298 -8888 Serving Riverhead & Southold Township