June 13, 1996 - Finding the Way Through the FogSW-- This &uifdllt TiriieY9 Jdt ' � 3' tl6§6
Finding the Way Through the Fog
After finally getting my son's boat in
the water last week for its shakedown
cruise we decided it was now time for
the first overnight stay of the season. It
didn't take long for everyone to agree on
that and so plans were set for a short
overnight trip, destination Robins Island.
The wind was out of the southwest
and in the big curve of the island at the
north end, we'd be protected and find
calm waters. The
weather was over- FOCUS
cast when we left
and no sooner had On
we dropped anchor
in the protection of Nature
the island, when
fog moved in to by Paul
capture us for the StOUtenburgh
night. In the still-
ness we could hear an osprey calling,
signaling our arrival. In the closing light
of the evening we had anchored near its
nest so we decided before settling in to
move away, giving the osprey peace of
mind. Our new location to the west was
perfect.
From there we could see the beautiful
new dock that had been built, reminding
me of the old one that once stood exactly
where the new one was but with one
thing missing. At the end of the old dock
there was a small shed. This new one
had no shed. What was so special about
the old shed was that an osprey had built
its nest on top of it. So picturesque was
the old dock with the shed and osprey
nest that I took the well -known wildlife
artist Guy Coheleach out to the island to
photograph the setting for a painting. I
wonder if the painting was ever done.
Hide and Seek in the Fog
Fog played hide and seek all evening
with us as we watched darkness take
over. There were only two other boats
spending the evening with us as night
moved in. The mood of the island and
fog gave me time to reminisce about this
wonderful island and how so many of us
had tried to save it from development.
Then out of nowhere came a "white
knight" in the form of Mr. Bacon, the
present owner who presented a plan for
the use of the island as it had been in the
past. With the help of the Nature
Conservancy a conservation plan that
satisfied both wildlife and the owner was
unfolded. It seemed almost too good to
be true.
Already we have seen restdts of this
new stewardship on the island. Endan-
gered piping plovers have returned to its
beaches to nest. Simply not riding on the
beaches to patrol the island has brought
them back. Now
the security pa-
trols are all up-
land, leaving the
beaches to the
birds. There is al-
so a small least
tern colony started
where once, years
ago, hundreds of
terns and skim-
mers nested. It
just goes to show
that conservation
and development
can go hand in
hand if given a
chance.
We had eaten
supper at the cot-
tage so only light
snacks of hot
chocolate and
cookies were
served before we
were ready to turn
in. There was only
the gentle lapping
of water on the
hull as drowsy
eyes closed.
Someone said,
"The sound of the water was like big
bubbles alongside the boat." Outside that
not a sound could be heard. It was a per-
fect night to drift off to sleep as the fog
enclosed us in its whiteness. We must
have all been tired for we slept through
the night and woke to fog still surround-
ing us. I had to be back early so, with the
island barely visible, we took a compass
reading of 10 degrees north and headed
home. Half an hour later our home shore
appeared out of the fog. The shakedown
cruise was over.
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
OSPREY NEST —This old shed with its osprey nest on top once graced the end of the dock at
Robins Island. A severe northeaster demolished the dock and in its place is a brand -new one,
but permits would not allow the shed.
Foggy Fishing Trip
In no time I was off to Orient for my
rendezvous with my oldest son and his
fishing party. Here, too, fog persisted.
No sooner had we left the marina than
we were engulfed in a complete white-
out. The last thing I remember seeing
was a cormorant sitting on a piling that
disappeared in the fog behind us. For an
hour the boat headed eastward with no
sight of land or boats. Our destination
was the famous fishing grounds in the
Race between Fishers Island and Plum
island.
Once in a while we would see a tern
flying in a southwest direction away
from what I knew was a rocky island to
our north called Gull Island. This rocky
island is used for research by the Amer-
ARTIST RECEPTION.
for Iona Malcolmson
at Country Flowers,
Main Road, Southold.
Equine and Portrait
Sculpture
Sunday, June 16, 11-3:00
Show runs June 16 -23.
- Zarina" Country Flowers 765 -5154
Iona Malcolmson 765 -5829
ican Museum of Natural History for it
harbors the largest tern colony on the
eastern seaboard. Evidently the terns
were heading out for a fishing party
from the island.
Even though we couldn't see land, we
knew we were nearing the Race, for the
water started to boil up and heave about
us. Here most of Long Island Sound's
water empties into or
fills from the Atlantic
Ocean. As the engine
of the boat throttled
down, we began to see
other boats drifting in
and out of the fog
around us. It was eerie.
All had people leaning
over the side with fish-
ing poles. We were soon to join them.
This is usually a terribly rough place to
pass through on a windy day, but today
it was unusually calm.
The cold fog made most of us put on
the jackets we'd brought along. One of
the parties started to reel in a fish. The
excitement grew as a large striper came
over the side, its huge silvery tail whack-
ing the deck. It was well over the legal
limit that is now 28 inches. (It had been
36 inches) Now more party boats and
private boats came and went like ghosts
in the fog. Black - backed gulls floated
nearby on the water like corks on the
sea. They bobbed up and down with
every wave, waiting for what I could
only imagine were throwaways from the
party boats: old bait, bits of sandwiches,
etc.
Now bluefish were being caught and
the excitement heightened as the snap-
ping jaws of the bluefish chomped at the
air. Down went the lines. Up came the
lines. Lures were lost on the bottom. The
fishing party was at its height. A flock of
seven or eight cormorants flew by in and
out of the fog. They should have been
nesting on Gardiners Island, where there
is a colony of over a thousand pairs.
Could these be young birds who have
not been successful at finding a mate?
We see these same kinds of outcasts
among swans in our local creeks. Those
who have lost out
group up and stay
together, but never near
a nesting pair for they
would be driven away
by the protective male.
By 3:15 the last drift
was made for fishing
and all lines came
aboard, ending our day.
Many had caught fish, both stripers and
bluefish. I came away empty- handed but
thoroughly enjoyed a foggy day on the
water. Our day was over as we headed
for the marina at Orient Point, but for the
small terns their day would continue
until darkness. This was nesting time.
This was when energy was used to its
fullest — feeding their young and
preparing themselves for the next leg
thousands of miles south where they will
winter. The frenzy of nesting time had
just begun.
`A conservation plan
for Robins Island that
satisifed both
wildlife and the
owner was unfolded.'
CCE Offers Pick List
RIVERHEAD— Cornell Cooperative
Extension is offering a list of local pick -
your -own strawberry and fruit farms for
the summer. To get the list which has
the names, locations and phone numbers
of these farms, send a self- addressed,
stamped envelope to U- Pick., Cornell
Cooperative Extension, 246 Griffing
Ave., Riverhead, N.Y. 11901 -3086.
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