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June 15, 2000 - Birds of different feathers8A • The Suffolk Times • June 15, 2000 Birds of different feathers We had a visitor in our pasture the other day whose ancestors originally came from Africa. It was a cattle egret, a bird relatively new to our world. It somehow made it across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa, landing first on the shores of Guyana in South America, and then worked its FOCUS way up into Florida. Today we ON have it visiting all NATURE along the eastern seaboard as far by Paul north as Canada. Stoutenburgh Back in the '30s, when it made it across the ocean, there was much speculation as to how it had arrived. Could it have traveled in the wake of a hurricane, or perhaps have hitched a ride on the trade winds that move from east to west? One way or the other, it became well estab- lished in the New World. It gradually moved northward and in 15 years had made it to Florida. By 1956 the cattle egret was well established there and nesting around Lake Okeechobee. The first time I saw this white up- land egret was back in 1954 when Roy Wilcox, the noted naturalist from Eastport, found a single cattle egret on a turkey farm in East Moriches. He had confirmed the first sighting of the egret this far north. It drew crowds of birders from all over Long Island who wanted to see this new addition to their bird world. From that day on sightings became more and more common. Then in 1970, when I was pho- tographing with Dennis Puleston out on Gardiners Island, we found a single pair of catt'.e egrets nesting in a heron colony on the island. It was the first official breeding record this far north. The nest was found in a dense thicket of cat - brier amongst night herons, ibises, snowy eg and great egrets. We're told it's a member of the Old World pond herons that are characterized by being small- ish white birds with short legs and necks. For those of you who visit Florida in the winter, you see this short - legged white egret in fields, along the busy highways, and even in the planted areas in shopping malls, where it hunts for insects. It's become one of Florida's most commonly seen white birds. Perhaps you've also seen documentaries on television about Africa, where grazing animals such as hippos, rhinos and others have had this white bird walking on their backs, picking off the bugs that pester them. As a matter of fact, in Africa, where every- thing is fair game, the natives tolerate this bird, for it rids their animals of pesky insects. We watched in amazement this gleaning action by the cat- tle egret as it skillfully worked its way around our cows. It would daringly pick at the legs as they grazed, jabbing and eating the flies and insects that were bothering the ani- mals. The reason we see cattle egrets in the company of graz- ing animals makes sense when you understand it. As animals feed they chase up insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, etc., that the cattle egret relishes and is quick to pick up. We were lucky enough itch it for days here in pasture. Then one day t was gone, probably moving to someone else's pasture. There again it would find . good hunting in its own unique way. Time out! A tele- phone call from a lady Lip on the Sound who is a small baby owl on Joorstep. She was con - cerneu something might get at it or perhaps it was hurt — "Could we Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stoutenburgh Above: The cattle egret, an immigrant from Africa, now commonly seen in our area. Below, left: A baby screech owl found on a local lady's doorstep. 11 1--- tiro 9 &— Ill 0% 0-vt NI 1Q w r. rr ENO A . a Aft% iy v v r> iir /1 r i1 75 years ago June 12, 1925 Soldiers' memorial arch unveiled: Last Sunday after- noon there was gathered at Southold a goodly sized crowd at South Harbor to witness and take part in the unveiling of a memorial gateway at the entrance to the third public park within the limits of Southold. This is a beautiful spot, with a fine grove of native trees, plenty of beachfront on the bay, and within easy driving distance, which has been given in perpetuity for the people to enjoy by Dr. Haven Emerson, who owns a place nearby. [It is] named in honor of three of our young men who died in service during the late war — Griswold, Terry, Glover Park. 50 years ago June 9, 1950 Girl catches sea bass singlehandedly: Sunday evening, while fishing from the "Bonus," Joan Norkelun, 11 years old, caught a 3 1/2 -pound sea bass. Not only was this fish of unusual size but it was caught with only one hand, due to the fact that Joan sustained a broken col- larbone three weeks ago and has one arm strapped to her body. Now everyone is wondering what will happen when Joan is able to get both hands on a fishing pole! Softball league to form: An attempt is being made to organize a twilight softball league for the young men of help ?" In no time, instructions were taken down as to how to get there, and we were off. The only small owl common to our East End is the screech owl. It comes in two color phases, rusty red and gray. It stands only seven to 10 inches tall. Screech owls nest in a variety of cavi- ties. The most common is a hole in a tree. This could be an abandoned woodpecker's nesting site or a broken limb that made a hollow opening. Then there are nesting boxes that people put up provided the opening is large enough. I've even seen on Gardiners Island a screech owl nesting in a wood duck's box out over the water. Most owls are very protective of their young. The great horned owl is this area. There will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 13, in the Greenport High School gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. for all who are interested in fielding a team. This meeting is called for the purpose of setting up league rules and to determine how the league will function. 25 years ago June 12, 1975 Peconic County alive: East End Legislator Norton "Bucket" Daniels proved to the Suffolk County Legis- lature that the East End dream of a Peconic County is not dead. He introduced a motion calling for a feasibili- ty study of the proposal for the five East End towns to form their own county, apart from Suffolk County. The plan, which was defeated in a statewide referen- dum in 1973, will lie on the table until the county legisla- ture meeting in Riverhead June 27. Zoning change OK'd for senior housing: The Southold Town Board voted Tuesday to grant a change of zoning request by St. Peter's Lutheran Church so that construction of a retirement village may begin on a 25- acre tract of land. Board members of the San Simeon by the Sea seniors' housing project met Tuesday night, fol- lowing the Town Board decision, and gave their architect the go -ahead to begin designing the community on a total area of 41 acres (the extra 16 acres are commer- cially zoned). noted for its aggressiveness, often attacking those who threaten their young. I can vouch for the owl's ag- gressiveness; once I got too close to a nesting pair of screech owls over in Brookhaven. I was trying to photograph the young owls when all of a sudden I was hit on the head from behind by an overprotective mother. It struck with such force it knocked my hat off. Lucky for me I had a hat on. When we arrived at the lady's home, we could see from the car the baby owl nestled up against the front door. It still had some of its fluffy down showing through its newly feathered body. I could see why our caller was concerned about her owl. A roving dog, cat or raccoon could raise havoc with this defenseless ball of fluff. Of course, we had to take pic- tures but in so doing, we dis- turbed it, which in turn set its bill chattering. This rattling of the bill is characteristic of the owl's defensive posture. To alleviate the potentially dangerous situation the baby owl was in, it was decided to move it to a nearby tree where it would be out of harms' reach. Barbara stepped forward to perform the task and so, with a pair of gloves, lifted the little handful of fluff, with its big yellow eyes, to a nearby branch of an. evergreen. 4n doing so we found another fledgling on the ground, bill rattling. Now we had two agitat:,d baby owls to place out of harm's reach. This commotion alerted the parent owl, who flew in and landed in a near- by tree where, I was glad to see, she stayed. We could see she was watching every move as made. Luckily she merely watched and condoned our action. With the two baby owls now safely out of reach, we left knowing they would be cared for by their mother standing guard nearby. I'm sure they will be fed mice or voles. It's in the evening when the owls start their hunting. Later, as the season pro- gresses, they'll be fed on grasshop- pers, beetles and other large insects. It's these insects and mice the young owls will be trained on so that they can ultimately fend for themselves. It's good to see how concerned peo- ple are about the wildlife around them. Camp scholarships Southold Town has 15 full scholar- ships available to this summer's East End Environmental Camp for boys and girls ages 11 to 15 who are eager to learn about our natural resources. Three sessions of the overnight camp, held at Peconic Dunes, are offered: July 16 through 22; July 23 through 29; and July 30 through Aug. 5. Applicants must live in Southold Town, meet cer- tain income guidelines, and be at least 11 years old on or before July 15. Applications are available at Southold Town Recreation Center on Peconic Lane, Peconic, or by calling 765 -5182; they must be received by Friday, June 30. SA • The Suffolk Times • June 15, 2000 Birds of different We had a visitor in our pasture the other day whose ancestors originally came from Africa. It was a cattle egret, a bird relatively new to our world. It somehow made it across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa, landing first on the shores of Guyana in South America, and then worked its FOCUS way up into Florida. Today we ON have it visiting all NATURE along the eastern b Paul seaboard as far Y north as Canada. Stoutenburgh Back in the '30s, when it made it across the ocean, there was much speculation as to how it had arrived. Could it have traveled in the wake of a hurricane, or perhaps have hitched a ride on the trade winds that move from east to west? One way or the other, it became well estab- lished in the New World. It gradually moved northward and in 15 years had made it to Florida. By 1956 the cattle egret was well established there and nesting around Lake Okeechobee. The first time I saw this white up- land egret was back in 1954 when Roy Wilcox, the noted naturalist from Eastport, found a single cattle egret on a turkey farm in East Moriches. He had confirmed the first sighting of the egret this far north. It drew crowds of birders from all over Long Island who wanted to see this new addition to their bird world. From that day on sightings became more and more common. Then in 1970, when I was pho- tographing with Dennis Puleston out on Gardiners Island, we found a single pair of catt:e egrets nesting in a heron colony on the island. It was the first official breeding record this far north. The nest was found in a dense thicket of cat - brier amongst night herons, ibises, snowy eg and great egrets. We're told it's a member of the Old Bathers Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stoutenburgh Above: The cattle egret, an immigrant from Africa, now commonly seen in our area. Below, left: A baby screech owl found on a local lady's doorstep. World pond herons that are noted for its aggressiveness, characterized by being small- often attacking those who . ish white birds with short legs threaten their young. I can and necks. For those of you vouch for the owl's ag- who visit Florida in the winter, gressiveness; once I got too you see this short- legged close to a nesting pair of white egret in fields, along the screech owls over in busy highways, and even in Brookhaven. I was trying to the planted areas in shopping photograph the young owls malls, where it hunts for when all of a sudden I was hit insects. It's become one of on the head from behind by Florida's most commonly seen an overprotective mother. It white birds. struck with such force it Perhaps you've also seen knocked my hat off. Lucky documentaries on television for me I had a hat on. about Africa, where grazing help ?" In no time, instructions were When we arrived at the animals such as hippos, rhinos taken down as to how to get there, lady's home, we could see and others have had this white and we were off. The only small owl from the car the baby owl bird walking on their backs, picking off the bugs that common to our East End is the screech owl. It comes in two color nestled up against the front door. It still had some of its pester them. As a matter of phases, rusty red and gray. It stands fluffy down showing through fact, in Africa, where every- only seven to 10 inches tall. its newly feathered body. I thing is fair game, the natives tolerate this bird, for it rids Screech owls nest in a variety of cavi- could see why our caller was their animals of pesky insects. ties. The most common is a hole in a tree. This could be an abandoned concerned about her owl. A roving dog, cat or raccoon We watched in amazement this gleaning action by the cat- woodpecker's nesting site or a broken could raise havoc with this limb that made a hollow opening. Then defenseless ball of fluff. Of p tle egret as it skillfully worked its way around our cows. It there are nesting boxes that people put course, we had to take pic- would daringly pick at the legs g y p g up provided the opening is large enough. I've even seen on Gardiners tures but in'so doing, we dis- turbed it, which in turn set its as they grazed, jabbing and eating he flies and insects g Island a screech owl nesting in a wood bill chattering. This rattling of that were bothering the ani- duck's box out over the water. Most owls are very protective of �' p the bill is characteristic of the owl's defensive posture., mals. The reason we see cattle egrets in the company of graz- their young. The great horned owl is To alleviate the potentially ing animals makes sense when dangerous situation the baby owl was in, it was decided to u understand it. As animal yos move it to a nearby tree where it would be out of harms' reach. Barbara stepped forward to perform the task and so, with a pair of gloves, lifted the little handful of fluff, with its big yellow eyes, to a nearby branch of an evergreen. In doing so we found feed they chase up insects such as another fledgling on the ground, bill grasshoppers, beetles, etc., that the rattling. Now we had two agitatad cattle egret relishes and is quick to baby owls to place out of harm's reach. pick up. We were lucky enough This commotion alerted the parent to watch it for days here in owl, who flew in and landed in a near - the pasture. Then one day by tree where, I was glad to see, she it was gone, probably stayed. We could see she was watching moving to someone else's There every move as made. Luckily she pasture. again it would find merely watched and condoned our zction. With the two baby owls now good hunting in its safely out of reach, we left knowing own unique way. Time out! A tele- they would be cared for by their phone call from a lady mother standing guard nearby. I'm sure they will be fed mice or voles. It's up on the Sound who in the evening when the owls start has a small baby owl on their hunting. Later, as the season pro - er doorstep. She was con- gresses, they'll be fed on grasshop- cerned something might get at pers, beetles and other large insects. it or erhaps it was hurt —,,Could we It's these insects and mice the young owls will be trained on so that they can ultimately fend for themselves. It's good to see how concerned peo- ple are about the wildlife around SA • The Suffolk Times • June 15, 2000 Birds of different We had a visitor in our pasture the other day whose ancestors originally came from Africa. It was a cattle egret, a bird relatively new to our world. It somehow made it across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa, landing first on the shores of Guyana in South America, and then worked its FOCUS way up into Florida. Today we ON have it visiting all NATURE along the eastern b Paul seaboard as far Y north as Canada. Stoutenburgh Back in the '30s, when it made it across the ocean, there was much speculation as to how it had arrived. Could it have traveled in the wake of a hurricane, or perhaps have hitched a ride on the trade winds that move from east to west? One way or the other, it became well estab- lished in the New World. It gradually moved northward and in 15 years had made it to Florida. By 1956 the cattle egret was well established there and nesting around Lake Okeechobee. The first time I saw this white up- land egret was back in 1954 when Roy Wilcox, the noted naturalist from Eastport, found a single cattle egret on a turkey farm in East Moriches. He had confirmed the first sighting of the egret this far north. It drew crowds of birders from all over Long Island who wanted to see this new addition to their bird world. From that day on sightings became more and more common. Then in 1970, when I was pho- tographing with Dennis Puleston out on Gardiners Island, we found a single pair of catt:e egrets nesting in a heron colony on the island. It was the first official breeding record this far north. The nest was found in a dense thicket of cat - brier amongst night herons, ibises, snowy eg and great egrets. We're told it's a member of the Old Bathers Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stoutenburgh Above: The cattle egret, an immigrant from Africa, now commonly seen in our area. Below, left: A baby screech owl found on a local lady's doorstep. World pond herons that are noted for its aggressiveness, characterized by being small- often attacking those who . ish white birds with short legs threaten their young. I can and necks. For those of you vouch for the owl's ag- who visit Florida in the winter, gressiveness; once I got too you see this short- legged close to a nesting pair of white egret in fields, along the screech owls over in busy highways, and even in Brookhaven. I was trying to the planted areas in shopping photograph the young owls malls, where it hunts for when all of a sudden I was hit insects. It's become one of on the head from behind by Florida's most commonly seen an overprotective mother. It white birds. struck with such force it Perhaps you've also seen knocked my hat off. Lucky documentaries on television for me I had a hat on. about Africa, where grazing help ?" In no time, instructions were When we arrived at the animals such as hippos, rhinos taken down as to how to get there, lady's home, we could see and others have had this white and we were off. The only small owl from the car the baby owl bird walking on their backs, picking off the bugs that common to our East End is the screech owl. It comes in two color nestled up against the front door. It still had some of its pester them. As a matter of phases, rusty red and gray. It stands fluffy down showing through fact, in Africa, where every- only seven to 10 inches tall. its newly feathered body. I thing is fair game, the natives tolerate this bird, for it rids Screech owls nest in a variety of cavi- could see why our caller was their animals of pesky insects. ties. The most common is a hole in a tree. This could be an abandoned concerned about her owl. A roving dog, cat or raccoon We watched in amazement this gleaning action by the cat- woodpecker's nesting site or a broken could raise havoc with this limb that made a hollow opening. Then defenseless ball of fluff. Of p tle egret as it skillfully worked its way around our cows. It there are nesting boxes that people put course, we had to take pic- would daringly pick at the legs g y p g up provided the opening is large enough. I've even seen on Gardiners tures but in'so doing, we dis- turbed it, which in turn set its as they grazed, jabbing and eating he flies and insects g Island a screech owl nesting in a wood bill chattering. This rattling of that were bothering the ani- duck's box out over the water. Most owls are very protective of �' p the bill is characteristic of the owl's defensive posture., mals. The reason we see cattle egrets in the company of graz- their young. The great horned owl is To alleviate the potentially ing animals makes sense when dangerous situation the baby owl was in, it was decided to u understand it. As animal yos move it to a nearby tree where it would be out of harms' reach. Barbara stepped forward to perform the task and so, with a pair of gloves, lifted the little handful of fluff, with its big yellow eyes, to a nearby branch of an evergreen. In doing so we found feed they chase up insects such as another fledgling on the ground, bill grasshoppers, beetles, etc., that the rattling. Now we had two agitatad cattle egret relishes and is quick to baby owls to place out of harm's reach. pick up. We were lucky enough This commotion alerted the parent to watch it for days here in owl, who flew in and landed in a near - the pasture. Then one day by tree where, I was glad to see, she it was gone, probably stayed. We could see she was watching moving to someone else's There every move as made. Luckily she pasture. again it would find merely watched and condoned our zction. With the two baby owls now good hunting in its safely out of reach, we left knowing own unique way. Time out! A tele- they would be cared for by their phone call from a lady mother standing guard nearby. I'm sure they will be fed mice or voles. It's up on the Sound who in the evening when the owls start has a small baby owl on their hunting. Later, as the season pro - er doorstep. She was con- gresses, they'll be fed on grasshop- cerned something might get at pers, beetles and other large insects. it or erhaps it was hurt —,,Could we It's these insects and mice the young owls will be trained on so that they can ultimately fend for themselves. It's good to see how concerned peo- ple are about the wildlife around SA • The Suffolk Times • June 15, 2000 Birds of different We had a visitor in our pasture the other day whose ancestors originally came from Africa. It was a cattle egret, a bird relatively new to our world. It somehow made it across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa, landing first on the shores of Guyana in South America, and then worked its FOCUS way up into Florida. Today we ON have it visiting all NATURE along the eastern b Paul seaboard as far Y north as Canada. Stoutenburgh Back in the '30s, when it made it across the ocean, there was much speculation as to how it had arrived. Could it have traveled in the wake of a hurricane, or perhaps have hitched a ride on the trade winds that move from east to west? One way or the other, it became well estab- lished in the New World. It gradually moved northward and in 15 years had made it to Florida. By 1956 the cattle egret was well established there and nesting around Lake Okeechobee. The first time I saw this white up- land egret was back in 1954 when Roy Wilcox, the noted naturalist from Eastport, found a single cattle egret on a turkey farm in East Moriches. He had confirmed the first sighting of the egret this far north. It drew crowds of birders from all over Long Island who wanted to see this new addition to their bird world. From that day on sightings became more and more common. Then in 1970, when I was pho- tographing with Dennis Puleston out on Gardiners Island, we found a single pair of catt:e egrets nesting in a heron colony on the island. It was the first official breeding record this far north. The nest was found in a dense thicket of cat - brier amongst night herons, ibises, snowy eg and great egrets. We're told it's a member of the Old Bathers Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stoutenburgh Above: The cattle egret, an immigrant from Africa, now commonly seen in our area. Below, left: A baby screech owl found on a local lady's doorstep. World pond herons that are noted for its aggressiveness, characterized by being small- often attacking those who . ish white birds with short legs threaten their young. I can and necks. For those of you vouch for the owl's ag- who visit Florida in the winter, gressiveness; once I got too you see this short- legged close to a nesting pair of white egret in fields, along the screech owls over in busy highways, and even in Brookhaven. I was trying to the planted areas in shopping photograph the young owls malls, where it hunts for when all of a sudden I was hit insects. It's become one of on the head from behind by Florida's most commonly seen an overprotective mother. It white birds. struck with such force it Perhaps you've also seen knocked my hat off. Lucky documentaries on television for me I had a hat on. about Africa, where grazing help ?" In no time, instructions were When we arrived at the animals such as hippos, rhinos taken down as to how to get there, lady's home, we could see and others have had this white and we were off. The only small owl from the car the baby owl bird walking on their backs, picking off the bugs that common to our East End is the screech owl. It comes in two color nestled up against the front door. It still had some of its pester them. As a matter of phases, rusty red and gray. It stands fluffy down showing through fact, in Africa, where every- only seven to 10 inches tall. its newly feathered body. I thing is fair game, the natives tolerate this bird, for it rids Screech owls nest in a variety of cavi- could see why our caller was their animals of pesky insects. ties. The most common is a hole in a tree. This could be an abandoned concerned about her owl. A roving dog, cat or raccoon We watched in amazement this gleaning action by the cat- woodpecker's nesting site or a broken could raise havoc with this limb that made a hollow opening. Then defenseless ball of fluff. Of p tle egret as it skillfully worked its way around our cows. It there are nesting boxes that people put course, we had to take pic- would daringly pick at the legs g y p g up provided the opening is large enough. I've even seen on Gardiners tures but in'so doing, we dis- turbed it, which in turn set its as they grazed, jabbing and eating he flies and insects g Island a screech owl nesting in a wood bill chattering. This rattling of that were bothering the ani- duck's box out over the water. Most owls are very protective of �' p the bill is characteristic of the owl's defensive posture., mals. The reason we see cattle egrets in the company of graz- their young. The great horned owl is To alleviate the potentially ing animals makes sense when dangerous situation the baby owl was in, it was decided to u understand it. As animal yos move it to a nearby tree where it would be out of harms' reach. Barbara stepped forward to perform the task and so, with a pair of gloves, lifted the little handful of fluff, with its big yellow eyes, to a nearby branch of an evergreen. In doing so we found feed they chase up insects such as another fledgling on the ground, bill grasshoppers, beetles, etc., that the rattling. Now we had two agitatad cattle egret relishes and is quick to baby owls to place out of harm's reach. pick up. We were lucky enough This commotion alerted the parent to watch it for days here in owl, who flew in and landed in a near - the pasture. Then one day by tree where, I was glad to see, she it was gone, probably stayed. We could see she was watching moving to someone else's There every move as made. Luckily she pasture. again it would find merely watched and condoned our zction. With the two baby owls now good hunting in its safely out of reach, we left knowing own unique way. Time out! A tele- they would be cared for by their phone call from a lady mother standing guard nearby. I'm sure they will be fed mice or voles. It's up on the Sound who in the evening when the owls start has a small baby owl on their hunting. Later, as the season pro - er doorstep. She was con- gresses, they'll be fed on grasshop- cerned something might get at pers, beetles and other large insects. it or erhaps it was hurt —,,Could we It's these insects and mice the young owls will be trained on so that they can ultimately fend for themselves. It's good to see how concerned peo- ple are about the wildlife around