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January 27, 1994 - Hot on the Trail of Cold-Weather DucksJanuary 27, 19N,* The Suffolk 'Times 5A Hot on the Trail of Cold- Weather Ducks By Paul Stoutenburgh Every year in the middle of January there is a New York State Waterfowl Count and each year volunteers go out and survey the waters for ducks of all kinds. It is through these surveys we get an idea of the ups and downs in [heir Focus on populations. As we know, this has Nature been an unusual year for weather, with its low temperatures and more - than- normal snowfall. Nevertheless we were committed and hoped for a break in the weather so the daylong process of scanning and counting could be, done. We chose Jan. 21, which was clear and relatively warm at 18 to 20 degrees. In years past I've worked on a section of the Montauk area usually around Promised Land as well as working the area from Mattituck Inlet to Orient Point on the north shore. My companion for the north shore area this year was Ralph Tuthill, an old friend and birder from way back. We knew the bay would reveal very little for it was frozen over except for a few small oases of fast - moving water. The same was true of the inlet area where we were able to pick up those handsome, male red - breasted mer- gansers and buffleheads. There was also a score of black ducks and mallards that wished the fast - running channel wasn't quite so deep, for being shallow -water feeders there was little for them there except the warmth of the water. The Sound edge, as we looked out from the inlet, was white with pushed -up ice from across the Sound. Every rock had its mantle of white and everything blended into a dazzle that made one squint. Slush ice undulated slowly out- side the hard - packed ice of the shore and just outside that oldsquaws and golden - eye ducks dove for their rations of sur- vival food. Water Warmer Than Air Actually the water temperature was much warmer than the bitter cold above that swept out of the northwest. At one place by the Old Mill where the water was open, black ducks and mallards and a few wigeon were found. They had been frozen out of their hiding places in the few freshwa- ter areas there are on the north shore. Later we'd visit deep Marratooka Lake and find only a small opening in the center where the movement of ducks had kept it open. Here canvas- back, wigeon, black ducks and a few American coots milled about in what must have seemed to them a lifeless lake, for now there was none of that shallow edge to feed along. We drove to the bay and, as pre- dicted, as far as the eye could see was a a Ws blanket of ice. It Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh would be the near- MALE RED - BREASTED MERGANSERS —These handsome diving ducks found in our local est thing we'd ever waters are already doing their courtship rituals, even though ice and snow surround them. see to an arctic balls). In the open spots they, along with the bay, greater scaup dove and frol- landscape. Nothing moved. The sun the red - breasted mergansers (shell- icked. Those ducks once ruled our win - bounced, unfelt, on the blue -grey ice. drakes), seemed almost to enjoy their _ ter waters here on the East End, prior to Not even a seagull patrolled the frigid winter habitat. Some were already react- the great loss of eel grass in the early wasteland. Back in the car we drove ing to the longer days of sunlight by '30s. Now we see small flocks where along roads that passed marsh after putting on a courtship display and trying thousands once rafted and fed. We'd see marsh all wrapped in a covering of ice to impress nearby females to become a few loons and grebes but like many and snow. It seemed as if one had more than just companions. they, too, had flown to the open water of wrapped everything in white Their heads would go up, bill the ocean or faroff Sound. plastic, something like the i Everything pointing to the sky in jerking By afternoon we had worked our way winter plastic storage wrap motions that seemed to go by to Orient Beach State Park where we of boatyards. Lifeless snow, blended into without any notice of the fair- picked up scoters (coots). Most were the ice and cold were stamped a daule er sex, who were more inter- surf scoters (skunk heads) with only a everywhere. ested in feeding than few white -wings among them. This was We worked every creek that made courtship. An occasional male unusual, for normally that is reversed. and channel opening, adding would challenge the perfor- On our way back from the park we ducks and a few bewildered one squint. mance by much thrashing of found turnstones and sanderlings feeding swans to our list as we head- — water and wings, but even this along the icy water's edge. These are ed east. Black ducks seemed to head the seemed to fizzle out and both small shorebirds that have braved almost list, for they were found out of their would go back to the business of diving zero temperatures and somehow still sur- usual hiding haunts and were forced to for food. We humans could learn much vived. I never can get over their stamina. sit like silhouettes out on the bay ice, from their easy way of disengaging from They should be in the Caribbean enjoy - making them easy to count. an argument or challenge. ing the warmth of their summer. If there was any sign of enjoyment to At one place off Greenport, where the Our last trip was to the very end of the our eye it was the diving and popping up shelter of the land had kept the cold North Fork — Orient Point — in hopes of the little bufflehead ducks (butter- wind from welding an icy barrier across of finding sea ducks and perhaps the prize of all: the Harlequin duck that vis- its our area only rarely. It's a conglomer- i_w�'w iwwi� �wwL t o th t t o 82 Years Ago Jan. 27, 1512 Deep Freeze in Orient: Once more the harbor is frozen up and ice boats and skaters are not an unusual sight morning, noon and night. On Monday afternoon about all the skaters in Orient were on the ice. Greenport News: Palma and Grilli have ordered a new 10- pinnet automatic bowling alley, which will be installed in their place of business in two or three weeks. This alley is one of the latest on the market, and is one of the type that returns the ball to the player, and the pins are set up by a lever. 50 Years Ago Jan. 28, 1944 Southold Town Salvage Paper Drive: Collec- tion Day, Feb. 12. Waste paper is urgently needed in the war effort. Among the essential products made from sal- vage waste paper are bomb bands, shell protectors, car- tridge boxes, blood plasma cartons, ration kits, parachute flares, medical kits, ammunition chests and many others. Start saving now and convert your waste paper into weapons of war! (Advertisement) Attire Shines in Dark: Lumipous paint sprayed on stockings, belts, gloves, handbags and hats, and a luminous 25 Years Ago Jan. 31, 1969 Editorial: Evidence is growing that common sense is beginning to enter the picture of firearms control. Rather than saddling the law- abiding citizen with onerous restric- tions, a number of states are enacting measures imposing mandatory penalties for the misuse of firearms in crime. Pennsylvania and Alaska enacted mandatory penalty laws in 1968. The Maryland Legislature will soon have before it a bill to impose a five -year sentence on every person con- victed of a crime with a dangerous or deadly weapon. A similar proposal is expected to be before the 1969 Nevada Legislature. These are constructive steps. And they are an encourag- ing contrast to the kind of extremism which holds that the cure for practically any problem lies in granting the federal government increased police powers over the affairs of nonlawbreakers. a e o co or a seems so ou o p ace to the frigid waters. We didn't find the Harlequin nor did we find any seals that are often found there, but we were rewarded by seeing three purple sand- pipers. This sandpiper does not usually spend its time on shore, but is more often found searching for food on the wet, sea -spewn rocks. Imagine making a living doing that in all kinds of weather? Yet it has found a place in the food chain where there are no competitors and therein lies its success. The wonders of nature are never - ending. Free Immunizations MATTITUCK —Free immunizations for infants to 5 -year -olds will be offered on Monday, Feb. 7, at the Southold Town Human Resource Center. The program, sponsored by the Southold Town Office for Women and the Suf- folk County Department of Health, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lead screen- ings also will be given. To register, call 298 -4475 or 298- 4460.