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August 19, 2010 - Of heron and hummingbirdsAUGUST 19, 2010 1 SUFFOLKTIMES. 0 an ummin Spending more time indoors these days, with the high temperatures, we decided to pullout some old photograph albums and stories we haven't looked at or read in years. What fun!All those things we thought we remembered we really only half remem- bered. How we laughed about grand old times with family and friends. I thought it might be fun to share one of the sto- ries we found from 1957 when we had been experi- encingsummer heat similar to what we have been having this year I was photographing some herons in a place in Riverhead called Indian Island, which was purchased by the county in 1963 and is today the Indian Island County Park. It's interesting to see how much has changed over the years: properties, cameras, film, equipment, etc. Here's the story: June 10, 1957 —Visited the heron colony I found in Riverhead. It is situated on the land just to the east of Hallock Warner's duck farm. The place is called Indian Island. FOCUS ON NATURE I found this place last year when I drove through the back roads and found an orphaned young heron walking up the road. It was the key tc a heron colony. It was PAUL STOUTENBURGH late in the season and most of the young had gone. So there was no picture taking. This year I got there early and found them in full nesting (on the 10th). I immediately set out to pho- tograph the colony. I took two 20 -foot extension ladders and peaked them, then covered the top with burlap. A 2x 6 was then put across the rungs about seven feet down and it was on this that I stood with -my camera clamped to one of the rungs of the ladder. I Rather cramped quarters, I can assure you, and i, so hot! My shoulders could hardly get across e area it was so tight. I tried three times to photo aph this one nest of night herons, but to no avail a matter of fact, by my third visit something ha( ken the young. My, these birds are wary. The nests are in scrub pine about 20 feet up, the ual stick affair. Some of the nests are so flimsy u can see the eggs right through them. erons ir I The yellow- crowned night heron, rare in our area, usually nests by itself, in contrast to the black- crowned night heron, which nests in colonies. un me secona trip to the blind I saw a yellow - crowned night heron, a rarity around here, and or my third trip there Larry Penny and I both saw it. As a matter of fact, we traced it to a pine that we both thought it was nesting in. I was sure when I saw the droppings. They are not the white wash of the night heron, but matted affairs of shell and crab. Also when we looked into the nest of four eggs they were a different shade of green -blue. So I decided to move the blind here and try it. After leaving the blind up there for about three days I tried it again in the blind — nothing. The bird would not come around with me in the blind. Seeing I had only one telephoto 180 mm f 5.6, it was difficult. So as not to chase the bird away, I left but first I added more cover so that the next time I came in there would be no chance of our yellow- i e was a time when you could be guaranteed to see a <- crowned night heron feeding in the shallows of our ks. Today you're lucky if you ever see one. NQF- On the next try I had better luck; the bird came after about an hour of stalking around, then lit in a nearby tree. From there on I kept shooting every chance I had. Then I got out and went home, but what a disappointment I had coming. The film did not wind in the camera. All my work was of no avail. So next day up at 6 a.m. and off to the blind. < „* terrific heat we were having — 93 degrees today. This time I had another disappointment. After the first shot (the bird came right to the nest this time) more disappointment — the film would not wind up. It jammed. So, while Mrs. Yellow -Crown looked on with the icy look that only a heron can give, I took the back off and rewound my film, spoiling part and starting all over. But it was all worth it, for I watched the bird per- form the household duties of cleaning a nest. She tossed out half an egg shell and then commenced to pick up objects in the nest. I could not tell what they were. Perhaps some regurgitated food she left when scared off the nest. Or could it be droppings? I doubt it, for the bird actually took them in her bill and downed them. The young are still hatching oui toclay.The 17th of June. I'll keep a close watch and see what comes of this crew. Dennis (Puleston) an( Gil. Raynor are coming over to band them Saturday so we'll see them again on the weekend. While walking around I found a sort of second half of the black - crowned night heron colony. This group with nests are in big oak trees right alongside the scrub pine area. I'm sure there must be a total of about 50 to 70 nesting birds here — both sections included. The latter nests are in oak 30 feet up. I also came across a hummingbird's nest. Took pictures but on my return found something had taken the two eggs. How disappointing it was, for I always wanted to get that family group. What a per fect piece of work the nest is, and what camouflage with lichens attached to the side. PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL STOUTENBURGH The ruby- throated hummingbirds nest is made of plant down held together with spider webs and covered with lichens. It's only a little larger than a golf ball and the eggs are the size of large peas.