February 18, 2010 - North Fork winter on my mindSUFFOLKTIMES.COM I FEBRUARY 18, 2010 1 9A
PAUL AND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH PHOTOS
Left Although sand hill cranes are seen more commonly in Florida around the cattle ranches, one often visits the open fields of Orient. Right The other day we saw this robin and hun-
dreds more feeding on the bright red berries of the Brazilian pepper bush. The bush, related to the sumac of the North Fork, helps feed the birds as they migrate.
North Fork
winter on
my mind
We spend six months in Florida each winter and
the other six months up north at our home on the
North Fork. Our winter days in Florida are usually
spent in shorts and T- shirts, but this year you might
say we left them on the top shelf.
But even though we had extremely low tem-
peratures in the south, there were unusually long
periods of bone- chilling temperatures in the north
that froze everything
FOCUS ON NATURE 'n winter's icy grip
with endless periods
of swirling snow that
can produce interest -
ing snow sculptures.
.. Hearing about
the snow and wind
on the North Fork, I
P was reminded of my
PAUL STOUTENBURGH
youthful days, when
ice boats were built and sailed across the frozen
bays and creeks. When the ice in the creeks was
thick enough to walk on, we'd chop a hole through
it with an ax and probe for eels that hibernated in
the soft mud. When we brought our eels up on the
ice we had to keep an eye on their slow- moving
bodies or some hungry gull would swoop in and
take our catch.
Later, back home, wed skin the eels, cut them up,
flour them and put them into the hot frying pan
where they'd stay until they were crispy brown. Eating
The snow and winds like the North Fork has had this winter
can form unusual sculptures. After a big stone a few years
ago, these figures greeted us just outside our back porch.
the eels like com on the cob and leaving the skeletons
stacked on the plate ended a great day outdoors.
When local ponds froze over, wed gather at our
favorite one for some skating. In those days hand -
me- down skates were the thing; maybe they didn't
fit just right but they made do. Wed build a fire at
the edge of the pond to keep our hands and feet
warm If it wasri t a time for skating wed pack fam-
ily and friends in a car and head for our favorite hill
to do some sleigh riding.
That was a time when many people burned
wood to heat their homes. I remember the big
wood - burning stove that sat just in front of the
fireplace in our home and the wood I helped cut
to keep it going. Some still do that today. They still
cut, split and haul the wood to be stacked close to
the house for use in winter.
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Let's hope most of the snow and cold on the North
Fork and the cold weather here in Florida will soon
be behind us. hi fact, the other day we saw hundreds
of robins down here feeding on the hundreds of ber-
ries in the Wt clusters of the Brazilian pepper bush,
also known as Florida holly. This plant is not indig-
enous but has come into Florida and spread rapidly
through thousands of acres, replacing native plants
like Florida mangroves.
The Brazilian pepper is hard to control because
it produces basal shoots if the trunk is cut and it
produces abundant seeds that the birds disperse.
The State of Florida is working hard to eradicate
the species from its lands and has had some suc-
cess in doing so.
Seeing those robins reminded me of robins that
sometimes overwinter on the North Fork. Dodt
know how they could have this year in the snow
and bitter cold, but watch for them as flocks will be
around as the weather warms up in time.
We saw some sand hill cranes the other day
while out birding. They are seen more often here
than at home, although almost every year one
turns up in the open fields in Orient. They are a
beautiful bird, standing over three feet high with
a red cap on their head, white cheeks and a long,
dark, pointed bill. With a wingspan of six to eight
feet, they are often seen soaring on thermals for
hours. We watched them feed in the open fields of
the cattle ranches. It is not unusual to see five or six
or more as they wander around probing the fields
for insects, worms and seeds.
We were unable to get photograph of a busy little
blue-gray gnatcatcher we saw while taking a walk in
the Robinson Preserve near where we live. Never-
theless, it reminded me of seeing one years ago on
Gardiners island and another one in Mount Sinai
This small bird builds a nest similar to a hum-
mingbird, using spider webs and attaching lichens
to the outside. With beautiful bright colors of
blue, black and white, it catches your eye as it flits
quickly from branch to branch looking for insects.
But try to catch it with your binoculars or even
with your camera, and it presents a great challenge.
We'll go back and try again.
SUFFOLKTIMES.COM I FEBRUARY 18, 2010
M
the other six months up north at our home on the
North Fork. Our winter days in Florida are usually
spent in shorts and T-shirts, but this year you migh
say we left them on the top shelf.
But even though we had extremely low tem-
peratures in the south, there were unusually long
periods of bone - chilling temperatures in the north
that froze everything
FOCUS ON NATURE witthh endless periods
of swirling snow that
Fan produce interest-
ing snow sculptures.
Hearing about
the snow and wind
on the North Fork, I
PAUL STOUTENBURGH was reminded of my
youthful days, when
ice boats were built and sailed across the frozen
bays and creeks. When the ice in the creeks was
thick enough to walk on, we'd chop a hole through
it with an ax and probe for eels that hibernated in
the soft mud. When we brought our eels up on the
ice we had to keep an eye on their slow - moving
bodies or some hungry gull would swoop in and
take our catch.
Later, back home, we'd skin the eels, cut them up,
flour them and put them into the hot frying pan
where they'd stay until they were crispy brown. Eating
the eels like corn on the cob and leaving the skeletons
stacked on the plate ended a great day outdoors.
When local ponds froze over, we'd gather at our
favorite one for some skating. In those days hand -
me -down skates were the thing; maybe they didn't
fit just right but they made do. We'd build a fire at
the edge of the pond to keep our hands and feet
warm. If it wasn't a time for skating we'd pack fam-
ily and friends in a car and head for our favorite hill
to do some sleigh riding.
That was a time when many people burned
wood to heat their homes. I remember the big
wood - burning stove that sat just in front of the
fireplace in our home and the wood I helped cut
to keep it going. Some still do that today. They still
cut, split and haul the wood to be stacked close to
the house for use in winter.
orth For
winter on
mv mind
The snow and winds like the North Fork has had this winter
can form unusual sculptures. After a big storm a few years
ago, these figures greeted us just outside our back oorch.
Let's hope most of the snow and cold on the North
Fork and the cold weather here in Florida will soon
be behind us. In fact, the other day we saw hundreds
of robins down here feeding on the hundreds of ber-
ries in the fruit clusters of the Brazilian pepper bush,
so known as Florida holly. This plant is not indig-
enous but has come into Florida and spread rapidly
through thousands of acres, replacing native plants
like Florida mangroves.
The Brazilian pepper is hard to control because
it produces basal shoots if the trunk is cut and it
produces abundant seeds that the birds disperse.
The State of Florida is working hard to eradicate
the species from its lands and has had some suc-
cess in doing so.
Seeing those robins reminded me of robins that
sometimes overwinter on the North Fork. Don't
know how they could have this year in the snow
and bitter cold, but watch for them as flocks will be
around as the weather warms up in time.
I vve saw some san cranes e other day
while out birding. They are seen more often here
than at home, although almost every year one
turns up in the open fields in Orient. They are a
beautiful bird, standing over three feet high with
a red cap on their head, white cheeks and a long,
dark, pointed bill. With a wingspan of six to eight
eet, they are often seen soaring on thermals for
hours. We watched them feed in the open fields of
he cattle ranches. It is not unusual to see Five or six
r more as they wander around probing the fields
or insects, worms and seeds.
We were unable to get a photograph of a busy little
lue -gray gnatcatcher we saw while taking a walk in
the Robinson Preserve near where we live. Never-
theless, it reminded me of seeing one years ago on
Gardiners Island and another one in Mount Sinai.
This small bird builds a nest similar to a hum-
mingbird, using spider webs and attaching lichens
to the outside. With beautiful bright colors of
blue, black and white, it catches your eye as it flits
quickly from branch to branch looking for insects.
But try to catch it with your binoculars or even
with your camera, and it presents a great challenge.
We'll go back acid try again.
I
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go
PAULAND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH PHOTOS
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I vve saw some san cranes e other day
while out birding. They are seen more often here
than at home, although almost every year one
turns up in the open fields in Orient. They are a
beautiful bird, standing over three feet high with
a red cap on their head, white cheeks and a long,
dark, pointed bill. With a wingspan of six to eight
eet, they are often seen soaring on thermals for
hours. We watched them feed in the open fields of
he cattle ranches. It is not unusual to see Five or six
r more as they wander around probing the fields
or insects, worms and seeds.
We were unable to get a photograph of a busy little
lue -gray gnatcatcher we saw while taking a walk in
the Robinson Preserve near where we live. Never-
theless, it reminded me of seeing one years ago on
Gardiners Island and another one in Mount Sinai.
This small bird builds a nest similar to a hum-
mingbird, using spider webs and attaching lichens
to the outside. With beautiful bright colors of
blue, black and white, it catches your eye as it flits
quickly from branch to branch looking for insects.
But try to catch it with your binoculars or even
with your camera, and it presents a great challenge.
We'll go back acid try again.
I
III, -,
1j.
go
PAULAND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH PHOTOS
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