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January 07, 2010 - Their very own Christmas bird count34 1 JANUARY 7, 2010 1 SUFFOLKTIMES.COM Their very own Christmas bird count We have been spending our win- ters in Florida for the past five years and this year is the coldest we've ever experienced. We've had some nearly freezing weather that we never had before. Well, that's the way it is. It's still lots warmer than many other places in the country, including the North Fork, and we're thankful for that Our son came to spend the holi- days with us, so we've been doing some birding in the area Interestingly enough, I looked out our window before we left and a car drove up with a sign in the window: "Official Audu- bon Christmas Bird Countvehicle." It reminded me of the many bird counts I participated in for over 50 years FOCUS ON NATURE PAUL S 7' ouYEiNBURGH The reason they stopped was a blue - capped cordon bleu that appeared at our feeder, probably someone's pet that had escaped. This bird is common in Africa. They wanted to photograph it, though it is not a local bird it would be interesting to note on their bird list This pretty little bird has visited us for the last two years. It is a very colorful little four- to five -inch bird of deep sky blue and fawn /beige with a red bill. It feeds along with the sparrows and we enjoy its company. At first it left when the sparrows fed but now it just jumps across to the windowsill and waits its turn. While we were out birding, one of the most interesting things we came across was 75 to 100 crows feasting on the berries of a juniper tree, Which we know as the cedar. The grayish berries are ripe now and we've been told the fish crows in this area are smart enough to know that and they gorge themselves on the ripe fruit They were all in one tree until we passed and then the area came alive with calling crows and flapping wings until they returned to the same tree. Neither Peter nor I had ever seen any- thing quite as powerful as that before. Driving along we came upon a wood stork near the road and stopped E��tRYoNE ,�EA�S • r � .k PAUL AND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH PHOTOS Left The wood stork was once on the verge of extinction. It is on its way back, but having difficulty because of the loss of its habitat. Right. This small blue- capped cordon bleu, common in Africa and probably an escaped pet, came to our feeder this year and last. It is sightings like this that make birding interesting. to photograph it Wood storks are na- tive to North America. They are odd - looking birds, white with black in their wings, a black tail and dark naked head. These three- foot -tall birds have a wingspan of five feet and weigh from seven to 10 pounds. In the past 60 years their num- bers dropped from 60,000 to 9,000 because much of the habitat where they fed and nested was filled in and turned into building lots. Some of the birds now nest as far away as Georgia and South Carolina. Many of them are using artificial nests, much like our ospreys on Long Island. If you would like to receive The Suffolk Times in your mailbox every Thursday, please complete the attached coupon and mail it with a check or money order to: Times/Review Newspapers, P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952 or call 631- 298 -3200 to place your order. Please allow three weeks for delivery. ADDRESS: PHONE One year in Suffolk County $35 0 One year out of Suffolk County $44 0 One year in/out of Suffolk County $40 0 I can remember 20 years ago these wood storks left their nesting site at Corkscrew Sanctuary in Florida, where we used to see them. They had nested there by the thousands and today they are starting to come back. Barbara was able to get a picture of the wood stork we saw from the car and it is one of the best I've seen. We sometimes see storks in the park where we live, but here was the perfect setting for this big bird; the photo shows the habitat where these large birds feed and nest. The wood storks like the wetlands, especially as things dry up. It is then HOPPY'S L=am INC. 4T7- -1110 EPA Certified serving shaker ream for hetf a cranny With FREE Pickup & Delivery on: Dry Cleaning hill Laundry Services Expert Tailoring Climate Controlled Fur & Boa storage Rug Cleaning 329 Front Street Greenport, 477 -1110 Throughout Florida, this large royal tem can be found diving for the small fish that make up its diet or resting on pilings, as seen here. that the ponds and puddles contain concentrated amounts of the small fish, tadpoles and crayfish they eat The stork feeds in the shallow water by swishing its long, thick bill back and forth and when it hits something it snaps its bill shut The trouble is if the drying up goes too far, there is no food and the chicks starve. We've read that it requires 400 pounds offish to feed each family during the nesting season. Yo u can see how important these ponds and puddles are to the wood storks. After some birding we decided to stop at a restaurant at the end of a long pier that juts out into the bay. We sat up on the second floor, where we had a good view all around. We knew that sometimes you can see dolphins playing, but none appeared. You do need to keep your eyes open to catch everything that is happening down here. Earlier in the day we looked out our window and saw a large group of 5O to 60 white pelicans feeding on the water. It was most unusual, as we normally see brown pelicans near us and only seldom do we see any white pelicans and then only one or two. Back to our lunch. Strings and strings of cormorants passed by, any- where from 10 to 120 at a rime, flying low over the water in long, straight lines. There were gannets up high and royal, Sandwich and Forster's tems flew by close to our window. Perhaps the highlight of the day was when a frigate bird came so close to our window we could almost reach out and touch it JANUARY 7, 2010 1 SUFFOLKTIMES.COM eir very own Christmas bird coun . . . . . . . . . . . . . We have been spending our win- ters in Florida for the past five years and this year is the coldest we've ever experienced. We've had some nearly freezing weather that we never had before. Well, that's the way it is. It's still lots warmer than many other places it the country, including the North Fork, and we're thankful for that. Our son came to spend the holi- days with us, so we've been doing some birding in the area. Interestingly enough, I looked out our window before we left and a car drove up with a sign in the window: "Official Audu- bon-Christmas Bird Count Vehicle." It reminded me of the many bird counts I narticinated in for over 50 nears. - Throughout Florida, this large royal tern can be found diving for the small fish that make up its diet or resting on pilings, as FOCUS 0 Ni ,,, n 4; PAUL STOUTENBURGN The reason they stopped was a blue - pped cordon bleu that appeared at u feeder, probably someone's pet tha id escaped. This bird is common In Dca. They wanted to photograph it; Lough it is not a local bird it would be tPrestine to note on their bird list. us for the last two years. It is a very colorful little four- to five -inch bird of deep sky blue and fawn /beige with a red bill. It feeds along with the sparrows and we enjoy its company. At first it left when the sparrows fed but now it just jumps across to the windowsill and waits its turn. While we were out birding, one of the most interesting things we came across was 75 to 100 crows feasting on the berries of a juniper tree, which we know as the cedar. The grayish berries are ripe now and we've been told the fish crows in this area are smart enough to know that and they gorge themselves on the ripe fruit. They were all in one tree until we passed, and then the area came alive with calling crows and flapping wing until they returned to the same tree. Neither Peter nor I had ever seen any thing quite as powerful as that beforr Driving along we came upon a wood stork near the road and stopper to pho og aph it. Wood storks are na- tive to North America. They are odd - looking birds, white with black in their wings, a black tail and dark naked head. These three- foot -tall birds have a wingspan of five feet and weigh from seven to 10 pounds. In the past 60 years their num- bers dropped from 60,000 to 9,000 because much of the habitat where they fed and nested was filled in and turned into building lots. Some of the birds now nest as far away as Georgia and South Carolina. Many of them are usirig artificial nests, much like our ospreys on Long Island. I can remember 20 years ago these wood storks left their nesting site at Corkscrew Sanctuary in Florida, where we used to see them. They had nested there by the thousands and today they are starting to come back. Barbara was able to get a picture of the wood stork we saw from the car and it is one of the best I've seen. We sometimes see storks in the park where we live, but here was the perfect setting for this big bird; the photo shows the habitat where these large birds feed and nest. The wood storks like the wetlands, especially as things dry up. It is then i 4u mat the ponds and puddles contain concentrated amounts of the small fish, tadpoles and crayfish they eat. The stork feeds in the shallow water by swishing its long, thick bill back and forth and when it hits something it snaps its bill shut. The trouble is if the drying up goes too far, there is no food and the chicks starve. We've read that it requires 400 pounds of fish to feed earl' family during the nesting season. You can see how important these ponds and puddles are to the wood storks. After some birding we decided to stop at a restaurant at the end of a long pier that juts out into the bay. We sat up on the second floor, where we had a good view all around. We knew that sometimes you can see dolphins playing, but none appeared. You do need to keep your eyes open to catch everything that is happening down here. Earlier in the day we looked out our window and saw a large group of 50 to 60 white pelicans feeding on the water. It was most unusual, as we normally see brown pelicans near us . and only seldom do we.see any white pelicans and then only one or two. Back to our lunch. Strings and strings of cormorants passed by, any - where from 10 to 120 at a time, flying low over the water in long, straight lines. There were gannets up high and royal; Sandwich and Forster's terns flew by close to our window. Perhaps the highlight of the day was when a frigate bird came so close to our window we could almost reach out and touch it. PAUL AND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH PHOTOS Left: The wood stork was once on the verge of extinction. It is on its way back, but having difficulty because of the loss of its habitat. Right: This small blue - capped cordon bleu, common in Africa and probably an escaped pet, came to our feeder this year and last. It is sightings like this that make birding interesting.