Loading...
February 2, 2006 - Introducing: new specieisI OA • The Suffolk Times • February 2, 2006 Introducing: new species Mosr of You grow the tales about how the starlings and house sparrows were introduced into New York from Europe and how they now have mul- tiplied and spread throughout every state in the nation. These are just two examples of "deliberate releases" of birds that have done well in their newly adopted country. The cattle egret, an all-white bird, is an example of a "natural introduc- tion" species, which came from FOC U $ Africa. We see O N this egret today throughout Flor- NATURE ida. How these naturallyinvad- by Paul ing species get Stoutenburgh here is anyone's guess Down here in Florida we have an interesting situa- tion of two species of doves that have moved into the state causing much con- fusion because they look so much alike. We all know the common mourning dove that we feed through the winter, which has that soft "w0000 woo-00" call. Well, some years ago a different dove started to show up here in Florida. It was about the same size as our na- tive dove but it had a narrow black band around its neck. It was called the ringed turtle dove. In time, some of the more serious observers began to ques- tion what they were seeing. Was there another species of ringed dove, one that looked almost the same as the ringed SuftkIk i rrm photos by 6artu rn SIOUIBriburgh Above we see a pair of Eurasian collared doves, orlonally from Asia, looking for a nest site In a frangipanl tree down here In Florida. Introduced Into the Ba- hamas in 1975, by 1980 they had migrated to Florida, where they multiplied and spread to the extent that they are considered common now. At right: Cor- morants often can be seen atop some buoy or piling lust waiting for a school of fish to come by. Then, from out of nowhere, hundreds of these black diving, alwaystnoving birds will reap the harvest of the feeding flsh below. turtle dove but a bit larger and darker tan? Bird watchers found out it was a new species and was called the Eur- asian collared dove. It was introduced back in the '70s into the Bahamas, where it thrived and spread throughout the islands.Then around 1980 it showed up in Florida, where it multiplied and expanded its Are you a professional who is passionate about dV1, If so, put your creativity to work at work. At Ethan Allen, our t personalized appoadt m decorating makes us j- me a design studb than a furniture ire aid gives our design corwIlrrls the creative freedom they need to get the lob done... pedecily As a premier home furnishings company, we fifer the lost awls, top-lovel sales guidance, and scrag ouslamer service support, , which make working for us a pleasure. So, (f you are an experienced design cansuilrxit looking for an a ling carer wfth an innovative company tda a proven style leader, are twte you t&a*re opportunities at Ethan Men. Join us at our Suffolk County Career Open House ? VUedr>PSday Febnrary8, aoo6 throughout & dayioam-5pm x Bayport, yoo Sunrise Highway South Talk one- on-one with store staff and find out more about open design consultant positions. ETHAN ALLEN' Now hiring at these locations: huntingbon station bayport rte. 110 and jerkho tpke. 700 sunrise highway south at nicolls road setauket water mill 4016 nesconset hwy. 1054 montauk highway 2 miles It of nicolls rd. opens spring 2006 For more information contact Rachel Silverman at 631274.6100 eA 24 or rachelOrestful -ea com www.ethaaIben.com CM Ethan Allen Global, Inc. >1 territory, and today this dove has been sighted as far north as New York. So here was a case of a new spe- cies of dove causing much confusion in the bird watcher world. Ibis also showed, once again, that whenever we are invaded by a foreign species, be it a plant, a bird, an insect or some other kind of creature, it usually does well in its new home. The sad part is that they take over the local species' habitat to the extent that some of our native spe- cies have the possibility of becoming extinct. Down here in Florida we have the Intercoastal Waterway on one side of us and 1,000 feet to the west is the Gulf of Mexico. We see dolphins in both places, moving along in small groups, seemingly without a care in the world. They never seem to be in a hurry as they cruise along at five to seven mph. Yet rve been told they can travel up to 30 mph if necessary. I got to know dolphins years ago, when I was in the service, on special, starry nights when the sea was calm and our ship traveled in complete blackout, we'd take our hammocks and sling them up on the bow of the ship. It was then we could bear them alongside the ship when they came up for air. Look- ing down, we could see their outline in the phosphorescent water below. It was so dreamy up there we almost felt guilty, knowing that the rest of the crew was down below. Dolphins are more common in the oceans while porpoise are more coastal and shy Porpoise would be what we see in our bays and Sound.There are prob- ably many of you who can remember seeing porpoise in our East End bays and the Long Island Sound at one time I can remember seeing them in both places I must have been quite young when I saw them in the bay between the south end of Robins Island and the south end of Nassau Point. Many years later, when Barbara and I were up at the Sound with our canoe, r , -" t we saw a "pod" of porpoise traveling along a mere 300 feet from shore. We paddled amongst them and when they came up for air, we were so close to them we could hear and see the spray from their blowholes. Dolphins and porpoise do not have a flapper valve to keep water out, so when they surface, the water that's accumulated in the blowhole has to be expelled, which was what we were seeing and hearing as we paddled amongst them. Porpoise and dolphins, like whales, propel themselves by moving their tails up and down, in contrast to a fish, which moves its tail from side to side. They are warm - blooded mammals with a body temperature approxi- mately that of humansTo help insulate their body from the cold, they, like whales, have a thick layer of fat that helps keep them warm — similar to warm- blooded mammals that have fur on their body to keep warm. It was quite a thrill to be so close to those sleek and graceful creatures the day we paddled amongst them. Sorry to say, sightings of porpoise in the Sound have become a rarity in today's world. We've enjoyed being able to get ac- quainted once again with these wonder - fui, sleek and graceful creatures here as we watch them cruise by. Whether we are fishing off one of the piers or sitting at the water's edge watching the sun go down over the Gulf, we still get a thrill out of seeing them swim by on their endless quest for food As I write this I can see another spec- tacle of nature. It's a feeding frenzy for both birds and fish. From all around, the cormorants (400 or more) came, along with a smattering of pelicans, terns and laughing gulls, all hoping to reap the harvest of feeding fish below. The cormorants put on a conveyor belt -like display of Mack bodies that moved along as the fish pursued their prey.Yet for a moment, in amongst them, I saw a dolphin — then it was gone. Whenever we are Invaded by a foreign species, It usually does well In Its new home.