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November 26, 1998 - Wild turkeys making their comebackSA • The Suffolk Times • November 26, 1998 W i y ld turk ' g comeback e s mak�n their At one time in our early history turkeys were common throughout the eastern seaboard. They were one of the staples of the early settlers. At that time there were great forests FOCUS where these large gobblers ON scratched for insects, foraged NATURE for fruit and en- by Paul joyed the nuts of Stoutenburgh the forest such as beechnut and the acorn. Then, as the forests were cleared, their nesting grounds and habitat became depleted. From the beginning huge numbers of these mag- nificent birds were taken both by gun and other "insidious devices." An example of these other "insidious devices" is told by a visitor from New Jersey in 1648 who mentioned a flock of 500 turkeys "got by net." Our early ancestors were amazed at the sheer abundance of fish, birds, ani- mals, trees, rivers, lakes and other nat- ural resources that their newly adopted country offered. With such numbers of passenger pigeons that they blackened the sky for hours as they passed by and endless numbers of buffalo that rum- bled past, not for hours but for days, it was little wonder our forefathers thought there would never be an end to this free source of wildlife. But end it did for many. Some, like the buffalo and the magnificent turkey, were brought right to the edge of extinction. Turkeys were one of those who touched this edge, and not so long ago. In the great volumes of "Birds of New York" that was published in 1916 by the state I quote the following sobering line: "Wild turkeys formerly inhabited eastern North America from Maine, Ontario, and Dakota to the Gulf Coast, but have long since disappeared from New England and New York." From that dismal statement new hope and interest was generated in this regal bird, mainly by sportsmen and hunters. There was even talk of bringing back the turkey to its former haunts. With much work and dedication the turkey was reintroduced to many parts of our state. In our trips to the Catskills we often see turkeys in open fields or crossing a woodland roadway. A friend of ours who lives there feeds a flock of 15 or more right out of his back door. Long Island has gotten into the act of reintroducing turkeys into some of its former home range. Our problem here on the island is that we don't have the vast woodlands of the past and are therefore limited to where these large roving birds can be set free. Bob Perez, resi- dent wildlife biolo- gist of the sprawl- ing Wertheim Na- tional Wildlife Refuge in Shirley, told me that in 1993 20 turkeys were released by the state on that prop- erty. These birds did so well that Mark Lowery of the Department of Environmental Conservation said they put an addi- tional 25 birds in the South Haven County Park area during the 1993- 1994 season. Twenty -nine birds were released at the same time in the vast scrub -pine area in Montauk at Hither Hills State Park. Larry Penny, who keeps an eye on the happenings of the South Fork, told me they are doing well. The ones at the Wertheim Estate have multiplied to more than 70 while others have drifted from that flock into Brookhaven Lab's huge complex. Others have invaded the watersheds of the Carmans and Peconic rivers, which sounds to me that if turkeys can find the right habitat they will do well here on Long Island. There's a difference in turkey types. Those released were not the domestic Thanksgiving turkey we think of, rather, they were true wild turkeys. Seems long, long ago when the Spaniards first came to the New World they encountered domestic turkeys that were raised by the natives of Mexico and Central America. These domestic turkeys were brought back to Spain and eventually found their way into Europe's markets. Easily raised and than if one released a barnyard chick- en in the wild. Today there are no turkeys in Mashomack. In contrast the turkeys on Gardiners Island are the true wild turkeys and they are doing well. We often see them on our visits there. I'm always amazed to see these big- bodied birds (up to 20 pounds) take to the air and fly with such ease and speed. Robins Island has no wild turkeys living on it. After much courtship with fanned - out tails and droop- ing wings, the hen submits to the mas- ter of the flock and lays nine to 12 eggs in a well- hidden nest in the ground. Heavy rains in the spring can raise havoc with young turkeys as well as the predators of the forest such as feral cats, roving rac- coons and an occa- sional sharpeyed hawk, but even with these turkeys are reproducing and the future of these mag- nificent birds is once again assured. Being America's largest game bird, the turkey has be- come more and more popular with hunters as it's spread out across the state. One would think because of its size it would be an easy target, but on the con- trary, because it is so sought after, it has become one of the most elusive and hard -to -find targets a hunter is up against. Only the skilled stalker is rewarded with his Thanksgiving turkey. As Tom Lowery from the DEC says, "Turkeys are more wary than deer." Hunting has always been a contro- versial issue, many arguing that hunt- ing an animal or bird is unnecessary in this day and age. Their argument has merit but then we think nothing of eat- ing chickens and turkeys that have been raised in a far more cruel envi- ronment than the free - roaming pheas- ant or turkey that has acquired every trick in the book to evade the hunter. I, myself, when young and full of energy, sought the duck, the pheasant and the rabbit. We should remember the hunter today pays a high price for his usual meager returns. The cost of his hunting license and the extra tax on his hunting and fishing gear go to pay for the reintroduction of turkeys, etc., the setting of take limits and the many other facets of conservation that are aimed at protecting our wildlife. My early experience in those days afield and in the cold duck blinds helped me understand and appreciate the great outdoors that has given me so much pleasure throughout my life. In closing I believe more and more are trading in their guns and taking up the camera or binoculars. As hunting lands become less and less available many are changing their ways. Yet there'll always be hunters. It is my hope that both the hunter and those who merely observe wildlife will stand together and breathe the fresh air of wonder that comes from our woods and waters for all of us to enjoy. Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh The turkey seen here is the domestic turkey that was originally raised for food by the natives of Central America and Mexico. It is not the wild turkey that has Just recently been reintroduced here on Long Island. ...c. A h-J 75 years ago Nov 23, 1923 Dirigible fills local skies: Many of the people of the East End of the island had an opportunity Tuesday morn- ing of seeing the great Navy dirigible ZR -1, or as she was recently christened, "Shenandoah," the Indian name for Daughter of the Stars. The Shenandoah left her hangar at Lakehurst, N.J., at 6:55 in the morning, bound for Boston. At Patchogue and Riverhead the giant dirigible flew directly over the towns, giving the inhabitants a wonder- ful view of this great airship. After leaving the center of the island, Commander F.R. McCrary followed the Sound to New London. Although the Shenandoah was not directly over the villages of Southold and Greenport, it was possible to get a fine view of the great dirigible. The sky was clear and the rays of the bright sun striking the giant silver hull of the Shenandoah made a picture that will long be remembered. 50 years ago Nov. 26, 1948 Old Legion sold: The property owned by Burton Potter Post, American Legion of Greenport, located on the cor- ner of Main and North streets, formerly used as the legion home, has been purchased by Wilfred Ireland of Brooklyn. Mr. Ireland, who is familiarly known as "Doc," is the son of Mrs. Margaret Ireland of Greenport. The new owner is having extensive alterations made and will prized for their food value, they in turn were brought over by the early settlers who were seeking new lives in Amer- ica. This is the Thanksgiving turkey that is raised today for the dining table. It is not the wild turkey that roamed over the eastern seaboard and has now been reintroduced to Long Island. At one time there were turkeys at Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Is- land, but Mike Laspia tells me they were the domestic turkey and were not able to survive in the wild no more have it remodeled into a two - family dwelling. The prop- erty was for many years the home of the late Captain William Dennis, a famous racing skipper. The property was purchased by Burton Potter Post from the late Fred Terrell, for years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Greenport. 25 years ago Nov 22, 1973 On the Aquaseum: The Aquaseum — as an answer to commerce and industry for Greenport — was discussed by Joseph Townsend Jr. in a breakfast talk before the Long Island MidSuffolk Businessmen's Action on Nov. 15. LIMBA noted that the Aquaseum could be not only important to the Village of Greenport, but beneficial to the whole of Suffolk County. In the first major speech to a countywide audience on the proposed project, Mr. Townsend briefed his audience on the way Dr. John Hansen, the daddy of the Aquaseum, dreamed up the project as a "pacemaker" to increase and prolong tourist flow through Greenport. Visitors to the Aquaseum on the waterfront will find a parklike environ- ment, study mammals and fish in tanks, take in the com- mercial and mariculture exhibits and see live mammal shows. At the same time, the main thrust is educational with classrooms and laboratories for graduate and undergradu- ate work and auditoriums for oceanographic conventions.