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May 01, 1997 - On Ibis, Bunnies and Perched Ponds6A • The Suffolk Times • May 1, 1997 On Ibis, Bunnies and Perched Ponds With so much going on as spring moves in, it's hard to know where to start. Maybe the telephone call concerning a report of three mysterious birds with long, down - curved bills would be a good place to begin. The caller thought they might be long - billed curlews of some sort, but the intriguing description was enough to get Barbara and me out of the house and up to Hummel's Pond in Southold to check them out. Hummel's Pond Focus is what we call a "perched pond,' on that is, it is perched above the Nature groundwater level and is entirely by Pain dependent upon Stoutenburgh surface water for recharging. That is usually rain or snow. These perched ponds are in low spots so that all surface water runs toward the low area, causing a pond. What holds the water is usually two things, a natural layer of clay which is impervious, and therefore holds the water, .or it could be an accumulation of years of vegetation in the form of leaves, grasses, sedges or anything else that grows in low wet spots that eventually forms an imper- vious layer holding the water. Actually, dug clay is used in lining some manmade ponds by carting it in and spreading it about the low area where you want to create the pond. The problem with these perched ponds is that they are not at groundwater level, which is renewable, and are susceptible to evaporation so must constantly be recharged by rainwater. Should a severe dry spell come along, the water in the perched pond can dry up. The Source: Irrigation Ponds The way I found out about these perched ponds was years ago when I first went to work selling irrigation systems to farmers here on the North Fork. The cheapest water supply for this all- impor- tant job of irrigation was to dig down into the groundwater and pump from there. This could only be done where the groundwater level was close to the sur- face. When located properly, these irriga- tion ponds provide an almost unlimited supply of good clean water. In contrast, should a farmer try to pump out of one of the perched ponds (above groundwater level), the water usually would be used up in a short time because it has no replenishing supply. To over- come this problem, the farmer had to put a well in to reach down into the groundwater below. Well, we started out to Hummel's Pond to find the long - billed birds, so let's get back there. Barbara and I did find the birds and they proved to be glossy ibis, wading birds from the south that enjoy marshy areas. They had found the ideal probing grounds in the shallow edges of the pond to the north, and were jabbing their long bills into the soft ooze for worms and insects that inhabit these areas. We don't see these visitors from the south that often, but each year we do get a few reports of them pass- ing through. Where do they nest? The two places I know of are Plum Island and Gardiners Island. The photo here was taken years ago from a blind in a rookery on the north end of Gar - diners Island. I was with Dennis Puleston, that fa- mous naturalist and wildlife artist. We had gone to the island to photograph wading birds in their natural habitat. A blind (or hide) was set up some distance away where we could photograph unobserved. With our long telephoto lenses we were able to get good shots of snowy egrets, great egrets, black - crowned herons and the seldom -seen glossy ibis. Birds can't count so two of us would go to the blind together, then one would go inside and set up while the other walked away. When the bird saw the per- son walk away, it thought the coast was clear and then it returned to the rookery, letting the person inside photograph at birds seen along the roadside and wherev- er there are wet areas. You'll also see the glossy ibis, but it's not quite as abundant as the white. Interesting to note, the white ibis very rarely comes this far north. I've only seen it once and that was in Riverhead, while the glossy ibis shows up every year, even nest- ing on the islands to the east. You'll never miss the ibis in flight because its long, down -curved bill and feet trailing behind make this dark- brown, crow -sized bird's sil- houette in the sky easy to recognize. This is the season for baby rabbits to show up. As a matter of fact, most rabbits have had their young already. What a perfectly snug little nest the female makes of her fur and some grasses. Usually she'll find a depression in the ground in which she works the nest, then she lines it with her own wonderful furry insulation. There she'll have her three to five young, covering them with grass and leaves when she departs. It has to be warm for she leaves them all day. They dare not move to reveal themselves. When darkness takes over, the mother cau- tiously returns to her nest and nurses and cleans her clan. Her nest is so carefully laid out that not a trace of that insulating fur can be seen. Looking down on it, one would pass it by never knowing her little family was nestled snugly below. Safe, that is, until a predator whose nose is keener than most sniffs them out. Could this be because of sloppy house- keeping? Or maybe one of the babies became restless and moved? Or was there an odor of young baby rabbits that was detected? I don't know, but each year we find some nests vandalized with fur scat- tered about and the contents gone. Raccoons and feral cats are the biggest offenders, with an occasional dog or opos- sum stumbling across a nest now and then. But as we all know, rabbits have a built -in resilience and soon another litter is born. As a matter of fact, some have three litters in one year. A word about trying to raise baby rabbits should you find a nest or lonesome young about your backyard. Rabbits are notori- ously difficult to raise and unless you are ready to tie up your life feeding every hour or so with a doll's baby bottle and special formula, I would suggest not starting it. Even if you do try, successes are few. Remember, the mother will not come to the aid of her young during daylight hours, but at night she will usually return to the dis- turbed nest and move her young away. So the best thing to do is when you find those cute little rabbits and your heart goes out to them, leave them where they are. If you're concerned a cat or dog might possibly get them during the day, put a box over them and take it away after nightfall. Usually by the next day they'll be gone. Nature is always the best mother. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh GLOSSY IBIS —We see these odd - looking birds with their long, down - curved bills occasionally probing in the wet marshy spots here on the East End. They nest on Plum Island and Gardiners islands and a few other places along our eastern seaboard. i 5 wwIM tswwis walk al iYVYin aa�sia• 75 Years Ago April 28, 1922 Advertisement: Special — A complete, brand -new boy's bicycle with mud guards and coaster brake for only $22.50. We have only a few to sell at this price and when these are gone will have no more. So act quick. Leroy H. Osborn, corner First and South streets, Greenport. Shelter Island to Get Electricity: Shelter Island residents are to be served with electricity for light, heat and power under. an application to the Public Service Com- mission recently by the Shelter Island Light and Power Company Inc. for permission to construct an electric lighting plant and for approval of a local franchise. 50 Years Ago May 2, 1947 For Sale: Greenport— Immediate occupancy, seven - room house with bath, full -size cellar, pipeless furnace, also garage. Some repairs needed. Price $3,500. Greenport— Five -room year -round bungalow, garage, all improvements, $5,500. Southold —On the water, four -room furnished bungalow, garage, fireplace, gas and electricity. Price $4,200. Local News: This week Mrs. Margaret Ireland, who so efficiently headed the Greek War Relief Campaign in Southold Township, received a letter from P. Sconomou- will. But oh, how hot it got inside that blind! A handkerchief hung outside the blind signaled the other party it was time to exchange places. I can remember when I left the blind, stripping at the water's edge and plunging into that cool, refreshing Gardiners Bay water while Dennis took his turn in the sweatshop to photograph. For those who go south in the winter, the white ibis is one of the most common Gouras, charge d'affairs of the Royal Greek Embassy in Washington, expressing his appreciation to Mrs. Ireland and her associates for their efforts to alleviate some of the misery brought about by the determined stand taken by the Greek people against the enemy. 25 Years Ago May 4, 1972 Orient News: Is this from "Ripley's Believe It or Not "? According to Bob Gloria, it's true. While he and Gene Moisa were out in the sound three weeks ago off Orient by the Sea, they saw a white whale! This same whale has been seen frolicking off Sands Point off and on. Maternity Wards Consolidate: Eastern Long Island Hospital's maternity service will be consolidated with that of Central Suffolk Hospital in the near future, following guidelines set by the state. "This decision has been forced on us," said Dr. Jerry Callis, president of the ELIH Association. "For us to attempt to retain maternity in the face of its prohibitive cost and low occupancy would be sheer fiscal irresponsibility." Behind this statement lie months of struggle on the part of the board members and the community to keep the unit open and viable. However, with expense continuing to escalate while occupancy dwindles, the maternity consolidation with a sister hospital has become a must.