FOUR HARBORS AUDUBON SOCIETY HERON. A Message from the President 2

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1 FOUR HARBORS AUDUBON SOCIETY Serving Stony Brook, Setauket, Port Jefferson, Mount Sinai, Smithtown THE FOUR HARBORS In this issue... HERON A Message from the President 2 What in Heck Does Fertilizing my Lawn or Upgrading my Septic System Have to do with How Many Oystercatchers I See Along the Long Island Coastline???? 3 Endangered Species Success Stories 5 Why Photograph Birds? 6 Seatuck Birding Challenge, an Adventure 8 ABA Birding Code of Ethics 9 Bird of the Month, Trivia 10 UPCOMING EVENTS 11/15/14, Avalon Gardens Bird Walk, 9 a.m. 11/15/14, Frank Melville Memorial Park/Mill Pond Bird Walk, 11 a.m. 11/22/14, Feeding our Feathered Friends, Sweetbriar, 1-3 p.m. 12/13/14, Avalon Gardens Bird Walk, 9 a.m. 12/13/14, Frank Melville Memorial Park/Mill Pond Bird Walk, 11 a.m. 12/27/14, Christmas Bird Count 1

2 A Message from the President Voting is an important way you can make a difference for Long Island and all across our country. While we will not tell you who to vote for, we are asking that you vote YES on Proposal 5. It will fund projects that improve water quality and fix broken infrastructure to make our water cleaner and our community healthier. Why don t you volunteer to bring friends and relatives that may not be able to get to the polls otherwise? Here on Long Island we are blessed with beautiful fall weather extending well into November. Make sure you get out and enjoy all that LI has to offer. And take a child with you! It will strengthen your relationship and help the young person to appreciate and come to cherish our natural world. Make sure the bird feeders are clean and ready to be filled! Water is a must, even in winter, so look into water heaters now. Feel free to us if you have any questions about feeding our feathered friends. As Thanksgiving approaches, I reflect on all the wonder and beauty right outside our doors, and I am thankful... Susan Krause Four Harbors Audubon Society Board Susan Krause, President Luci Betti-Nash, Vice President Joyann Cirigliano Atlantic Flyway Projects Coordinator Elaine Maas, Education Coordinator Sue Beck, Field Trip Director Diane Spitz, Treasurer/Conservation Chair Joe Kelly, Photographer Jim LaRosa, Webmaster Patrice Domeischel, Communications/ Newsletter 2

3 What in Heck Does Fertilizing my Lawn or Upgrading my Septic System Have to do with How Many Oystercatchers I See along the Long Island Coastline???? Joyann Cirigliano-4HAS Atlantic Flyway Projects Coordinator I like American Oystercatchers. They re large, vibrant, flashy, and comical; they have big personalities. I could watch them for hours at a time. Of course we only get to see them when we re by our beaches, because they re coastal birds, and even then, we don t see them very often. That s because, here on Long Island, we don t have very many of them. We used to have quite a bit more of them, but not in my lifetime. That was back in the late 1800s. These days they don t have nearly as many places to nest, although they ve been doing better recently because they ve been nesting on dredge islands, free from dogs, foxes, rodents, and most raccoons. Thankfully, their numbers are slowly climbing, which makes me glad because I really enjoy watching their wacky antics. So it really concerned me when I read the following passages on the National Audubon Website: The species' relatively low population, coupled with formidable range-wide threats to its habitat, makes it particularly susceptible to loss. At fewer than 9,000 birds, the North American population is well below historic levels. Despite its expanding range, the American Oystercatcher is currently listed as a Species of Special Concern in many coastal states. Due to its small North American population and concentrated winter range, the American Oystercatcher is particularly vulnerable to catastrophe; one hurricane or oil spill could prove devastating. Hmmmm.. One catastrophe, this could be a problem. First of all, I know of only 3 nesting pairs in my area on the north shore of LI from Sunken Meadow to Stony Brook Harbor. That s only 6 birds before extirpation on my stretch of beaches. (By the way, extirpation means extinction of a local population.) When I look at reports of sighting in the past few years, I see less than a dozen or so birds showing up in the counts of American Oystercatchers on the North Shore of Western Suffolk. I also know what Oystercatchers eat. So, I d like to ask people on Long Island to upgrade their cesspools to proper septic systems, pump out those septic systems every 3-5 years and stop over-fertilizing your lawns... Please. Now, before you all get bent out of shape, because I know new septic systems are expensive, pumping them is an added expense, and lawns are very important to some of us, let me just say, there is a very important reason for my request--- Clams. I enjoy clams. I m not so fond of oysters myself, but oystercatchers seem to prefer them. They also like mussels, crabs, and polychaete worms like sandworms and bloodworms. Yes, I know, eating worms is gross, but if you ve ever seen an American Oystercatcher pull a bloodworm out of the mud in front of the rest of the flock, and the bedlam that ensues while his fellow oystercatchers chase him around trying to steal it from him, you d either bust a gut laughing or wonder what makes a bloodworm so extraordinarily delicious. 3

4 How the Heck (continued) Now, let s talk about tides. Specifically, colored tides, like green tides, red tides and brown tides. Colored tides are caused by massive algal blooms. Red and Brown Tides are particularly bad, because not only do they deplete oxygen in the water, but they also produce toxins, which causes not only die-off in eelgrass beds but poisoning in - you guessed it - clams, mussels, oysters, crabs and even fish. If an Oystercatcher, or a person, for that matter, eats a poisonous shellfish, illness or even death can ensue. Now, most of us humans are smart enough not to eat shellfish in the summer months. The hard fast rule, Don t eat shellfish in a month without an R is very appropriate. Summer months have a higher likelihood of toxins due to algal blooms in the warmer summer waters. But shorebirds and waders don t have much of a choice in their dietary habits. And since they usually have a poor sense of smell, they can t always know whether or not the clam or mussel they re eating is toxic Now, I know a major nationally available lawn fertilizer company wants you to think that we should fertilize our lawns 4 times a year, but too much quick-release fertilizer can burn a lawn if applied at too high a rate and besides, whatever the lawn doesn t use winds up in our watershed. And, have you read the warning labels? Don t get near your eyes? Or on your skin? Or near broad-leafed plants, because it could burn them, or near water, because it s toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates? Plus, the major lawn fertilizer company s Step 1 has a pre-emergent crabgrass suppressor what if you don t HAVE weed seeds in your lawn? Step 2 contains actual weed killer what if you don t have weeds? And if you read the precautionary statement on Step 4, you ll see that it contains pesticides that are not good to use on broad-leafed plants or near water, especially drinking water. Step 1 and 2 have similar warning labels. It s better and less expensive, in the long run - to use a slow-release fertilizer, especially a high quality organic one, and treat turf problems as they occur. In the meantime, we need to be more aware of our surroundings and what we do on our properties, because the saying we have here on Long Island is an accurate one. If it Goes in the Ground, It Goes in the Sound! And for everything we do, there is a possibility of far-reaching ramifications. You wouldn t think that what you do on your own property would have an effect all the way out in the Bay, or the Sound, or the Ocean, but, surprisingly, it does. As witnessed by the lack of health in our shellfish beds. We all have to work together to be good stewards to our lands and waters. I like American Oystercatchers. I d like to eventually be able to share them with my grandchildren. 4

5 Four Harbors Public Meeting and Presentation Endangered Species Success Stories By Patrice Domeischel An interesting and uplifting presentation, Endangered Species Success Stories was rendered last Monday evening, October 20 th, by Four Harbors President, Susan Krause. Susan s inspiration for the presentation was precipitated by the recent, much publicized 100-year anniversary of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, a species at one time numbering in the billions. Her desire to impart to the public positive news, in the face of recent discouraging reports, resulted in a story of hope for the future. Reasons for species decline are many: habitat loss, hunting, egg collection, pesticide use and climate change are a few, but due to the hard work and dedication of countless wildlife organizations and the passing of important environmental legislation, there are success stories to be told. The comeback of many species, once thought to be on the brink of extinction is a reality. Most of us associate endangered species with the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Whooping Crane and a bird near-and-dear to the hearts of Long Islanders, the Osprey. These species, among others, were greatly affected by the use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950 s, 60 s and 70 s, causing the thinning of eggs, and making them too fragile to bear the weight of incubating adults. The cycle began with the use of DDT on crops, leading to the leaching of the pesticide into the groundwater. The birds absorbed the toxin through the ingestion of their food source, ultimately transferring the toxin to their eggs. The banning of DDT in the U.S. in 1972 was a direct result of the work of four Stony Brook scientists, triggering a movement against its use. These species are experiencing an increase in numbers and a return to previous and new territories. You might now witness Peregrine Falcons hunting in New York City, a natural population control on the very numerous Rock Pigeons (not to be confused with the Passenger Pigeon.) Fashion, most specifically women s hats was the leading factor responsible for the decline of the Great and Snowy Egrets. Head feathers were like gold, some hats sported not only feathers, but an entire bird or in some cases, two. Ninety-five percent of the Snowy Egret population was decimated. The realization that we were losing these native species resulted in an outcry against the use of feathers in hat making. Today, due to the cessation of hunting for the sake of fashion, the Snowy and Great Egrets have made an amazing comeback. Susan s enthusiasm in relating these stories was especially evident in her description of the California Condor. America s largest bird of prey, with a wingspan of 9-1/2 feet is a member of the vulture family, its main food source, carrion. The condor s story revolves around habitat loss and lead poisoning. As carrion eaters, condors ingested lead bullets left in the bodies of animals brought down by hunters. The lethal toxins of lead, as well as the reproductive problems associated with a species that mates for life, but only produces one egg per couple every two years, conspired together to bring down this species. These birds, at their lowest count, numbered 10 remaining individuals in the wild. A decision was made to trap the remaining birds in an intense effort to save them. Still rare, there are now an encouraging 400 individuals, 200 of which have been returned to the wild. In 1941, the Whooping Crane numbered only 17 birds. Hunting and habitat loss were the main culprits in their decline. Intervention on their behalf, including some very famous reintroduction programs, has resulted in an increase in their population Other animal species have their success stories as well: the Wood Stork, just removed from the Endangered Species list after 30 years! The American Alligator, the ban on the use of alligator hide in the manufacture of handbags and shoes, largely responsible for its revival. The American Bison and the Black-footed Ferret also have remarkable stories of their own. And the tiny Golden Lion Tamarin or Lion Monkey of Brazil, although not a North American species, is worthy of note, a survivor of habitat loss, but saved through a program of reintroduction. Susan left us with some very important suggestions on ways to make a positive impact on the world around us: 1. Vote in the election on November 4 th for the representatives who are supportive of environmental issues. 2. Write letters to your representatives. Let them know the issues that are important to you. 3. Support organizations that work to preserve the natural world. 4. Reduce/reuse/recycle 5. Compost 6. Limit use of chemicals 7. Buyer beware: be cognitive of what you are buying, support makers of shade-grown coffee and of paper products made from recycled materials. 8. Provide habitat in your yard. The Four Harbors Audubon Society will be holding four annual meetings and presentations, open to the public and free of charge. Please join us for our winter meeting and presentation. More details to follow. 5

6 "Why Photograph Birds?" by Grace Scalzo Many of us have added a camera to that pair of binoculars hanging around our necks. There are so many reasons why we enjoy photographing birds. Some of us like to document our sightings and we keep not only a life list, but a visual record of the avian gems that we encounter. It can sometimes be difficult when in the field to properly identify what we are seeing, and a photograph can lead to study among our birding friends and help to nail down the id. For me, I am more a photographer than a birder and there are few things that excite me more than finding a beautiful bird (even a "common" one), doing something interesting, in good light, and with a pleasing background. Let me offer you a few ideas that you might try to incorporate into your avian photography. Let's start with Ethics. No picture is worth either your safety or that of your subject. Be respectful of the creatures that you are trying to photograph and also their habitat. Try being still and let them come to you. Often, by taking a low profile (flat on the ground) or tucking yourself behind a shrub or tree, you can break up your form, and ease their concern. Know the rules and laws of where you are photographing and obey them. Be a good role model, both as a citizen and as a birder/photographer. Know your Gear. While a long lens (300 mm or greater) is ideal for bird photography, with good field technique and a solid understanding of your equipment, you can make good pictures with less focal length. Read your manual, go online and learn about your particular make and model, ask questions, join a photography club. Take pictures of the squirrels, your pets, stuffed animals, etc. You will then be more prepared when the decisive moment arrives. Follow the Light. The most pleasing light happens early and late in the day. Mid-day light, especially in the summer when the sun is high in the sky, will lead to harsh shadows and make getting proper exposure difficult. Bright overcast conditions are easy to work with as harshness is minimized. Try to position yourself so that the sun is behind you. Your bird will be evenly front lit. Side light and back light can offer nice effects, but proper execution is tricky. Press the shutter button when you see that beautiful light hit the bird's face and eyes. A bit of eye contact with your subject is nice. Watch out for harsh shadows from branches, wings, and other environmental factors. 6

7 Habitat. I love including habitat in my images. It completes the story of where the bird lives, what he is doing and where he belongs. Just be tasteful, try to let the bird be the star of the picture. Watch your shooting angle. Subjects at or close to eye level are more pleasing than those photographed at steep angles, either up or down. When photographing shorebirds for example, I don my waders and lie down right on the beach with them. Lastly, have fun. We all love our birds as they are fascinating and beautiful. They are probably the most difficult subjects in nature to photograph well because they are so small and fast, but when things come together and you capture that photograph that you have always imagined, it is like a dream come true. Grace Scalzo is a nature photographer from Long Island, NY. Grace believes that if people see and feel a connection to their environment, they will care about preserving it. Photography has great power in showcasing our natural world. It is with this in mind that she creates her images, prepares slide shows, writes, and speaks to birding and photography clubs, and libraries. Please visit: 7

8 SEATUCK BIRDING CHALLENGE- AN ADVENTURE Patrice Domeischel Everyone knows preparation is key to success when embarking upon an adventure. We planned for the Seatuck Birding Challenge, a 12- hour mega birding event, being sure to check the weather report. It wasn t good, but there was that hope in the back of our minds that it wouldn t really be as bad as all that; excitement discounted all the reports. We had our raincoats, but really didn t believe we would need them. Anticipation danced happily between us as we all met that morning. Aiden, our youngest team member, his father, Buddy our designated driver, Sue, our Seatuck birding companion, Luci, Four Harbors VP, and I all felt heady with optimism and excitement. Pitch dark, we were ready and raring to go, beginning our quest at the 5 a.m. starting time. Twelve hours seemed a long way off. Mist was in the air as we optimistically began our search for owls. No problem...we had all heard them recently. I had only the morning before heard a Screech Owl outside my home. Great Horned were heard many times in the days and weeks before, not just one but two, dueling owls! We drove in pitch dark, that mistiness hanging, with windows open, ears perked, coffee in hand. First visit: the "Owl Tree" in Port Jefferson. Luci rendered a great Screech Owl imitation. Lights, we noticed, turned on in the house across the street; someone had heard the calls and very possibly our whispers. We joked that we had a mammal for our fledgling list, as the glowing eyes of a fox stared at us from down the wooded area where we stood. But no answering call of an owl. Off to the next destination...a pizza place where owls had been heard. We all disembarked from the car, Luci again called out Screech Owl lingo; nothing. Deciding to drive in the direction of our first birding destination, Sunken Meadow, we made a quick stopover at Shore road. We could hear the soft sounds of the waking Mallards and Canada Geese, but no answering call of an owl greeted our ears. In desperation, I suggested we drive to my house, where I felt sure we would hear something, but again, we were only greeted with silence. Things were not looking good for Team Heron. Daylight was just transforming the horizon as we arrived at Sunken Meadow. Okay, we didn't yet have the owls, but we just might catch one here. As the sky lightened, we began to hear little chips and calls, White-throated Sparrow - Mockingbird. Scanning the area, we searched for more birds. Donning my makeshift clipboard with strap attached, I checked off one, two, a few more, but still so few birds. We walked a trail for a time adding Yellow-rumped, Black and White, and Palm Warblers, Dark-eyed Junco, American Robins and a lone Downy Woodpecker. We found ourselves at a marshy area with a trail leading to the Sound. Luci and Buddy left to go retrieve the scope while we continued eyeing the area. A Great Blue Heron! Hurry back! Challenge rules stated in 95 percent of sightings, all participants must see the species; we could not lose even one! The list began to dampen, wrinkling and becoming pretty messy. It became apparent that the list would have to remain in the car as we continued our search. A Swamp Sparrow presented us with a tantalizing view as we passed the tall, grassy area preceding the Sound. Here we added the resident gulls to our list. Constantly wiping our binoculars dry, we scanned on, and finally concluded we should move on to our next destination, Avalon. Disappointed, but with a mildly decent tally, we packed ourselves back into the car, taking Sunken Meadow Parkway South. Again we drove with windows open, now only partially so, to avoid the drops of water entering the car, hoping to hear or see something, anything. And then, wait! What's that bird on the bluebird box, a bluebird? Well, that made sense, an Eastern Bluebird on a bluebird box, and another on the second box as well! Things were really looking up! Add another species. By the time we arrived at Avalon, we had already been birding a few hours. Here in the fields, we found more warblers and vireos; Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped, Palm, and vireos: a Blue-headed and the common but on this day, much appreciated Red-eyed Vireo. Aidan led us to an area where Ring-necked Pheasant could be seen, and we were able to add this species to our list. At the pond were Northern Shoveler and the ever-present Black-crowned Night Herons, Mallards, Black Ducks, Mute Swans and Double-crested Cormorants. If only we could count numbers of birds and not just species! The rain now was becoming more constant, but still bearable. Constantly aware of the ticking moments, it was time to be off to Frank Melville, where we hoped to find more fertile ground for bird tallying. We knew where House Sparrows could always be found. Hey, every species counts! And yes, they were spotted exactly in the same bush they were always in. Thank you! And ducks, Green-winged teal, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Wood Duck and then a Kingfisher made an appearance. Now these tallies may seem decent, but we knew there were so many other species out there, forced to seek cover in the ceaseless rain. We were beginning to realize, and we were getting that niggling feeling, that this might be as good as it was going to get. But wait, Luci still had some hummingbirds at her home enjoying the beautiful native habitat (and a feeder or two) she and her husband had created. Might we see one? Okay, if nothing else, it was a good excuse to warm up. After a short time peering out her back windows, we were rewarded - tally one more species, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Off again, this time to Shinnecock Inlet and Dune Road. We munched on Sue s home-made cake and trail mix, planning away for the continuation of our quest. Shinnecock with no protection from the elements, can be very cold, but today seemed exceptionally so, the winds making the air seem frigid on our wet, ungloved fingers. It whipped our faces, snatching my hat away on an unscheduled flight. Careful to remember what we were seeing, as the list was now sitting safely in the car, we tallied Boat-tailed Grackle and a floating Common Loon. Hundreds of cormorants perched on a small land mass, but we already had them! Scoters flew close to the water, tantalizing, but not close enough to identify as one or the other. Not to worry, they would be noted as an unspecified scoter species. Yellowlegs were seen, but Greater or Lesser? Drat, this would have to be another unspecified species. A Royal Tern flew by. As we positioned our backs to the wind, Luci and Buddy set up the scope. In the distance were not one, but three American Oystercatchers! Add on, add on! We could barely stand, so we scurried into the shelter of the car and drove on. 8

9 SEATUCK BIRDING CHALLENGE- AN ADVENTURE (continued) Slowly we drove, scanning for Clapper Rails and American Bittern. This was perfect habitat, and a brief look at these secretive birds may have been possible under more conducive circumstances. There was nary a bird anywhere. A side road, consisting of something between dirt and cracked pavement, looked promising. The routine down pat; everyone scurried out and began to scout the area. There on the waterline was a Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderlings and a Semipalmated Plover probing for tasty creatures, and we tallied four more species. Onward, onward, we kept on, and now we were running out of time. Seventy-one species, we all thought, was not very good for 10-plus hours. With a final look around, we continued to our last destination, Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. Wertheim is a peaceful, beautiful place where opportunities to view interesting birds and animals abound. I once experienced the thrill of an adult fox, huge fish hanging from both ends of its mouth, brazenly trotting past me, returning to feed its young. I witnessed the kits frolicking near their den later that day. I digress. My point is this: Wertheim usually offers a wealth of wildlife for viewing; you only need to find it. Searching diligently, we were able to add a Northern Waterthrush to our list, now 72 strong. The rain became steadier and heavier, large drops soaking through our clothing; my sneakers sloshed as I trod along. We ran, prompted by Buddy s yell pointing to cover, as the rain now became a downpour. We huddled under the eaves of a nearby building. There was a groan as Luci seeking added protection from the downpour, raised her rain-filled hood directing the cold water directly down her back. Now our crew was totally wring-out-your-clothing soaked, and there was no time left. A half hour remained until the 5 p.m. deadline, and we were held hostage by the weather. Thunder sounded. No choice now but to make a run for it. Rushing to the Visitors Center with the intention of drying off a bit, we discovered the 4 p.m. closing time! Buddy to the rescue, prepared and thinking of all of us, produced 5 towels from his car. Our hero! As we drove to the Seatuck meeting point, we re-tallied our species total. At 4:55 p.m., we submitted our list by . As Buddy drove, he spotted 4 turkeys. We all craned our necks. Species 73! At 4:59 p.m., we resent our submission hoping it would be accepted. The bedraggled teams returned to home base, to warm food, drink, and a barbeque. The skies lightened; the rain ceased. Tales were told, birding conversation abounded everywhere, and Team Heron had met the Challenge. It was a day to remember until next year. 9

10 ABA Code of Birding Ethics 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. 1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat. 1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming. Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area; Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover. Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups. 1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities. 1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum. 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. 2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission. 2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad. 2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non -birders alike. 3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe. 3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather. 3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly. 3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards. 4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member. 4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders. 4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations. Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours]. 4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example. 4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area. 4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code. 4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed). 4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations. Printed with the permission of the American Birding Association: 10

11 November/December, 2014 Four Harbors Audubon and Sweetbriar Nature Center are inviting you to a free teacher workshop, Feeding our Feathered Friends, Saturday, November, PM. This is a Birdsleuth Ambassador Workshop and will include lesson plans, a birdfeeder for your classroom, and lots of ideas for engaging your students with the natural world. For more information, or to register, please contact skrause442@yahoo.com BIRDING TRIVIA 1. You all probably know New York s state bird, don t you? 2. But... (a) what state has had a former state bird (b) what is the former bird, and (c) what is the new state bird? Extra points for the reason the poor bird lost its exalted position. Answers on page 12 SUFFOLK COUNTY RARE AND UNUSUAL BIRD REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 10/2 Southards Pond Park, Chestnut-sided Warbler 10/3 Lakeland County Park, Connecticut Warbler 10/3 Hudson Canyon, Atlantic Ocean, Wilson s Storm-Petrel 10/4 Mecox Inlet, Red-necked Grebe, Caspian Tern 10/6 Stony Brook University, Eastern Kingbird 10/8 Lakeland County Park, Northern Waterthrush 10/8 Heckscher State Park, Black Headed Grosbeak 10/9 Hecksher State Park, Northern Waterthrush, Red-headed Woodpecker 10/9 Fuchs Pond, Northern Waterthrush 10/9 Robert Moses State Park, Red-headed Woodpecker 10/10 Robert Moses State Park, Dicksissel 10/10 Hoyt Farm, Connecticut Warbler 10/11 Mecox Inlet, Red-necked Grebe 10/11 Southards Pond Park, Northern Waterthrush 10/11 10/21, Patchogue Lake, Common Gallinule 10/11 10/18, Farm-Suffolk, Common Nighthawk 10/12 EECO Farm, Dickcissel 10/12 Heckscher State Park, Lark Sparrow 10/13 Rocky Point DEC Area, American Redstart 10/13 Lakeland County Park, Black and White Warbler 10/14 Patchogue Lake, Black and White Warbler 10/ Fisherman s, Suffolk, Black and White Warbler 10/15 Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Black and White Warbler, Bay Breasted Warbler 10/16 Uplands Farm Preserve, Orange-crowned Warbler 10/17 Sunken Meadow State Park, Western Kingbird 10/18 Mecox Inlet, Red-necked Grebe 10/18 Chandler Estate, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Connecticut Warbler, 10/18- Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Prairie Warbler 10/18 - Robert Moses State Park, Orange-crowned Warbler, Dickcissel, 10/18 - Sunken Meadow State Park, Black and White Warbler 10/19 Robert Moses SP, Chimney Swift, Common Raven, Magnolia Warbler, Dickcissel, Cackling Goose 10/20 Sunken Meadow State Park, Canada Warbler 10/20 Robert Moses State Park, American Redstart 10/21 Chandler Estate, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 10/21 Robert Moses SP - Cackling Goose, Chimney Swift, Least Flycatcher, Common Raven, Magnolia Warbler, Dickcissel, 10/22 Chandler Estate, Yellow-crowned Night Heron 10/22 - Sunken Meadow, Black and White Warbler, Canada Warbler 10/23 Robert Moses State Park, Dickcissel, 10/23 Heckscher State Park, Lesser Yellowlegs 10/23 Shirley Marina County Park, Lesser Yellowlegs 10/25 Robert Moses SP, Black-throated Green Warbler 10/25 Springs, Black-throated Green Warbler 10/25 Landing Lane Marsh, Nelson s Sparrow 10/27 Hawley s Lake, Lesser Yellowlegs 10/27 Robert Moses SP, Black and White Warbler 10/27 Chandler Estate, Black-throated Blue Warbler 10/28 Lily Pond Park, Orange-crowned Warbler Like us on Facebook: Follow Four Harbors on Twitter at: You may also us at: fourharborsaudubon@gmail.com 11

12 BIRD OF THE MONTH THE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER There are two subspecies of the Yellow-rumped Warbler; the Myrtle, normally seen in the eastern United States, and the Audubon s, the western U. S. subspecies. There is an overlap of territories in the central United States. Yellow-rumpeds are one of the most numerous of all warblers in the eastern U.S. and have one of the most extensive nesting ranges of all American warblers. Generally YRWs nest about 15 feet up and close to the trunk on the horizontal branches of spruce, pine or cedar trees. Yellow-rumpeds are seen in large numbers throughout Long Island in October. Their large wintering area ranges throughout the U.S. to Panama. Yellow-rumped Warblers have a fondness for berries, especially the wax myrtle and bayberry. In our area, Yellowrumpeds survive the harsh winters by their ability to digest the waxy myrtle and bayberry berries. Below is an excerpt of an Auk article dated, April 1992; studies indicated the following: Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are among a small group of birds in temperate North America that regularly eat waxy fruits. During the autumn, winter, and spring, these species feed extensively on fruits of the bayberry (Myrica spp.). Covering the pulp of these fruits is a solid, waxy material consisting primarily of saturated long-chain fatty acids. For most animals, saturated fatty acids are poorly assimilated (<50%). we determined that Yellow-rumped Warblers are capable of high assimilation efficiencies (>80%). Yellow-rumped Warblers possess several gastrointestinal traits that permit efficient saturated-fat assimilation. Among these are an apparent retrograde reflux of intestinal contents to the gizzard, elevated gall-bladder and intestinal bile-salt concentration, and a slow gastrointestinal transit of dietary lipids. These gastrointestinal traits permit efficient assimilation of saturated fatty acids on bayberry fruits and may allow these small passerines to maintain more northerly wintering ranges than closely related species. Yellow-rumped in Fall Plumage Living off the Wax of the Land: Bayberries and Yellow-Rumped Warblers Allen R. Place and Edmund W. Stiles, The Auk, Vol. 109, No. 2 (Apr., 1992), pp Answers to Trivia Questions 1. Northern Cardinal. The Cardinal is also the state bird of 6 other states 2a. South Carolina 2b. Northern Mockingbird 2c. Carolina Wren Interest in adoption of birds as representative of a state was often initiated by state branches of the Federated Women's Clubs in the early 1930s. In 1930, the South Carolina Federated Women's Clubs, led by Miss Claudia Phelps, adopted the Carolina wren as their state bird over the popular Carolina dove (Eastern mourning dove). Though not an official state bird at the time, the Carolina Wren was generally considered a suitable representative of the State of South Carolina, at least until a proper official bird could be designated. The Carolina Wren served as an unofficial state bird of South Carolina until In 1948, the South Carolina Legislature again addressed the issue of a state bird by first repealing, or canceling, the 1939 act that declared the mockingbird the official state bird and then approving an act designating the Carolina wren the official state bird. The Carolina wren was back, representing South Carolina, this time as the official state bird. NETSTATE.COM by NSTATE The Carolina Wren sings all year. Wikipedia Oftentimes, state legislatures were moved by organizations, such as the Women's Clubs, to adopt the birds they suggested as official state birds. The South Carolina Legislature did not follow suit and, in 1939, approved the mockingbird as South Carolina's official state bird. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the author or photographer. 12

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