HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 18, 2002 - A flying squirrel wannabee Suffolk Times • April 18, 2002
flying squirrel
THE OTHER EVENING AS my Son
looked out across our pasture toward
the windmill up back, he said,
There's a squirrel climbing up the
windmill." Now imagine this: It's just
about dark and most birds and squir-
rels should be finding a place to sleep,
but no, this squirrel is out climbing to
the top of my 50 -foot windmill.
Some years ago this same son
attached a bleached white skull of a
cow atop that very same windmill. It
was placed there much like a gargoyle
would be, to watch over our pasture.
As he stood and
FOCUS Watched the
squirrel, it went
ON directly to the
NATURE skull and pro-
ceeded to gnaw
by Paul away on it. We
Stoutenburgh got glasses out to
look and could -
t believe what we were seeing.
Could it have been a pregnant
female whose inherent instincts told
her that the unborn young she was
carrying needed some extra calcium
for stronger bones? We know deer
discard their antlers each year and
these discarded antlers are often the
target of rodents of all sorts. They,
too, need added calcium in their diet.
This accounts for us not finding too
many of these discarded antlers in the
woods, as they are literally eaten up
over time.
The other day when Barbara and I
sat having lunch we watched a squirrel
carrying something in its mouth. It
was not a nut or nesting material. It
was larger than that and it was sort of
pudgy. Anyway, the squirrel had this
package in its mouth and was running
up various trees, stopping here, run-
ning a little more, stopping again,
almost like it was trying to decide
what to do with its precious bundle.
We got our binoculars out and the
best we could make out even with
binoculars was that this squirrel was
carrying one of its dead young.
Something had gone wrong. We know
that nature usually provides more
than one young for just such an occa-
sion. In other words, should some-
thing happen to one of the young, it
wouldn't be a disaster, for there are
our or five others still vibrant and full
wa ab
Times/Review photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
Most baby squirrels have now already been born. Their first visit
outside the nest, whether It be a leaf nest or a hole In a hollow
tree, will be to visit new budding limbs. These nutrient -laden bits
of green will be their first nourishment after weeks of nursing in
their cozv nest.
We assumed this was the female
who was trying to determine what to abitat. It seems odd to think that in
do with her now cold and lifeless colonial times, rivers such as the
baby. After all, she had to get rid of it Carmans played host to the Atlantic
before its odor might attract a host of salmon. Today, with help of hatch -
scavengers. Finally, it headed down eries, trout fishing is one of the big
one of the trees while we still followed attractions.
it with our binoculars. Down the At the main building in the park, we
hedgerow it went toward the pond, would meet to judge artwork from
still with the little package in its grades K -3, 4 -6, 7 -9 and 10 -12, and
mouth. We followed it for 200 feet or hat's a lot of artwork to look over.
more and then lost it in the brambles Each grade division was
around the pond. We laid out on the tables,
diligently searched the eliminated to a certain
area but couldn't find point, and then the
any trace of this anxious group of five judges —
mother trying to deposit by use of numbers they
her dead young away held up — eliminated
from the nest. all to a final winner's
About 20 minutes to Best of Show" that is
a half hour later we had to go on to the national
given up the search for
the squirrel down at the a ucational program students
througl9ut the whole country
competition in
Washington, D.C.
pond and were back up com-
pete with their artwork. This means The first -place nation -
at the house when I
that every state is doing the same al winner received a
noticed the squirrel
coming back up along
as
we were doing, judging for the best in $2,500 cash award and a
their state. free trip to Washington,
the hedgerow, this time The judging was held at the in the fall to attend the
without anything in its Southaven County Park, which covers adult) Federal Duck
mouth. It headed
1,356 acres, with Carmans River flow- Stamp Contest, along
directly for the big cher-
ry tree in the front yard. ing through its scenic, pine and oak with his /her art teacher,
one of his /her parents,
Up it went and right forested park. The park affords all and his/her state coordi-
into the hole where it kinds of outdoor activities. There are nator. The national first -
had its nest. To make miles of hiking trails, and horse trails, place winning design is
this story complete, I freshwater fishing, rowboat rentals, used to produce the
should get a ladder, shooting range, playground, hunting Federal Junior Duck
climb up and check out and picnicking. The group areas are Stamp.
and see if there are capable of accommodating up to 1,000 It was great to see the
young in there but, no, people. Camping is also permitted, work of these young
I'm going to leave it as with sites for tents and trailers. people. Some of them
a mystery, one of the Barbara and I got there early and are truly artistically
sad events that happens drove around to reacquaint ourselves
with this magnificdnt freshwater
inclined and did a beau -
to wildlife. tiful job of bringing life
Last Sunday I was to some of the ducks
asked to be a judge for and geese we see right
the 2002 Federal Junior here in our own East
Duck Stamp Program End waters. It was a
and Scholarship morning well spent and
Competition. Dick one that I think more
Hilary of Southold, people should be aware
director of Peconic of and participate in. This is particu-
Dunes "Camp Sea Wolf," was coor i- larly true of art teachers who, through
nator of this prestigious event of art- Ducks Unlimited, can get a curricu-
work by students throughout New lum about this Junior Duck Stamp
York State. Little did I realize how Competition. Free guides can be
involved this judging would be. requested by calling 1- 877 - 887 -5508.
It was sponsored by Ducks Let's hope through this program our
Unlimited, a national conservation young people will become more
organization whose main purpose is to aware of the world around them, for
provide wildlife habitat for ducks and as all there agreed, it is in the hands
geese as well as to teach a greater of our young people that the future of
awareness of our nation's natural wildlife rests.
resources. Through this particular