The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMay 01, 2003 - What warmer weather brings The Suffolk Times • May 1, 2003 a wa�mer . we a er rin s � z�� Ss�s .. s . �� . ; :� . �' ;� : ;n � �'��y �� t � �.. F '� ; � ll� 2 ��t M T ,,, ` • "�;� - Many people were con- ' ` �,` � ' cerned about the robins � ' � ,t (far left) that were �Po.;; , : caught in that freak ° _�.- `� % ` snowstorm we had. � Although their supply of Y�'�,�, \ ` �vorms was temporarily ``�-_ � � covered over by snow, .��' ,��° �, � ' €hey were able to sur- ��,, vive on winter berries. � ` Left: Albinism is rare in �� , ; � �� ,,�,�Mg ` �>. �v birds. It's more likely °l, ,_,. �' � �� " � 3� . ,�: we'II see partial � , .. �_ ..., ..P..��... � , � . �,�k�;� , ,�� .` .albinism in birds such - �' � �� as this one, which has ��' � � ,�' a strik(ng white head .��4 ��q : ��,, � and streaks of white on � � its body, making it _.. �. `-� � � quite a handsome bird. Times/Review photos by Paul Stoutenburgh �� y yx ,�� . �'-. s s W e v � � � � �� ka�� P x:� �'� '3`' a""� �r� � � ,� � �`�3� T�` . �' p� . Z 4: � � � '�, �� : � �» - � y �% ;: a �, -, � * ''� i � � t : '! fi� u� i ''�1 a,. a' :! c �� ':: ,:: ,:.� �-�. x., . ,.,.. • ...... ', . . ,, �. : ��A � ;: .� a � :.`�% ��"� t�� , m� �D�.: � ,. � FoC US � ;,� pN ; � NATURE � ;z� z� �` bY Paul � .�� ' �� , � `�� "� a�� '��m &x a "� d,y �;� "�� #;�,£x�� .�,,s'a'x Stoutenburg +> ' �:� `'$ �+ �` ' �`� �a s` .z� [ V. t�"• �-; �r � �� :� x a�x �'e,: �`"� � � '� a �� e.ck�uM'�.`�c g'�q � �� g,.�� :, �4'� N�; �A�� Y �Z�,. � �y �Y Y' 'q^ '"W g'"� ', � � s�LY��'y'Sl��'y� � :� k G;��'Q. Yc� C�a �S �� °`� �S. �y1 � �:4�t� � � r�A� s s ,��; g�' ti~� �', �`�� . '� �� .�� d z �" My second episode has to do with IT WAS APRIL 1S,my sods birthday, the weather,particularly the freak and as usual we had the family in to snowstorm we had in April. twice the size of a quail and striking y celebrate.It was that one really warni Remember how we all looked at each handsome.We suggested he look it up day when insects of all kinds started other and said,"Oh,no.Not more in his bird book and,sure enough,he to hatch out.Most noticeable were the snow!"Well,our wildlife felt that way, said it was a chuka partridge.The dis- moths on the outside of the picture too,I'm sure.I had calls from people appointing thing is that he called later window,drawn by the light from the concerned about the robins that had to tell us it had died.That meant we inside.As we all sat around chattin come up from the south and were had to go pick it up to make sure we and laughing and enjoying now puzzled by the snow all about �yere talking about the same thing.So the evening,my other son them.People wanted to know what We did and it was indeed a chuka ar- said,"Look!There's a bat!" they could do to feed the birds tridge.They are found mainly in the Everyone's eyes turned through the crazy weather.My advice, w,est and southwest in more desert- toward the big window which is usually good for most situa- like country or open,dry areas. where every once in a While tions,is to do nothing.The robins will �ether or not the cold weather did small bat would fly by, take care of themselves.When they him in,we don't know.The bird didn't probably enjoying a moth or can't get worms or insects,they'll find seem to be harmed in any way. a ber bush of some sort.M holl perhaps it had escaped from some- some other insect.Then, ry y y, believe it or not,as we all watched,th Pyracantha and black alder still have one's pen or was let go by a gun club. bat actually came up to the window lots of red berries on them.All act as We'll probably never know.It surely and snatched one of the moths right survival food for those in need.The wasn't a local bird. off the glass. only thing the robin has to do is fight Now comes a tale about something It's remarkable what a little warm off the mockingbird that thinks those I've never seen before.We were eatin weather will do.Evidently this bat had berries all belong to him. breakfast and as we looked out the been hibernating,hopefully in one of During the snow a robin came and window two crows fell to the ground y bat boxes and if not there,perhaps sat outside our greenhouse and we locked together by their bills and ut in the barn or in some hollow tree. were able to take its picture.Now that intertwined thrashing feet.While this I'm sure the warm weather aroused it the snow has gone,it seems it didn't tussle was going on,there was a large from its wintry sleep and it was out bother the robins at all.Then there group of crows calling from the trees ollecting its evening meal of flying ��,as that crazy-colored partial-albino and others circling and calling from 'nsects.It was early for bats,but therc r��bin that threw us all into a dither. above.What a madhouse.It was like 't was,darting in and out of the light �,.�e thought we had a European some sporting event where everyone or all to see. goldfinch because the bird was so col- in the audience was cheering for one Most bats migrate south so they can orful,but no.On close examination,it or the other.I had seen starlings and ave a ready supply of flying insects, Was a partial-albino robin.It acted like English sparrows tussling on the ut there are some that hibernate,as I a robin,but the colors really threw us. ground like that and even blue jays— entioned,in buildings and hollow It had a pure white head,yellow bill, they get so involved in their battles rees and other protected areas,one some red on its breast and other over females that you can literally eing a friend's cellar.I got a call from markings on its back.All this confu- walk up on them and pick them up. im,who wanted to know how to get sion was cleared up when we got our But I had never heard of crows doing rid of a bat.Somehow it had gotten binoculars out and were able to clear this,so I went to the authority,which into his cool cellar and the warm up the identity of this mystery bird. is Arthur Bent's"Life Histories of weather aroused it into flight.The Right now as I look out on our pas- North American Jays,Crows and only way I know to get rid of a bat is ture,which is turning green,there are Titmice,"and there on page 228 under to catch it in a net,which can be a bit 25 or 30 robins enjoying the wormy "courtship"I read the following (pub- tricky.Usually if you just leave the turf.So robins are doing well.In the lished in 1923): room or cellar in darkness and open a early-morning hours their song is pure "During the love season,fights by door to the outside,the ba delight.It won't be long before they rival crows are common.Each bird will find its way out. start building their nests. tries to rise above the other in the air, Why we are so afraid of I received a telephone call from a and,with noisy outcry,each attacks bats,I don't know.Yes, man in Riverhead who described a the rival.Sometimes their struggles some do carry rabies. very odd-looking bird that was coming are so violent that the birds come to Rabies is a relatively rare to his back yard.Descriptions over the the ground,where they continue their occurrence,so let's not give telephone are difficult and we deter- fight and sometimes roll over together bats a bad name.Bats sure- mined it might be a chuka partridge, in their efforts,all the time voicing ly don't attack you.They which is not indigenous to this area. their wrath." want no part of you.They Chuka partridges are used as game And so you see what was new to me don't get tangled in people's hair or birds and are often brought in by gun was really experienced long ago by chase children.All are old wives' tales clubs and set free in hope of establish- others. that should have been dropped when ing a colony of these large,handsome, the witch hunts cn�cd. uail-like birds.The are probably