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Home My WebLink AboutDecember 16, 2004 - Christmas in the field � The Suffolk Times • December 16, 2004 �lolida bird counts y ar� c�ntur -old • • y tradition on �ast �nd - _ _ _ ► � . _ � .1 �� ; � r 1,�� . _, , ..,: <�: � '� '� �� .r : , ' v'`' � �,� \ . �� ::4.� � `.� t. .:� � ;Ys�"��` '�..� �.��\ . `-� � jti! - --_ ,�. � .�: i '��\ �� ..,_.y yb� �,� 4 "b= �� . J��Ps �. 14-�L -�� Yr� � �.- � �` � . ti � _ �r� � . �' ._� -. -�. ` ,� a� � - y _ � �^+'�'� '�� - . .� �' ,.^�� , ,.�., � , � ':R o� �+ � �.�i �� : ,t�� s '�T '� <' . _ . . •i ?_- e �'^�� ` �s:� �"s._ .,,�ri��.'�-. 'v�� '"�. r�. ~ �.IF'?� " . , � �� . �l i .... - y, 5 t` f .+�- � '�_t �'� �. �:y`�� - ✓. .� �: �1',Ij��±� 3t _ . , � _..e��J��,R��MI�`�� ..r+�a, ., .. �, �� a.^�l"�`" � � - .�.�� ,�-�� '' �. ,`s. " , � ,� '�' , '` �rs=' .��,- � �°+� �� r�;. �: ��'_; r�;; ; � n.�. � ; � � �� r�� `x � � � � � �n eastern meadowlark. R��i�`�- � ' t :n� ;�' " w�r. , . �� .�� . � . . - ��i�h thi5 ��car� Christmas Bird Count � " '� " � � � right around the corner,we thought it �� - $ would be interesting to take you back to �'� �� _ �t � when it first started.In 1900,Frank �W� �• , � ,., � Chapman,editor of Bird-Lore magazine, _-�-P .z, - • .� .µ y wrote: ,.,: A�� :', � � � � ,p�,.,,� � "It is not many years ago that sportsmen were � ;�"�yl _ ` - �ccustomed to meet on Christmas Day,`choose � ` � ��"' i�ies' and then,as representa- �� °`': i��es of the two bands result- ' :�'� i��,hie them to the fields and F�CV$ Y,.�"':' �� <;, - c�ods on the cheerful mis- Q]�j �;�` "'�=� icm of killing practically � -�� z=�` NATURE ,�, � �s �crything in fur or feathers �_"` � I�at crossed their path—if by Paul ; ��.�°�., " ,,� �cy could... Now,Bird-Lore Stoutenburgh E,r��poscs a ncw kind of Left: h ��s�t�� , ��c��. �;�� _. u _ _� _ ._ _ � :, 3ird Count. �ght at Edwards Avenue and,just for Farlher along we turned at Hulse the heck of it,turned right and drove Landing Road,just before you come leisurely along to the Sound.There,a to the huge Lewin Farm complex, the water's edge,were fishermen with its orchards and warehouse. Here to the west,along Creek waiting for the blues to pass by.It Again we traveled north until we saw Road,we could see cottages would be their last chance to snag the sign for Wildwood State Park. squeezed together that were now one of these fighting fish,for,like That brought back memories of whe mostly vacant but told of happy sum- birds,fish migrate this time of year, we used to camp there with our kids. mer days at the beach.To the west of Ilcading for warmer waters.Few of us It was there I photographed a blue- Creek Road we couldn't help but hcre on the East End realize what a bird that had nested in an apple tree; notice the monstrous Shoreham hilly,up-and-down area this North the only bluebird I ever saw nesting nuclear facility that dominated the Edwards Avenue is,and yet there are in a natural cavity.Most bluebirds area.It was built but never put on homes built cleverly into the hills an oday nest in manmade boxes put up line.Thank goodness. pecifically for them. Thirty-five years ago when I was dales.To those of us in the flat lands We drove in to what seemed like involved with The Nature Conser- of the East End it seems almost cres of parking.A few people had vancy we worked to pre- impossible to think of this hilly area parked their cars to take advantage serve the over 100-acre hcing used for homes.From here on of the hiking trails,one of which goes great marsh south of we'd see more and more of this hill- ciircctly to the Sound.We couldn't Creek Road (the Edward and-dale countryside. hclp but think how busy this place J.and Dorothy C.Kempf We doubled back to Sound Avenuc m�ist be during the summer,as evi- Preserve).It seems so :+nd continued our drive westward. cicnced by the quantity of stacked long ago.At that time I I)own we went and then up that well picnic tables in one section of the gave a lecture on wild- I:nown Baiting Hollow Hill.This flowers and birds of the i�uge swath that runs north and south pa'rking lotThe nice part about this s rawlin state ark is that it has area for the historical must have been one of the washouts p g p societ in Wadin River;it was aimed from the glacier as it melted some 10 clean,heated bathrooms that are y g to 12,000 years ago. (We were taken open year-round.By the way,you'll at helping to preserve the marsh. find heated bathrooms also at Orient As we sat there,we watched a back to a winter's day when I gave a reat blue heron stalk its noonda lecture at Suffolk County Cornmu- Beach and Montauk state parks if g y ou ha en to be in one of those meal in the little creek that drained nity College.When we were ready to y pp the marsh in back.It reminded us head home,we found the areas.All have miles of hiking trails to en o tllat we,too,were hungry,so we ground covered with � y' headed back on Sound Road,which snow.The Main Road was The terrain was changing drastical- terrible,so we decided to ly as we moved westward;we were led us to the unique little village of take the back road.That truly in up-and-down country.We Wading River,with its twin ponds took North Wadin River Road out and white,steepled church. was all right until we hit g We parked in the municipal parking "the big hill"at Baiting of the park and headed west,mar- velin at the houses e lot and went into the deli,where we Hollow.Once committed, g p ople had built had one of the best seafood bis ues there was no turning back. in tl�is hilly country.How do they q ever mana e to et in and out of we'd ever tasted,along with a thin Down we went and then g g slice of extra-fine izza.We walked up.We passed 21 cars off to the sides these steep driveways with snow and P that had tried to make it but didn't. ice on them? My hat's off to them. through the little shops and watched And would you believe it,when we We passed Little Flower Children's people feeding the mallard ducks in got to the top of the hill,there was Services on our right and eventually the pond.They looked well fed. the town sanding truck,just getting came to the Sound,where we drove With our stomachs satisfied and ready to sand the hill,and we had in at the public beach area.Here our shopping done,we decided to been lucky enough to make it all the again we saw fishermen waiting for head home.We'd had a wonderful way down and up!) signs that bluefish were there.We got visit to Wading River,driving through out our binoculars and were able to its up-and-down terrain.You would see 10 white-winged scoters and three never think you were on flat Long common loons enjoying the quiet, Island,observing how the land here The terrain sunny waters.It was good to see peo- shifts from high to low at every turn. ple using the area for their noontime Our day was well spent,and we did- viras ehanging lunch,some walking,some just sitting, n't have to go far to enjoy it.Thank drastieally as enjoying our spell of nice weather. you,Wading River,for a lovely late- we moved Novembcr da . westward.