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Home My WebLink AboutMarch 18, 2004 - The state of our state bird The Suffolk Times • March 18, 2004 e s a e • 0 o ur s a e l� � - � � �� -�� . ,, � � ��' °, � r,� ri �4v, '',�, , � ,.r . %'�� . � "� ��M�'2�� , Y�w �� "1 !�� y 'xv,� �^,� I � �� ^F1} � w� � � � " � w� m�� ,'�"�'�,��. � ,. �, ,' '� „ : � �. *��µ�� y . � �'�MA", '°��u 9Na��,�' �4,�„,�' ..� �,,.�''� ..'� � i� ix�r�+N e ^� ��, � � y, '� �; � n 9 ,� `A'�' a� ° '� � .� "a,:� � `� �� _�' , a ^ ♦ x � ,�h ��° �y' y,iyµ � '. I X M�'�, �J u f , "y . '�!� �� -. )V ' �� '� f,� , '::1�� li�� . � ` �r��,.� .. 9��4 , '��w ��°� . t, ., �r„'� �w ��'� �h; . . a 'w � �. �h � M � � �'4��y %'�^l ` "a �� t�"l , 4� "` 1��l �� db� �,`r �. �,., � I��.;:. �� "n ��y �� - � 1 y i � � �. �F � ' �w�.� ,11nu.�, i .. ... . � 1p � � �ryir;: ° ' �� Tim<;s-Rcview photos�by Paul Sto.��'�' '�"' The bluebird was once so common and revered that it was named New York State's official bird. Today, because of loss of natural cavity nesting sites and manmade nesting boxes to starlings, sparrows and tree swallows, the once- prized member of the thrush family is but a memory in man laces. I izrc�.iv��a.cAi.t,from a lady in I remember years ago,when we Mattituck the other day,tclling me were camping,in Wildwoocl State Park, about bluebirds she had seen.It there's I found my first bluebird nest.How ever a bird that stirs the imagination, excited I was and,as a matter of fact, it's the bluebird,the state bird of New our whole family was,when we saw a York.Years ago bluebirds were quite bluebird fly by with a large insect in its common but,because of competition bill.That meant it was feeding its from species such young We found where it was nesting �„OCu$ as starlings,spar- by a series of observations that led us rows,and tree to a tree cavity with five hungry young. ON swallows,which Here was my chance to photograph have taken over this bluer-than-blue bird.I promptly NATURE the nesting sites, backed our station wagon up near the by PBUI they're having a tree,got out my camera and tripod, Stoutenburgh difficult time. �en covered the back of the wagon --- Add the problem �,�th an old army camouflage cloth.I of pesticides and the general loss of climbed into my makeshift blind,ready habitat and you can see why we get t��photograph.I took several good pic- excited when we see one of these rare t�i�-�s zs the young poked their heads visitors.Yet,almost every year on our �ut of�heir cavity nest,anxious to be Christmas bird count,some team wi11 - fed b cither arent. comc u with bluebircis. liarlequin ducks � � � are at home in tl�er.It gets its Iivelihood by using its � � � � � the turbulent stubby bill to pry off limpets,chitons waters of the far and small mussels from rocks.It also north. During the captures small crabs,snails and other � winter a few ven- crustaceans that live on or near the � °'" '` ture as far south rocks.Because it thrives in turbulent ' .,� as Long Island. water,it uses a lot more energy than " ""�� ° `" Of all the sea the average duck.To rebuild its ener- w _ ._.,......., , "'' ��ry � ducks, the male gy�t often climbs up on the rocks, .,..�. ,,,� harlequin is by where it rests.Other ducks usually nap � � far the most on the calmer waters where they feed. �� °~�° ' beautiful. The Barbara and I both had a most � �,H picture shows a breathtaking view of these rare visi- �� ,�;°�� °'� male and the tors to our shore as we looked - ," less-colorful through my 20x spotting scope.We �� ° �� s� 9;,, female. saw three of theru,two males and one female,resting on dark algae on tl�e rocks.Without the scope we would A friend of minc called last wcek have missed them completely,far they Bluebirds o'ften have more than one �ihout secing harlequin ducks in the blended in so well with their sur- brood;somc,it's becn reported,even S��und off Horton's Yoint in Southold. roundings.As we watched,the ducks have three.The bluebird is a member A��Y�ne who knows Horton's Point became uneasy and moved off the of the thrush family,those wonderful h��»'s it to be an area lhat has numer- rock and back into the fast-moving songsters of the deep woods.Listed �>«� r�cks and boulders and with a water,where they proceeded to feed along with the thrush in this family is strong current.Add to this a north- along the edge of the rock. the common robin.So we have three: ��'�st wind,and it creates a wild and The name harlequin was given to thc bluebird,the thrush and the robin. turhulent place that attracts harlequin the duck because oi'its gaudy colored All are known for their songs,the ��ic�s.Other similar laces to look For plumage reminiscent of the bright blucbird probably being the least these colorful sea ducks would be ofi� dress worn by the fictional character m�isical of all.If you've ever heard the the rocks at Orient Point,Montauk Har(equin.The female's eolors aren't song of the thrush at evening time or Point or the jetties of Shinnecock and �lnywhere near as striking as those of the joyous song of the robin in thc Moriches inlets. the male.She is mare or less a drab early morning,you can count yourself The day we decided,to"check them brownish color with some white mark- lucky,for you've heard two of nature's out"was raw,overcast,and spitting a ings on her face,rnaking her look greatest songsters. combination of light rain and snow. somewhat like a female bufflehead. Many people join local bluebird We walked along the bank,stopping Like most female birds,she's less col- clubs to encourage the bluebirds to every once in a while to check the orful so that she'll not be seen as easi- nest.Others do just the same by them- rocks below.After a while the cold 1y by prowling predators. selves.They set out a number oi�hluc- $omeday you and wet got to Years ago,when we took a group of bird boxes along a specific area called � my fingers and p�ople to Iceland,we saw a female a bluebird trail.These boxes can be t00� might see they became harlequin with her young in the put up at a height from three feet to our state bird useless.I could- roughest,fastest-moving stream you 20 feet,but usually it's more like four n't focus the can imagine.As she swam away from or five feet—whatever is comfortable r�ght in your scope,and us,thc little ones were thrown back for easy maintenance. Own baek yard. adjusting the and forth by waves that didn't faze Bluebirds eat insects of all sorts. � tripod became them a bit as they followed�behind They also eat berries such as raspber- �mP°ssible.We decided to give up and their mother. ries,blueberries and blackberries when try another day. When the harlequins head back to in season.During the winter months, ��harlequin is one of our smallest their summer breeding grounds in they search out survival berries such as sea ducks.The male is a blue-gray Newfoundland and Labrador,they'll bayberries,cedar berries,holly,bitter- color that from a distance looks black. build a nest in a depression on the sweet and any other winter berries It has distinctive white markings and, g��ound.It's usually placed under a they can find.Somehow they survive. �'ith chestnut-colored flanks,presents shrub or ledge fairly close to a fast- Some bluebirds have lived for five or one of the most striking and beautii'ul moving stream or river,where they'll six years.We know this because birds �ixcks to visit our shores.Only one dine on the larvae of black 17ies,stone- have been banded(an information i�dtive duck can surpass it in looks, flics,caddis flies and other animal band put on their leg)when they are and that's the colorful�wood duck, marier.There they will raise thcir very young.The band is recovered �'hich is usually found inland in ponds y��ung.Usually they're seen earlici- after they die.We can then determine and freshwater areas rather than in than this.The ones we watched in tlle ,just how long the bird lived. the saltwater habitat. Sound from the bank above showed � So,like the lady who called us, �I�he harlequiu duck is a bird of the up after the ice broke up this year. someday you,too,might be thrilled to ��ozen north.There are two races of Harlequin ducks have been seen see New York's state bird right in your this duck.One is found in the Pacific, along this shoreline for the last four or own back ard.Let's ho e sa ��rom Alaska down to the coast of five years. � California.The one that we see moves For those of you who would�like to down the Atlantic in the winter as far reach us,our e-mail is f'ocus@opton- soutl� as our Long Island,rarely far- 1ine.net.