EASTERN AUDUBON SOCIETY – From the Barrens to the Bays Formerly Moriches Bay Audubon, established 1967

November/December 2010 — Vol. XXXV No. 6

Carmans River BNobAAdaTmoU, InRterimEproPgraRm cOhaiGr RAMS Herbicide issue Monday, November 1, 2010 ECUADOR This issue was brought to our Part Three: The Andes attention by Doug Swesty. Bob Adamo Dennis Puleston, a founding member of Eastern Long Island Audubon, was one of In 2008, I was part of an "Oat" (Overseas Adventure Travel) small group (16 persons) the pioneers responsible for banning DDT, tour to Ecuador’s Amazon Jungle, Galapagos Islands, and Andes Mountains. Having an action that saved the . Now by already made presentations to ELIAS on the first two, I look forward to sharing a introducing a partially tested herbicide, section of the “Dragons Spine” with you. We spent 5 days traveling by bus down the it is possible many fish and birds will be at Pan American Highway from Quito, south to Guayaquil. During that time, we passed the risk again. Editor towering ChimborazoVolcano, Ecuador’s B O

highest mountain at 20,702 feet above sea T

by Doug Swesty, President, Art Flick H

level, visited a few of the O Chapter of Trout Unlimited W L

indigenous markets that this area is known P H

Suffolk County and the Town of O

for, drove by fields worked by people, who T O

Brookhaven jointly formed a steering in this area have more pure Incan blood in S B committee to oversee a study to investi - Y

them than any other part of Ecuador. In J I gate methods of control of aquatic inva - M addition to many other attractions, includ - M Y sive plants on the Upper and Lower ing riding “The Devil’s Nose” – a train G A L

Yaphank Lakes and the Carmans River. The L

which you can ride the traditional way, E T committee is comprised of residents T inside, or if you are adventuresome, on O whose property adjoins the lakes, town the train’s box car roof. Now you know and county representatives, as well repre - where my pictures were taken from. sentatives of a few civic and environmen - tal groups including Nature Conservancy, Monday December 6, 2010 the Open Space Council of Brookhaven, and Trout Unlimited. Many other groups Everyone such as Seatuck, the Audubon Society, the Peconic Baykeeper, etc. which should have Loves OWLS! been included, were not. A consultant, Nelson, Pope, &Vorhiis, was hired by the Everyone loves those elusive OWLS! County to carry out a feasibility study for Come and learn more about the owls of controlling the invasive plant species North American and our own Long Island (Variable Leaf Milfoil and Cabomba). The Owls. This presentation given by Dianne consultant was to investigate all methods. Taggart and Linda Sullivan will feature not The local residents were pushing for a only lots of owl information, but wonderful plan to treat the lakes with herbicide. The photos by local nature photographers. consultants suggested a combination of Top: A Short-eared owl is a winter visitor to herbicides and dredging to remove silt. our area.There have been two reported al - We (the Art Flick Chapter of Trout Unlim - ready this year.The bottom photo, a Saw-whet ited) are not opposed to the dredging Owl is a year-round resident.. plan, provided it is done carefully, but we Meetings are held at Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Nature chat begins at 7:15 pm, the continued on page 5 meeting at 7:30 and the speaker at 8:00 pm.The programs are free, and open to all . THE OSPREY November/December 2010 2

Christmas Bird Counts & Winter Waterfowl Censuses John McNeil

s the holiday season approaches, All help is welcome. ever, to hunt for owls, some observers it is once again time to think Experienced birders are needed for each start a few hours before daylight and con - about the winter bird counts. of the counts, but beginners are most wel - tinue for a while after dark. At least eight Each year, ELIAS members participate in a come. If you are not an experienced hours of field observation during daylight series of ten counts — five Christmas Bird birder, field parties who are familiar with hours in a CBC circle is required for ac - Counts (CBC) sponsored by the National the territory will help you learn your way ceptance of a CBC report. Audubon Society and five winter water - around. We hope that new observers will Field coverage is primarily done by some fowl censuses sponsored by the NY find the counts to be as exciting as experi - combination of walking and driving, but bi - Ornithological Association. Dates and enced birders find them to be, and that cycles, boats, motorcycles, and other compilers for the counts are listed below. they will continue to participate in the fu - modes of transportation are also used. If you would like to participate as either a ture. This is the way we can we develop an The Winter Waterfowl Censuses field observer or a feeder watcher in any adequate pool of skilled, committed ob - have been compiled throughout the state of the listed CBC’s, or as a participant in servers to continue the tradition. of NewYork since 1955. These too are any of the waterfowl censuses, please con - Feeder watchers who live within the count done in assigned territories, but only birds tact the compiler for the count(s). A fee circle are needed to provide additional such as ducks, geese, swans, cormorants, will be collected from all observers over coverage by recording the number of indi - grebes, and coots are counted. These cen - 18, to defray the cost of compiling the data viduals and the variety of species that ap - suses are usually done in mid-January by and publishing for the CBC results. There pear at the feeder during the count day. the same CBC compilers. If you would like is no fee to participate in the Waterfowl to participate please contact a compiler. Censuses. Usually the compilers are very For the most part, counting begins as soon flexible and participants can bird with the as it is light enough to see (around 6:30 to Below are the people to contact to join group until they need to go. So…please do 7:00 am) and continues until it is too dark the CBC and the Waterfowl Census. not hesitate to ask if you can participate. to see anymore (around 5:00 pm). How -

Count Date Compiler Contact Information Quogue to Water Mill CBC Sunday, Dec. 18th Steve Biasetti Hm 874.4684 / Wk 765.6450 x205 [email protected] [email protected] Montauk CBC Saturday, Dec. 18th Hugh McGuinness 725.6037 / cell 631.697.2099 [email protected] Sagaponack CBC Sunday, Dec. 19th Hugh McGuinness 725.6037 / cell 631.697.2099 [email protected] Central Suffolk CBC Monday, Dec. 27th Eileen Schwinn 516.662.7751 [email protected] Orient CBC Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 MaryLaura Lamont 722.5542 [email protected] Smith Point to Shinnecock Inlet Census Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 Jay Kuhlman 878.4461 [email protected] Yaphank to Peconic Bay Census Midweek of Jan. 17 to 21 John McNeil 281.2623 [email protected] Montauk to Amagansett Census Contact Coordinator Hugh McGuinness 725.6037 / cell 631.697.2099 [email protected] Reeves Bay to Noyack Bay Midweek of Jan. 17 to 21 John McNeil 281.2623 [email protected] Fresh Pond to Sag Harbor Midweek of Jan. 17 to 21 John McNeil 281.2623 [email protected] THE OSPREY November/December 2010 3

Hawk Watching at Hook Mountain Field Trips Tom Moran John McNeil N A

’m enraptured to live on Long Island R Saturday November 20th @ 9:00am O where the birding is sensational. From M M

O Hallockville Farm and the seasonal variety of species which T you can find on your own, to the organ - Jamesport State Park Walk ized counts, there are plenty of ways and Leader: MaryLaura Lamont locales to enjoy. In the fall, this is especially Itrue for the hawk migration. The Robert The varied habitats of farm fields, woods, Moses platform is an exceptional place to ponds, and dunes on Long Island Sound see raptors, especially falcons. provide a diversity of bird residents. Bring An immature Red-tailed Hawk soars over binocs for this 2 mile walk of spectacular To see some other species of birds of Hook Mt. views and good birding. A $5.00 fee goes prey, a drive upstate is the ticket. On Sat - toward Hallockville’s educational pro - urday, September 25 I left the Island, Nuthatch. Although many of these species grams. Meet in the parking lot of Hal - crossed the Hudson to Hook Mountain, can be viewed from some other watches lockville Museum Farm on Sound Ave. in just on the other side of the Tappan Zee upstate, we were afforded some really Riverhead. Call Hallockville at Bridge. The top is a spartan location, some close views of the passing birds. Behavior 631.298.5292 or trip leader MaryLaura rock outcroppings are cut by the trail was another high point of the day. A Pere - Lamont at 631.722.5542 for details. used to gain the peak, which then contin - grine stooped (a steep, quick dive) at a far Sunday November 21 @9:00am ues down the other side. What it lacks in distance providing a dramatic view. The facilities is more than made up for by a space at the top was not crowded but Old Mastic Autumn Bird Walk panoramic view of the Hudson, including getting a comfortable space was a matter the Tappan Zee Bridge to the south, the The William Floyd Estate in Mastic is 613 of selecting a good rock to sit on as I did acres of mowed fields, woods, creeks, and Gunks and Catskills to the northwest. The not bring a chair. I chose a site just to the view of the river to the south is unob - salt marshes. Roundtrip walk of 3 miles south of a tall pole with an owl mounted will turn up wintering hawks, ducks, spar - structed. As it is traced northward, the on it, which attracted the attention of a view is blocked by a mountain, and then rows, and perhaps Bluebirds. Bring binocs Red-tailed Hawk. It climbed high and while and meet in the parking lot of the Estate. appears again before it disappears behind I was enjoying a fine view of it through the another northerly peak. To the north and Main Entrance is 245 Park Dr., Mastic. Call binoculars, it began to stoop towards the trip leader MaryLaura Lamont at the Es - west, Rockland, Congers and Deforest owl, which was directly between the hawk Lakes are visible. An interesting Palisades tate at 631.399.2030 for details. and myself! Some estimates of a Red- December 2010 rock formation is visible in the distance tailed Hawk’s dive indicate a speed that but was not naturally exposed. As was ex - approaches 120 mph. Now imagine my No Field Trips planned. Join one of the plained by the Hawk Migration of North horror as that view was magnified Christmas Bird Counts or Waterfowl America coordinators, the location was through binoculars. I imagine this view is Census groups. See the schedule on page among important and early causes of the what many small birds last perceive before 2 and contact one of the group leaders. preservation movement of the Palisades, becoming lunch on the wing. I involuntar - as concerned citizens reacted against the ily ducked, probably looking pretty Saturday, Jan 8, 2011 @9:00am destruction of this geographic wonder for strange. Fortunately, I believe all eyes were Lakes Around Patchogue the quarrying of its stones. on the hawk, which veered away from the Leader: John McNeil Although the winds were from the south owl at the last moment. and the counts for the varied species There is a small pull-out on 9W north of Come see winter-resident waterfowl on were not high, the number of species, the Nyack for approximately five cars where the lakes of Patchogue. John tells us “these views afforded, and behavior were excep - the yellow trail will lead to the top. If this lakes are God’s little oases for wintering tional. Some of the species we enjoy at is full, parking is available at the executive waterfowl. There’s always a surprise or Fire Island were present: American golf course in Rockland Lake State Park. two to peak your interest!” Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys, More detailed directions are available at: Join John for either a half or full-day ex - Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Coopers http://www.rocklandaudubon.org/hook_m cursion (conditions permitting). Meet at Hawks. BlackVultures were present in ountain.htm . From the 9W pull off it is ap - 9 am at the Swan Lake Club House on good numbers as well as TurkeyVultures. proximately a ten minute, half-mile, quite Swan Lake in East Patchogue. Contact Several mature Bald Eagles and an imma - steep hike to reach the summit. The drive John at 631.281.2623 for details. On the ture Bald Eagle soared by. Surprises in - is approximately 110 miles from the day of the trip, John’s cell is 631.219.8947. cluded the croaking of passing Common Quogue Wildlife Refuge. The official count Ravens and a brief visit by a Red-breasted ends on Oct. 31. THE OSPREY November/December 2010 4

Bluebirds, the beginnings of a come back

Larry Penny sightings, I was resmitten. Russell was ture around the airport. She was on a grew up in Mattituck and became in - equally surprised. While a student at fact-finding mission. It was the USDA that terested in local birds at a young age. Southampton College he had carried out handled gulls, geese and other birds that Ever since seeing the Shirley Temple numerous breeding bird studies on the were considered airport nuisances by the movie of 1940, The Bluebird , I was in - South Fork, but had never recorded a FAA. She looked at the boxes around the trigued with that species. As a child, Jan breeding Bluebird during any of them. periphery of the airport and asked me Peerce’s Bluebird of Happiness was right up In the early 1980s I met two people who what they were for. “Bluebirds (and Tree tIhere with Somewhere OverThe Rainbow would lead me deep into the life of this Swallows)”, I replied. She said they would among my top ten songs before I was ten. then mysterious species. One was the late have to go. Karilyn and I didn’t have the It wasn’t until March of 1951 however, Kim Hicks, a retired engineer, resident of heart to remove them, the lady never re - that I saw my first Bluebird. I was walking Hither Hills in Montauk and skilled crafts - turned and those boxes are still there through the heavily treed pasture of the man. The other was the wife-to-be of the today and still in use. Ralph Tuthill dairy farm on Middle Road herpetologist, Andy Sabin, Karilyn Jones. Jan Peerce’s song is still one of my fa - toward a brush pile where a woodchuck Andy was into salamanders and frogs, Kar - vorites, Kim passed away, Andy divorced had been living hoping to see it again, ilyn was into birds. It was in the mid- Karilyn and my focus shifted to habitat when I came upon a eye-level hole in an 1980s while several of us were forming restoration. Joe Giunta came along in the oak eight inches in diameter. I stopped and the South Fork Natural History Society nick of time, before the new millennium tapped on the trunk under the hole ex - that Karilyn, Kim and I decided to start a and has done a marvelous job caring for pecting to see a Starling fly out. A blue - Bluebird trail in Hither Woods. The late the Bluebirds and the Bluebird nesting bird flew out and that was my first Gil Raynor had discovered breeding Blue - boxes ever since. There has not been a one-on-one experience with NewYork’s birds there during the 1980s NewYork Long Island Christmas Count in the last State bird. State Breeding Bird Survey. They were 15 years or so that hasn’t reported at In the six years thereafter before leaving seen in a meadowland alongside the Long least one Eastern Bluebird. The road back for the Army I went on a lot of Long Is - Island Railroad Track, a frequent area for started in East Hampton. land Christmas bird counts, but didn’t see brush fires. a single Bluebird. When I think back, that Kim had a plan showing a new type of was quite understandable as Mattituck Bluebird box with a removable roof that was heavily farmed primarily with row was being used successfully in the Mid - crops, most heavily with potatoes. The west. He went to work in his shop turn - THREE NEW BOARD fields from May through August were cov - ing out box after box according to that ered with just about every pesticide ever design. We began putting them up, first in MEMBERS invented. It was not a good time for song - Hither Woods which experienced a major birds on the North Fork, particularly for burn over in the spring of 1986, then at those that were mostly insectivorous and the East Hampton Airport where hree new board members were lived close to fields. Grasshopper Sparrows bred and the fields elected to the ELIAS Board at the In the Army and after discharge when I on either side of the runways were occu - September meeting: took up residence in California and Ore - pied with little bluestem and other mar - gon, first as a student, later as a lecturer itime grassland species. Karilyn became ByronYoung and professor, I saw a lot of Western Blue - the “den mother” of the various Bluebird Catherine McClusky trail nest boxes, which by the mid-1990s birds and a few Mountain Bluebirds. I still Matthew McCluskey grew to more than one hundred and was T had the Eastern Bluebird imprinted in my mind when I returned to the East End of managed as a joint project between the There is also an opening for a new vice- Long Island in 1974 to teach at Southamp - South Natural History Society (SOFO) president and a new program chairperson. ton College. Seven years later while par - and the East Hampton Town Natural Re - If you would like to become more ticipating in the East Hampton part of the sources Department. Each box had to be involved please call one of the board Orient Christmas Bird Count, then run by cleaned out before each new nesting sea - members listed on the back. Paul Stoutenburgh, I was with Russell son. Hoeflich at the grown over athletic field During the Bluebird trails’ heyday the East of the St. Regis Camp in on Northwest Hampton Bluebirds and Karilyn were fea - Harbor when we came upon a mixed tured on the CBS Sunday Mornings show. flock of a dozen or so Eastern Bluebirds. I remember taking a young woman from Thirty years between Eastern Bluebirds the Department of Agricul - THE OSPREY November/December 2010 5

Carmans River Herbicide issue Boy, What a Continued from page 1 Night! are strongly opposed to the use herbi - cides. Little is known about the effects of Sally Newbert the herbicide fluridone on the ecosystem. NY DEC guidelines state that herbicides OCTOBER 20, 2010 Close to 80 birders and should not be permitted on streams. But friends enjoyed the annual dinner at the the committee seems set to bypass this Vineyards in Acquebogue. policy by acting as though the small im - Al Scherzer, past ELIAS president pre - poundments are closed lakes. sented Eileen Schwinn current ELIAS Presi - There are numerous fish and insect eating dent, with The Osprey Award for her birds on the Carmans including Bald Ea - commitment and outstanding leadership. gles, Ospreys, Black-crowned Night “Please keep inspiring us.” Said Dr. Top: Sue Krause with a very nervous Barn Heron. The current research states that Scherzer. Owl.The owl was making its first public ap - fluridone bioconcentrates in fish. Several The speaker, Susan Krause from Sweet - pearance years ago our TU chapter installed a fish briar Nature Center, was spectacular. She Below: Eileen Schwinn accepts for Osprey ladder which opened several miles of the introduced us to a few of her friends. Award from Dr. Al Scherzer. Carmens River to spawning alewives. I There was nothing but oohs and aahs from watched Ospreys, and others birds attack - the audience as she introduced a Saw-whet ing one of the schools of alewives and it Owl, a Broad-winged Hawk, an opossum, a upsets me to think of what could happen Barn Owl, a Eurasian Kestrel, a Diamond- to these birds if they ingest these fish with backed Terrapin and a Red-tailed Hawk. concentrated fluridone in their system. The Dinner Committee is grateful to all And this could happen on one of the very our raffle donors and hope all the winners rivers where Dennis Puleston fought to will enjoy their prizes. protect Ospreys and Eagles by getting See you next year!!! DDT banned over 40 years ago! Sadly, the Steering Committee voted, without having seen a written report, that Brookhaven and Suffolk County use a combination of herbicide and dredging The Art Flick Chapter of Trout Unlimited was the single "No" vote. County Legisla - tor Kate Browning, Brookhaven Council - men Connie Keppart, and Assemblyman Marc Allessi voted “Yes”. (Eastern Long Is - land Audubon was not invited.) The recommendation of the Steering Committee will be sent to the Town and County. Perhaps if enough people pres - sure their local legislators it can be stopped. Please note that TU opposes this use of fluridone. We believe in operating under the Precautionary Principle of not using something that is not fully understood. A Day at the Beach The Carmans is a complex ecosystem and it's hard to know what subtle effects On Saturday, September 18 a group headed to the Hawk Watch Platform at might matter. I encourage your members, Robert Moses, hoping for a nice windy fall day. There weren’t many of hawks flying. to do their own research. We did catch a few sightings of Merlins and Kestrels. The most interesting sighting The consultant’s plans are available at: of the day was a Lincoln’s Sparrow at the volleyball courts. The group checked out www.suffolkcountylakes.net under “re - some pines by the golf course, a possible place to find some interesting birds in sources & links”. the coming months. THE OSPREY November/December 2010 6 M A T Amazing Panama T M C C L U

Matt & Cathy McCluskey S K Y n April, we joined a group of 10 on a trip to Panama for 13 days of tropical birding. The tour was run by “Cheep - ers! Birding on a Budget” which did a fan - tastic job organizing the trip. Tiny Panama (smaller than South Carolina) boasts Iabout 960 different species of birds. More than the U.S. and Canada combined. We knew we were in for a great trip! We arrived in Panama City around 9 pm Crimson-backedTanager and spent the first night there. A beautiful Crimson-backed Tanager greeted us the idyllic setting for a birding vacation. A Canopy Lodge stream as we ate breakfast. next morning right on the hotel grounds. small bridge over a creek brings you to A completely different cast of tropical The day was off to a great start. We made the lodge which is nestled in the crater of birds made for a great morning. In the af - our way to the Canopy Lodge in ElValle an extinct volcano. Luxury in the dense ternoon we experienced Canopy Adven - where the well stocked feeders were busy forest. ture which is a series of 4 platforms with Thick-billed Euphonia, Rufous Mot - Our local guides, Moyo and Danilo, connected by zip lines, some almost 300 ft mot, Red-legged Honeycreeper and vari - brought us to several excellent birding above the forest floor. ous tanagers. Flashy, exotic birds every- sights during the next few days. These where! You didn’t know where to look The next day we went to the higher ele - guys really knew their stuff! They could ID next. WOW, we’re not in NewYork any - vations of Altos del Maria. A variety of every bird even from slightest glimpse or more! wrens, tanagers, warblers, toucanets, a one-note call coming from deep in the hummers and manakins all made appear - Canopy Lodge: What a beautiful place woods. ances in the cooler highlands. We spent to call home for the next few days. An Our day in La Mesa proved terrific for the late part of the day like we did most raptors: Swallow-tailed Kite, Barred Hawk, days: Back at the Lodge watching the col - Keel-billedToucan

M White Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk and Bat orful show at the feeders as we listed the A T

T Falcon among others. A Common Potoo day’s birds. M

C posing atop a dead tree branch (and sit - C Today we said goodbye to Canopy Lodge L

U ting on an egg) was an exciting find. With S and headed to its sister accommodation K Y help from the local community we were The Canopy Tower which is at a lower el - able to locate Tropical Screech Owl and evation and offers a new set of birding op - Crested Owl. 102 species for the day. portunities. Canopy Tower was once a Whew, and it’s only our first full day! United States Air Force radar facility used The next day we made our way to the in the defense of the Panama Canal. The Pacific Lowlands and a village called El tower was demilitarized and transferred Chiru. Antshrikes, flycatchers and to Panama in 1996 and was transformed grassquits dominated the morning. A into an eco-lodge. The Pacific Ocean, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl was a midday Panama City skyline and the Panama highlight. A lunch time dip in the Pacific Canal can all be seen from atop the tower. Ocean at the private home of the owner While not as luxurious as the Canopy of Canopy Lodge really hit the spot! After Lodge the Tower, with its observation our break we made our way to a rice field deck, offers the unique opportunity to see that was being harvested. As the machin - tree top birds at eye level. Spectacular ery worked in the fields hundreds of looks at tanagers, honeycreepers, dacnis, egrets and herons followed looking for an aracaris, toucans and woodpeckers were a easy lunch. What a scene! Caracaras, daily occurrence. The observation deck storks, vultures and other raptors were also gave us face to face time with sloths, about. monkeys and cute little tamarins. Day 4 consisted of a 4-wheel drive to an A short ride on the Birdmobile to a local area known as Jordana. But before we left pond proved fruitful with Rufescent Tiger- an amazing Sunbittern flew along the Heron and Wattled Jacana making appear - THE OSPREY November/December 2010 7

ances along with a variety of orioles, Late Fall Birding 1 caciques and tityras. A kettle of thousands Tom Moran of hawks and kites circled overhead. 2

Back at The Tower the usual flurry of ac - 3 4 5 6 tivity at the hummingbird feeders was in 7 8 full swing. 9 Our next day started like all others with breakfast atop The Tower with close up views of all these gaudy exotic birds. Later we walked the road leading to The Tower 10 11 and found all kinds of manakins, thrushes, antshrikes and toucans. After lunch we took a trip to Summit Gardens and its 12 Harpy Eagle display. What an impressive bird! Too bad we never got to see one in 13 the wild. The grounds proved excellent for a variety of trogans and woodcreepers. 14 We also found some Tent-Making Bats tak - 15 ing refuge under their homemade tent in a Palm Tree. After dinner we took a drive to M A T T M C C L

U Across Down S K

Y 1. Two species, usually fall migrants, were 1. Large numbers can be seen off Ditch Plains, surprising summer visitors at Cupsogue clues to where the fish are for surf casters 3. A popular but surprisingly cold mid-fall 2. The ______in Aquebogue, location of ELIAS field trip location our annual dinner this year 7. The insect resistant wood variety, not the 3. Large numbers may be seen by November impoverished artist species?! (2 words) at Smith Pt parting lot 9. Over wintering bird, don't confuse it with a 4. Sea birds, they are still migrating in November semipalmated plover 5. One of two jaegers that may be carried close 11. A common warbler through fall, rare in to shore by onshore winds winter 6. ______Nature Center, located in 12. This sandpiper species becomes Smithtown abundant in fall 7. By November a strange-billed white winged 14. Most North American birds do this in late may (rarely) be seen in the pines at Jones summer or early fall Beach 15. A migration that occurs only when harsh 8. An early arriving winter sparrow (2 words) winters make food supplies low 9. Golden-crowned ______, a late migrant Answers will be in the next issue. 10. A dark bodied variety of the snow goose 13. Our favorite November bird?

A sloth lounges in the treetops

Answers to last issue’s 5 1 2 3 4 CAPEM AY D M S find some creatures of the night. Watching puzzle 6 7 8 an eerie Potoo calling from a nearby tree O REDTA I L E D H C S U H R A O 9 10 11 stump was the highlight along with sloths, R BUT E OS M E L CAR PE L Birds of Prey 12 Wooly Opossum and a group of Night L S HAWK D I P D Fall Migration 13 14 Monkeys. A R S R E R N S 15 16 Tom Moran Y ACC I PI T ERS A B H The next day was spent at world famous 17 K D O H F L YWA Y I 18 19 20 Pipeline Road. Different types of Puffbirds, C G S O AR L N K If you missed it, or want 21 22 wrens, and tanagers made early appear - GLDO E N P B ROA D WI N G E D another look at the puzzle O A E E S ances. Our talented guide, Carlos, was 23 able to locate a variety of elusive Antbirds The Osprey is archived on P REDSHOULDER ED A D T the web site. www.eastern - E R G R and Antpittas in the dense, dark rainforest. 24 longislandaudubonsociety.org P R IMARIES E L A A flat tire and a torrential downpour S N E L made for an interesting afternoon. S continued on page 8 THE OSPREY November/December 2010 8

Amazing Panama Continued from page 7

Back at The Tower an impressive KingVul - ture soared above the observation deck. The following day we made our way to Summit Ponds where we found 3 species of kingfisher and a pair of nesting Specta - cled Owls. Carlos also found a Rufous The American Kestrel Nightjar nesting on the ground with a tiny chick. It was so perfectly camouflaged that (Falcon Sparverius) we almost stepped on it! We also came upon a dead tree that hosted a group of Carl Starace sometimes flies in loose lines with others spectacular woodpeckers, both Lineated his bird of prey is America’s small - of its species in migration. It may also and Crimson Crested. est falcon. Once called the Spar - perch close to them at times. Whereas Day 10 (or 11, I’m losing track) we went rowhawk , the Latin, Sparverius , Merlins often harass other Merlins and to the Rain Forest Discovery Center with means pertaining to a sparrow but this even larger Hawks they come upon. The its 100 foot tower that brought us up into was a poorly chosen title. This superb Kestrel can be seen lowering and raising the canopy for great views of the diverse looking Falcon does not pay that much at - its tail apparently to keep balance when birdlife. A stop at theVisitor Center was Ttention to our sparrows. It preys mainly perched. This is something not done by ei - fun as we tried to keep tabs on the on larger insects and the smaller mam - ther a perched Merlin or the similar sized dozens of hummingbirds that were mals. In migration its chooses to dine on Mourning Dove. buzzing all over the place. Back to Pipeline the numerous Monarch Butterflies and Flight: A Kestral’s flight is conspicuously Road to finish up our day of 135 species. Dragonflies that are on their own pas - buoyant, its wingbeats are stiff, with Our next day consisted of a trip to the sages to the south. The American Kestrel straight, slightly downwinged glides. This Panama Canal and its museum. A bit more is the most widespread of all our falcons. little falcon’s long and narrow wings allow birding near The Tower and some relaxing It breeds across the continent from the it to soar then quickly pull up in a hover on the observation deck rounded out our taiga region well into Central Amer - with ease. Its wings are more curved in last day here in beautiful Panama. We ica. In wintertime it is completely absent flight than a Merlin’s and not as pointy or headed home early the next day. We to - from Alaska, all of Canada, northern New sharp. On the wing Kestrals appear paler taled 320 species (plus 7 heard). 183 of England, northern Michigan and the north - overall and in a soar both sexes show a these were lifers for us. 4 species of owl, 6 ern Plains States. string of white beads along the trailing trogans, 23 hummers, 6 parrots, 5 toucans, Description: Males of this colorful edge of their wing. 27 raptors, 4 motmots and 30 tanagers. species are rufous above blue-grey wings. Call: A Kestral’s call is loud and like a What a terrific trip! The lodging, scenery, They are white below with dark spots scream — Kli KLI KLI KLI KLI KLI KLI food, fellow birders, guides and, of course, across the chest. Some males have a rosy KLI or sometimes a KILLY KILLY KILLY! the birds were all perfect. And Jim and hue across the chest as well. The females American Kestrals are always a pure joy Cindy of Cheepers! Birding on a Budget are rufous brown with dark barring above. to watch on the wing, careening along did a great job putting it all together. I cer - Below they have rufous spotting on a above the dune line in fall migration. Re - tainly would recommend a Panama birding white background. Both sexes have two cently, (Sept.19th), I called a friend, Dick trip to anyone! dark vertical lines upon their white faces, Belanger, to tell him he definitely should and a one line a mustache just below the drop whatever he had planned and meet Collard Aracari M A

eye, the second line a much wider side - me at the beach the following morning for T T burn. This bird is hands down the most a Falcon Show .That morning we stood M C C photogenic of our falcon’s. Immature birds watch on the upper deck of the Ranger L U S are similar in markings to the adults. Station at Smith Point for close to five K Y Behavior: Kestrels will perch hunt from hours. When we left we had totaled 146 power lines, on exposed branches, or at Kestrels. Several days later word came the tops of trees. When there are no suit - from the Fire Island Hawkwatch that the able perches they will take to hovering at totals they had that day were the best in NORTH WIND approximately 20 to 30 feet above the 15 years. If you see a ground while they look and wait for prey. forecast for the following day in autumn Unlike our Merlin, (Falcon), the Kestrel make haste! THE OSPREY November/December 2010 9

From our Sending Kids to Camp — campers To the members of ELIAS, Scholarships Offered hank you all for sending me to DEC Camp at Pack Forest. I had such an astern Long Island Audubon Society is offering scholarships for stu - amazing time! The counselors were dents in grades 7 through 12 to attend NewYork State Department of Con - so much fun, from the professional world servation camps for one week. Campers will choose between two camps in champion 2nd place heavy weight lifting the Adirondacks, one in the Catskills, or one in western NewYork State. Campers enjoy champion to the 2nd place world yodeler, to fishing, hiking, canoeing, volleyball, and hunter safety training. Activities such as sampling our paramedic who had spent the past year T streams for aquatic life and hiking in the dark to listen to the sounds in the woods are in the Amazon treating people who had designed to bring conservation concepts to life. fallen out of trees, they all had great person - E alities. I met so many new people from all A perfect candidate would be interested in the environment, and anxious to learn more, different backgrounds, made friends and stay (Parents do not have to be Audubon members.) Here is what the candidates need to do: in contact them on Facebook. I Fill out the form below. My favorite thing, however, would have to be I Write an essay stating why they are worthy candidates for the when our group climbed Mount Pharaoh, a scholarship. Include environmental experiences and interests. whole 8 miles!! The heat was sweltering and making it to the top was so rewarding. The Also, describe what benefit they might derive from the experience. freezing lake was a great way to cool off. I I Have a parent attach a letter stating that they are aware of the learned how to tie a bear bag and set up a transportation stipulation. site in the middle of the woods instead of a If accepted campsite. That night we watched the stars in the middle of nowhere until 2:30 in the I Campers are responsible for their own transportation to and from morning!! The clear skies of the mountains the camp. are truly a sight to be seen! I Campers are responsible for a physical examination, if the camp I had a fantastic time and learned so much requires it. about the environment. For more information, call Evelyn at 631-727-0417. Lane, East Quogue Please complete and forward the application by January 20, 2011 to: Dear ELIAS, Education Committee hank you for selecting me for the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society scholarship to the DEC camp, Camp PO Box 206 DeBruce. I had such a great experi - ence! I went fishing, took a hunter safety East Quogue, NY 1942-0206 course, and even saw a Bald Eagle catch a Name ______fish while I was canoeing! T Pamela, East Moriches Address ______Dear Members of ELIAS, City/State/Zip ______e wish to express our thanks to Phone ______your organization for sending our son to Camp DeBruce. He Date of Birth ______earned his bow hunting license this year. The program at Camp DeBruce encouraged his Name of school ______Grade ______interest in the outdoors. He hopes to find J Have you ever attended an outdoor education/ecology camp? Wsimilar programs for next summer and is even looking into colleges that have degrees If SO, what camp, where, and when ______in environmental and outdoor sciences. ______Luis & Sharyn, camper’s parents, Cutchogue

Applicant’s signature ______Date ______THE OSPREY November/December 2010 10 Feeder Survey

John McNeil Survey Dates: Survey Dates: The Survey will be conducted the first full Nov. 7-Nov. 14, 2010 Dec. 5-Dec. 12, 2010 week of the month starting on Sunday and Name ______Name ______ending the following Sunday. Address ______Address ______INSTRUCTIONS FOR FEEDER SURVEY ______I Define an area containing feeders that Town ______Town ______you can see all at once from a window. Phone ______Phone ______The area should be one you glance at frequently during your daily routine. ______Mourning Dove ______Mourning Dove I Don't include birds seen off premises. ______Northern Cardinal ______Northern Cardinal ______Blue Jay ______Blue Jay I Predators perching in or swooping ______House Finch ______House Finch through the count area (not just flying ______Black-capped Chickadee ______Black-capped Chickadee over) may be counted if you feel that ______Tufted Titmouse ______Tufted Titmouse they were attracted by the birds at ______Downy Woodpecker ______Downy Woodpecker the feeder. ______White-throated Sparrow ______White-throated Sparrow I Record the largest number of each ______Dark-eyed Junco ______Dark-eyed Junco species that you see in your count area ______House Sparrow ______House Sparrow during the eight-day count period. ______White-breasted Nuthatch ______White-breasted Nuthatch ______Song Sparrow ______Song Sparrow I Do not add counts from previous days ______Red-bellied Woodpecker ______Red-bellied Woodpecker together. Be specific with the species ______American Crow ______American Crow name, e.g. we can't use just the name ______European Starling ______European Starling Sparrow, Blackbird or Gull. ______Common Grackle ______Common Grackle I At the end of the count period, record ______Carolina Wren ______Carolina Wren your final tallies and send in the form ______Northern Mockingbird ______Northern Mockingbird ______American Goldfinch ______American Goldfinch immediately. ______Red-winged Blackbird ______Red-winged Blackbird Personal observations and comments are ______Hairy Woodpecker ______Hairy Woodpecker welcome as are suggestions to improve ______Common Flicker ______Common Flicker the surveys and reports. ______Rufous-sided Towhee ______Rufous-sided Towhee ______American Robin ______American Robin There are three ways to ______Brown-headed Cowbird ______Brown-headed Cowbird participate: ______Sharp-shinned Hawk ______Sharp-shinned Hawk ______Rock Dove (pigeon) ______Rock Dove (pigeon) Mail the survey to: ______Gray Catbird ______Gray Catbird Feeder Survey c/o John McNeil ______Yellow-rumped Warbler ______Yellow-rumped Warbler 168 Lexington Road ______Red-breasted Nuthatch ______Red-breasted Nuthatch Shirley, NY 11967 ______Other ______Other ______Send your information via the internet go to: easternlongislandaudubon.org and 1) Click on: Chapter Projects 2) Click on: Feeder Statistics 3) Click on: To submit via the internet and follow the prompts Email the results to: [email protected] THE OSPREY November/December 2010 11

CHAPTER RENEWAL & MEMBERSHIP

For $15 a year, you will receive 6 copies of this newsletter.You will be supporting our local edu - cation and conservation activities. (Members of National Audubon who are not chapter mem - bers receive one copy of this newsletter per year.)

This is a H Renewal H New Membership

Name ______

Address ______

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Please be sure to include your email. You will receive an email confirmation, a pdf of the first newsletter and occasional up - dates. And, no we do not share this list! Make check payable to: Eastern Long Island Audubon Society and mail to: ELIAS Membership, PO Box 206, East Quogue, NY 11942-0206 THE OSPREY November/December 2010 12

ELIAS Officers & Directors President: Mark Your Calendars Eileen Schwinn 631-728-8342 Mon., Nov. 1 Nature Program : Ecuador, The Andes Past President: Alfred Scherzer 631-728-2898 by Bob Adamo (see pg. 1) Vice President: open Recording Secretary: Nov. 7 to 14 Feeder Survey (see pg. 10) Chris Schmitt 631-727-2860 Corresponding Secretary: Sat., Nov. 20 Field Trip : Hallockville Farm & Gigi Spates 631-765-1436 Jamesport State Park (see pg. 3) Treasurer: Tom Moran 631-849-4434 Board of Directors: Leader: MaryLaura Lamont Bob Adamo 631-369-1958 Sun., Nov. 21 Field Trip : The William Floyd Estate (see pg. 3) Ridgie Barnett 631-288-3628 MaryLaura Lamont Leader: MaryLaura Lamont Catherine McCluskey 631-399-4782 Dec. 5 to 12 Feeder Survey (see pg. 10) Matthew McCluskey, Jr. 631-399-4782 Tom Moran 631-849-4434 Mon., Dec. 6 Nature Program: Everyone Loves Owls Sally Newbert 631-281-6008 Dan Wilson by Linda Sullivan & Dianne Taggert (see pg. 1) Byron Young Dec. 18 to Jan. 1 Christmas Bird Counts (see pg 2) Committees/Projects Membership, Mailing, Field Trips & Feeder Stats: January 15 -21 Waterfowl Census (see pg 2) John McNeil 631-281-2623 NOTE: There is no meeting in January, because of the holidays and the Programs: open Liaison - Kaler's Pond Audubon Center: possibility of bad weather. Alfred Scherzer 631-728-2898 Hospitality: Ridgie Barnett 631-288-3628 If there are any changes in programming, it will be Conservation: Gigi Spates 631-765-1436 announced on Facebook and on the website. Education: Evelyn Voulgarelis 631-727-0417 Join ELIAS on Facebook, click to become a friend . Publicity: Sally Newbert Webmaster: Annette Oliveira 631-878-5576 Nature Chats: Open Bluebird Restoration Program: EASTERN LONG ISLAND AUDUBON SOCIETY Gigi Spates 631-765-1436 From the Barrens to the Bays Newsletter Editor Serving Eastern Brookhaven, Western Riverhead & The Hamptons Sally Newbert 631-281-6008 www.easternlongislandaudubonsociety.org [email protected]

NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Published by: Permit No. 3 Eastern Long Island Audubon Society Center Moriches, NY 11934 P.O. Box 206 East Quogue, NY 11942-0206 Address Service Requested

Please check the date on your label. If your membership is about to expire please use the membership/renewal form on page 11 to keep your membership current. Thanks.