Juvenile Bobwhite Quail Released in Montauk County Park
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EASTERN LONG ISLAND AUDUBON SOCIETY – From the Barrens to the Bays Formerly Moriches Bay Audubon, established 1967 July/August 2019 — Vol. XLIV, No. 4 Juvenile Bobwhite Quail Released in Montauk County Park hird House Nature Center Recognizing the plight of Bobwhite The local community has embraced the (THNC) is partnering with Suffolk throughout Long Island, the Montauk Montauk Quail Restoration Project, TCounty Parks to restore the native Quail Restoration Project manager, Jessica including school children. This is the Bobwhite Quail population in Montauk. James, has wanted to raise and release second year that THNC has provided In 2018, THNC began the Montauk Bobwhite for years, but it wasn't until she Quail eggs to the Montauk School. Mr. Quail Restoration Project, a program to got involved with the passionate birding Brunn’s science classes are enjoying reintroduce native Bobwhite Quail to community of THNC that a plan took hatching and rearing Bobwhite. The school Suffolk County park lands in Montauk. shape. Four months after the initial batch children will be at the Third House on Talk to Montauk old timers and they of eggs went into the incubator, the first the release date to watch their birds will speak wistfully of a time when two dozen juvenile quail, all sporting take flight. Montauk Library also is also Bobwhite Quail were a common sight, personalized leg bands, were released at hatching a brood under the supervision of but the days are long gone when their Third House, in Montauk County Park to THNC. Using a webcam the library will baleful, unmistakable song – “bob-white, the cheers of onlookers. This year the first live stream the project. bob-white” – would be heard at dawn release is on Thursday, May 23 at historic Third House. Further groups of banded and dusk throughout the moorlands and THNC, a 501c3 environmental education birds will be released throughout the backyards of Montauk. Theories abound organization is happy to accept donations summer at various locations throughout as to what caused the precipitous decline to support their quail restoration project. For Montauk. Ms. James notes that “Quail in Bobwhite populations over the last more information are omnivorous. Besides eating greens 20 to 30 years. One thing is for sure: the about them and their and seeds, they are stealthy and effective fact that these charming, stout little birds programs, visit hunters, scouring the grasslands and are ground nesters makes them and their www.thirdhousenaturecenter.org thickets for bugs. Could there be a young easy prey for predators, especially and follow them on correlation between the frightening rise in feral, and even outdoor pet, cats. Facebook and Instagram. the local tick population and the demise “2019 is year two of a five-year program of the Bobwhite?” to raise and release birds in Montauk,” says Ed Johann, president of Third House Nature Center, a group of local scientists, naturalists and devoted volunteers that brings a variety of environmental programs and events to Montauk. “Survival rate for Quail in the wild is generally low, and so we will continue to release birds over a number of years until we can establish viable breeding colonies. The first year of our program we spent most of our energy establishing best practices for hatching and rearing healthy birds, and we raised about 200 quail in 2018. This year we will aim for 300+ and we intend to increase those numbers significantly every year thereafter." Quail chicks almost ready to be released. Wouldn't it be lovely to have them running all over Long Island! Photo: Christopher Elliott/Audubon Photography Awards SEE PAGE 3 FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS & NATURE WALKS THE OSPREY July/August 2019 Page 2 THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER ELIAS Volunteers Byron Young Island Audubon Chapters. This provides We would attempt to approach entities he business of the Eastern Long an opportunity to report on our activities (Golf Courses, Town or County owned Island Audubon Chapter is cared for and to hear what other chapters are property) that can maintain the trails by a dedicated cadre of volunteers doing and to discuss major issues and open spaces while our volunteers T related to Long Island environment and maintain the nesting boxes. that constitute our Board of Directors and several other folks who lead bird birding. Recently, we have made an effort Where am I going with all of this, well, the walks, or actively assist with Chapter to attend the Semi-annual New York answer is simple we are always looking activities. This group puts in many hours Audubon meeting where representatives for people who are willing to give a bit of volunteer time to make sure we have from across the state meeting to discuss of time to help us with a Chapter event monthly programs of interest, monthly statewide issues and again report our or activity. I am reaching out to all of our bird walks throughout eastern Suffolk local activities to a larger audience. The members to see who might be interested County and further afield when possible, Spring New York Audubon meeting is in helping because once we get into the conduct the necessary business of the always held in the Saratoga Springs area middle of an activity our focus turns Chapter and participate in several annual and the Fall meeting is held at some single-mindedly to that task at hand and events. Our major annual events begin location across the state supported by a we forget to ask for help until it is to with Earth Day at the Quogue Wildlife local chapter. This Fall the meeting will be late. So I would like to put out a call for Refuge, followed early in the Fall with our held in Connecticut since the New York volunteers who we can reach out to as Annual Dinner, and then the Annual Seed and Connecticut Audubon have joined needed for the Annual Dinner, Earth Day, Sale, which is a shared enterprise with the forces under one Executive Director. the Fall Seed Sale, help with a Bluebird Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Beyond the business activities of the Trail, help with a bird walk, volunteer to Board members have attended the two Chapter, volunteers maintain two Bluebird bring refreshments to a monthly meeting, Long Island Audubon Council meetings trails one at Indian Island County Golf post events on-line or write an article for each year. This group is made up of Course and the other at Sandy Pond The Osprey. representatives from the seven Long Golf Course. We had a third Bluebird If you are interested in volunteering trail in Moriches but the fields please see one of us at a Monthly Meeting became overgrown and the or drop any of us a note or email. We volunteer who maintained the would like to develop a list of folks who bird boxes moved off Long Island. might be able to help and reach out to Given the availability of a suitably you as an event or activity comes up to maintained location (mowed see if you can help. Any help would be paths) and volunteers to maintain greatly appreciated. the nest boxes we would like to o set up another trail in our area. ELIAS table at Earth Day where volunteers greeted guests and led walks. Volunteer Emily Young took the photo. “Home of the 99 cent Suet Cake” Eastern LI’s Largest Wild Bird Store 40 lbs Feathered Friend & Wild Delight Bird Seed Black Oil 100’s of Bird Feeders and Bird Houses in Stock! Sunflower $3 off per bag ********* Must present this ad Garden Center – Plants – Organic & Low Impact Remedies for discount Pet Food & Supplies – Beekeeping – Home Brewing – Canning Equine – Poultry – Livestock – Animal Feed – Farm & Stable Supplies Husqvarna Power Sales & Service – BBQ Fill – U-Haul Truck Rentals 1122 Osborn Ave. • Riverhead • 631.727 3100 • www.talmagefarm.com THE OSPREY July/August 2019 Page 3 Summer Summer Meetings Beach Birding Walks Monday Evening, July 1, 2019 @ 7:30 pm Saturday Morning, July 13, 2019 @ 8:00 am Tick-Borne Disease Dune Road, Hampton Bays What You Need to Know Leader: Eileen Schwinn Anna-Marie Wellins, DNP, M.Ed., ANP-C Meeting at 8:00 am, NEW LOCATION: County Parking Lot at the End of Dune Road, overlooking the Shinnecock Inlet (east Chances are that you, or someone you know, has been of Oakland’s Restaurant). ELIAS has bayside day passes to be diagnosed with Lyme or another tick-borne disease. used as we travel along Dune Road, and stop at Tiana, Trustee Dr. Anna-Marie Wellins, a member of the Medical Advisory Roads and other Points of Interest, as the birds dictate. Panel of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s Regional Restrooms are portapotty, or “real” at Ponquogue Pavillion Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center, will speak about the (ocean side and walkable from bayside parking) and at Tiana types of diseases that are carried by the different species (again, walkable on Ocean side from the bayside parking area). of ticks found on Eastern Long Island, and the symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment options that are available. Tips on preventing tick bites will also be shared. Each Sunday Morning, August 25, 2019 @ 8:15 am attendee will receive a free tick removal kit. There is no charge for this event and it is open to the public. For more Totally Remarkable information please call (516) 443-4906. Cupsogue Sand Flats Monday Evening, August 5, 2019 @ 7:15 pm Leader: Eileen Schwinn Meet at 8:15 am, at the western end of the Cupsogue Take a Walk and Explore QWR parking lot. Low tide is approximately 10:40 am giving us Enjoy a walk around Quogue Wildlife Refuge.