USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume II > Part 22
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume II > Part 22
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PIPING PLOVER. The clear, whistled, "peep-lo" of this little sand-colored plover is a common sound in summer along our sum- mer beaches. Locally, it breeds along our bays and on the Sound on the eastern end of Long Island and on. Shelter Island. Its habitat lies where sandy fills or natural habitat provides suitable areas for it to scoop a depression in the soft sand and lay its three or four eggs. On the South Shore it feeds among the sandy pools on the bay edges back from the ocean. The Wilson's Plover, although advancing its range northward does not breed on Long Island at the present time.
KILLDEER. All over Long Island in suitable habitat the wild reiterated cry, "Killdeer, killdeer" is heard as this bird's breeding grounds are invaded. It has increased greatly during the past years with protection, and is found in open situations such as on sandy plains, farm lands, golf courses and developments. Here it scoops out a depression and lays its four eggs.
WOODCOCK. In the open situations along our swampy woods, the twittering flight song and abrupt, nasal "peent" of the Wood- cock is heard in the spring. Back in the heart of the swampy tangle it breeds, nesting on the ground and laying its four eggs. In areas where common, holes bored in the soft mud or earth may be seen as indications of this bird's presence. It has been reported recently as breeding from the Woodmere region eastward locally to Shelter Island and as many as a dozen birds may be heard twittering their flight song in the spring at Massapequa.
UPLAND PLOVER. The Hempstead Plains are the recognized nesting grounds of this species on Long Island and away from there it is not known to breed. Although suspected of nesting in eastern Suffolk County, apparently there have been no nests found. On the Hempstead Plains its soft bubbling whistle, especially in early morn- ing, makes it delightful associate while one remains in the vicinity. This is another species that has benefited through protection, hav- ing become nearly extirpated at the turn of the century.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER. The little "teeter" or "spotty" has always been an associate since childhood as it has with many who have visited our local ponds. It breeds commonly along the outer strip, and also frequents our sluggish streams and pools where its loud "peet weet" comes from anxious birds as they fly back and forth apprehensive for the safety of their young. Of the large family of Sandpipers, only the Woodcock, Upland Plover and this species breed on Long Island. The Eastern Willet is not known to nest here.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. This species was discovered as breed- ing on Cartwright Island in the Herring Gull colony, a pair having been first found on July 18, 1940. A young bird, almost able to fly, was captured and banded on July 10, 1942. This constituted the first nesting record for New York State. This species has been extending its range southward for some years. The Cartwright Island record is the most southerly one along the Atlantic Coast.
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HERRING GULL. It was first reported breeding in small colonies at Fischer's Island, 1933, at Cartwright Island in 1936 and on July 13, 1939, three hundred bred at Gardiner's Island and 250 on Cart- wright Island. Nests were reported with eggs at Orient in early June, 1943. With the great increase of Herring Gulls in this region in recent years an extension of range is expected with this species. Eleven nests were reportedly found as far west as Fire Island Inlet in 1940. The Laughing Gull, formerly greatly persecuted, has not been known to breed on Long Island since 1888, although once a common nester. It is hoped this beautiful Gull will breed once more, as it breeds in New Jersey.
COMMON TERN. This species is now a common breeding bird from Jamaica Bay, locally along the ocean, eastward to Orient where there were reported about one hundred and twenty-five pairs nesting in 1940. This, however, is a great decrease over the six thousand pairs reported as breeding in 1930. They are very noisy birds, their loud, harsh "teears" resounding as they dash earthward at the intruder, sometimes hitting him on the head or hat before turning sharply upward for another earthly plunge. They scoop out a depression in the sand where they deposit their three or four spotted eggs. Eggers robbed their nests and the millinery trade nearly exterminated these birds around the turn of the century. They are greatly on the increase since protection.
ROSEATE TERN. This species is a local breeding of the extreme eastern end of Long Island with ten pairs reported as nesting at Orient, July 10, 1939. It breeds in or near the Common Tern colony and appears in some colonies elsewhere. A possible breeding record comes from Moriches in 1946 with a fledgling being observed fed by parents. It is to be hoped that this graceful long-tailed tern will nest on our western Long Island beaches in the not too distant future.
LEAST TERN. This little "Sea Swallow" with its Barn Swallow- like chatter, is perhaps our most abundant tern along the South Shore to Mecox. Although not nesting in such large colonies as those occupied by the Common Tern, it accepts smaller breeding areas and nests along the north side of our bays where sandy fill has been pumped on the marshes, as at Baldwin, Massapequa and elsewhere. Its return as a nester in 1926, from 1882, has been marked by a rapid increase in numbers and continued reports of breeding colonies pour in.
BLACK SKIMMER. This species was first noted as a Long Island breeding bird in 1934 at Gilgo Island (off Amityville). Shortly later it nested at Oak Beach and still later it was reported as nesting in a fairly large colony near Moriches Inlet. Infiltrating vegetation drove out the colony on Gilgo Island by 1940, but the Oak Beach colony, never large, still remains as does the one at Moriches. For the past few years a colony has been noted at Point Lookout and is at the present time the largest on western Long Island. This big, black and white bird is an attractive addition to our avifauna as it flies slowly over the water, dipping its under mandible beneath the surface and scooping up small marine life.
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EASTERN MOURNING DOVE. It breeds from Beechhurst and Wood- mere eastward and is regarded as tolerably common at Oyster Bay and common at Smithtown. Its shallow nest of coarse sticks is found often in conifers and usually near cultivated fields, around estates, lawns and farm lands.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. This species is reported as tolerably common at Oyster Bay and common at Smithtown. It prefers thicket, gardens, along wooded edges and brushy fields as a nesting habitat. It is recorded as nesting in preferred habitat to Orient, but appar- ently does not nest along the outer beaches.
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. This bird prefers the same habitat as the last and has about the same breeding range. Both Cuckoos nest in thickets and unlike the European Cuckoo, raise their own young. They are very beneficial as they consume large quantities of tent caterpillars.
BARN OWL. The Barn Owl nests in old buildings, in water towers, church steeples, barns and occasionally in hollow trees. Its haunts are usually in the vicinity of farms, estates and more-populated places. They are very beneficial as they kill many rats and mice. Often their presence may go unnoticed unless their hissing call is heard as they fly overhead. One of our recent nesting records comes from Fischer's Island, other reports come from Flushing, in the Jamaica Bay region, Bayport, Millers Place and Speonk.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL. This species breeds locally from Flush- ing eastward to Shelter Island and it generally uses a tree or bird box for nesting. Numerous records come in of this bird, except from the outer strip. It appears far more plentiful in Suffolk than in southern Nassau County where it is rare and somewhat irregular. It is listed as common at Oyster Bay and at Smithtown.
GREAT HORNED OWL. A 1946 summer report comes of two Great Horned Owls at Mastic. There appear no recent nests found on Long Island. Turrell, 1939, states that the species had not been recorded recently in the Smithtown region; that George Strong of Smithtown had not seen one in twenty-five years, although formerly quite plentiful. He cites two breeding records, one from Patchogue, 1915 (Overton), and one from East Moriches, 1930 (Wilcox). It is a bird of deep woods when nesting, often using a crow's or squirrel's nest for a foundation for its own.
NORTHERN BARRED OWL. Apparently a very rare bird on Long Island, there appear to be no breeding records for the past five years at least. Cruickshank, 1941, cites three undated records- Meadow Brook, Heckscher Park and Shelter Island. It is fond of deeply wooded swamps.
LONG-EARRED OWL. This species breeds in about half a dozen known locations, one at Massapequa. It is partial to conifers, usually nest- ing in one, but sometimes also nests in a deciduous tree or elsewhere. Its notes, a soft cooing, are quite unnoticeable, but it has some others louder and more attracting. It is strictly nocturnal and shy and prob- ably breeds more commonly than suspected.
SHORT-EARED OWL. Salt marshes and grassy brackish marshes are its haunts on Long Island, and it may pass unnoticed in the thick
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grass unless alarmed. It is more diurnal than some other species and may be observed flying along the marshes early and late and some- times appears on dark days in the open. Recent records of success- ful broods come from the Jamaica Bay area, Wantagh, Massapequa, Moriches and Shinnecock, and these areas represent its more or less regular nesting grounds. It also breeds in a few places in eastern Suffolk County and possibly around the Sound. Turrell lists it only as a migrant in the Smithtown region.
SAW-WHET OWL. As a nesting species we include this bird only on the basis of a pair found breeding at Millers Place, 1879 (Helme), sixty-nine years ago.
EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL. This species has recently been reported from Oceanside and Wantagh and nests regularly at Seaford and Massapequa. It is regarded as rare at Oyster Bay, becoming more common eastward through Smithtown and Commack. It breeds in favorable oak-woods with reports as being common in the Linden- hurst and Mastic areas, also throughout the center of Long Island and south of the Peconic River to Hampton Bays. It nests in the Flanders area, at Sag Harbor, in the Northwest Woods, through the Hither Hills and at Montauk. A few breed at East Marion, but there have been no records for the past 50 years at Orient. We have no recent breeding records for either Gardiner's Island or Shelter Island.
NIGHTHAWK. The loud "peent" of the Nighthawk as it hurls itself adeptly through the sky, announces the presence of this bird during the breeding season. It was recorded in breeding season dur- ing 1946 at Coram, Manorville and at Quogue. Reports, within the past eight years, come as possibly nesting at Idlewild and we have June records of birds observed from the Flushing area. This bird has greatly decreased as a nesting species on Long Island, and there are apparently no records for Nassau County. Previously nest- ing commonly in the Orient region, it is rare or absent in recent years.
CHIMNEY SWIFT. Its erratic flight and chippering call can hardly be overlooked. It is widespread as a breeding bird over Long Island, except in extreme congested locations and areas along the outer strip. Its principal nesting habitat is unused chimneys and it is not known to breed in hollow trees in this region.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Although not nesting on the outer strip, the Ruby-throat may be found breeding elsewhere from Beech- hurst eastward. It often selects a perch on a dry twig from which it darts away like a large bee. It is not a very common bird and both it and its beautiful little litchen-covered nest must usually be searched for in many localities.
EASTERN BELTED KINGFISHER. The rattling call of the Kingfisher is often one of the early notes of spring. It is a bird of waterways, well distributed over Long Island except along the outer strip, and nests in holes in banks where about six feet back in the tunnel it lays its six to eight white eggs.
NORTHERN FLICKER. This big, brownish, white-rumped, ground- inhabitating woodpecker is well distributed and well known. Tt breeds in cavities in trees, poles or buildings. It nests on the outer strip at
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Jones Beach, being the only species of woodpecker known to breed away from the Long Island mainland.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. This beautiful woodpecker is rare on Long Island. It, like the rest, nests in hollow trees. Recent breeding records come from the Flushing area (Beechhurst) and from Baldwin. It is very erratic and irregular.
EASTERN HAIRY WOODPECKER. In the Oyster Bay region it is listed as uncommon, with one Cold Spring Harbor record. At Smithtown it is listed also as an uncommon breeder in deep woods. Breeding reports from Beechhurst, Hewlett, Woodmere and Baldwin do not include this species and it is not known to nest on the outer strip. Taken as a whole it is a rather rare breeding bird on Long Island compared to the Downy, and records of its breeding are well worthy of consideration in our lists. Recent ones come from Bayside and Mastic.
NORTHERN DOWNY WOODPECKER. This small counterpart of the Hairy Woodpecker is widely and commonly distributed over Long Island except on the outer strip where it is unknown. It is not a bird of the deep woods, but may breed in orchards and open situa- tions. Like others of its family it uses a nesting hole.
KINGBIRD. Perhaps our most common and prominent flycatcher, the Kingbird prefers open country and the white-beaded border of its tail is a characteristic known to many boys as they tend their out- door tasks. It is well distributed in suitable open areas over Long Island, breeding sparingly, locally on the outer strip. It is well known for its spectacular chasing of crows out of its nesting area.
NORTHERN CRESTED FLYCATCHER. This hole-nesting flycatcher is fond of snake skins for lining its nest, which may be found in groves of trees, swampy woodlands, orchards and sometimes even in our yards. Their shrill call, resembling a policeman's whistle, is a characteristic call over the wide area on Long Island in which they are common.
EASTERN PHOEBE. The nesting of this species is governed largely by available bridges and open buildings on the ledges of which they build their nests. During the 1946 season they were reported as nest- ing at Woodmere, in the West Hills, in the Smithtown region and at Mastic. It is listed as a tolerable common nesting species at Oyster Bay, only as a transient on the Orient peninsula. For some years a Phoebe nested at Massapequa inside an open cattle shed behind a wet cowyard which provided the necessary mud for nest building. Two recent reports of early June Phoebes on Shelter Island probably represent nesting birds.
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. Apparently the Acadian Flycatcher does not breed any longer on Long Island. Formerly it bred locally from Jamaica to Cold Spring Harbor along the North Shore and' at Gardiner's Island. It is a bird of the Carolinian flora. In Long Island Bird Notes there is one record of a singing bird in June from the Oyster Bay region within five years, but no nesting evidence was found and it perhaps was a vagrant.
ALDER FLYCATCHER. There appears to be but one breeding locality recorded for this species on Long Island. It was reported as nesting
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in Kissena Park (near Flushing) from 1939 to 1941. In 1945, sing- ing birds were reported in June, but no nesting evidence was found and later the birds disappeared. The birds occupied a wet, weedy area interspersed with elderberry bushes and bushy willows, quite unlike their usual haunts in alder swamps.
LEAST FLYCATCHER. The Least Flycatcher is recognized as an uncommon to rare breeding bird on Long Island. In June, 1946, however, I heard the "chebec" call note of this little flycatcher in Woodbury and recorded four, at about a quarter of a mile intervals, and two more at Oyster Bay Cove. This is a remarkable report con- sidering the statement by Turrell, 1939, that the species is unknown to breed in the Smithtown area, and Cruickshank, 1941, that it is a decidedly rare nesting bird on Long Island. From Long Island Bird Notes come June records from Flushing, Mill Neck and Manorville. It is reported as nesting in the Oyster Bay region and at Millers Place.
EASTERN WOOD PEWEE. The demure little Wood Pewee is a delightful summer resident of our open woodlands, and sometimes breeds in more open areas such as around secluded lawns and gardens where trees are common. It is widespread from Woodmere and Flushing eastward in such habitat, but is absent from the outer strip along our ocean beaches and in the large burned-over stunted tracts of pine barrens. It perches on a dead branch while its plaintive, clear-whistled "peewee", with variations, falls with pleasing tones on the ear of the listener. It is quite prominent in August when it is largely occupied leading about and feeding its well-grown young.
PRAIRIE HORNED LARK. This is a new breeding bird on Long Island. Since it was found nesting in the Jamaica Bay region in 1936, its continual spread has been phenomenal, with records for the open areas of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, locally to Orient, Montauk and Gardiner's Island. It is a pleasing addition to our avifauna as it utters its twittering flight-song high over its grassy or sandy haunts.
TREE SWALLOW. The white breast and the iridescent, dark-blue back of the Tree Swallow flashes in the sunlight along our beaches and over our bays and ponds generally in proportion to the nesting boxes erected for its use. There has been a colony at Jones Beach for over fifteen years. About five years ago a few boxes were erected at Massapequa and the bird breeds there regularly. Consistent reports come from Mastic, Brookhaven and a few bred at Idlewild until the boxes were removed because of the proposed airport. With the erection of boxes in favorable habitat, they usually will appear to occupy them within a year or two, seeming to prefer coastal areas.
BANK SWALLOW. The Bank Swallow nests, as its name implies, in sandy or loamy cliffs or abrupt banks where it tunnels its nest-hole two or three feet to its grassy nest and four to six white eggs. It breeds at Jones Beach, but apparently is rare elsewhere along the South Shore. On the Sound it is more common, breeding on the cliffs, with about 25 pair reported at Lloyd's Neck, and nests locally east- ward concentrating on the eastern end of Long Island.
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ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. The brownish throat and back of this bird is sometimes confused with the banded breast and the brownish back of the Bank Swallow, as they flash through the air. The Rough- winged Swallow nests in holes in bridges and under them as well as nesting in a burrow like the Bank Swallow. Breeding records are more numerous for this species in recent years, coming locally from Beechhurst to Shelter Island. Recent nesting reports come from both the North Shore and the South Shore, the largest numbers being reported along the Sound cliffs to East Marion. They do not appear to nest along the outer strip as does the Bank Swallow at Jones Beach. South Shore reports come from Lindenhurst and Patchogue and from the East Hampton area.
BARN SWALLOW. This bird does not regularly breed under eaves as does the Cliff or Eave Swallow, but inside buildings. It nests commonly over Long Island usually where open sheds, barns and out-buildings are available. It also nests along the outer strip at Jones Beach and under the drawbridges along the causeways. The Cliff Swallow in the northeast uses the eaves of barns almost exclusively as a nesting site. It formerly bred on Long Island, but has not been known to do so since 1904.
PURPLE MARTIN. This big swallow nests in multiple bird houses usually preferring areas near water with large open meadows avail- able for hunting winged insects. Perhaps the best-known colony is at Seaford where the birds breed regularly in three or four large boxes in competition with English Sparrows and Starlings. Martin colonies are found here and there over eastern Long Island, regular reports coming from the Mastic and Speonk areas.
BLUE JAY. Little search need be made for this well-known bird from Brooklyn eastward over most of Long Island. Although known as a rascal for its nest robbing activities, it is a handsome one. It breeds occasionally in rather confined areas, but is absent from the outer strip and most of the Orient peninsula and Gardiner's Island. It is rare or uncommon in the large, scrubby, burned-over tracts and in the poorer vegetated pine barrens of Suffolk County away from dwellings. ' There was a large westward drift of these birds after the devastating 1938 hurricane which struck eastern Long Island with great severity.
EASTERN CROW. Crows accepting protection, nest in some of our city parks and have been reported breeding in both Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. The Eastern Crow is regarded as a common and an abundant permanent resident at Oyster Bay and Smithtown respectively, and the Fish Crow is regarded as tolerably common in the Oyster Bay region and not uncommon in the Smith- town area. The Eastern Crow reportedly nests along the other strip in a few places, quite unlike its smaller relation the Fish Crow, which, contrary to its name, nests more inland. Both rob birds' nests, the Fish Crow appearing to more diligently hunt the nests of smaller birds.
FISH CROW. Although resorting to large roosts from autumn into late winter, crows spread out in summer and nest here and there in
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our woodlands. Fish Crows breed in scattered locations from Brook- lyn to Montauk. See Eastern Crow.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. Little bands of Chickadees, uttering their cheery notes, register throughout our summer woodlands as they lead their young about and are widely distributed in wooded areas of some extent. They usually have two broods and breed in holes. According to Turrell, in the Smithtown region, they are usually found nesting in birch woods and swamps.
NORTHERN WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. This acrobatic bird utters its nasal "yank, yank" as it runs head-down with ease on the search for insects to feed their young while nesting in some tree cavity. They are generally spread through the wooded areas of eastern Nassau County south to and including Massapequa. They also breed in the West and Dix Hills and in the Smithtown region, but are less common in most areas on eastern Long Island and are not known to breed on the tips of the Orient and Montauk peninsulas. The Tufted Titmouse has not been known to breed on Long Island for many years.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. This little Nuthatch breeds in the Canadian zone. Only one report substantiates its status as a Long Island breeding bird and no nest was found. With a mate nearby, Roy Latham collected, on June 15, 1929, a female at Orient in which "the ovaries contained the ruptured capsules from which the eggs had been developed" (Cruickshank, 1941).
BROWN CREEPER. We cannot definitely claim this bird as a nest- ing species, but a pair summered at East Marion in 1923 and was believed to have nested. Also one individual was observed in Orient, June 18, 1921, its behavior suggesting a breeding bird. Along with the above, Cruickshank, 1941, cites a number of records in the New York City region, and he found a nest with young in the Van Cort- landt Park swamp, in Bronx County, May 27, 1926. He reports the nest as "placed under the loose bark of a tree in damp or flooded woodlands". Its call note is a fine "screep". With these thoughts in mind, some field work in this direction may definitely establish this species as one of our breeding birds.
HOUSE WREN. The staccato chatter of this bird is rather con- sistent throughout the summer about our homes and gardens, especially where bird boxes are erected for their use. It is found nesting from Flushing (Beechhurst), Woodmere and the Jamaica Bay area eastward becoming less abundant, and on the Orient and Montauk peninsulas it is known chiefly as a transient. It is regarded as tolerably common in the Oyster Bay area and as a common sum- mer resident in Smithtown.
CAROLINA WREN. Easily recognized by its loud whistled "wheedle, wheedle, wheedle", this largest of our native wrens breeds principally on eastern Long Island, being more or less resident. Because of nesting on the most northerly boundary of its range, it fluctuates in numbers, decreasing after severe winters so that an accurate listing of its breeding range is not very consistent over a period of years. In recent years most of our nesting records come from Shelter Island, the Orient peninsula and from Gardiner's Island. It has been reported as nesting at Woodmere and Idlewild. We get very per-
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