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Welcome to our “environmental entertainment”
column, A Bird's Eye View, where I will be sharing
some of my favorites books, movies and videos. |
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“Where the Wild Things Were” by William Stolzenburg
with Stella Miller
When I heard about this book, I raced out to
purchase it. Predators, or carnivores, are my
favorite group of animals and I have been passionate
about them since I was a little girl. I eagerly dug
in and was utterly absorbed.
As suburbanites, many of you may be thinking,
“Why should I care about predators?” The reasons
may surprise you. Predators are keystone or
umbrella species. Protect them, and the vast
habitats needed to sustain them, and you protect
everything else that lives within that habitat,
including the birds that Long Islanders enjoy during
migration.
The presence of predators helps to maintain a
healthy balance within our natural communities. One
classic example can be found in Yellowstone National
Park. Once wolves disappeared from the park, the
ecosystem began to suffer. With no major predators
to fear, elk and deer began to congregate and
demolish anything they could reach. Willow and
aspen trees began to die out as these ungulates
browsed them down to nothing. Returning wolves to
the park has forced prey animals to disperse,
allowing the over-browsed trees to flourish.
Riverbeds are once again lush and green. Where
there are trees and shrubs, there are nesting birds.
See the connection?
Wolves also provide food for other wildlife.
Ravens, bears, magpies and eagles all benefit from
wolf kills. The presence of wolves has helped bring
down the coyote population, which was exploding and
suppressing smaller predator populations. With the
reduction of coyotes, these animals, such as
fishers, wolverines, bobcats, martens and badgers,
are increasing in number within the ecological
community. It is all a careful balancing act, and
one that is carefully intertwined. Take one
component out of the equation and watch an entire
ecosystem begin to decline.
In
other locations dominant predators keep the lower
tier predators (or “mesopredators”) under control.
Animals such as raccoons, red foxes and domestic and
feral cats and dogs can decimate local bird
populations. A study done in the chaparral country
of California near San Diego is an example of this.
In the study areas where there were no coyotes to
keep red foxes, raccoons and cats under control
there was a dearth of nesting birds. Further in the
canyons, where coyotes flourished, the birds were
thriving. Why? Coyotes were able to control the
populations of the mesopredators, leading to less
predation on the nests. As a larger animal,
coyotes tend to prey on small mammals rather than
nesting birds and eggs. In the Dakotas, ducks
nests were being decimated by red foxes until the
70’s when a ceasefire was declared in the war on
coyotes. The results? Coyotes began to control the
fox population. This in turn led to a 15% increase
in nesting success. Stories like these abound from
all over the United States, supporting the case for
protecting predators.
Many
people fear predators. They think the only good
predator is a dead one. As explained in “Where the
Wild Things Were”, this is the farthest thing from
the truth. As the situation in Yellowstone
illustrates, these animals are essential to our
natural world. Without these powerful and vital
creatures, entire landscapes can change for the
worse. Ridding our natural areas of such an
important component can create ecological havoc.
For many people, myself included, predators fill
more than just a niche in the ecosystem. They
symbolize the last of the world’s last great
wilderness areas and are a reminder of days gone by,
when magnificent wildlife roamed the plains, forests
and mountains of our country. They fill us with
awe, a bit of fear and also a sense of peace. Even
if all we ever do is tiptoe to the edge of nature
and peer in, the knowledge that these wonderful
creatures are still living in our wilderness areas
stirs our blood and nourishes the wildness in our
souls.
Predators are especially important to our
ecosystem. With wildlife under siege in our modern
world, it is vital that everyone know what we will
be missing should we eliminate large predators from
our planet. This book is a must read for anyone
interested in our natural world. For more
information on predators, please be sure to attend
our November 9th monthly meeting. Promptly at
7:00pm we will be screening the documentary, “The
Lords of Nature”, followed by a brief program and
discussion after with Dr. Patrick Thomas of the
Wildlife Conservation Society.
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John Turner’s “Exploring The Other
Island: A Seasonal Guide to Nature on Long Island”
with Stella Miller
"To
watch a flock of sandpipers or a small group of
yellowlegs drop from the autumn sky with bodies and
wings twisting in response to millisecond changes in
aerodynamic conditions, to listen to their lonely,
compelling calls is to experience utter wildness.
The birds carry with them the desolation of the
tundra."
With those words, John Turner perfectly expresses
what I have always felt while listening to the
plaintive cries of shorebirds, but was unable to
articulate. This book is filled with lyrical prose
such as this while being chock full of facts about
the natural wonders of Long Island. From fish to
birds to land animals to plants, Turner tells us
what to look for and where to find it. But he
directs us responsibly. Locations of sensitive
species are not given, and I was impressed, although
not surprised, to see his code of ethics on display.
We are also encouraged to be responsible stewards of
these precious creatures and habitats. One of HOBAS’
tag lines is “responsible recreation” and that theme
is evident throughout this book.
The book is divided by seasons and then broken
down by species. For example, included in the
section for springtime is a chapter on songbird
migration, as well as spring ephemerals (for those
of you who do not know what a “spring ephemeral is,
I am certainly not going to tell you. Read the book
to find out!), salamanders and frogs. Summer brings
us the horseshoe crab, but the chapter is not just a
dry recounting of the natural history of this
ancient animal. Turner discusses the crab’s place in
the web of life, how man’s actions are impacting not
just the crabs, but in a snowball effect, the
shorebirds that depend upon the crabs for their
survival. There is a domino effect to everything we
do, as starkly illustrated here.
Did you know that there are habitats that depend
on fire in order to proliferate? Or that skunks are
carving out a living on Long Island? I bet you
didn’t know that cranberries were a booming business
right here on the Island. Read the book and you will
discover not only these tidbits, but others as well!
Most folks are not aware of the various species
of orchids and parasitic plants that flourish here.
They do not realize that in the fall, one can see
hundreds of hawks in one afternoon, while visiting
the Fire Island Hawk Watch, or catch waves upon
waves of shorebirds at our barrier beaches. A good
number of Long Islanders most likely believe that
Long Island is devoid of wildlife during the cold
and windy days of winter. As one of the premier
wintering spots for waterfowl, the island comes
alive with vast gatherings of these birds.
Furthermore, when we think migration in winter, we
assume that the general travel direction points
south. This is true but, in a reverse pattern, Long
Island is the winter spot for many of our far
northern species. Snowy, saw whet and long eared
owls, redpolls and crossbills are just a few of
these hardy visitors, and the barrier beaches are
terrific spots to spy them as they roost and forage.
Other wonderful winter species are the seals. Plum
Island is one of the most significant winter seal
haul out sites in southern New England. Oh, did I
just get a shameless plug in for preserving Plum
Island? You bet I did!
This book is an informative and lively guide to
all things natural on Long Island. Long Island is
not just shopping malls, highways and developments.
One does not have to look very far to find the magic
of nature. Open up this book and let John Turner
take you on a seasonal tour of natural Long Island.
It will whet your appetite to explore the “Other
Island” for real!
While you can purchase copies of this book on
Amazon.com, HOBAS has signed copies available and
all proceeds will go directly to us!
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As usual, my reading material pile is growing
faster than I can keep up. Believe it or not, I now
have 12 books waiting to be read, and am looking at
them in dismay, thinking, “How did I ever let this
pile grow to such epic proportions?” After all, I
have had plenty of time on my hands! Now that it is
too hot to bird or hike, I have been able to begin
tackling “THE PILE”. The first book on the list was
On Thin Ice by Richard Ellis. I attended a program
given by Mr. Ellis at the Explorer’s Club this past
winter, which was so interesting and engaging that I
immediately booked him for our September program and
bought his book. Although it had taken me some time
to get around to reading the book it was worth the
wait! Mr. Ellis is as impressive an author as he is
a speaker.
On Thin Ice by Richard Ellis
Polar
bears. Who doesn’t love a polar bear? Cute, fluffy
and roly poly as cubs, majestic and beautiful as
adults: they are the quintessential poster child
for wildlife and not many are indifferent to them.
When I picked up this book, I thought I knew all
there was to know about ursus maritimus. After all,
bears (especially brown bears) have been my favorite
animal since I was 10 and I already own 30 books
about these magnificent creatures. As I dug into
this absorbing book, I found myself learning about
the long (and for the bear, deadly) relationship
between humans and polar bears. On Thin Ice offers
a remarkable glimpse into the life of the polar
bear, both past and present.
Ever since man first encountered polar bears, the
big white bear has received the short end of the
stick. Unfairly persecuted, hunted and harassed,
early explorers killed, maimed and captured bears
indiscriminately. It is painful to read these
accounts of the suffering mankind has inflicted on
polar bears. Ellis takes these accounts and
stories and weaves them into a sad but intensely
interesting timeline of history. Starting in the
year 1056, we journey with Ellis until present day,
learning about the natural history of this great
bear along the way. We also learn the detrimental
impact climate change is having on polar bears and
their habitat.
Globally, there are 19 sub populations of polar
bears. Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and
Norway all are home to these ice bears. Scientists
have studied them for many years and thanks
especially to the easily accessible population in
Churchill, Alaska there is much we know about the
species.
Polar bears are among the largest carnivores on
earth, surpassed only by another bear, the Kodiak
(Ursus arctos middendorffi), a subspecies of the
brown bear. An adult female can reach 700 pounds,
while a male can top the scales at 1500 pounds.
Because they are only found in polar regions, polar
bears are superbly adapted to their icy living
conditions. Thick fur, covering even their feet
(for traction), along with a layer of blubber (up to
40% of the animals weight can be fat) allows this
predator to be the master of its domain and reign
supreme at the top of the food chain. Because their
habitat is surrounded by water, these marine bears
are excellent swimmers. On land, they might look
large and ungainly, but don’t let that fool you.
Like all bears, polar bears are capable of running
at speeds up to 35mph. Of course, in order to
conserve energy and prevent overheating, the bears
do not spend their time running about. When you are
the biggest and baddest in the neighborhood, you can
afford to relax. So they spend a lot of time
sleeping. They will wait, immobile, for hours at a
breathing hole, biding their time until the precise
moment a hapless seal pops out to take a breath.
Then, with one powerful blow of their forepaw,
dinner is served. An adult polar bear is massively
muscled, strong and able to haul prey over 600
pounds. One swipe of that deadly paw can easily
kill a 500 pound seal. Although they will take
advantage of other food sources, such as beluga
whales, sea birds and their eggs, young walrus and
fish, their diet consists mainly of seal. Two
species to be exact: the mainstay, ringed seal and
to a smaller degree, bearded seals.
Mating takes place from March through June and
the female bear then experiences what is known as
delayed implantation. During this process, the
fertilized ovum divides itself several times and
then floats freely in the uterus until, after about
six months, it reattaches itself to the uterine wall
to resume development. If the bear has had a poor
time of it and she has not put on enough fat
reserves, the embryo will not implant. Only a
pregnant female will hibernate and if the embryo is
viable, the cubs will be born in their den between
November and January and will stay with their
mothers for a couple of years.
Ellis discusses the various populations around
the world in great detail. It is fascinating to
learn about the remarkable relationship that many
native peoples have with the bear and to learn how
human impact, most notably climate change, is
pushing the polar bear to the brink. Because they
are dependent on sea ice as a hunting platform, as
the polar ice melts into the sea, so does the bear’s
ability to successfully hunt. Polar bears are
excellent swimmers, but that is not how they stalk
and capture their prey. They do it by waiting on
the ice for the perfect moment to grab their food
source as it surfaces to breathe. Because of ice
melt, seals have been forced to move into more
inaccessible areas, thereby depriving bears of their
prey. In addition, as our temperature warms, there
is less snow for females to dig dens. Currently,
there are only about 22,000 bears left in the wild,
down about 50% in just 20 years.
After reading this book, I thought about all the
"Global Warming Naysayers" out there. I thought,
how can they deny this is happening? The Arctic is
one of the regions that will show the results of
climate change most rapidly. It is the perfect
petri dish in which to demonstrate what is happening
to our planet while the polar bear is an ideal
specimen, illustrating with unfortunate clarity what
happens to a species when the environment that it
was superbly suited for undergoes a swift and severe
change. No longer the dominant species in polar
regions (for man has taken on that mantle and is
thus destroying its habitat, livelihood and future),
the polar bear now struggles to survive.
For hundreds of years, we have harassed, killed
and conquered this remarkable animal. What we are
inflicting on it now, through our impact on climate,
is just the final indignity. We can change this.
We must change this. The polar bear is not the only
animal on the edge of extinction thanks to climate
change. But, he is surely one of our most well
known and beloved and thus, the perfect ambassador
for why we need to take action now! It is not too
late, but at the rate we are going, it will not be
too long before it is. This is an important as well
as entertaining book and I was captivated by it. I
hope you will be too.
Note: Richard Ellis will be
our September speaker. Please check our program
page for details about the program and to read his
biography. We hope to see you there! |
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Wesley the Owl Birdwatcher, The Life of Roger
Tory PetersonAfter a whirlwind summer and
autumn filled with birding and hiking, I have
finally been able to crack the books and start
digging into some of the reading material that is
starting to pile up in my living room.
I
recently finished two very different books and
enjoyed them both. The first is Wesley the Owl by
Stacy O’Brien, a delightful and remarkable memoir
about a barn owl and the woman who was his caretaker
for almost 20 years. It is a fascinating look into
the mind of an owl and the relationship that can
form between two species. Stacy O’Brien, a
biologist, adopted Wesley as a non releasable four
day old owlet and lived with him for almost two
decades. During that time, they forged an incredible
bond, a bond that transcended their interspecies
differences. This wonderful memoir is filled with
humor, important life lessons, compassion and
interesting facts. Stacey was a research
student when she took Wesley home. He, of course,
became imprinted on her. Imprinting is when an
animal takes its identity from whatever it perceives
to be its parent. Many birds of prey in captivity
are imprints and as a result, they can never be
released into the wild. The danger to humans is too
great and the chances of survival without proper
training from a raptor parent is slim. Wesley
thought of Stacey as his mother, and then his mate.
His various sexual overtures towards her are a hoot
(sorry, I couldn’t resist) to read about and her
discomfort is priceless as she tries to explain
Wesley’s “affection” to her professor. This
book carries you through the 19 years that they
spent together. Some of it is very funny, and I
especially enjoyed reading about Stacey’s various
suitors and
their reactions to Wesley. Perhaps my
favorite anecdote is the one about the night Stacy
was feeding wild barn owls and was approached by
some rather sketchy characters. As she explained
what she was doing, the boys were transformed into
assistants as they became excited about her efforts
and eagerly helped her out. Proof that education and
awareness are key and I would bet that after that
experience, every one of those boys developed a
little bit of appreciation and compassion towards
owls. Just as this book leads us into the mind of
Wesley, and teaches us the “Way of the Owl”, these
boys’ lives were probably changed for the better
that night. Stacy’s life was absolutely changed for
the better through her relationship with Wesley. I think you will adore this book. Sweet, funny,
heartbreaking, engaging and informative, you will
not be able to put it down!
Switching gears,
I also recently finished Birdwatcher, The Life of
Roger Tory Peterson and enjoyed that a great deal
too. This book is written by Elizabeth Rosenthal and
is a terrific and thorough look into the life of
Roger Tory Peterson. To me, Peterson was always an
abstract and revered figure. Who hasn’t owned a
Peterson field guide? It was the first one I owned,
a gift from my mother for my 21st birthday, along
with my first pair of binoculars. It took me a very
long time to actually delve into birding, but I
always had my Peterson Field Guide handy if I did
need to ID something through the years! Roger
Tory Peterson was born in 1908 in Jamestown, NY.
From an early age he was enthralled by birds and
nature. In 1934 his Field Guide to the Birds
revolutionized the world of birding and he is
credited with bringing bird watching to the
forefront of American interests. Thanks to his field
guides, millions of people now had the tools to go
out into the field and definitively identify what
they were seeing. His influence and knowledge helped
spur a national past time that can now boast over 48
million participants, with one in five Americans
stating that they watch birds. This book is so much
more than just a narrative about Roger the “birding
legend”. What Rosenthal does is tear down the myth
and legend and offer us a wonderful glimpse into the
real person. His marriages, his relationships with
his children, and with others in the field: it is
all covered here. The love of nature that had begun
as a small child had morphed into a force to be
reckoned with. When he died in 1996, at the age of
87, as the father of modern birding, he left behind
a lifetime of achievement and had influenced and
helped to educate millions of people. This is
terrific book and I recommend it! |
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Now
that migration is over, field trip and fundraising
busy season are over and I can sit down and relax, I
have finally gotten to my next edition of A Birds
Eye View. This time around I am reviewing a book
that has already won many accolades and fans. This
was a fascinating look into one woman's life and
obsession. Please continue on for a peek into the
life of Phoebe Snetsinger!
Life List by Olivia Gentile
This is the story of a woman named Phoebe Snetsinger,
who, after a devastating cancer diagnosis, was
determined to see as many species of birds in the
world as she could. But this book is much more than
just a narrative of her life. It also asks the
questions: at what point does passion become
obsession? At what point do we stop enjoying the
experience in pursuit of the goal, and is it ever
worth it to allow relationships to suffer in our
quest to fulfill our dreams and passion? This book
also reminds the reader that life is short and
anyone of us, at any time, could suddenly be told we
have only limited time left.
Phoebe was a housewife, living a life in which she
felt seriously miscast. Stifled in the traditional
married lifestyle of the time, she found salvation
in birding. A friend brought to her attention a
blackburnian warbler and from that moment on, Phoebe
was hooked. This blackburnian warbler was Phoebe’s
trigger bird and her eyes were opened up to a whole
new world, a world to which she could escape the
banality of her everyday existence. She joined local
birding clubs and might have lived the rest of her
life out as “just” an avid birder. However fate had
a different plan for Phoebe. At the age of 49 she
was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just
about a year to live.
Therein began the obsession. Determined to see as
many species of birds as she could before she died,
Phoebe focused on her quest with steely
determination and grit. Traveling the world (she was
lucky enough to have a sizable inheritance from her
wealthy ad agency father), Phoebe defied the
doctor’s dire prediction and birded another 18
years. Each passing year, each subsequent battle
with the recurring cancer, fired her up with even
more determination. Missed family funerals and
weddings, along with the near destruction of her
marriage, did not slow her down. Even the brutal
gang rape she endured while on an expedition did not
cause her to skip a beat. With the characteristic
stoicism of some rape victims, she brushed the
incident under the proverbial rug and carried on.
Ms. Gentile brings a fresh perspective to the world
of birding, and it is amusing to read her
explanations of lingo that most birders consider
part of their everyday language. She neither judges
nor places Phoebe on a pedestal; instead she
narrates this fascinating woman’s life in a matter
of fact manner, leaving it up to the reader to
decide if it was all worth it.
For Phoebe, being the first person in the world to
see 8,000 birds was absolutely worth it. Worth the
heartache, the physical pain, the fractured family
relationships. Her quest defined her as a person,
and perhaps gave her the will to live on. Or, maybe
it was just sheer luck that she lived on for so many
more years. Without a doubt, it was the fire that
lit her from within and altered her life forever.
We are all living on borrowed time (Phoebe’s own
memoir is called “Birding on Borrowed Time”). After
reading this book I reflected on my own life, my own
dreams and goals. If I was given a death sentence
tomorrow, would I regret the things I haven’t done?
It helped me to recognize my own restless spirit and
I felt a kindred spirit in Phoebe. We all want a
life well lived. It is up to us to define what that
means to us as individuals. Abe Lincoln said it
best: “It is not the years in your life, but the
life in your years.”
I think Phoebe reached out, grabbed life by the
horns and took it home in a spectacular manner. In
the end, it wasn’t cancer that took Phoebe’s life.
It was a vehicular accident while she was on a
birding expedition. Phoebe died on her own terms,
doing what she loved. In the end, she died with her
boots on. Or, in this case, her binoculars.
I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend
it to non birders and birders alike. I also
recommend a visit to the book’s website
oliviagentile.com.
The introduction is filled with gorgeous bird
illustrations with such fun music that I find myself
viewing it over and over!!!
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As
someone who obtained her wildlife rehabilitation
license just last year, I was eager to read Suzie
Gilbert’s book,
Flyaway: How a Wildlife Rehabber Sought Adventure
and Found Her Wings. Of course, I
assumed it would be interesting and a good read.
What I was not prepared for was the range of
emotions, from heartbreak to hilarity, that I
experienced while reading it. Flyaway is thoroughly
entertaining and engrossing and I could not put it
down. Suzie speaks with the voice of countless
wildlife rehabilitators and does it eloquently,
articulately and with a razor sharp sense of humor.
Please click here for the full review. |
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