Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Here's a reminder of warmer weather

And check out this great hummingbird video :http://vimeo.com/70255884

See you all in 2014!

Town Threatens Legal Action Against Hummingbird Sanctuary

I received the following (undated) letter today (dec 19 2013) from the Riverhead Town Attorney's Office

Apparently Hummingbird Sanctuary Operation  is a "prohibited use" in the Town of Riverhead, and in addition requires a variance,  a site plan approval and "other necessary approvals". This "violation" was  discovered on august 5, and might require the initiation of a Supreme Court action against me. Funnily enough, my immediate neighbor is a Judge on the Supreme Court. 

Visit by Appointment sunday pm; Birds and Bees Part 5

There are still some hummingbirds around and the weather tomorrow (sunday) looks good, so I've set up a slot in the afternoon for visits by appointment at 3 pm (ending no later than 4.30). Please email me if you would like to come tomorrow, giving the names and walking ability of those in your party, your car license number and whether you need the required waiver form. Please note you should plan to arrive in the parking lot at 3, from where you will take the woodland path starting at the yellow minibridge. The sanctuary can be difficult to find, so study the Google map (link at right), and give yourself plenty of time. This will probably be the last opportunity this year to visit.

The photo was taken at the sanctuary a week ago by Jimmy Chiu.

In my last post I described why asexual reproduction (practiced by all simple cells, such as bacteria) has a great limitation: to respond to rapidly changing environments, populations must mutate very rapidly, but if the mutation rate is too high, natural selection cannot winnow out the flow of bad mutations, and the population goes extinct. Note that this is NOT because offspring are immediately non-viable; the collapse takes a long time. Now I will try to explain why sex provides the solution to this evolutionary dilemma, and why it has become almost universal for complex life forms, such as us.

visiting by appointment; Birds and Bees Part 4

Although we are now closed there are still a few opportunities to visit at specific, mutually-agreed times. The remaining available slots are today sunday sept 8 at 3 pm prompt and tuesday sept 10 at 10 am promptly. Please email me if you would like one of these "slots", giving the number of people, their walking ability, and your car plate #.  NO visiting without appointment - we are now CLOSED.

Today's picture is a recent one by Walter Bednarczyk. The hummer is feeding at Pink Porterweed, Stachytarpheta mutabilis, a 4-star plant. The only place I know of that carries it on Long Island is, naturally enough, Long Island Hummingbird Plants. 

Continuing my expurgated, rather academic, account of sex, we need to know what a "genome" is. It's simply the DNA (packaged inside cells) that carries the instructions to build that organism. Simple organisms like bacteria have a small genome, with typically only a few million units (or "bases") making up their DNA. Asexually reproducing organisms cannot evolve genomes much bigger than this. These compact genomes cannot build a  complex organism - even one as rudimentary as an ameba. Why can't asexually-reproducing organisms develop the large genomes chacteristic of complex life (such as the 3 billion units of human DNA)? Remember that Darwinian evolution is all about natural selection of inherited variation. The inherited variations in asexual reproduction (e.g. by bacteria) is caused by random mistakes in copying DNA - mutations. A mutation that leads to a more-efficiently living and reproducing organism will be selected, and become more frequent in the population. This is the basic dynamo of evolution. But most mutations aren't advantageous, and will be eliminated, also by natural selection.

However, too much mutation is a bad thing. In fact, if the mutation rate is too high, evolution becomes impossible: natural selection cannot weed out bad mistakes fast enough. They accumulate and weaken the popultion to the point that it goes extinct. As a rule of thumb the mutation rate must be less than one over the genome size for evolution to operate at all. Indeed, in most simple cells the mutation rate is about a thousand times smaller than 1/genome size. This very low mutation rate reflects the elaborate and highly accurate enzymes that universally catalyze DNA copying.

But this low mutation rate, while necessary, means that evolution cannot quickly adapt to rapidly changing environments. If the mutation rate were higher (for example, comparable to 1/genome size), evolution cannot occur either. So asexually reproducing organisms are between a rock and a hard place, and can only survive by having very small genomes, sufficient only to program a simple cell. If life had stayed asexual, it would have remained an insignificant bacterial scum veiling the earth. But at some point cells learned how to reproduce sexually. As I will explain in Part 5, this turbocharged evolution, and allowed the emergence of large genomes and complex life.

Weekend slots; birds and bees part 3

We are now closed for the season (until august 2014). However, there are still some limited opportunities for private visits by appointment only, at a few specific "slot" times.  You should arrive at the agreed upon slot start time and leave before its end (1 1/2 hour maximum duration). There are 2 slots available this weekend, both in the afternoon: saturday 3-4.30 and sunday 3-4.30. If you would like to visit this weekend, please email me your choice of slot time, with the number of visitors you plan to bring, your walking abilities, and your car plate number. If I respond positively, I will meet you in the parking area at the start of the slot time to welcome you, receive your waivers and direct you over the woodland path. Absolutely no visiting outside pre-arranged appointment times.

I wrote in my last post that the key to emergence of complex life from simple life forms was the appearance (by evolution) of sexual reproduction (basically Daddy's sperm combines with Mommie's eggs to make a new individual). But before explaining why sex was so crucial, I must better explain the difference between simple and complex life. There are actually 2 types of difference, though they are related. The first is the difference between simple and complex cells. The former (basically bacteria, but also another type of recently discovered, rather obscure  cells called "archaea"; the technical term is "prokaryotes") have no cell nucleus, and lack many other internal structures that are found in complex cells. These cells have been around for about 4 billion years, and emerged quite quickly after the earth formed. They reproduce asexually (though they can swap genes). Complex cells are bigger, have sex, nuclei and various other things like mitochondria (which provide increased levels of energy). They are known scientifically as "eukaryotes".
  The second type of simple/complex difference is between single celled organisms and multicellular organisms (like us: we are made of about one hundred trillion complex cells, excluding the quadrillion bacterial simple cells in our gut; a blue whale might have a hundred quadrillion cells). All multicellular organisms are made of complex cells, but there are many single-celled complex organisms (such as amoebas).
It seems as if sex is necessary to make complex cells and even more necessary to make multicellular assemblies of complex cells (like us). In my next posts I will explain (1) why asexual (e.g. vegetative) reproduction cannot generate either type of complexity (2) why sex does the trick. After explaining why sex is necessary, I will  explain why it's difficult to do properly.

The image, showing a bird pollinating a rosebud sage, is by Keith Bittner. A hummingbird has "only" about 100 billion cells.

A very hungry hummer; Birds and Bees Part 2

Last night we had the first proper sunset since at least a week. The wind shifted to the north west, the air dried and the visibility and light improved greatly. Hummingbirds were quite active until at least 15 minutes after sunset, making up for lost time. It was too late for them to take advantage of the wind shift to depart southward. Around sunset itself there was a lot of chasing going on around the front deck overlooking the sea: clearly very young hummers were desperate to feed in the fading light, but the owner(s) of the flower beds were ruthless in chasing them away. I tried to take video but I have not yet reviewed the outcome - I hope to post some results soon. Then one by one they all vanished - except that when I thought all was over, a shy bird came to feed unmolested in the last light. He spent at least 6 minutes feeding continuously, flitting from flower to flower, occasionally perching on a stem for a second or so before resuming. I have never seen such a long feeding episode before - clearly a single bird. Finally, as the light disappeared, he headed off towards the gloomy forest.

Today's photo is a recent one by Maria Dottavio. While the sanctuary is now closed until aug 2014, there are still some opportunities to visit privately, either as a group (minimum 10 people) or by appointment at specified "slot" times. One available slot is friday at 3.30; others may be available sat am/pm and sunday pm - please check the blog for details, or email me.

Resuming my account of the mystery of sex, I can recommend a book on the topic by Mark Ridley (who wrote one of the very best standard texts on evolution). The book is for the "intelligent layman" (or, rather less neatly, "intelligent layperson" - in fact "very intelligent layperson"!). There are 2 versions around: "Mendel's Demon" (the original UK title) and "The Cooperative Gene" (the US title). I prefer the former title, since it gets more to the heart of the matter, and also alludes to a related idea, "Maxwell's Demon" (which would itself be a nice topic for a future post, if ever I can link hummingbirds to statistical physics!). "Mendel's Demon" refers to the way that in sexual reproduction genes from the 2 parents are shuffled together in the offspring, rather like a hand of cards that contains both red and black suits. The book explains why the sexual shuffling process is essential to get complex organisms (multicellular organisms that contain many different cell types, and which are visible to the naked eye - essentially life "as we see it" rather than "life as we know it", which includes invisible single cell organisms such as bacteria. In fact he argues, correctly I think, that the most important thing about life is not that it exists, but that it exists in complex forms. Many planets might carry simple forms of life, but only on a few very favorable planets did life assume striking complex forms, such as trees, tigers and us. Furthermore, he argues that the key to the appearance of complexity was not Darwinian evolution itself, but the development of sex. More to follow.......

CLOSED until august 2014; golden dab; why sex?

We are now closed until august 2014. A few slots are available for visits by appointment - see below.

Today's photo was taken on sunday by Rick Mei. Notice the little dab of golden pollen near the base of the bill. Typically a flower's anther places pollen on the bill or forehead of the probing bird. This is then transferred to the next flower's stigma, achieving cross-pollination. But since most plants can also reproduce vegetatively, or asexually, why do most prefer to reproduce sexually, by cross-pollination? Oddly enough, this simple question is still not completely answered by modern evolution theory. Creationists could rightly claim that evolution theory is incomplete, but luckily they don't like to talk about sex.
The simple answer is that sex is almost universal because it promotes genetic variety (as we all know), which is useful in a complex and ever-changing world. However it's not easy to prove that this is the case. The main problem is that sex is in other ways extremely inefficient: if an organism reproduces "vegetatively" (i.e. asexually, e.g. by budding) it generates twice as many offspring: sex takes 2 organisms rather than 1. Sex remains  the "Queen of Evolutionary Problems", since it has not been conclusively shown that the sexual bargain is a good one, in the long term ("do my genes have a better chance of surviving if I reproduce sexually or asexually?").  I'll write more about this fascinating but rather abstruse topic in future posts. In the mean time, let's enjoy the complicated sex lives of hummingbirds and flowers.

Visiting by Appointment. ONLY NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST (title your email "Slot Request") THE NAMES of all your  accompanying car passengers and  your car license plate number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time (but only start the trail on time; I will greet you in the parking lot). It can be difficult to find us so give yourself plenty of time. No late-comers please.

AVAILABLE SLOT TIMES:  tuesday sept 3 am, friday sept 6 pm only. Email me your slot choice, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party. Thanks.

CLOSED for the season; visiting by appointment only; the hummingbird family

We are now closed until august 2014. However, there are still a few opportunities to visit by private appointment (e.g. this afternoon, tues both am and pm, and friday afternoon). For details see below.

We have hardly seen any sun at the sanctuary for a week, and everything (including me) is a bit soggy. Hummingbirds are still hanging in there, and I'm still going through a jug of nectar every 2 days. After 2 lectures last week the new semester really gets underway on wednesday, so I'm catching up with some garden chores.

Today's photo, by Robin Fishman, shows a rather skinny, long-necked, hummer feeding at rosebud salvia while clinging to a flower stalk. Most of the other hummers here are rather plump, and waiting for an improvement in the weather, and a nice tail wind, to go further south. Hummers try to perch when feeding whenever possible, though usually they have to hover. Of course the ability to hover is the key to their success, because it enables them to compete with insects for the nectar provided by so many flowering plants.  This novel (for birds) ability allowed the hummingbirds to diversify into one of the largest avian families, with over 340 species, exclusively in the New World. Some Old World species do nectar (e.g. sunbirds), but much less efficiently.

A few slots are available for visits by appointment. ONLY NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST (title your email "Slot Request") THE NAMES of all your  accompanying car passengers and  your car license plate number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time (but only start the trail on time; I will greet you in the parking lot). It can be difficult to find us so give yourself plenty of time. No late-comers please.

AVAILABLE SLOT TIMES: monday sept 2 pm only, tuesday sept 3 am/pm, friday sept 6 pm only. Email me your first 2 slot choices if you want a slot, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party. Thanks.

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON; visiting only by appointment

We are now (as of sunday sept 1) closed for the season. We will re-open in august 2014. However, a few slots are available for visits by appointment. ONLY NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST (title your email "Slot Request") THE NAMES of all your  accompanying car passengers and  your car license plate number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time. No late-comers please.

AVAILABLE SLOT TIMES: sept 2 pm only, sept 3 am/pm, sept 6 pm only. Email me your first 2 slot choices if you want a slot, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party.Thanks.

Hummers activity will remain good at least until mid-september, and we can also take private photography, birding or gardening groups at pre-arranged, limited times. Such groups must have a minimum of 8 members. Please email me to arrange a group visit.

I thank all my visitors and blog readers for their interest, respect and enthusiasm this year. While it's not been a great year either in terms of hummer activity, or smooth operation, I think that all visitors saw hummingbirds, and enjoyed coming. I've received and greatly appreciated many nice emails and other comments. The blog will continue until all the hummers depart further south, around mid-october, or until I run out of new photos, so PLEASE KEEP up the flow of photos! There will be occasional posts about significant hummer events on Long Island (and check out my posts back in february this year for great photos of a local overwintering rufous hummingbird).

If you have a correctly completed (signature, printed name, date) waiver on file, this remains valid for next year.  I will generate a list of the names of those for whom I have a waiver on file, and if you find your name on this list, no further waivers need be filed for future visits (e.g. august 2014). Even if you filed a waiver but cannot find your name on the list, you will need to complete a new waiver next year.
This will be freely available online and at the sanctuary itself. If you have requested but not yet received waiver access permission, I will be sending emails apologizing; no more waiver access permissions will be granted this year since we are now CLOSED. Waiver access will be universal next year.


Today's photo is another by Joe Maggio.

Open Today (Sat) am,pm; tongue; private visits

We are open today (saturday) from 9.30 to 12.30 and 3 to 5.30.  After carefully parking in the sanctuary lot, take the woodland trail over the yellow mini bridge. As always, you MUST BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS. We will then will close for the season. However, there will be some opportunities for private visits at specific pre-arranged times next week, including opportunities for those who have difficulty walking (see below). If you cannot walk safely over steep narrow uneven paths, contact me for special arrangements. Please, newbies only (NO REVISITS) and limit your stay to 1/2 hour if we are busy. But if you park in the Town Sound Ave Preserve lot down on Sound Ave, and hike the half-mile up, you can stay till closing. We should be open the rest of the week but always check the blog before setting out. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO PRINT YOUR NAME ON THE WAIVER.

Today's photo, by Joe Maggio, shows a perching hummingbird sticking its tongue out. The tongue is a white, thread-like and as long again as the beak. Hummers lap up the nectar with the tip and the nectar then moves by capillarity up grooves along the tongue for swallowing. One sometimes sees perching birds briefly dart out their tongue. Whether this corresponds to "licking their lips" after eating, or to sampling the air or is part of the swallowing process I do not know. Usually after each nectaring they carefully rub their bill against the twig on which they perch, perhaps to remove adhering pollen or insects (see my recent "ring of pollen" post.

The following by appointment slots are available for early sept. ONLY TO NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST (title your email "Slot Request") THE NAMES OF all your  accompanying car passengers and  your  license number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time. No late-comers.
SLOT TIMES: sept 1 pm, sept 2 am/pm, sept 3 am/pm, sept 4 am, sept 6 pm.
Further slots might be added if this system proves successful. Email me your first 2 slot choices if you want a slot, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party. Slots that are either full or near empty will be progressively withdrawn.

Almost all the photos at this blog are, naturally, of hummingbirds. But you can see a lot of more general garden views at the sanctuary at this Picasa link.

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and 2 neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a bird-friendly lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

Open today thursday 10-12.30 and 3-5.30; visits by appointment

We are open today (thursday) from 10 to 12.30 and 3 to 5.30.  Take the trail over the yellow mini bridge. As usual, you MUST BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS. We will also be open fri and sat am and pm, but then will close for the season. However, there will be some opportunities for private visits at specific pre-arranged times next week, including opportunities for those who have difficulty walking.

The following by appointment slots are available next week, ONLY TO NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST THE NAMES OF all your  accompanying car passengers and  your  license number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time. No late-comers.
SLOT TIMES: sept 1 pm, sept 2 am/pm, sept 3 am/pm, sept 4 am, sept 6 pm.
Further slots might be added if this system proves successful. Email me your first 2 slot choices if you want a slot, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party. Slots that are either full or empty will be denied.

Today's picture is by Joe Mure. The hummer is feeding at the tall graceful swaying spires of Bog Sage (Salvia uliginosa). Though I only give this 2 stars, when hummers do feed here they are highly visible (indeed that could be one reason why they prefer  shorter plants). The light blue flowers are a perfect match for the background of sea and sky, and the wiry stems are amazingly strong. Furthermore, the delicacy of the stems maintains the water views. Goldfinches love the seeds. They will cling to the stalks which bend under their weight, but always spring back afterwards. I get this plant at Beds and Borders, like so many of the other salvias here.

Almost all the photos at this blog are, naturally, of hummingbirds. But you can see a lot of more general garden views at the sanctuary at this Picasa link.

Open Today wed am,pm. Rating Plants.

We are open today (wed) both am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) BUT YOU MUST BRING WAIVERS, be able to walk well, and follow the Woodland Path starting near the parking lot at the yellow minibridge. If you cannot walk well, contact me.  Please, newbies only (NO REVISITS) and limit your stay to 1/2 hour. But if you park in the Town Sound Ave Preserve lot down on Sound Ave, and hike the half-mile up, you can stay till closing. We should be open the rest of the week but always check the blog before setting out. NO NEW WAIVERS ARE BEING ISSUED THIS YEAR (we close sept 1 for the season).

Over the years I have developed a rough rating system for hummingbird plants. This is based on several factors (1) how often I see hummers at one particular type of plant (2) how long the bird lingers at an individual flower or floret (which reflects the nectar content) (3) physical inspection of the nectar content of the flower (4) Most important, side-by-side comparison of the relative preference of a particular bird for the plants in a given patch of flowers, often in pots on a deck. None of these factors is   infallible - for example an inexperienced hummer will visit a much greater range of flowers than a more experienced bird, and I discount visits that seem to be mainly exploratory. My scale runs from 0 to 5 stars, with zero corresponding to no systematic visits (though occasional exploratory visits by young birds), to 5 stars, which I define as a clean freshly filled feeder (which is a bottomless well of nectar).
Here are some examples on this rough scale:

0 - roses, daylilies, mandevilla
1 - butterfly bush
2 - native columbine, bog sage, Fuchsia "Gartenmeister" (other fuchsias 0 or 1), trumpet vine
3 - Salvia greggi (autumn sage), coral honeysuckle, cardinal and cypress vine
4 - Salvias guaranitica and involucrata, cardinal flower, pink porter weed

I will add to this brief list in future posts. See also the information at http://lihummer.org/hummer_plants.htm

Today's image was taken recently by Mark Schaller. It's rather unusual: this is clearly a male with an incomplete set of red gorget feathers, either because it's an adult make who has already started molting (most likely) or a juvenile that has already developed an unusually large number of red feathers. We often see juvenile males with a few red feathers, that look like drops of blood. I'll post more about this when we are closed and I have more time.

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and 2 neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a bird-friendly lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

Closed am, open pm (tuesday); waivers

We are closed this tuesday morning for a private garden club visit but will be open this afternoon (3-5.30) BUT YOU MUST BRING WAIVERS, be able to walk well, and follow the Woodland Path starting near the parking lot at the yellow minibridge. Please, newbies only (NO REVISITS) and limit your stay to 1/2 hour. If you park in the Town Sound Ave Preserve lot down on Sound Ave, and hike the half-mile up, you can stay till closing. We should be open the rest of the week but always check the blog before setting out.

NO NEW WAIVERS ARE BEING ISSUED THIS YEAR (we close sept 1 for the season).

Today's beautiful photo is a recent one by Bob Immoor, and shows a hummer feeding at a, suitably wet, Salvia involucrata "Mulberry Jam" (Rosebud sage). I also have the even better S. involucrata "Bethellii" which overwintered here and is now quite tall but not yet flowering. They are both 4-star hummer plants. Tomorrow I hope to write about the rating system I use for hummingbird-friendly plants.

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and 2 neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a bird-friendly lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

Important New Waiver Updates

UPDATE (see below): I was able to approve all these requests simultaneously. I will try to keep up with more recent requests (dating from approx 3.30 pm today).
If you have already visited again, do not re-visit: we still have a lot of new people who want to come, and I want to give them priority.

earlier: I have discovered a large batch of requests for waivers (dating from aug 21 9.50 pm) that I've not yet approved. Rather than approving each one individually, I'm tying to figure out how I can approve all at once. So bear with me a little longer if you have requested a waiver since that time. This also explains why the flow of requests suddenly dried up!

Open Today (monday) am,pm; bring waiver; perching

We are open today monday both am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) - BUT YOU MUST BE A GOOD WALKER AND BRING A WAIVER. If you cannot walk well or have no waiver form don't despair, email me.

If you do visit today, or during the week, when we should also be open (but always check this blog for confirmation before setting out), remember that you MUST BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS (waivers are still being rationed) for each person, and YOU MUST BE A GOOD WALKER ABLE TO SAFELY FOLLOW OUR WOODLAND TRAIL, which starts at the yellow minibridge you will see as you as you enter the sign-posted parking area. If you have ANY doubt about taking this trail, please remain in the lot or near the yellow admission table at the start of the trail (where waivers are received).  If you see the lot is nearly full or that there are many visitors at the sanctuary please limit the length of your stay appropriately (e.g. 1/2 hour). You can stay as long as you like (until closing) IF you park in the Sound Ave Preserve lot immediately east of the entrance to Terry Farm Rd and hike up to the sanctuary (about 0.6 mile). Out of consideration for the neighbors it's important to ensure that everyone parks in the designated sign-posted lot and not on the side of Terry Farm Rd, as happened on the day the Newsday article appeared. In its wake we had to completely close for several days at the peak of the hummer season to reduce the flow of traffic to a reasonable level. Since instituting the waiver system the flow has been reasonable. Please park carefully  so as not to block ingress/egress by others.  Please be patient if you have not yet received permission to access a waiver,  we will still have a week to go before the sanctuary closes. If you cannot walk with confidence over the narrow, twisty, uneven and steep woodland trail please email me for special arrangements for a weekday visit.

The sanctuary is difficult to find (especially as someone removed the Terry Farm Road sign in an effort to confuse sanctuary visitors; look for the large boulders and the Shawn Elliott real estate sign) and we strongly recommend a close study of our Google Map. When you get to the "Do Not Proceed" sign, proceed!

Here's a recent photo (by Joe Maggio) showing typical hummer perching. They spend most of their time not feeding or flying but resting (to metabolize sugar into fat) and guarding their flowers and feeders. They usually select a dead branch with a good view.

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and 2 neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a bird-friendly lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

Waiver Update; Cardinal Flower

I beleive that I have now given permission to all those who, via Google Docs, have requested a waiver form. However, it's possible that I have missed a few people out. If you have not yet received an email from me giving permission to access the waiver, please either request via Google Docs, or by emailing me directly.
The waiver system is now working well, in the sense that almost everyone brings a signed waiver (though some forget to PRINT THEIR NAMES). We should be open every day this week (except tuesday am) - BUT ALWAYS CHECK THE BLOG before setting out. I thank everyone for their cooperation!

Here's another nice recent picture by Jimmy Chiu, this time showing nectaring at cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), perhaps the best hummingbird perennnial for Long Island. Unfortunately many garden centers have cultivars and hybrids of this that lack the nectar of the species. Insist on the original!

Open Today Sunday IF you bring waivers. Shrimp Plants

We are open today sunday am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30), but only to those who bring completed waivers (not available at sanctuary) and who have not visited yet this year. Take the woodland trail when you arrive.

If you do visit today, or during the week, when we should also be open (but always check this blog for confirmation before setting out), remember that you MUST BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS (waivers are still being rationed) for each person, and YOU MUST BE A GOOD WALKER ABLE TO SAFELY FOLLOW OUR WOODLAND TRAIL, which starts at the yellow minibridge you will see as you as you enter the sign-posted parking area. If you have ANY doubt about taking this trail, please remain in the lot or near the yellow admission table at the start of the trail (where waivers are received).  If you see the lot is nearly full or that there are many visitors at the sanctuary please limit the length of your stay appropriately (e.g. 1/2 hour). You can stay as long as you like (until closing) IF you park in the Sound Ave Preserve lot immediately east of the entrance to Terry Farm Rd and hike up to the sanctuary (about 0.6 mile). Out of consideration for the neighbors it's important to ensure that everyone parks in the designated sign-posted lot and not on the side of Terry Farm Rd, as happened on the day the Newsday article appeared. In its wake we had to completely close for several days at the peak of the hummer season to reduce the flow of traffic to a reasonable level. Since instituting the waiver system the flow has been reasonable. Please park carefully  so as not to block ingress/egress by others.  Please be patient if you have not yet received permission to access a waiver,  we will still have a week to go before the sanctuary closes. If you cannot walk with confidence over the narrow, twisty, uneven and steep woodland trail please email me for special arrangements for a weekday visit.

The sanctuary is difficult to find (especially as someone removed the Terry Farm Road sign in an effort to confuse sanctuary visitors; look for the large boulders and the Shawn Elliott real estate sign) and we strongly recommend a close study of our Google Map. When you get to the "Do Not Proceed" sign, proceed!

Today's picture is by Peg Koller, and shows a hummingbird feeding at shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeeana). The plant is of course named for the shrimp-like red bracts, but the flower itself (where the nectar is located) is a small, usually white, projecting tube. However, this variety, which I got from Long Island Hummingbird Plants, has a pinkish lower lip. A similar but distinct plant is Golden Shrimp Plant (Pachystachys lutea, aka lollipop flower), where the bracts are bright yellow and upright like a candle rather than curving lie a cooked shrimp. This also has nectar-laden small white flowers. Both are tropical and both rate 3 stars.

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and 2 neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a bird-friendly lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

waiver update; flowering maple

I have now approved waiver requests up to tuesday aug 20 10.09 pm. I hope to approve those made on wed aug 21 quite soon. The flow of waiver requests is now ebbing, so I should be fully current with all waiver requests by the end of the weekend.

Here's another of Jimmy Chiu's nice recent pictures, again featuring abutilon. If you come on monday you can probably meet several of the photographers I've recently featured on the blog, who will be in action, and also checking that everyone has brought a waiver. We will be closed tuesday morning but probably open mon and wed and the rest of the week, though always check the blog before setting out.

Open today (waiver required) am,pm; Ambulatory Status

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and neighbors, I need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

WAIVER UPDATE: all requests made before aug 20 have now been approved. If you requested your waiver after midnight aug 19 please be patient. Note that when your request has been approved you will receive an email that the document is now available to you. If you have requested a waiver but have not yet received sharing permission, please don't re-apply - your request will be processed soon.

We are open today friday aug 23 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30. However YOU MUST BRING A SIGNED WAIVER: no waivers are issued at the sanctuary, and WITHOUT A WAIVER YOU CANNOT VISIT. Please no repeat visits this year. You must be able to walk well and safely follow the narrow, hilly, uneven Woodland Path starting at the yellow minibridge. DO NOT ENTER VIA either the dirt or blacktopped driveway. Please note that waivers are currently being rationed; if you have requested a waiver approval will arrive soon. If you have any difficulty walking, please contact me about a private visit.

Please consider parking in the Sound Ave Preserve lot just east of the entrance from Sound Ave to Terry Farm Rd, and walking the pleasant 0.5 miles up to the sanctuary. This will provide parking space for others in the sanctuary lot, and will allow you stay as long as you like. If you park in the sanctuary lot and see that we are busy, please limit your visit to a 1/2 hour.

In the past we have directed visitors who are good walkers to the Woodland Path unless they have difficulty walking. However, on a temporary basis we are now directing ALL VISITORS to the Woodland Path, regardless of their "ambulatory status". This path is narrow, steep, uneven and can be slippery; do not visit if you have any doubt about your ability to walk this path safely.

Today's photo was taken recently by Grover Whitehurst. The hummer is approaching "Mulberry Jam" salvia, a favorite.

Open today BUT YOU MUST BRING WAIVER and be a GOOD WALKER!; Abutilon

Because of the evolving situation with the Town and neighbors, I'm going to need some good legal advice. In the past, because of similar issues, and at considerable expense, I retained the services of the best local law firm and received much useful advice. However, in order to minimize further expense, it would be wonderful if one of my nice visitors might know of (or even be) a lawyer willing to help the sanctuary survive on a reduced or even pro bono basis. Please email me if you have suggestions!

We are open today thursday aug 22 both am (9.30-12.30) and pm BUT ONLY TO THOSE THAT ARE GOOD WALKERS AND CAN SAFELY FOLLOW THE WOODLAND PATH OVER THE YELLOW MINIBRIDGE, AND WHO BRING PROPERLY COMPLETED WAIVERS. Please use great care on all paths, steps etc, wear good walking shoes, and remember this is a wild Nature Sanctuary not the Mall!

Hummers are often unusually active in rain, and we offer shelter in the front cabin/porch. So far the morning (9.55) activity is quite good.

The recent photo is by Rick Mei and shows a hummer feeding at flowering maple (Abutilon).

Here is a quick summary of one of the legal issues that has arisen. As many long-term visitors know, in the past I have asked that everyone walk to the main viewing area via the Woodland Walk over the yellow minibridge, with the exception that those who have problems walking well were directed to the driveway, which is a dirt right of way (ROW) leading to our cottages, decks and the main viewing areas. Recently the Town suggested, reasonably,  that we require liability waivers from all visitors, and I have complied. Because receiving the waivers only after people walked the somewhat hilly and narrow Woodland Path seemed unwise (and ineffective), I switched, on a temporary basis, to directing everyone to the main ROW, and received their waivers at the Admission Table close to the main viewing area. However, at a meeting called by the Town Supervisor, a  neighbor objected to this arrangement, arguing that if a visitor trips and falls on the short part of the ROW that crosses his land (a possibility that has been worsened by his placement there of thick loose gravel), they might sue him. At the meeting I agreed to resume the older arrangement whereby most visitors were directed to the Woodland Walk. However, I rejected the suggestion that neighbors can regulate the type of visitation to my property over the existing long-standing and deeded and surveyed ROW. It's impossible for me to distinguish between those visitors who come principally to see me, or the hummingbirds, the view or the garden. For example, there are many longstanding groups of birders (including numerous Audubon chapters), photographers (including well established camera clubs) and gardeners (garden clubs all over Long island) who visit at my explicit invitation, usually at private pre-arranged times. As you know I'm not advertising, charging or even accepting donations, and all who visit come in response to invitations issued via the web; only those who access this blog can visit.
After some research, I also beleive that visitors to my property who have an accident on the sections of the ROW that cross neighboring land ("servient" landowners) would have no legal right to sue those neighbors, since they are visiting me not them. But they would have the right to sue me (a right they renounce by signing the required waiver) for not maintaining those sections of the ROW in reasonably safe condition. So actually the legal situation seems to be the exact opposite of that maintained by my neighbor. In any case, I clearly must assert my right to receive invited visitors at my property via the long-established, deeded and mapped ROW, since otherwise my property becomes valueless.
I recognize that some of the issues are complex and I'm anxious to minimize our impact on neighbors, especially the 3 that reside here. I believe that with good communication, intentions and legal advice the sanctuary can continue to flourish and bring pleasure to hummingbird-lovers.

Waiver Update

I am now up to requests Aug 19, 2013 at 11.20 AM in the waiver approval process. I should get to the rest of the subsequent 
 waiver requests 
fairly soon. Remember you must have a waiver to visit, and must be a good walker and able to take the 
Woodland Path. If you have difficulty walking please contact me.

open today wednesday but only to those bringing waivers; about waivers; finding the sanctuary

We are open today (wed) am and pm (9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30) BUT ONLY TO THOSE WHO BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS. If you have not yet received your waiver form, please be patient, permission will arrive soon, and there will be plenty more opportunities to visit. NO WAIVERS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SANCTUARY ITSELF - you must bring it with you.

You can do everyone and yourself (healthwise) a favor by parking in the Riverhead Town Sound Ave Preserve lot and hiking up Terry Farm Road to the sanctuary. The lot immediately east of the start of Terry Farm Rd, and accessed from Sound Ave. The hike up to the sanctuary is around a half mile, and quite pleasant. This will leave spare places in the sanctuary's own lot for those who cannot hike.

GOOD WALKERS WITH WAIVERS ONLY TODAY PLEASE! We are open today am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) but ONLY to those who already have, and bring, a signed waiver, and who can safely take the WOODLAND PATH (starting at the yellow mini bridge).  If you are OLD, SICK, INFIRM, UNFIT, HEAVY or ARE WEARING UNSUITABLE SHOES, please email me for special arrangements for your visit. This new restriction has  been requested by the Town of Riverhead on a temporary basis. More about these evolving developments to follow, and below and previous posts.

I have now approved about 250 waivers, all those up to about 1.07 pm aug 17. I hope to approve all those up to the end of aug 18 this morning. Please be patient! And don't make multiple requests: it merely slows up the process. REQUESTS ARE BEING APPROVED IN ORDER OF RECEIPT.
I have to ration waivers to keep the number of visitors to a reasonable level, so the capacity of the parking lot is never exceeded. The flow of request is ongoing, but I hope that everyone who wants to visit will be able to do so before we close at the end of august. After that date only visits by mutual private arrangement are possible.
PLEASE ONLY MAKE ONE VISIT THIS YEAR, SO AS TO LET NEWBIES SEE THE SANCTUARY. Next year things should settle down to a more normal level, like that we have had over almost all of the last 15 years.
PLEASE DON'T ATTEMPT TO VISIT UNLESS YOU BRING A WAIVER. WAIVERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SANCTUARY ITSELF.

The Google Map shows exactly where we are, but you need to study it carefully, particularly because someone has now removed the "Terry Farm Road" sign, in an effort to confuse visitors.

Today's picture was taken recently by Tom Pfeifer. The hummer is sitting on a bud of golden trumpet creeper (Campsis radicand "Flava")

About Waivers, and Finding the Sanctuary.

I have now approved about 250 waivers, all those up to about 1.07 pm aug 17. I hope to approve all those up to the end of aug 18 tomorrow morning. Please be patient! And don't make multiple requests: it merely slows up the process. REQUESTS ARE BEING APPROVED IN ORDER OF RECEIPT.
I have to ration waivers to keep the number of visitors to a reasonable level, so the capacity of the parking lot is never exceeded. The tidal wave of request is ongoing, but I hope that everyone who wants to visit will be able to do so before we close at the end of august. After that date only visits by mutual private arrangement are possible.
PLEASE ONLY MAKE ONE VISIT THIS YEAR, SO AS TO LET NEWBIES SEE THE SANCTUARY. Next year things should settle down to a more normal level, like that we have had over almost all of the last 15 years.
PLEASE DON'T ATTEMPT TO VISIT UNLESS YOU BRING A WAIVER. WAIVERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE SANCTUARY ITSELF.

The Google Map shows exactly where we are, but you need to study it carefully, particularly because someone has now removed the "Terry Farm Road" sign.

Open today tuesday BUT....read on

GOOD WALKERS WITH WAIVERS ONLY TODAY PLEASE! We are open today am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) but ONLY to those who already have, and bring, a signed waiver, and who can safely take the WOODLAND PATH (starting at the yellow mini bridge).  If you are OLD, SICK, INFIRM, UNFIT, HEAVY or ARE WEARING UNSUITABLE SHOES, please email me for special arrangements for your visit. This new restriction has, effectively, been imposed by the Town of Riverhead on a temporary basis. More about these developments to follow, and below.

SUMMARY: you MUST BRING A COMPLETED WAIVER AND TAKE THE WOODLAND PATH to the main viewing area. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW MAIN DRIVEWAY.

The hike up to the sanctuary (about a half mile) from the Riverhead Sound Ave Preserve parking lot at the beginning of Terry Farm Road is very pleasant and will provide more space in the sanctuary's own lot.

Apparently the "Terry Farm Road" sign at the entrance on Sound Ave has been removed in any attempt to confuse visitors. The entrance to Terry Farm Road is marked by large bounders, and there a several mail boxes immediately west of the entrance. DO NOT ENTER THE ENTRANCES TO THE 4H camp - one is east of Terry farm Rd, and one is west of it. Just take Terry farm Road (unfortunately now unmarked) to the end - see here.  The above photo was taken yesterday afternoon at the sanctuary by Rick Mei. The hummer is feeding at cardinal flower, a 4* hummer plant which is (a) perennial (2) native to Long Island.

Some readers will have noted that today's visiting policy is a bit different from that announced in recent posts. I attended a meeting in the Riverhead Town Supervisor's office yesterday afternoon (3 lawyers and me, including a New York State Supreme Court Judge, the Supervisor, and a Town attorney). A neighbor has been complaining that visitors who go down the main driveway are using a ROW that crosses his land, and might trip there, hurt themselves and sue him. He has a valid point, especially since he has placed gravel on his short section of the ROW, creating dangerous conditions there.  In response we have reverted to our previous policy that requires all visitors except those who cannot walk well to use the Woodland Path, which is entirely on sanctuary property. I realize that this creates hassles  for many, but please try to use the Woodland Path unless you feel it's unsafe or impossible to do so.

I believe that anyone explicitly invited by me to visit the sanctuary (by receiving and signing the waiver) has a complete legal right to use the long-established access right of way. Furthermore, I believe that those walking on parts of the access ROW that cross neighbors' land ("servant" owners) to reach the sanctuary would not have a right to sue those neighbors if they have an accident there. Instead, they would have to sue me, as the "dominant" owner, and they abrogate any such right by signing the waiver.

Open Today Monday am and pm; bring required signed waiver; hike to sanctuary

We are open today monday aug 19 9.30-12.30 and 3.30-6 (note the afternoon time is slightly later than normal). You must bring a printed already filled-out waiver. If you have requested a waiver but not yet received permission, don't worry, it will arrive in the next day or too, and we will still have plenty of openings.  If it rains you can shelter in the front cabin or under the porch.
The photo is by George Decamp, and shows a hummer approaching a trumpet vine blossom. Most trumpet vine flowers are orange-red, but this variety, "Flava", is golden. I only rate this at 2 stars (out of a max of 5), even though trumpet vine is traditionally held to be an excellent hummingbird plant. It seems to be quite tricky for the birds to accessthe nectar: they have to cling to the lower lip and poke ther whole head inside. George came yesterday morning with the Nature and Wildlife Photographers of Long Island ("NWPLI") for a dedicated session with tripods allowed. We do not allow tripods for public openings.
The hike up to the sanctuary (about a half mile) from the Riverhead Sound Ave Preserve parking lot at the beginning of Terry Farm Road is very pleasant and will provide more space in the sanctuary's own lot.

CLOSED TODAY SUNDAY; attracting hummers

We are closed today (sunday aug 18) for 2 private groups. Both groups are regular visitors to the sanctuary, and have contributed wonderful photos and hummingbird plants. If you are a member of a camera, garden or birding club, consider arranging a private visit. This offers several advantages: you can bring equipment, carpool, exchange information, and stay longer. The public is excluded from such events.
We are also sometimes closed for a variety of other reasons; please respect our closings and stay away. We can only operate if people are thoughtful and respectful of what we do. We are not in this to make money (far from it!) but to share our joy in these marvelous little birds.  But almost everyone on Long Island can make their own backyard into a little hummer haven, with regular hummingbird activity., though it takes more effort than rural off-isand locations. Here are some simple steps towards that goal.
(1) plants "black and blue" salvia, and other 3/4 star plants like coral honeysuckle and cardinal flower
(2) provide a few clean feeders with fresh clear sugar water (1:4 ratio)
(3) provide open areas and trees with some dead branches, for perching
(4) spend lots of time near your flowers and feeders; you don't need to watch, just listen for the buzz.

We should be open most slots next week, but please check the blog for details, and only come if you have a printed signed waiver. Hummers were quite active yesterday, and should remain so until we get a good north wind.

The recent photo is by Martin Stone. Thanks Martin!

NO Admission without Waiver; Puleston Day

Today's photo is  recent one by Patricia Shi. The flowers are pink porter weed, "Mulberry Jam" salvia and Bog Sage. Long Island Sound is in the background.

source: http://www.edf.org/peregrine-falcons-make-comeback

Today's opening (Sat aug 17 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30) honors Dennis Puleston (on the right in the photo,  with Charles Wurster center and Art Cooley, left, the 2 other EDF founders, on the steps of the Supreme Court) who lived for many years in Brookhaven Hamlet, on Long Island.  Puleston was born in England in 1905, became an American citizen in 1942, and died on Long Island in 2001. He was the founding chairman of the Environmental Defense Fund and was instrumental in saving the osprey on Long Island. He wrote several marvelous books, including  "Blue Water Vagabond" about his many adventures on a 6 year round-the-world sail. He received the US Medal of Freedom for his war work, worked at Brookhaven Lab for many years, and extensively observed, painted and described Long Island birds. There is currently an exhibition of his painting at the Suffolk County Historical Museum in Riverhead. I hope he would have been delighted to learn of the existence (since 1998) of the hummingbird sanctuary, overlooking the Sound he loved to sail.
Charlie Wurster is still very much alive, and recently wrote the article which is the source for the above image.
We are open today (but not sunday)  9.30-12.30 and 3 - 5.30 BUT YOU MUST BRING EITHER A SIGNED WAIVER, a copy of a Puleston book,  a photo of the Dennis Puleston Warbler Woods Preserve (which is located on the Middle Island - Yaphank road), or name the bird that saved Puleston from becoming a war prisoner in Japan. See also my post for aug 15.

cardinal flower; Dennis Puleston; open am and pm today thur aug 15

Here's a recent photo by Ken Eddy with a hummingbird approaching a 4 star favorite, cardinal flower. This is a Long Island native perennial that grows along the banks of rivers such as the Nissequoge, the Peconic, the Carmans and the Connetquot. Wherever it grows (along the river or in your yard) you are likely to see hummingbirds.
We are open today thur aug 15 both am (9.30-12.30) and pm (3-5.30) BUT ONLY TO THOSE WITH A COMPLETED WAIVER. We will be open tomorrow (friday aug 16) am but not pm. The opening on saturday will honor Dennis Puleston, the great Long Island AngloAmerican naturalist and bird painter.

(source: http://puleston.osprey.bnl.org/)

I never met Dennis but I have (or had) several friends who did, including Charlie Wurster, who used to be a neighbor on Crane Neck (Old Field, L.I.). Charlie lived in what used to be the gardener's house on the Childs estate, and we in the chauffeur's Sears-Roebuck cottage. Puleston and Wurster founded the Environmental Defense Fund, and were insrumental in saving the osprey from DDT (the DDT issue is a complicated one best addressed elsewhere). However I first learned about Dennis from Marion Homire, a wonderful old lady (and expert birder) who also lived nearby, and who passed away at almost 100 more than a decade ago. Perhaps somewhere I still have her memoir "My Grandmother Burned Peach-Pits" about her childhood on a farm on the fabled and now-vanished Hempstead Plains, which was I believe the largest prairie east of the mid-West. It's now Levitt-town.

Open this wednesday afternoon. Silke's Dream; Hiking to the Sanctuary; Open Next Week

We are open this wednesday afternoon, 3-5.30!
The above photo was taken by Dick Solo on monday. The hummer is feeding at "Silke's Dream" a hybrid of S. microphylla and S. darcyi. It's worth getting for the name alone, but it's also a quite a good hummingbird plant - I have not decided whether it rates 2 or 3 stars.
We should be open every day next week, both am and pm (i.e. 9.30-12.30 and 3 - 5.30) and I should have cleared the backlog of waiver requests by then. However, we request that those who have already visited this week wait until the following week to re-visit. But, as always, please check the blog before you set off to confirm we are open, and of course bring a signed waiver.
We will be closed sunday, saturday am and friday pm (private organized groups are coming), but probably open fri am, and possibly thursday too. CHECK THE BLOG!
You can do everyone and yourself (healthwise) a favor by parking in the Riverhead Town Sound Ave Nature Preserve lot when you visit, and hiking up Terry Farm Road to the sanctuary. The lot is immediately east of the start of Terry Farm Rd, and accessed from Sound Ave. The hike up to the sanctuary is around a half mile, and quite beautiful. This will leave spare places in the sanctuary's own lot for those who cannot hike.

OPEN TODAY TUESDAY am,pm; need waivers; hummers active

This is a nature sanctuary more or less in its natural state, and has steep uneven slippery paths and other surfaces, slippery decks (in the rain) with steps, and wet, dirty, decrepit seating and owners. Please wear  good foot-wear: no flip-flops allowed. Visitors should park in the designated lot, walk down the righthand driveway, ring the bell at the admissions table and briefly wait so I can collect your waivers. Small groups should always carpool. Waivers are being rationed so if you have already requested one please be patient, approval will arrive soon.
We are open this morning (tues aug 13) 9.30-12.30 and this afternoon 3-5.30, but only if you bring a signed waiver. Please no visit from those that have already been here this year. Hummers are quite active despite the rain. They may not be tomorrow, since the wind will shift to the north and many might leave southward
The photos were taken yesterday by Ken Eddy (top: Salvia involucrata "Mulberry Jam"; bottom spicebush swallowtails). Despite intermittent rain, hummers were quite active. The new waiver policy seems to be working in regulating the number of visitors, allowing me to keep track, and of course in offering me some degree of protection against accidents and ruthless lawyers. It's a hassle, but once you have filed a waiver it should remain valid for future visits - but please, no double visits over the next 2 weeks.

open this afternoon IF YOU HAVE WAIVER

UPDATE: Despite the rain (or, rather, because of it) we are open this afternoon (3-5.30 monday aug 12) but ONLY TO THOSE THAT BRING A SIGNED WAIVER.  Hummers are fairly active.  Park only in the posted lot, walk carefully straight down the right driveway to the admission table, ring the bell and wait.
The above photo was taken yesterday by Bridgette Kistinger.
I am electronically sharing more waivers today - please be patient, your approval will come soon!
Yesterday we were open in the morning (at short notice) and just the right number of visitors came; glorious weather and some good hummer activity. Today will be gray and a bit wet, but you can always shelter (pleasantly) in the front cabin and porch - and still see hummingbirds!

CLOSED TODAY; Blackberry Lily; Waivers needed to visit; were open this morning only

We are open this morning (sunday aug 11 9.30-12.30) but only to those that bring a printed signed dated waiver and NOT THIS AFTERNOON. No waivers can be issued at the sanctuary. Please do not visit this morning if you have previously visited the sanctuary. Only a limited number of people have currently received waivers, but I will share more waivers (electronically, and only via the waiver link) very soon (we are current with requests up to the end of aug 9). After parking, in the posted lot only, go straight down the right-hand driveway to the admission desk where you should ring the bell and wait until I arrive to take your waiver and admit you. Thanks! We are closed this afternoon for a family reunion. We will be open several slots (am and/or pm) in the coming week (but definitely not tues am or fri pm) - check this blog for confirmation before setting out
The recent photo, by Jimmy Chiu, shows a young hummingbird probing a blackberry lily blossom. This plant used to be known by the latin name Belamcanda, but has recently been renamed Iris domestica. I planted it long ago and it keeps going, even in the tough conditions here. It's named for the clusters of black seeds that look like......blackberries. There are reports that hummers use it, as Jimmy's photo suggests, but I have never seen this.
.

Broadcasting Live NOW; CLOSED SUNDAY; Waiver Rationing

We are now (i.e. this evening) broadcasting live on our (primitive) webcam from the sanctuary (click link at the top of the links section of the right). Around 7.30 pm we plan to provide a live commentary and go "hummer hunting". The light is far better than the previous few days. At the very least the sunset should good.

WE ARE CLOSED TOMORROW FOR A RARE FAMILY EVENT. Please respect our privacy and our very limited parking. WE ARE OPEN THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON BUT YOU MUST BRING A WAIVER. Sorry for the short notice. This morning we were closed for a private group visit by an Audubon Society chapter. Long Island has many Audubon Society chapters, one near you, and many of them visit the sanctuary at their own dedicated time. Consider joining your Audubon chapter and enjoying their field trips (such as visits to the hummingbird sanctuary) and other activities.

ABOUT WAIVERS: (UPDATE: I HAVE NOW APPROVED ALL WAIVER REQUESTS MADE UP TO THE END OF AUG 9).   At the moment the Liability Waivers now needed to visit the sanctuary are not freely available at the waiver link, because we are trying to limit visitation in the aftermath of the Newsday article. Instead, the link asks you to ask to share the document. While I have already shared with many, there are many more that are still waiting for permission, though I have received your request. Don't worry, you will receive permission as soon as visitation returns to a manageable level. I'm sure that if you have a strong desire to visit the sanctuary, it will happen soon - please be patient. If you have already asked for permission (automatic via the link) please be patient and don't send in further requests. You will receive permission soon.

Today's picture is by Allen Siegel. The young hummer is probing a flower of the fabulous 4-star hummer-plant Pink Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis). This is strictly tropical, and must be brought inside for the winter, but is otherwise a tough plant. Notice how the hummer is perching on one flower stalk to reach another. Usually they have to hover to get nectar, but this costs a lot of energy, and if possible they perch to feed. They are trying to build up fat reserves for the long southward migration, and their flight burns a lot of calories.

YOU NOW NEED A WAIVER TO VISIT

You now need to present a signed liability waiver to visit at posted open times.  Please do not visit at other times. Waivers must be printed and signed before visiting: waiver forms are NOT available at the sanctuary. Despite the drizzle we are open this friday morning 9.30-12.30, but ONLY TO THOSE who present a printed signed waiver at the admission table. You should reach this by walking down the marked driveway from the parking lot (PARK ONLY IN THIS LOT) to the Bell. If the table is unattended please ring the Bell. Even equipped with a waiver, you must be extremely careful during your visit, especially if you are old, unfit, poorly shod or have difficulty walking. Sty on paths, which are steep, uneven and, today, slippery. We carry no insurance and you enter at your OWN RISK. CLOSED SAT AUG 10 and SUNDAY AUG 11 except by previous arrangement. WE ARE CLOSED AT ALL OTHER DATES/TIMES UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED AT THE CURRENT BLOG POSTING.

The photo, by Joe Mure, shows a hummer feeding at Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), a 3 star plant, perennial, easy to grow and almost continuously flowering, starting when the hummers arrive in early may.

Open This Morning (Aug 8), with Conditions

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY UP TO THE HUMMINGBIRD PICTURE

We will open this morning only (thur aug 8)  9.30 to 12.30 only (closed the rest of the day) WITH CONDITIONS:

You MUST PRINT OUT AND SIGN THIS ONE-DAY LIABILITY WAIVER BEFORE ARRIVING. IF YOU CANNOT ACCESS THIS DOCUMENT IT COULD MEAN OUR QUOTA (i.e. visitor limit) FOR THE DAY HAS BEEN REACHED - don't worry there will be plenty more open days (BUT NO-ONE WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT THIS PRINTED SIGNED AND pre-DATED WAIVER. BY SIGNING THIS WAIVER YOU RENOUNCE ANY RIGHT TO SUE PAUL ADAMS OR OTHERS BASED ON ACCIDENTS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE DURING OR ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR VISIT TO THE SANCTUARY. YOU MUST BRING THE PRINTED SIGNED WAIVER WITH YOU: WE DO NOT PROVIDE FORMS FOR YOU TO SIGN ON THE SPOT. ANYONE NOT BRINGING A SIGNED CORRECTLY DATED WAIVER IS TRESPASSING AND WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.
AFTER PARKING, IN THE DESIGNATED LOT ONLY, ALL VISITORS MUST NOW ENTER BY THE MAIN DRIVEWAY (TO THE RIGHT OF THE YELLOW MINIBRIDGE), AND  WAIT AT THE TABLE. IF THE TABLE IS UNATTENDED PLEASE RING THE BELL - WE WILL QUICKLY ARRIVE TO ADMIT YOU. DO NOT ADVANCE BEYOND THE TABLE, OR ANYWHERE ELSE, UNTIL ADMITTED. THANKS!

The photo is by Sandra Jantzen. We will open at future dates to be posted here, but with similar conditions. Sorry about the hassle, it's caused by factors beyond my control. After complaints by neighbors, the Town of Riverhead has advised us that we need liability wavers.
We will broadcast on the webcam this afternoon when we are closed.

SORRY, CLOSED AGAIN TODAY (WED); Explanations and Apologies

Unfortunately we are unable to open today (wed) either. In a nutshell, the Newsday article on monday (over which I had no control) understandably triggered an intense burst of interest in this little sanctuary (hits on the blog went from 50 a day to over 1400), with a lot more visitors than usual. While most visitors were able to park in our designated lot, some were forced to park on the side of Terry Farm Road, and there was, briefly, an unusual volume of traffic on this narrow, private dirt road.  (In contrast, on the preceding saturday afternoon, with beautiful weather, we only got 4 visitors in 2 cars). However, as far as I could see on monday the road was never blocked. Apparently the owner of a small neighboring vacant parcel of land called the Town Attorney's office with some sort of complaint, and they sent up their Code Investigator.  
He seemed a bit puzzled by the situation but asked, quite reasonably, that we close the sanctuary to public visitation for a few days until his office could determine the legality of the situation. We hope to re-open, in some form, as soon as this matter is clarified.

We have operated unobtrusively for 15 years.  We are only open in august, and only on the selected days posted on the blog.  In addition we sometimes admit private organized groups (birders, photographers, school-groups, gardeners), but only by prior, detailed, arrangement. (We suggest you join your local Audubon chapter and ask them to organize a group visit, if they are not already doing so). We never advertise or even announce the existence of the sanctuary, because we are not set up for large numbers of visitors, and want only those few with a genuine interest in hummingbirds and hummingbird gardening to come. AND WE EXPECT ALL VISITORS TO FIRST DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND STUDY THE MAPS, DIRECTIONS, WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS AT THIS BLOG AND AT LIHUMMER.ORG.

Almost all our visitors over the last 15 years have enjoyed their time here, but it's not for everyone, it's rather inaccessible (which is partly why it's nice) and you need to come with the right attitude and shoes.

I hope we can re-open soon before the hummingbirds all fly south for the winter. In the meantime we are sometimes broadcasting live from the sanctuary (see webcam link on right), yesterday for an hour in the morning and afternoon, and then for over half an hour in the evening (when we were able to follow several hummingbirds around the garden, with one inches away from the camera). Today we hope to broadcast around 9.30 am, around 3.30 pm and from 7.40 until after sunset.

The pictures were taken here recently by Amy Halpin (top; pink porter weed) and Steve Abatzidis (bottom; bog-sage). During this difficult time, we appreciate any supportive comments posted at the blog, especially if you have successfully visited in the past.