BASICS


BASICS: "Hummingbirds.....where is the person, I ask, who, on observing this glittering fragment of the rainbow, would not pause, admire, and turn his mind with reverence..." (J. J. Audubon).
This is a blog about my summer life at the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary, at my winter garden, Calypso, in the Bahamas, and aspects of life in general.
This private sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public, as a result of a lawsuit brought by a neighbor. Only my friends and personal guests may visit (paul.adams%stonybrook.edu).

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Hummer Nest Video; Lawsuit


Here's a new photo of "Gumbo", as I will call my nesting hummingbird, since she's chosen a "Gumbo Limbo" or "Gum Elemi" tree (and has even incorporated one of the tree's berries into her nest, as you can see from this view). The view is about 180 degrees from yesterday's view, and since the ground slopes, we are almost looking into her nest. On this side of the nest there is a row of 4 pieces of green lichen. She seems to be spending about half her time on the nest, and half away, presumably to keep the eggs at just the right temperature during the warm day (high around 82). When she was absent I peeked  into the nest, and saw, as expected 2 tiny white eggs, about the size of a small pea. Tomorrow I'll photograph the eggs. She's still working on the nest, and is bringing tiny bits of fluff to add to the rim. I made a (HD!) movie of this:


At the very start of the video, you can see a bit of fluff at the tip of her bill, which she incorporates into 2 spots at the rim of the nest. At the end of the movie I zoom back out, so you can see the tree trunk at left center, the hanging branch laden with berries,  near the lower tip of which the nest is hidden, behind the blue of Calypso pond, and, unfortunetely, to the right, the old bucket in which I place the weeds I was picking from the lawn yesterday. On the sound track you can here several birds. Bear in mind that each berry is about a quarter of a dime across. I'll photograph a berry and a dime side by side tomorrow.

A week ago I had promised to provide a running analysis of the Complaint, or Lawsuit, that the sanctuary is subject to. I started with the crucial paragraphs that allege that a bird sanctuary is not a permitted use of land located in the 2-acre residentially zoned district of the Town of Riverhead. However, I've now decided not to proceed with this analysis, even though all the other paragraphs of the Complaint are equally weak. My lawyer, Reggie Seltzer, is submitting a detailed Answer to these allegations, in which we either deny them, or cannot express an opinion due to insufficient knowledge. Presumably the opposing lawyer will, in due course, attempt to fully justify each of the numerous allegations;  then we will attempt to show that their reasoning is faulty. I think it would be wise not to reveal at this stage why we think their allegations are mistaken, since this would help them tailor their justification to meet our objections.

3 comments:

  1. Very cool Dad! Keep the posts up, will be interested to see the chicks.

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  2. I love your pictures of the Hummingbirds. I am also praying that this entire matter be resolved so that people may still be able to visit your wonderful sanctuary. I have learned so much from you and visiting your little slice of heaven, I appreciate that you love your birds so much that you are willing to share them with the world !! Enjoy the warm weather LOL we are once again inundated with snow !!

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  3. Thank you both for your interest and encouragement. Unfortunately the tip of the tail of the bad weather afflicting the eastern US reached down all the way to Calypso: 2 big sessions of rain/thunder/lightening/wind. Gumbo's nest has been damaged but she's still keeping her eggs warm (see today's - thursday's - post)

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