The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Fred's back is up; visiting in august; waivers

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).

Monday, June 23, 2014

Fred's back is up; visiting in august; waivers

Sunday morning Fred spent quite a bit of time perching in the dead branches of a cherry tree that reaches right over the back deck, where we usually eat our meals. Here's a view from below of the iridescent green feathers of his back. At one point he briefly wipes his beak - a typical behavior after feeding.

I'm not yet sure whether we will be able to open to general hummingbird enthusiasts in august, though we will definitely allow some organized private groups (birders, photographers, gardeners etc). In any event we are definitely closed for the moment. We will continue to require waivers, but I think they will be simply available on the spot, so you can sign and place in the box at the entrance. I will be drafting this new waiver over the next few days, and will post the result for comments on this blog. I think we will probably not allow repeated visits. I've already received quite a few waiver requests for this year, and I'll be responding to those personally soon, to say that waivers will be available on site if and when we open.

I sent my last response re the NoV to Investigator Downs this morning, essentially the draft I posted recently. My lawyer, Lynn Ingrao of the law firm Purcell Ingrao, has advised me not to send any more emails to the Town without first consulting her. In any case, the ball is in their court.

2 comments:

Tulear2000June 24, 2014 at 11:55 PM
That is sound advice. Please let us know when the NoV has been rescinded.
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Paul AdamsJune 25, 2014 at 6:53 AM
I doubt it will be rescinded but I also doubt it's valid.
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FAQs

1. How can I visit? Unless you are an invited friend or personal guest of the owner, Paul Adams, you cannot. The sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public.

2.Why did the sanctuary close? The sanctuary opened, on a very limited basis, during 1998-2017. However, a neighbor, Kamal Bherwani, and 2 former neighbors, Fred Terry and Shawn Hamilton, brought a $3 million lawsuit, and forced complete and permanent closing. The plaintiffs claimed, incorrectly, that the sanctuary was a "commercial business". Though no evidence for this claim was, or could be, produced, the owner decided to settle the lawsuit and permanently close.

3. When do the hummingbirds arrive and leave, and where do they go for the winter?

They arrive on Long Island late april, and early may. They leave between aug 1 and oct 1. The adult males arrive and leave first, then the adult females, then the young, in order of fledging. They all go to central America via the Gulf of Mexico.

3. What varieties do we have at the sanctuary?

Only the ruby-throat (only the adult male has the ruby throat). This is the only one that breeds east of the Mississipi. The US has about 9 other species but they are all western.

4. Why are there rocks in the trees? How long have you had this place?

I have had the property for 27 years and each year I put a new rock to mark the beginning of a new hummingbird season (may 1).

5. What is the best place to sit to see hummingbirds?

On your bottom! Since you may have to wait a bit choose the spot that best suits you.

6. How can I attract hummers to my yard?

Plant cardinal flower (right variety!) and black-and-blue salvia, maintain a couple of small clean feeders, both placed where you spend a lot of time outdoors (or in front of a picture window). Read this blog or lihummer.org for further suggestions.