The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Lawsuit Settled, but not favorably; Fred at his favorite flowers

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).

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Lawsuit Settled, but not favorably; Fred at his favorite flowers

Today I and the other parties signed a settlement agreement, and the judge issued a judgement (as judges do) ending the lawsuit. The settlement will allow me to receive the general public during the current hummingbird season (july 20 - sept 15) BUT ONLY ON LIMITED, SELECTED AND ANNOUNCED DAYS AND HOURS AND ONLY BY CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT. Details of visiting procedures and dates will be announced soon at this blog. Please do not request appointments except for announced dates and times. Any request for an appointment other than at announced dates/times will be ignored. Rigorous adherence to the terms of the settlement, and to blog-posted procedures is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL; ignoring them could result in immediate permanent closure of the sanctuary to all, and possible prison time for me. Further details of the, rather disappointing, settlement terms, and their background, will be soon posted at this blog, but the settlement document itself, though not secret, will not be posted here. Of course personal friends are welcome to visit, by appointment only, at any time.
The sanctuary will be open next year's season as well, but will then close permanently, at least under present ownership.

I shall not be drinking celebratory champagne tonight, but rather a glass of clean cold water, to wash some of the bitter taste from my mouth. The hummingbirds seem happy though, and as seen below Fred was drinking a toast at his favorite cupheas at sunset. He will be pleased to meet you!

3 comments:

firewalker57July 9, 2016 at 8:42 PM
I am very happy this is settled. I do wish you all the best this season .. I have my little couple here again Harry and Posey and perhaps a couple more the weather has been odd !! .. sending Love ..

carolyn l'hommedieu
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UnknownJuly 10, 2016 at 8:38 AM
I'm so sorry to hear the sanctuary will be closing. I will always hold dear to my heart my visits with you and the hummingbirds.
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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.