Dates; Recent Visitor Photos; Chicks near fledging from the Nest; Visiting Instructions

Currently Available Dates (partly based on today's weather predictions for the coming week)

 monday aug 8 am (10-12.30) only

Here are a few nice photos from visitors last week.

Fred the resident (since late april) adult male - note the ruby-throat and the forked tail. The young and adult females have a silver-grey throat and a straight edged tail (with a terminal white stripe)

A female/juvenile feeding at blue Salvia guaranitica (with yellow trumpet vine flowers in background). Both these photos by Sandra F.

Feeding at  rosebud salvia, and bog sage. Kathie Juergens.

Went down to E. Quogue again yesterday am and shot these vids.

The first shows the now very active and much bigger chicks; the second shows Mama feeding them and the third was shot simultaneously with the portion of the second where the mother arrives at the nest, using a separate parallel camera. You can see how she does not go straight to the nest, but zigzags around (probably to confuse predators). The first 2 are in HD and the third in UHD, with a much broader field of view. You can hear my kind host in the background, and me in the foreground, as we chat away.

How to Visit

PLEASE ONLY REQUEST APPOINTMENTS FOR A SPECIFIC, CURRENTLY POSTED, DATE AND TIME (AM OR PM). I CANNOT ANSWER EMAILS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THESE ESSENTIAL DETAILS! PLENTY OF MORE DATES WILL BE POSTED, BUT YOU MUST WAIT AND CHOOSE A SPECIFIC, ANNOUNCED, DATE/TIME. DO NOT ASK FOR RANDOM FUTURE DATES. THANKS!

We will be opening 3 1/2 days a week until sept 15. However, the exact future dates we will open have not yet been decided (depends partly on weather). Please do not request an appointment for days other than those announced at this blog (see above). Requests for undefined not-yet-posted dates will be ignored: I simply cannot keep track of your requests, you have to keep track of my available dates as they are posted (typically a few days ahead). If you want a date in, say, mid-august (eg aug 15) please wait until (and if) that date is posted (probably some time around aug 10-12). Taking reservations on a rolling, as available, basis works best for me (e.g. allows for weather, unforeseen circumstances etc), makes it more likely you will actually show for your appointment (no-shows reduce the limited visiting opportunities for others). Email me (paul.adams%stonybrook.edu)  which of the available (i.e. posted) "slots" (dates and times; visits are either 10-12.30 or 3-5) you want to come, mentioning if you have visited before, and the expected number in your one car.  I'll send you an email with directions and instructions, which you should read carefully. If you feel you can conform with these instructions,  I'll then send a confirmation of your appointed visit, with the necessary liability waiver form, which you must sign and bring with you.
Please don't ask for a future date, or ask me to pick a date - it just gets too complicated. Once the quota for each "slot" is filled, I'll immediately remove the posting - so, just before you email me, check for the current available dates/times. This is the system I used the last 2 years, and once you get the hang of it, it's a cinch: just wait for the date/time (am/pm)  you want then email me.

The only exception to this is for my personal friends, who, unlike the general public, are not subject to the quotas imposed by the recent lawsuit settlement (of which I'll be writing more soon). If the currently posted dates do not suit you, please wait for suitable dates to be posted - plenty more to come.