The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: A Couple of Announcements

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).

Sunday, July 9, 2017

A Couple of Announcements

A couple of announcements. First, the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary will be open on certain specific dates (to be determined) falling in the period july 20 - sept 15. Under the terms of the lawsuit settlement, this will be the last year in which the sanctuary will be open to the general public. Even this year we will only be open 3 1/2 days a week during that period, the half-day being on the weekend. The exact dates will be decided on the basis of weather etc, and announced a few days ahead on a rolling basis at bhhummer.blogspot.com - NOT at this FB page. Please wait until you see the date you would like to visit posted at the blog, and then email your request to Paul Adams at stonybrook.edu. Paul will then respond with further information and once you have acknowledged reading that information, he will then confirm your appointment. No visiting without a confirmed appointment - it could land Paul back in court, or worse. Requests to visit will be ignored unless they are for an already posted slot (though of course Paul's personal friends can request to visit at any time).
come and see Fred and his friends and enemies!

The second announcement concerns the future of the sanctuary. The lawsuit settlement allows Paul to deed his property to an existing environmental organization, for use as a hummingbird sanctuary open to the public or otherwise. He is currently discussing this possibility with the Seatuck Environmental Association, an outstanding group focussed on wildlife preservation and public environmental education. Whether these discussions will actually lead to the preservation of the existing sanctuary, in part or in total, is unclear. However, those who would like to see the sanctuary continue in some (perhaps better) form could consider making a donation to Seatuck (at https://www.seatuck.org/index.php/support/donate-now). If you do choose to donate, please consider making your donation to Seatuck in honor of the Hummingbird (first name) Sanctuary (second name). Even if these discussions do not lead to the preservation of the sanctuary, you would be supporting a vibrant, Long-Island-based environmental organization, and your donation increases the likelihood of a successful outcome. More to follow!

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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.

BASICS

Sunday, July 9, 2017

A Couple of Announcements

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