The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Lawsuit settlement

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, August 20, 2017

Lawsuit settlement

Hummingbird feeding at flowers of yellow coral honeysuckle (and ignoring its own reflection); 4x slo-mo

According to the settlement of the lawsuit against me by one of my neighbors (Kamal Bherwani), and certain other individuals, I may only open the sanctuary to my "public" invitees during the period july 20 - sept 15. I put the word "public" in quotes because the issue as to what is "public" was never clarified. Let us assume here that it refers to persons who respond to my public announcement that I will receive visitors on particular days, whether these persons are friends, acquaintances or merely those with an interest in hummingbirds who I would like to meet. Prior to the settlement I only welcomes such general visitors during the month of august, so paradoxically the settlement actually enlarged visitation. I believe the plaintiffs stipulated this "restriction" because they were totally unaware of the dates I was actually open. This expansion of general period was offset by a stipulation that I could only receive visits 3 and one half days per week (the half day being at the weekend). I am at liberty to choose the exact dates, and I try to judge when the weather would be most favorable, and the noise from helicopters and seaplanes minimal, within constraints set by my personal private activities. The settlement of the lawsuit, to which, under considerable pressure, I agreed, also stipulates that all "public" visitation to my property will cease after sept 15 2017. In my next post I will turn to the lawsuit itself.

3 comments:

Mad mommaAugust 21, 2017 at 8:25 PM
Are there any dates available for viewing during the week of 8/28?
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CathiAugust 22, 2017 at 5:06 AM
I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to meet you and to visit your garden. It is an amazing place.
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UnknownAugust 22, 2017 at 8:08 AM
My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting you and your lovely piece of heaven. It's a treasured memory for both of us. The hummers were the 1st I had ever seen in person and it was unforgettable. Thank you. Donna Smith
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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.