Keep Calm and Bird On: April 2021

Ginger Andrews • Apr 01, 2021
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Milestone Bog property (see below), off Milestone Road, is a great place for early spring birding. With shallow wetlands interspersed with dry paths and bordered with both dry grassland and small wooded areas, it gives a great mix of habitats in a relatively small space.

Waterfowl such as Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal have been found lurking in the wet impoundments. There, tall grasses, and the shelter of the dikes that provide access, give wildlife a chance to rest and feed. Shorebirds such as Greater Yellow-legs, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Short-billed or even Long-billed Dowitcher use both the edges and the low spots. Binoculars are a necessity to identify these skittish birds; a telescope is even better, as the less disturbance there is, the happier the birdlife.


Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Merlin, and Common Raven have also been seen here. Both Kestrels and Merlins have sometimes nested in the vicinity.


In upland areas, Eastern Meadowlarks have been seen. American Pipits have been discovered regularly, and it’s a great place to put Savannah Sparrow on your list. These stripy, short-tailed sparrows look a lot like Song Sparrows, so it’s a good introduction to looking at—and listening for—the subtle differences that make sparrow ID both initially frustrating and ultimately rewarding.


The buzzy, more insect-like song of the Savannah Sparrow is a good place to start tuning your ear for the differences. Song Sparrows have a lighter, more melodic song, and a larger repertoire. Savanna Sparrows, once they learn their song from their father, pretty much stick with it. Song Sparrows on the other hand, take a jazzier approach, tossing their tunes back and forth, adding variations. Listening in early spring, before the dawn chorus becomes too overwhelming, is a good place to start.

Recent Posts

Keep Calm and Bird On: May 2024

08 May, 2024
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews

Shards

By Jascin N. Leonardo FInger • 06 May, 2024
I have written of my love for sea glass and pottery shards in the past and the recent replacement of the sewer and water lines on Vestal Street created a small shard collection over the last month. Since the work required the asphalt to be completely removed (all twelve inches of it!) and the road to be dug up multiple times as they worked to remove pipe, relay new pipe, hook up the water meters, and install drainage and manhole covers, this resulted in the earth in the street being tossed about quite a bit. And, with that, came the shards! Some of these likely came from the sewer line (yes, yuck) but others came from being simply in the dirt of the road – which was not paved until 1946/1948. Pieces were likely tossed out at times, made to act as filler in holes, or simply tossed. So I found all sorts of pieces I will keep here at the Mitchell House. They included: a lovely piece with a red floral, many pieces of plates, glass, the top of a late nineteenth or early twentieth century (medicine) bottle, glass shards, a flattened spoon, a brass knob (found by a neighbor) some nails, a spike, pieces of a larger container or two based on the size and curve and coloring of the shards, and possibly a Wampanoag stone tool. One person’s trash is another one’s treasures! JNLF

Is That A Wrap?

22 Apr, 2024
Yes. Well, almost. After about a month of working – and some living (staff and or neighbors) – on Vestal Street with all the sewer and water replacement work, the paving happened today (April 17, 2024). This is the first “layer” – a three-inch binder coat. In the fall, once time has passed, they will return for the final one inch of the finish layer. Some of the other things along Vestal Street will also be repaired and updated between now and the final coat – and a bit after that. But we are very happy, after all these years to have a modern system of piping – and all new drainage we never had before! While the curator in me loved the old clay pipes, they were riddled with roots from the trees, holes, and in some places, collapsed, and the twelve inches of asphalt had to go. Vestal Street was only paved in about 1946/1948 – and has not been paved in maybe twenty years so that is a lot of asphalt in about fifty years! And with climate change and the increase in how much rain we get in these heavy rain events, all that water rushed down Vestal Street with nowhere to go – except our cellars. I am sure the neighbors are happy too! A thank you to the Town of Nantucket’s Sewer Department, especially David Gray (who may regret giving me his cellphone number forever), N&M Excavating and Utilities (Dean, we appreciate you being so nice when we had too many questions), Victor-Brandon Corp for paving, and numerous others. We are looking forward to great flushing, powerful hose lines, and rainwater being whisked away via the new, never-before-had storm drains! JNLF And to all the N&M workers who wondered why I was constantly looking down as I walked along Vestal Street, you should see the trove of porcelain shards, glass, old nails, a bottle neck, 19 th century spoon, and even possibly a Wampanoag stone tool I found!
Show More
Share by: