Keep Calm and Bird On: July 2021

Ginger Andrews • Jul 02, 2021
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews

To the human, vacationing world, July is the beginning of summer. But in the Arctic, June 21st, the Summer Solstice, marks the beginning of fall. For tundra-nesting birds, the days are shortening; the sun, rather than just barely grazing the horizon with 24 hours of daylight, is actually beginning to set. And with the reminder of night, comes the urge to migrate once more. So, July marks the start of Shorebird watching.


Our local beach-nesting birds such as Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and Least or Common Terns are active, still busy raising their families. But they will soon be joined by migrants from further north. Ruddy Turnstones and Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover are among the first. Soon afterwards, Short-billed Dowitchers will be stitching their way along the flats, slurping up marine worms, tiny mollusks, and crustaceans. Following them will be Greater Yellowlegs (pictured below). Whimbrel, their elegant down-curving bills identifying them, stalk the marshes in search of fiddler crabs. By the middle of the month, Sanderlings will begin to trickle in.

Some birders complain, “Shorebirds are hard!”


Yes, many of them are greyish-brownish above, whiteish below. But it is good practice to take special note of size, bill shape, leg color, and attitude. It must be admitted, a good telescope is a huge help. But, by keeping a casual, respectful distance, pausing or just being still, and not staring like a predator, it is possible to sneak closer. All too often some unaware human will come along and flush the birds under observation. But be grateful for the other beach-lovers, as without them there would be no beach, only houses and seawalls.

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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!
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