Keep Calm and Bird On: November 2023

Oct 27, 2023
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews

In November we look for rarities. Recently a small group of lucky birders enjoyed a rare sight of a Long-tailed Jaeger from the beach. Outside of the breeding season this pelagic species is usually seen at the edge of the continental shelf, or in the open ocean. A good find at Smith’s Point!

Some birds here are rare due to location—they are common elsewhere but rarely make the trip east—or west—to land on Nantucket. Others are rare because their population has dwindled into the danger zone. Some are merely nomadic and just behaving normally, spreading out looking for food. Some are explorers, taking advantage of winds or tides, looking for new opportunities when their species has had an exceptionally good year and they need to find new territory. And some are noteworthy because their timing doesn’t match up with others of their species.

So, it pays to look hard at details, because we never know what might land on Nantucket. It is also interesting to see tired birds on migration flopping down in unexpected places. A Great Crested Flycatcher on the beach? Not its usual habitat—but perhaps a life-saving pit stop. And always try to get a photo, or bird with someone who has a good camera. To quote the late Vern Laux, “if there’s no photo, it didn’t happen.”

A couple of caveats for November birding: be aware of hunting season! Know where you are. Most of our conservation groups have information and maps online. Know what species are being harvested, and which areas are open and which closed to hunting. Wear reflective clothing. And remember, Nantucket is estimated to have between four and five thousand deer, which is way too many for our small Island. Be respectful of hunters stands and hours. Remember, if there had been no hunters back in the day, there would be no conservation areas.


Photo by Photo by Tom Griswold

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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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