Remembering Carol Flanagan

Former Fyke president Carol Flanagan was a wonderful, self-effacing person who loved nature in general and the Celery Farm in particular. She edited the Fyke newsletter, did the Fyke calendar, organized the Big Sit, and volunteered in the Celery Farm's vaunted Butterfly Garden. Typical Carol: She crocheted nests for the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital to keep orphanned baby birds warm.

Here are a few things she wrote for the Fyke Newsletter found in her archives.

MUSINGS OF A BEGINNING BIRDER

by Carol Flanagan

Days like today, as I stroll along the Celery Farm paths, I can't help but feel pity for the non-birders of the world. I just heard the song of the Yellow Warbler, "sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet." The first one of the spring (for me). What amazed me is that I recognized it instantly, like hearing an old friend's voice.

I work in lower Manhattan, and take the ferry from Hoboken each morning. Masses of "suits", briefcases in hand, move along like herds of cattle. Do any of them see the two hundred plus Double-crested Cormorants on the pillars of an old pier by the ferry slip?

I frequently eat my lunch in the vest pocket park outside the building where I work. I share my sandwich or my pizza crust with the birds. There is a technique to throwing the crumbs to the Sparrows and not the Rock Doves, a.k.a. Pigeons. The Sparrows are faster, and smarter I think. Do any of the other workers lunching alfresco even notice among the House Sparrows are some White-throated Sparrows? And, did anyone see the slightly larger bird that just stole a bread crust from the House Sparrow. It was a Rufous-sided Towhee. Where did he come from? Where is he going?

A few years ago I saw a small bird land on one of those potted ornamental trees that grow in the concrete jungle on 47th Street. I peered into the branches while walking around the cement pot trying to ID this tiny creature. I made note of its field marks, and then happened to notice the people watching me circling the tree. Once at home, consulting my Peterson, I discovered that the little bird was a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a life bird. Did anyone else see him?

I feel sorry for non-birders. Have they ever heard the symphony of Red-winged Blackbirds, harbingers of spring? Have they ever noticed a Cardinal pair, the tender moment when he feeds her? Have they ever seen a Bald Eagle, soaring spectacularly?

How can we help these poor souls? Put up some pictures of your favorite birds in your cubicle or office. Talk about your field walks when asked "How was your weekend?" (Be sure to mention the importance of birds as indicators of the health of our environment.) Before long your coworkers will be reporting bird sightings to you. They'll describe a bird and you'll find you can ID it. They will be amazed (maybe). They will no longer think it strange when you bring your binoculars to work and scan the adjacent rooftops hoping to see a Peregrine Falcon or Red-tailed Hawk. They will be looking too.

Editors Note: Carol is now working in the suburbs, will the birds be better?

MORE MUSINGS OF A BEGINNING BIRDER

By Carol Flanagan

You Know You're a Birder When:

• You keep your "old" binoculars and a field guide in the car, "just in case".
• You've made at least one illegal U-turn to get a better look at a roadside bird.
• You go out of town for a business meeting and take your binoculars "just in case".
• You go to a wedding and take your binoculars "just in case".
• You drive six hours to see a sparrow.
• You watch the weather channel on Thursday and Friday nights, and have developed an interest in wind direction and velocity, especially in the fall.
• Your vocabulary now includes "bins", "LBB's" and "GISS".
• Your car mats are coated with a mixture of mud and donut crumbs.

 

UNTITLED

Twas pre dawn of the New Year, when all through the farm
No owls were heard calling, not even a barn.
Birders were arriving in the parking lot by car,
In hopes sightings of year birds would not be far.


Non-birders were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of hot coffee danced in their heads.
And George in his Eagles cap, and I in my hat,
Had just arrived at the farm to be where it's at!


When out on the Warden's Watch there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from the car to see what was the matter.
We grabbed our binoculars and our spotting scope,
And ran with the birders, all full of hope.


The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to our wondering ears we would hear,
An echoing voice from the distance, it was very clear.


Wearing his doughboy hat, so lively with smiles,
I knew in a moment it must be Warden Stiles.
"Sis and I have been here for hours" he did proclaim,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called the birders by name!


"Now, Charlie! now, Charley! now, Darlene and Deedee!
On, Rob, Fred, John, Doug, John, Pat, Mike and Mimi!
To the top of the platforms! to the top of them all!
Now bird away! bird away! bird away all!"


As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up the pathways the birders they flew,
With the list full of species, and Warden Stiles too.


And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the trail,
More birders were coming; they might see a rail.
As I put down my bins, and was turning around,
Jim and Patty, with their coffee, were coming from town.


Stiles sprang to his vehicle, and to Sis gave a whistle,
And away they did fly, like the down of a thistle.
But we heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy New Year to all, and to all a good-night!"


 

The Fyke Favorite Bird Survey

By Carol Flanagan

Here it is! The long awaited results of the Fyke Favorite Bird Survey. This was a difficult decision for all. We have so many favorite birds, that it is hard to narrow the list down to one most favorite. One member, whose favorite is the Great Egret, wrote "of course, there are days when the Black-capped Chickadee is my favorite too - or the Tufted Titmouse - or Eastern Bluebird - or, or, or..."

My favorite bird is the Black-capped Chickadee. They are brave without being pushy. They will wait their turn at the feeder and politely take one seed, and fly away to eat it. They don't hog the feeder like some others. Their cheerful song brightens even the darkest day.

Here are some comments from the survey responders:

Great Egret - "Watching it slowly stalk for prey in the water at the Celery Farm always brings me back to a real centered place of serenity." - Anonymous

Mockingbird - "One bird is a chorus unto itself. It's the one bird's song I can recognize. Clever little rascal!" - JSB

Northern Cardinal - "Because they are so colorful, don't bother other birds, visit our feeders, stay together for life." - Connie Leich

Northern Cardinal - "Beautiful & colorful. Seen all year long. Pretty voice in Spring and Summer." - Rochana Muenthongchin

Bald Eagle - "There is nothing to compare to the time I drove along the Delaware River, turned to the right, and soaring along the river was the beautiful bird. As I drove along, I stayed even with him/her. I felt I was flying too!" - Lorri

Common Tern - "When I think of the shore, I think of seeing Common Terns. Their beauty and grace of flight is something I can never grow tired of." - Hugh Carola

Chestnut-sided Warbler - "It was the bird that got me 'hooked on birding'." - Charlie Mayhood (Glad you saw that bird, Charlie!)

Black-necked Stilt - "Their looks are striking, and they don't change their plumage, breeding or regular. And, I can recognize them easily." - Anonymous

Little Blue Heron - "In the white phase, the only way I saw it. It confused me for a long time as it was different from any other heron." - George Schmitt (George also pointed out that his response was exactly 25 words. The survey requested 25 words or less!)

Harlequin Duck - "No other bird adds such a unique blend of color to the often drab winter birding season." - Dave Kaplan

Bobolink - "The Bobolink is my favorite, with 'dress suit on backward' and bubbling song. They 'pink' their way from northern meadows to South America and back." - Rob Fanning

House Wren - "Two pairs return year after year to our backyard, breeding twice mostly, and they sing from morning 'til dusk." - Wiebke Hinsch

And the top Fyke Favorite with 20% of the votes is...
The Black-capped Chickadee!