 Our Wild Neighbors
What do all these animals have in common: Coyote, Turkey Vulture, Mink, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, White-tailed Deer, Night Heron?
Like you, they are either year-round or seasonal Mason's Island residents. Some of them inhabit prime waterfront real estate; others prefer higher ground with a view. They make their homes of stone, wood or other materials, using a variety of animal architecture. For example, Mink make their dens in stone piles, under docks or in jetties. Adult mink eat fish, frogs, clams, snakes, rats, mice and muskrats, and are excellent swimmers. I sometimes see them swimming between the Allyn's Ally dock and Andrews Island. Mating season for mink occurs between January and March, with an average of 3-4 'kits' born in late April and May. By July, it is not uncommon to see mama mink leading her little ones along the shore, where she will teach them about periwinkles, green crabs, mussels, and other sources of food. The mink at MI (and along the coast in general) are usually larger than those that live inland along streams.
 Can you guess what animal left this track? ANSWER
Coyote also den in rock piles, but not where the rocks are inundated by the tide. Along the shore, the talus railroad bed provides excellent sites for coyote homes. Some den under the roots of fallen trees or in old woodchuck burrows. The coyote has the most extensive range of any terrestrial mammal, and there is a significant variation in size between coyotes from different regions. The largest are found here in the Northeast, where individuals weigh up to 75 pounds. They are sometimes mistaken for wolves, but there are no wolves in Connecticut. They are among the fastest mammals in North America, capable of attaining speeds of up to 64 mph. When hunting, coyotes work in pairs. One animal will pursue a rabbit or other prey item while the other animal cuts the prey off as it attempts to flee. Small rodents, like meadow voles and mice, comprise the majority of the coyotes' diet, but they are opportunistic and will consume whatever they can catch. They communicate through complex vocalizations, and the sound of a distant siren or other whining alarm may set off a chorus of howling.
A relative newcomer on the island, the Turkey Vulture also nests amongst rocks or ledge outcrops, preferring a cave-like spot where they lay two or three speckled eggs right on the ground. Look for them overhead, teetering on two-toned dark wings held in a shallow v shape. Turkey vultures have keen eyesight and a powerful sense of smell. These large (a 70" wingspan), gentle and non-aggressive scavengers are quite secretive around their nest sites, and can live surprisingly close to people without being detected. They feed on carrion and human refuse, and can become quite tame if you feed them. Don't get too close, however. Their main defense is a vile vomit of semi-digested rotten meat. Turkey vultures have few natural predators, and this foul smelling substance is a strong deterrent to potential raiders. Turkey vultures often stand in a spread-winged stance called the "horaltic pose," believed to serve multiple functions including warming the body and baking off bacteria.
Mink, coyote and turkey vultures are year-round residents. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is one of the first Island residents to return from Florida in the spring. In recent years, several of these birds have started to colonize the MI woodlands. Although they are characterized as wading birds, they build flimsy stick platforms high in deciduous trees where they are safe from predators such as raccoons. Both parents care for the young, bringing fish and other seafood from shore to treetop dwelling. Unlike the more common Black-crowned Night Heron (also found on the Island), the Yellow-crowned Night Heron has distinctive black facial markings and a striking long yellow head plume. In Connecticut, it is listed as a species of special concern, having a restricted nesting range statewide. As their name implies, night herons hunt mainly at night, but you may see them stalking prey in marshy areas along the shore at dawn and dusk, and even during the day when they have young to feed.
Later in spring, neo-tropical migrants arrive from their winter homes in Mexico, Central and South America. These are birds we want to welcome to the island: Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Catbird, Wood thrush, Yellow Warbler, Black-and white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart,among others. Most of these migrants are small colorful birds that nest in thickets and forests. They subsist almost exclusively on insects including mosquitoes, ants, beetles, caterpillars (gypsy moths!), and ticks. Because they eat insects, you won't likely see them at your feeders. They typically return to the same patch of forest year after year, and many build their cup shape nests on or near the ground. To attract these birds, we have to attract the insects on which they feed. Almost all birds (96%) -except for seabirds - feed their young a high protein diet of insects. Like many areas in eastern North America, MI has seen a steady decline in migrant birds due to habitat loss from development, landscape practices and other factors, including spraying pesticides to control insects.
The practices that discourage birds actually favor one of the largest and most visible island residents. White-tailed Deer just love it here! The best habitat for deer is a mosaic of shrubs and trees interspersed with open areas. We have created a wonderful deer park on MI- open lawns for grazing, ornamental plants for browsing, and small patches of shrubs and woodlands for cover. Deer are able to run up to 40 miles per hour, jump 9 foot fences, and swim 13 miles per hour, but perhaps their greatest feat is the alteration of the ecosystem. This is of great concern to all island residents, both year-round and seasonal, human and non-human, and will be continued in the next newsletter.
Submitted by Maggie Jones, Director of Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center |
