Rudy:  THIS TIME ON  NATURE SCENE WE VISIT THE CHINCOTEAGUE  NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ON THE EASTERN SHORE  OF VIRGINIA-- FAMOUS FOR WILD PONIES  AND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL.
WE SEE THEM BOTH AND MORE  ON OUR BARRIER ISLAND VISIT.
A PRODUCTION OF: NATURE SCENE  IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM: WHERE PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE TO PROVIDING ELECTRIC ENERGY.
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♪ HELLO, AND WELCOME TO  NATURE SCENE AT CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
I'M JIM WELCH, WITH NATURALIST RUDY MANCKE AND WE'RE ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN RIGHT NOW WITH A BIT OF A BREEZE BLOWING IN OUR FACE.
IT'S A CHILLY BREEZE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
AND EARLY NOVEMBER IS AN INTERESTING TIME TO COME BECAUSE OF BIRDS MIGRATING THROUGH HERE.
BUT THIS IS A BARRIER ISLAND AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THE STORY TODAY, JIM.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BARRIER ISLAND.
AND BASICALLY, BARRIER ISLANDS ARE PILES OF SAND THAT SEPARATE AND ACT AS A BARRIER BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE MAINLAND.
AND I THINK WE'LL SEE HOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
PROBABLY FORMED BECAUSE OF GLACIAL ACTIVITY EVEN THOUGH GLACIERS DIDN'T GET THIS FAR SOUTH.
THEY AFFECTED OCEAN LEVELS WHICH FELL DURING GLACIAL TIMES AND THEN THE OCEAN HAS COME BACK IN AND FILLED SOME OLD RIVER VALLEYS.
THERE'S LOTS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
BUT I GUESS THE BEGINNING STORY HERE IS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SLOWLY BUT SURELY RESHAPING THE FACE OF BARRIER ISLANDS.
AND AGAIN, SAND IS SO EASILY MOVED BY WIND AND WATER.
LOOK AT THE LITTLE SANDERLINGS DOWN THERE.
ISN'T THAT A NEAT LITTLE BIRD?
RUNNING ALONG, GETTING A MEAL.
YEAH.
CLOSE TO THE EDGE USUALLY OF THE WATER.
GETTING WET EVERY NOW AND THEN AS THE TIDE PULLS OUT, EXPOSING FOOD TO THEM.
THEY BEND DOWN AND PICK IT UP.
THAT'S ONE ANIMAL THAT REALLY HAS MADE THE ADJUSTMENT HERE ALONG THE INNER TIDAL ZONE.
AND OF COURSE, THE TIDE GOES OUT, THE TIDE COMES IN REWORKS ALL OF THIS MATERIAL HERE.
GOES ON BEHIND US AND DOWN EVEN FARTHER.
AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN WITH THE BARRIER ISLAND AND THEN SLOWLY BUT SURELY WE'LL WORK OUR WAY OVER TO THE BACK SIDE.
LET'S GET STARTED.
THIS IS ASSATEAGUE ISLAND THAT WE'RE WALKING ON NOW.
PART OF THE CHINCOTEAGUE WILDLIFE REFUGE.
AND THESE DUNES ARE PILING UP AND A FEW SHELLS COLLECTING IN BETWEEN THEM, RUDY.
YEAH, THE DUNES HAVE BEEN STABILIZED BY SOME PLANTS AND THAT REALLY PROTECTS ALL THE PLANTS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM SALT SPRAY.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S OBVIOUS THE OCEAN HAS BEEN HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SHELLS AND OTHER BITS AND PIECES OF MATERIAL.
LET ME GRAB THAT.
SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM TREASURES OF THE SEA.
AND YOU'LL SEE FOLKS WALKING ALONG... OH, YEAH.
...PICKING UP SHELLS, WHICH IS OKAY TO DO.
WELL, IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON OFFSHORE.
I MEAN, THIS IS, IN A SENSE, WHEN YOU'RE BEACHCOMBING YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE LANDLOCKED OCEANOGRAPHY.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE OCEAN EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY IN THE OCEAN ITSELF.
YOU GOT SOMETHING?
I DO.
I GOT THREE OR FOUR THINGS HERE THAT ARE GOOD.
AND REALLY, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN ASSEMBLAGE OF SHELLS ESPECIALLY TO FIGURE OUT WHY CERTAIN SHELLS ARE MORE COMMON THAN OTHERS.
USUALLY ON A BEACH YOU FIND MANY MORE BIVALVES THAN UNIVALVES.
THIS IS ONE CALLED A SURF CLAM, JIM.
IT'S VERY COMMON HERE.
BIVALVES DOMINATE BECAUSE THEY'RE FILTER FEEDERS.
THEY FEED ON PLANKTON.
AND PLANKTON IS SO VERY COMMON IN THE OCEAN OFFSHORE.
TWO PARTS TO THE SHELL.
YEP.
ANOTHER BIVALVE HERE.
ONE CALLED AN ARK SHELL.
A-R-K. YOU CAN SEE THE MUSCLE SCAR EVEN LEFT ON THE INSIDE OF THIS THING.
THAT'S KIND OF NEAT.
BUT ALSO NOW, THERE ARE UNIVALVES HERE.
GET THIS ONE AND TURN IT OVER.
I KNOW IT'S BROKEN A LITTLE BIT, BUT...
IT'S A WHELK.
IT'S ONE OF THE WHELKS, YEAH.
AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE FRONT END OF IT YOU CAN SEE THERE'S REALLY A PRETTY DEEPLY CUT CHANNEL IN IT.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU REMEMBER THE COMMON NAME-- IT'S CHANNELED WHELK.
THE WHELKS FEED ON THE BIVALVES.
BUT NOW, AGAIN, WE'RE BEACHCOMBING SO THERE'S A GREAT MIX.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY STRANGE.
I'VE HEARD IT CALLED MERMAID'S PURSE.
MERMAID'S PURSE IS ONE COMMON NAME FOR IT.
IT'S THE EGG CASE OF A LITTLE ANIMAL CALLED A SKATE WHICH IS BASICALLY A STINGRAY WITHOUT A BARB.
YOU SEE, THAT'S INTERESTING, WASHING IN.
VERY, VERY LIGHTWEIGHT.
AND THEN ONE OTHER SHELL HERE JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW THINGS GET RECYCLED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE UNIVALVES, ONE OF THE MARINE SNAILS.
AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE TUBES IN THERE.
WORM TUBES COMING IN TO GET A LITTLE MORE SOLID MATERIAL FOR THEIR TUBES TO BE BUILT ON.
NOW, THAT'S A BAY SCALLOP THAT I PICKED UP.
THERE YOU GO, ABSOLUTELY.
DARK IN COLOR.
BIVALVE.
ONE OF THE BIVALVES.
JUST ONE VALVE OF IT.
WHEN YOU SEE SHELLS DARK LIKE THIS THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN BURIED AND THEN COME BACK UP ON THE BEACH AFTER BEING BURIED.
AND THEN A VERY COMMON UNIVALVE.
THE KNOBBED WHELK.
KNOBBED WHELK.
ORANGE ON THE INSIDE THERE... AND WHEN YOU TURN IT AROUND AND LOOK AT IT ON THE FRONT THERE'S NO QUESTION WHY YOU CALL IT A KNOBBED WHELK.
IT'S THE WHELK WITH THE LARGE KNOBS ON IT.
NOW, HERE IS A QUESTION, RUDY.
THIS IS ONE SHELL...
SO I GUESS A UNIVALVE, BUT IT'S A MOON SNAIL.
UNIVALVE.
UNIVALVES ARE OFTEN SNAILS.
AND THIS IS CALLED A MOON SNAIL OR A SHARK EYE.
AND AGAIN, IT'S GOT THAT ONE OPENING ON IT.
AND LIKE MOST OF THE UNIVALVES, IT'S A PREDATOR.
THE REFUGE DOES ALLOW YOU TO KEEP SHELLS.
SO I MIGHT KEEP THIS ONE AS A SOUVENIR.
HERE'S ONE OTHER INTERESTING THING AT OUR FEET HERE.
WONDERFUL LEFTOVER OF A HORSESHOE CRAB.
SEE THAT HORSESHOE SHAPE ON THE FRONT... SPINES ON THE BACK AND THEN THAT SPINE ON THE TAIL.
NEAT ANIMAL HERE.
VERY COMMON IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN OFFSHORE.
NOW, WE SAID THAT SAND MOVES.
IT'S GOT TO BE STABILIZED IF IT'S GOING TO FORM DUNES.
LOOK AT THE PLANTS THAT COME IN HERE AND STABILIZE THESE DUNES.
BEACHGRASS.
BEACHGRASS IS THE COMMON ONE HERE, ISN'T IT?
YOU SEE THE TUFTS COMING UP WITH FRUIT ON IT.
FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEMS STABILIZES THE SAND AND ONCE SAND IS STABILIZED I SEE BAYBERRY COMING IN UP THERE.
YOU SEE IT?
THAT SHRUB WITH THE FAIRLY BROAD LEAVES AND BIG FRUIT ON IT... RATHER ROUNDED FRUIT ON IT.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT THEY USED TO SCENT BAYBERRY CANDLES.
SO, BAYBERRY'S REALLY COMMON IN THE DUNES AND THEN ALSO THE GOLDEN FLOWERS ON GOLDENROD.
MOST OF THE FLOWERS HAVE ALREADY GONE BUT THERE ARE SOME FRESH ONES STILL LEFT.
SEASIDE GOLDENROD IS THE COMMON NAME.
OKAY, LET'S KEEP GOING.
ONCE YOU GET FARTHER AWAY FROM THE SALT SPRAY NOW PLANTS COME IN THAT WOULDN'T DO WELL ON THOSE MORE OPEN AREAS.
ADDS A LITTLE DIVERSITY TO BARRIER ISLANDS.
AND SHRUB THICKET IS A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS AREA RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
A LOT OF INTERESTING PLANTS HERE NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
RUDY, LOOK RIGHT DOWN HERE LYING... SOAKING UP SOME SUN-- A LITTLE FAWN.
IT'S PERFECT HABITAT.
AND THAT'S A YOUNG WHITE-TAILED DEER AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO MIND US BEING HERE.
LOOK AT THOSE EARS ON THAT THING AND BIG EYES AND CHEWING.
LOOK AT THAT.
SHE'S ALREADY GOTTEN SOMETHING TO EAT AND IS NOW CHEWING IT UP.
SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION OF THOSE MANDIBLES IS AMAZING TO ME.
CHEWING HER CUD, IT LOOKS LIKE, YEAH.
YEAH, A YOUNG ANIMAL AND REALLY, IT SEEMS TO BE USED TO PEOPLE.
RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE THICKET.
NOW, THESE...
THIS SCRUB THICKET IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR LOTS OF ANIMALS TO FIND A HOME AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL OF THEM.
LOOK AT HIM.
NOT EVEN SEEMING TO MIND OUR PRESENCE.
NOW, THE SHRUBS HERE ARE INTERESTING.
WE SAW BAYBERRY A MINUTE AGO.
THERE'S SOME BAYBERRY HERE BUT I SEE A PLANT THAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE BAYBERRY-- MORE SLENDER LEAVES, SMALLER FRUIT ON IT AND THAT'S WAX MYRTLE.
SAME GENUS, DIFFERENT SPECIES AND VERY, VERY COMMON HERE AND YOU SEE A PART OF THIS SHRUB THICKET ZONE.
THE KEY IS IN THE SIZE OF THE LEAVES FOR ONE.
THE BARK'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
YEAH, AND THE FRUIT SIZE IS ALSO DIFFERENT.
GROUNDSEL TREE'S EASIER TO TELL WITH THOSE WHITISH BLOSSOMS ON IT.
YEAH, A LITTLE BIT OF FUZZ ON IT.
YEAH, THAT'S REALLY FRUIT DEVELOPING ON THAT AND THAT WOULD BE BLOWN BY THE WIND.
GROUNDSEL IS ONE COMMON NAME.
SALTWORT'S ANOTHER NAME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NAMES FOR SOME OF THESE PLANTS BUT THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.
AND THEN BEHIND IT CHERRY... ONE OF THE CHERRIES.
I WOULD IMAGINE WILD CHERRY OR BLACK CHERRY.
A PRETTY WIDESPREAD SPECIES.
MANY FOLKS KNOW THE VIRGINIA CREEPER.
TURNING RED THIS TIME OF YEAR.
OH, YEAH, THIS IS A PERFECT TIME OF THE YEAR.
AND THERE'S A VINE COMING UP TO GET A LITTLE MORE SUNLIGHT.
MUST HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUGAR IN THE LEAVES TO GIVE IT THAT RED COLOR.
SMALL CEDAR.
CEDAR... REALLY A JUNIPER, YOU KNOW BUT CEDAR IS WHAT WE CALL IT AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT, BRIGHT RED-- DWARF SUMAC IS A GOOD COMMON NAME FOR THAT.
COMPOUND LEAVES ON IT AND CHANGING COLORS THIS TIME OF YEAR.
WE SAID GREAT DIVERSITY.
IS THAT A PERSIMMON?
THAT TALLER TREE?
IT SURE IS.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
AND FRUIT-- I MEAN, JUST FAT FRUIT POPPING ON THAT PLANT AND THAT'S WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
LOOK IN THE ROAD.
LOOK IN THE ROAD RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
TWO MORE WHITE-TAILED DEER.
VIRGINIA WHITE-TAIL-- A DOE IN FRONT, STANDING THERE.
YEAH, LOOKING RIGHT AT US.
OH, THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.
SEEMS PRETTY HEALTHY THERE.
AND THEN THE MALE BEHIND, WITH THE LITTLE SPIKES ON IT.
ISN'T THAT NEAT?
LOOK AT IT.
HE'S WALKING RIGHT TOWARD US.
MANY WHITE-TAIL, I'M SURE IN THE THICKET ITSELF.
AND SIKA DEER, WE MIGHT SEE IF WE'RE LUCKY TODAY.
YEAH, AND THIS IS A LITTLE HIGHER AREA.
VERY DIFFERENT ON THE OTHER SIDE, JIM.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE IMPOUNDMENTS THAT REALLY CHANGE THE WAY ANIMALS BEHAVE AND BRING IN SOME ANIMALS THAT WOULD NOT BE HERE OTHERWISE.
THESE REFUGES ARE VERY, VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTING A GREAT VARIETY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
MAN HAS TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO DO THAT... TO DO THAT JOB AS WELL.
AND WHEN YOU THINK OF MAN-- LOOK AT THE PONIES IN THE MARSH RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S AN ANIMAL THAT'S INTERESTING.
STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY CAME IN... ACTUALLY, PROBABLY IN THE 1600s PLANTERS BROUGHT THEM HERE TO KEEP FROM FENCING AND MAYBE TO KEEP FROM PAYING TAXES IS ONE STORY.
THAT IS A NEAT ANIMAL AND YOU CAN SEE ONE OUT THERE FEEDING BUT THERE'S A BIRD ON THE BACK.
THAT'S A STARLING SITTING ON THE BACK OF...
ISN'T THAT A STARLING?
IT SURE IS.
A STARLING ON THE BACK I GUESS FINDING SOME INSECTS CLEANING THE ANIMAL A LITTLE BIT.
ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?
THE PONY DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND THAT.
NO, NO, THAT'S HELPING HIM.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING KIND OF MUTUALISTIC BOND THAT'S DEVELOPED THERE.
SEE ANOTHER ONE OUT HERE.
LOOK AT THE OTHER PONY IN THE WATER JUST SLOSHING ALONG.
WOW, THE MANE ON THAT THING.
THEY HAVE UPWARDS OF A FEW HUNDRED HERE AND THEN EACH YEAR, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE THAT PONY ROUNDUP TO TRY TO THIN THE HERD DOWN IN JULY.
THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS JUST MOVING ALONG OUT THERE IN THE WATER.
THIS LITTLE DITCH CLOSE BY, TOO, IS NICE.
SAW IT AS WE CAME UP BUT THE HORSES WERE MORE INTERESTING AT FIRST.
LOOK AT THE GREAT BLUE HERON RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THE GREAT BLUE HERON RIGHT THERE.
LONG BEAK.
STANDING THERE WADING.
WADING, LOOKING FOR, I GUESS, FISH TO RECYCLE.
BUT RIGHT ON THE EDGE.
THAT IS A REALLY LARGE BIRD, ISN'T IT?
AND LONG NECK, STILETTO-LIKE BEAK.
IT WILL TRY TO GET FISH RIGHT IN THERE FOR SURE.
BEAUTIFUL PLUMAGE.
LOOK AT THIS.
I SEE SOMETHING GETTING FISH MUCH QUICKER.
THE OTTER.
THE RIVER OTTER'S RIGHT IN HERE.
THERE'S REALLY A GROUP OF THEM BUT THERE'S ONE THAT'S GOT A FISH IN HIS MOUTH AND JUST CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMPING ON THAT THING.
LOOK AT THAT-- WORKING HIM AROUND.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE BIG TEETH... LARGE TEETH THERE, AND JUST CRUNCHING THE FISH GETTING UP ON THE SIDES.
THEY FISH IN A DIFFERENT WAY BUT THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT IT.
WELL, LOOK AT HIM.
AND THERE'S GOES THE FISH, SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
AND WE SEE ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NEXT TO HIM THERE.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING GROUP OF ANIMALS-- RIVER OTTERS-- AND OF COURSE THEY LIVE IN PLACES OTHER THAN JUST SPECIFICALLY RIVERS.
THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.
ALWAYS A BIT COMICAL TO WATCH.
I SEE ANOTHER INTERESTING ANIMAL OUT OF THE WATER DOWN HERE-- THE CORMORANT.
SEE HIM SITTING UP THERE ON THE BRANCH WITH HIS BIG WEBBED FEET?
THEY MOVE VERY RAPIDLY IN THE WATER.
AND REALLY, LOOK AT THE ONE COMING DOWN THE DITCH.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE HIM SWIMMING ALONG HEAD OUT OF THE WATER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT DOWN-CURVED END ON THAT BEAK WHICH IS SO TYPICAL OF THE CORMORANT.
OFTEN SEE THEM QUITE SUBMERGED EXCEPT FOR THAT NECK.
NEAT ANIMAL.
AND OUT IN THIS IMPOUNDMENT WELL, THE CANADA GEESE, I GUESS, GET OUR ATTENTION FIRST.
LOOK AT THEM OUT FEEDING.
REALLY EASY TO SEE WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THE WATER THE LARGE WEBBED FEET ON THOSE BIRDS.
I MEAN, THAT'S TYPICAL.
MOVES THEM THROUGH THE WATER VERY RAPIDLY.
AND THE GOOSE-LIKE NECK IS FAIRLY OBVIOUS.
THE MARKINGS SO YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY.
WHITE ON THE BACK THERE AND THEN THE WHITE BLOTCH ON THE SIDE OF THE FACE.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST COMMONLY RECOGNIZED MIGRATORY BIRD IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.
AND SOME OF THEM, OF COURSE, EVEN TODAY DON'T MIGRATE.
THEY ACTUALLY STAY IN THE SAME AREA YEAR-ROUND.
I IMAGINE MOST OF THESE, THOUGH, HAVE BEEN ON THE MOVE.
ISN'T THAT A NEAT ANIMAL?
GOOD SIZE ON IT.
BLACK DUCK.
BLACK DUCK COMING RIGHT AROUND THE SIDE THERE, YEAH.
THAT'S A YEAR-ROUND RESIDENT HERE.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT COMMON NAME.
LOOK HOW DARK THAT ANIMAL IS.
THE BEAK IS LIGHTER IN COLOR, BUT VERY, VERY DARK BODY.
AND SPEAKING OF DARK BODIES, I MEAN, COME ON.
AMERICAN COOTS, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
MOVING ALONG, SEE THE WHITE BEAK THE DARK BODY, THE JERKY MOVEMENT?
A VERY SMALL ANIMAL.
YOU CONSIDER IT A DUCK?
THE FORM IN THE WATER REALLY DOES LOOK A LITTLE LIKE A DUCK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT IT IN THAT CATEGORY BUT IN FACT, IT'S A MEMBER OF THE RALLIDAE FAMILY.
I SEE THE GREEN-WINGED TEAL RIGHT OUT THERE, TOO.
THEY'RE TRUE DUCKS.
SMALL DUCKS AS THEY ARE.
BUT LOOK AT THE MALES THERE WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL MARKING ON THEIR HEADS.
A LITTLE BIT OF WHITE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WINGS THERE.
AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY COMMON ANIMAL, LOOKS LIKE HERE.
A SMALLER DUCK, THOUGH, FOR SURE.
AND THEN THE DUCK EVERYBODY KNOWS-- THE MALLARD.
MALE AND FEMALE HERE.
GOOD-SIZED DUCK.
THE DRAKE HERE, YEAH.
THAT'S A NEAT ANIMAL.
BEAUTIFULLY MARKED.
JUST OUT THERE, TAKING IT EASY PREENING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF US.
WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE, TOO, NOW.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET CLOSER LOOKS AT SNOW GEESE.
BUT THERE THEY ARE IN THE DISTANCE, ALL THAT WHITE.
AND LOOK AT THEM GETTING UP AND HEADING AWAY.
(  chuckles  ) HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE BIRDS A LITTLE LATER.
MANY FOLKS DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE SNOW GEESE, RUDY.
BUT THEY SEE THIS OTHER BIRD, THIS GRAY EGRET ALTHOUGH THE NAME HAS CHANGED A FEW TIMES.
YEAH, LONG NECK AND ORANGE BEAK ON IT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT BIRD.
VERY OBVIOUS, EVEN THOUGH THE DISTANCE.
REALLY, A COUPLE MORE OF THEM OUT THERE FINDING A MEAL.
AND THEN LOOK AT ALL THE TREE SWALLOWS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, JIM, AND ALL AROUND US.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THEM A LITTLE BIT OFF AND ON AND WATCHING THEM.
THEY'RE GATHERING TOGETHER NOW TO HEAD SOUTH.
THEY GO MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN HERE AND THEY'RE JUST GETTING TOGETHER TO GET STARTED.
LOOK IN THE DITCH DOWN HERE, RUDY.
THAT'S A PAINTED TURTLE.
RIGHT ON THE EDGE THERE ON THE LOG COMING OUT OF THE WATER, SURE IS.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
AND I IMAGINE THAT WATER'S CHILLY SO THAT TURTLE WANTS TO STAY OUT.
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY US BEING HERE AT ALL.
PINE TREES ARE DOING VERY WELL ALONG THIS ROAD.
YEAH, THEY REALLY COME IN.
LOBLOLLY PINE IS THE SPECIES THAT DOMINATES HERE AND REALLY INTO THESE SANDY SOILS.
YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAND DUNES ARE NOW STABILIZED BY PINES.
BEETLES GET SOME OF THEM.
BUT LOOK IN THE TOP OF THIS ONE THAT'S BEEN KILLED BY THE BEETLE.
IT'S A YOUNG HAWK.
THAT IS A MERLIN.
THAT IS A MERLIN UP THERE PICKING APART PROBABLY A WARBLER, I GUESS.
TEARING IT UP!
THAT LOOKS LIKE A SMALLER VERSION OF A PEREGRINE FALCON BUT A MERLIN IS UNCOMMON.
IT MIGRATES THROUGH HERE AND SO DO THE WARBLERS AND THAT BIRD IS RECYCLING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF US PULLING OFF CHUNKS OF FEATHERS TO GET DOWN TO THE FLESH.
VERY COLORFUL BIRD.
THAT'S A FULL- SIZE MERLIN.
MAN, YEAH.
THAT IS AN AMAZING ANIMAL.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BIRD UP TOP.
AND I THOUGHT I SAW AS WE WALKED UP-- LOOK OUT HERE.
THERE IS A... AH, A LITTLE DEER.
SIKA DEER.
YEAH.
INTRODUCTION: ASIATIC SPECIES.
DARK DOWN THE BACK.
THAT'S A MALE WITH THE ANTLERS.
YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL THERE LEANING AND AIMING TOWARDS THE BACK WITH SOME TINES ON THEM.
FEEDING ON WILLOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE.
RUDY, 1923, THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE ISLAND AND THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.
VERY SHORT, THOUGH.
I SEE ANOTHER ONE DOWN THE WAY.
A YOUNGER ONE WITH ITS BACK TO US-- BLACK DOWN THE BACK.
LOOK AT THE WHITE RUMP PATCH.
VERY CLEAR, SMALL TAIL.
AND LOOK AT THE WAY THAT RUMP PATCH SEEMS TO GET BIGGER WHEN IT MOVES AWAY.
THE MUSCLES CONTRACT, THOSE HAIR SEPARATE, AND IT LOOKS BIGGER.
THAT'S A WARNING.
YEAH.
AND I GUESS THAT'S THE MOTHER, PROBABLY, DOWN THE WAY.
INTRODUCTION: IT'S REALLY DONE WELL HERE ON THIS ISLAND.
THIS BREEZE HAS STAYED WITH US THROUGHOUT THE DAY MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT COOL BUT STILL A GREAT DAY FOR BIRD-WATCHING.
AND THIS LOOPED ROAD MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER.
ISN'T IT NICE TO HAVE A PLACE TO BRING YOUR CAR AND EVEN ON A COLD DAY, GET A GOOD LOOK AT THINGS?
AND OF COURSE WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO STANDING WATERS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE WORLD BEGINS TO CHANGE.
LOOK AT THE  PHRAGMITES.
IT'S COMING ALONG THE EDGE HERE NOW AND BEGINNING TO DOMINATE.
OH, AND THAT BREEZE.
BUT YOU COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS AND BIRDS, I THINK, TAKE OVER.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
LOOK AT THE BIG SWANS OUT THERE.
AT THE TUNDRA SWANS OUT THERE.
TUNDRA SWANS.
TWO OF THEM TOGETHER THERE.
ALL THAT WHITE AND THEN THE BEAK VERY BLACK.
SWAN-LIKE NECK, AND YOU SEE THE WAY IT CAN STICK THAT NECK DEEP DOWN UNDERWATER AND TILT ITS BACK IN, THOUGH AND FIND FOOD RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT'S A BIG ANIMAL, ISN'T IT?
NOT QUITE AS LARGE AS TRUMPETER BUT STILL A BIG, BIG ANIMAL.
WELL, THAT'S A SPECTACULAR ANIMAL.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
LOOK AT THE LITTLE RUDDY DUCKS COMING AND GOING AROUND IT, SEE?
COMING AND GOING IN AND OUT.
LITTLE RUDDY DUCKS DOING NICELY EVEN IN THIS COLD WEATHER.
THAT IS A LOT OF WHITE IN IT.
AND I SEE ALSO... LOOK OVER HERE NOT REALLY TOO FAR UP ON THE SIDE.
SNOW GEESE ARE COMING OUT!
THIS GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE ANIMALS.
AND THAT'S WHY THE REFUGE FOR ONE REASON IT WAS BUILT HERE WAS BECAUSE OF THE ENDANGERED SNOW GEESE AT THAT TIME IN 1943.
THEY MADE A COMEBACK.
AND YOU SEE THEY'RE LEAVING THE WATER TO GET A LITTLE NIBBLE OR SOMETHING THERE.
SOME OF THEM STILL OUT IN THE OPEN.
VARIETY OF COLORS ON THEM.
VERY OBVIOUS, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF COLORED FACES YOU KNOW, OF THAT, UH, OF THAT BIRD.
AND THE IMMATURE HAS A DIFFERENT COLOR AS WELL.
JIM, THERE COMES A NORTHERN HARRIER-- YOU KNOW, THE OLD NAME, MARSH HAWK, FOR THAT THING MAKES SENSE HERE-- FLYING RIGHT OVER THE MARSH.
WHITE RUMP PATCH, VERY CLEAR.
PLAYING WITH THE WIND, YOU CAN SEE.
LOOK AT IT, HOVERING IN ONE POSITION RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE GRASSES LOOKING FOR A MEAL, OF COURSE.
WHAT A MIX RIGHT DOWN... LOOK RIGHT IN HERE.
LOOKS LIKE A GULL-- BLACK-BACKED GULL-- HAS GOT SOMETHING.
WHAT IS THAT?
A COOT?
YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE A DEAD COOT, RUDY, BUT... TEARING AT IT.
YEAH.
TEARING AT IT A LITTLE BIT.
TRYING EVEN THOUGH THE BODY IS KIND OF BOBBING UP.
TRYING TO RIP IT OFF.
GULLS ARE SCAVENGERS.
OH, YEAH.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANIMALS THAT HAVEN'T SURVIVED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, AND THE COLD DAY NOW REALLY PUTS A LOT OF STRESS ON THESE ANIMALS.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING BIRD.
RIGHT OUT HERE, TOO, LOOK AT THE, UH... LOOK AT THE, UH... IS THAT AN AVOCET?
I THINK THAT'S ONE AVOCET IN THERE.
THE AMERICAN AVOCET IN AMONG THE RING-BILLED GULLS AND... THAT'S AN AVOCET-- THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT-- IN WINTER PLUMAGE.
SEE THE BEAK CURVED UP JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE END?
THEY DO COME HERE.
THIS IS A BIT EARLY FOR THAT.
I SEE YELLOWLEGS PLAYING AROUND OUT THERE, TOO.
COUPLE OF YELLOWLEGS COMING AND GOING.
BUT THAT IS AN INTERESTING ANIMAL.
I DON'T SEE THAT MANY... AVOCETS AND THAT'S A NICE ONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
JIM, LOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THAT TELEPHONE LINE.
A WHOLE LINE, A GROUP OF STARLINGS PERCHED IN POSITION ABSOLUTELY IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
AND YOU CAN SEE THEM SORT OF TEETER-TOTTERING IN THE WIND THERE A LITTLE BIT TAILS GOING UP AND DOWN.
SPECKLED LOOK ON IT.
NO DOUBT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT WAS A STARLING ON THE PONY YOU KNOW, THAT WE SAW EARLIER.
THAT'S A VERY COMMON BIRD.
NOT A NATIVE SPECIES, PERCHED UP HIGH AND YOU CAN EVEN SEE HIM COMING DOWN, LOOK, TOWARD THE DWARF SUMAC.
WE SAW DWARF SUMAC A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WITH FRUIT ON IT.
WELL, NOW THESE BIRDS ARE COMING DOWN AND TAKING SOME OF THAT FRUIT AND CHANGING IT INTO STARLING AND THEN, OF COURSE, FLYING BACK UP AND SITTING ON THAT LINE.
THAT IS AN INTERESTING BIRD.
NOW LOOK OVER HERE, TOO.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD PERCHED RIGHT ON TOP OF THE SUMAC AGAIN.
DWARF SUMACS ATTRACTING LOTS OF THINGS, YOU SEE.
IT'S A MALE, CLEARLY, BECAUSE OF THOSE LITTLE RED MARKINGS ON THE WING.
VERY, VERY TYPICAL OF MARSHY SITUATIONS JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
STREAMS OF SNOW GEESE AND CANADA GEESE COMING IN SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THIS REFUGE BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH MIGRATORY WATERFOWL.
RIGHT ON THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THEM.
OH, YEAH, AND A LOT OF THE SNOW GEESE... LOOK AT THE BALD EAGLE COMING RIGHT AT US!
AND I KNOW THAT'LL GET THOSE GEESE UP.
LOOK AT THEM GO.
YEAH, THEY TAKE OFF AND IT'S JUST WAVES OF THEM GOING UP.
(  quacking  ) SEE THEM GOING AROUND, TOO, SWINGING BACK.
YOU KNOW, THE EAGLES ALREADY BEGINNING TO MOVE ON.
I'M SURE THEY'LL SLOWLY BUT SURELY WORK THEIR WAY BACK PROBABLY TO THE SAME GENERAL AREA AND LAND BACK ON THE WATER.
THAT'S A SPECTACULAR SIGHT.
A SCENE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE TIME AND TIME AGAIN HERE AT THE REFUGE.
THOSE ARE GREAT BIRDS TO SEE ON THE WATER OR ON THE WING AND EVEN TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE SOUNDS THEY MAKE.
TYPICAL OF THIS TIME OF YEAR-- THIS SEASON OF MIGRATION.
AND THEY LIKE THESE IMPOUNDMENTS.
REMEMBER THE ONLY OTHER HABITAT THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT WE LOOKED AT THE OTHER DAY QUICKLY-- THE SALT MARSH WITH THE SPARTINA GRASS NOW DOMINATING OUT THERE.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE DOMINANT PLANT TRAPPING ENERGY FROM THE SUN AND MAKING MORE FOOD PROBABLY THAN ANY OTHER PLANT COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.
AND THAT'S THE BASIS FOR A LOT OF THE ANIMAL LIFE IN THE OCEAN.
YOU ALWAYS NO SALT MARSHES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THESE BARRIER ISLANDS FACING THE BAY.
THERE'S ALMOST 14,000 ACRES HERE.
DIFFERENT HABITATS, AND NOVEMBER'S A GOOD TIME TO COME VISIT BECAUSE OF THE MIGRATIONS.
ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE, TOO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT A BARRIER ISLAND IS ALL ABOUT.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH OUR VISIT HERE.
THE OPEN OCEAN AND THEN THOSE DUNES THAT WE LOOKED AT AND THEN THE FORESTS AND THE IMPOUNDMENTS AND THE REST.
GREAT MIX OF PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES HERE.
I LIKE THAT ALWAYS, OF COURSE.
AND THEN WE GOT EVEN TO LOOK AT THE BACK SIDE, TOO.
YEAH, IT WAS GOOD TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE WILD PONIES OF CHINCOTEAGUE HERE AT CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA.
THANKS FOR VISITING WITH US AND JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT  NATURE SCENE.
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