Laurence B. White

“ But such is the wonder of nature’s specializations that our dune dwellers can usually meet these normal crises. Their adaptability and rate of reproduction safely insure the future of their kind, and their overpopulation, if left to nature, is delicately controlled by available food and shelter and their predators.
Exploring the dunes and making the acquaintance of the inhabitants, you can see this environmental community meshing its lives together, and you can observe the fine degree of adaptation developed by each life form. ”

“ Actually, it is impossible to predict the future of a beach, at the mercy, as it is, of changes in any of the several factors controlling its form—sand supply, waves, currents, and position of sea level. ”

“ When parts of Castle Neck were rich farmland, specialized forms of life which thrive in that type of environment were abundant there. We have only to look at Castle Hill, just a few hundred yards from the dunes, or at some of the swamps that dot the Neck to see how different are the inhabitants from those of the dunes. On the Hill live the Oaks, Maples, Jumping Mice, Raccoons, and Toads, plants and animals that would be misfits indeed—if they could live at all—in the world of moving sand. ”

“ It has taken millions of years for the long, slow process of evolution to develop specific adaptations that suit dune dwellers to their environment. There are variations between individuals in every form of life. Mostly these are normal inherited variations, such as height or color. But sometimes sudden variations, called “mutations,” occur through accidental changes in the genes controlling inheritance. These are new characteristics not found in other members of the same species. If the mutation is advantageous it may be passed on, and it is in this way that new life forms slowly develop. ”

“ WINGS OVER THE SAND
More than any other form of nature, birds invite the notice of the casual naturalist. Their specializations, their plumage, and their song all serve as attractive bait for our attention.
It is not surprising, then, that more books have been written about birds than any other life form, and that many of these have been directed especially to the layman.
Although more than 150 species of birds may appear during the course of a year at Crane’s Beach, only a small number will be described here in any detail. Many of these will be summer birds that regularly nest on Castle Neck. ”

“ You may find an occasional Apple tree growing out of the sand, rooted in a more fertile soil below, a reminder of the time when that bit of the Neck was a rich farmland. The roots of the Beach Plum also reach down to the water table, and it is thus able to grow out of the sand, although its seedlings cannot take root in the sand. Most of all, you will have an opportunity to note many special animal and plant peculiarities the dune dwellers have developed to suit their particular environment. ”

“ Hog Island, to the south of Castle Neck, is a perfectly preserved example. From its shape it is easy to tell which way the ice was moving. The steeply sloping end of its long axis is toward the northwest, the direction from which the last ice sheet came. All drumlins are not so easily spotted. About a mile southeast of Castle Hill you will see a hill that looks like an enormous sand dune. It is the highest point on the Neck, about eighty feet, and it, too, is a drumlin. Once it protruded out of a shallow bay that had formed as the ice melted. ”

“ Maples and Oaks, relics of the time when the dune area was fertile, may still be found dying and being buried over by drifting sand. Now it is a different community of plants and animals living here. The continually shifting sand and the scarcity of water limit the variety of life found, but each dune dweller is specially adapted to this homesite, and no matter how lush, green, and more attractive a neighboring meadow may look to us, many of these specialized organisms could not survive there at all. ”

“ Dozens of Common Terns are to be found nesting at the southern tip of the Neck. Long ago, the Common Tern began laying its eggs on the bare sand, and made no nest at all. Each egg is sand-colored, with speckles resembling pebbles. Only a patient search will locate a Tern nest on the Beach, and then, unless you are cautious, the discovery may come after you have accidentally stepped on the eggs.
Eating What Comes to Hand
Bayberries have a hard wax covering that makes them seem quite unpalatable to us, compared to the more succulent berries found away from the dunes. ”

“ While this guide serves as a reminder to those engaged in the study of ecology that this is a rich area for serious investigation, the amateur naturalist or the casual beach visitor, primarily on hand to sun, swim, or picnic, may use it to make his stop on the Neck more meaningful. Knowing, for instance, that Hog Island is a drumlin (a pile of debris deposited in the Great Ice Age) adds enormous interest to the surroundings. Larry’s guide is compiled with the understanding eye and heart of an able and enthusiastic young naturalist. ”

“ The Snowy is a day-flying owl and therefore may be seen perched high on a sand dune looking around for mice. Its home is in the Arctic tundra, where it feeds on Lemmings. When these are scarce during the winter, the Snowy migrates southward to new feeding grounds. Because it is not used to humans, you can often get quite close to this owl before it will be frightened into flight. ”

“ The analysis of the infinitely complex relationships of living animals and plants to their environment, and to one another, is a relatively new science. People with a strong desire to know more about the great sea of life surrounding them have a real opportunity to contribute valuable observations to ecological knowledge. ”

“ When discovered, the Locust flies up, confusing its attacker with this bright flash of color and a loud whirring noise. Unlike most insects, this Locust eats the thick-skinned, dry Beach Grass.
PLANT ADAPTATIONS
Any plant that is adjusted to living in a region where there is a decided lack of water is called a “xerophyte.” There are many different ways in which plants have adapted their structure and way of life to the dune environment. For instance, to reduce water evaporation they may have a very small leaf, to 8 offer less surface area to the sun ”

“ SOME ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS A Nest Deep Down in the Sand
Walking through the dunes, you will frequently notice a small hole in the sand. Poke a blade of grass into it and you will find the hole quite deep. As a matter of fact, it may extend down two feet. This hole is made by the Sand 7 Dune Wolf Spider (Lycosa pikei) to provide a home where the female may raise her young. Wolf Spiders are a species that elsewhere carry their young on the back and hunt down their food wolf fashion, not even taking time to construct a web. ”

“ One or two of these magnificent birds can generally be found on any thorough search of the Neck. They hunt the Neck by night, taking a great toll of mice and other small animals. The Great Horned Owl nests earlier than any other New England bird, usually in February or March. So early, in fact, it occasionally returns from a hunt to find its nest and eggs covered with snow. A Great Horned can often be located during the day by following the sound of a noisy flock of Crows. These birds spend hours screaming and scolding Owls whenever they find one sleeping during the day. ”

“ As these early plants died, the soil was further enriched to stimulate even more and different plant life. In fact, at one time much of the dune area was a fertile spot, abounding with all sorts of plants and animals. In certain places on the Neck today, very fertile soil can be found just a few feet under the sand, evidence that here was once a rich farmland. ”

“ Or, as in the slow development of a forest, the growth of the trees themselves can change the environment, the maturity of one species whose seedlings require sunlight contributing to the growth of those better adapted to shade. If you should watch an old abandoned pasture over a period of many years, you could see environment gradually altered. First there are the mosses and grasses that create a fertile soil. ”

“ Mantids were once rare in New England but in recent years seem to have been extending their range northward and are now quite common even in the grassy beach area. They are said to be the only insects that can look over their shoulders.
The Earwigs
European Earwig (Forficula auricularia) Wings short, not half length of body Two pincers on tail
The Earwig hides by day, coming out at night to feed on plant material. Since it does not bite with its pincers, it can be handled freely. Other species are occasionally found. The Seaside Earwig (Anisolabis maritima) is the largest New England earwig. ”

“ Very small eyes Tail short, about one-third total length Brown fur, gray on underside
The Meadow Mouse is by far the most common mammal of Castle Neck. Its burrows may be seen just under the grass in all areas having ground cover. It feeds on many of the trees in the area, chewing the bark around the base. This girdling will eventually kill the tree. While this habit makes Meadow Mice undesirable, they fortunately prefer the smaller herbaceous plants when they are available. Although common, Meadow Mice are seldom seen because their days are spent running through their burrows. ”

“ Males gray; females brown Medium-sized hawk Always with an obvious white rump
During the summer this handsome bird of prey is a familiar sight soaring close to the ground over all large marshy areas. In flight it holds its wings at an angle over its back, rather than parallel to the ground as do most hawks. It mates for life, bringing forth a brood of young once each summer. The nest is quite un-hawk-like, located on the ground and constructed of tall grasses. The Marsh Hawk leaves the area and migrates southward sometime in early September. ”

“ The bee makes its nest in old mouse nests on the ground and a careful search for such nests will generally result in discovery of a Bumblebee’s home.
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) : The well-known Honey Bee was brought to this country from Europe. It has now become a common “wild” bee as well as a domesticated species. You may find some wild-bee colonies in hollow trees, particularly on Castle Hill.
INSECT COLLECTING—AN INEXPENSIVE HOBBY
Insects are everywhere and it is easy to collect them. Practically no expense is required to produce a very beautiful collection. ”

“ They are best known for their fur, a favorite for coats. Fortunately, Mink are not common enough on the Neck to warrant commercial trapping.
Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) Long thin body; yellowish beneath, brown above Tail long, about half the total length
The Weasel is a vicious, bloodthirsty animal that often kills just for the sport of it. Most of its victims are mice and insects, so its murderous instincts really benefit us. Weasels hunt at all hours of the day or night and all year round. Specimens in our area will occasionally turn pure white in winter and become an “Ermine.” ”

“ Ticks are quite common at the beach, but only the tourist who ventures into the woods will encounter them. From the tip of a blade of grass they hook on to a warm-blooded animal passing by. In removing a Tick some care is necessary so that the tiny head will not remain embedded in the victim. ”

“ Un-mouse-like, it hibernates in an underground nest during the winter months. Jumping Mice eat both insects and plants.
55 DOGLIKE MAMMALS: FOXES
Red Fox (Vulpes fulva) Looks like a long-legged dog Reddish fur; feet and ears black Large bushy tail, white on tip
Only the most fortunate observer will see a Fox, which is most secretive and truly sly in its habits. It digs burrows and produces four to nine young during April. The Fox has been known to adapt its habits to changes humans have made in its environment, and it is most beneficial because it eats thousands of mice annually. ”

“ Eventually, of course, the dunes might migrate the entire length of the Neck and again be blown into the sea, which would carry the sands farther south, mayhap to become part of Coffin and Wingaersheek Beaches. In fact, we might expect the eventual removal of the entire Neck if sand wasn’t constantly being added from similar erosion going on farther north. Obviously there is a very delicate balance here, adding and subtracting sand. The future of Castle Neck is entirely dependent upon the sand supply from the north. Too little may eventually diminish Crane’s Beach ”

“ This rather rare shorebird so perfectly matches the dry sand on which it hunts that it is often completely invisible until it moves. If the sparsely lined nest is discovered, the parents go into a “broken wing” act to draw attention to themselves and away from their eggs or young. The four light buff eggs marked with black are laid in May.
60 Five Common Migrants
Although rare, the Piping Plover has been described in detail because it does nest here. The following five birds are very common on the Neck during much of the summer but do not nest on New England beaches. ”

“ Usually seen winging low over water, the Tree Swallow serves to clean the air of water-loving insects. These swallows appear on the Neck in great numbers during the fall, when the scarcity of insects changes their diet to Bayberries. Tree Swallows are among the last birds to migrate in the fall and always the first to return the following spring. Their nests are occasionally discovered in a hollow tree during May or June, but these little birds will readily accept a bird house in lieu of a hollow tree. ”