2022 Memorial Day Issue

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WORDS OF A FEATHER The Legendary Kingfisher by HEATHER SHIRLEY Photos by OLEG GURVITS “C hit-chit-chiterree-chit-chit!” The rattling call of a kingfisher skips over the morning and brings a smile to my face. I look across the lagoon behind my house and see a male belted kingfisher perched on the branch of a cypress tree that is leaning over the water. The steel-blue and white bird surveys his kingdom. He watches the surface of the pond, then launches himself into the air, flying straight and fast before stopping midair to hover over some ripples in the water. He dives in with eyes closed, barely making a splash and spreads his wings underwater to break his dive. Surfacing with a fish pinched in his ample, dagger-like bill, he returns to his perch, knocks the fish against the tree branch to stun it, tosses it into the air then swallows it down, head first. Belly full, he seems content to rest for a moment, enjoying the beauty of the surroundings and the warmth of the morning sun. It’s not hard to understand why these birds have long inspired myths and legends. Ancient Polynesians believed kingfishers controlled the sea and waves. The ancient Greeks also told a myth about the kingfisher. Halcyon, the daughter of the god of the winds, and her husband, Ceyx, the son of the morning star, were deeply in love. Unfortunately, they offended the gods and as punishment were put to death. The gods relented and reincarnated the couple as a pair of kingfishers. Their love continued, and as kingfishers they laid a nest. The Greeks believed kingfishers laid their eggs on the surface of the sea only during those rare times of year when conditions were warm and calm. Thus, that magical and elusive time became known as halcyon days, named for the wind god’s ill-fated daughter. To this day, those precious, deliciously perfect days of warmth and calm are referred to as halcyon days, and kingfishers continue to represent them. There are more than 80 species of kingfishers in the world. The smallest is the African pygmy kingfisher, a mere 4 inches long, which dwells in African rainforests. On the other end of the 38 LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Memorial Day 2022 spectrum is Australia’s laughing kookaburra which, at 19 inches, is the world’s largest kingfisher. In North America, we have four species: ringed, green, Amazon and belted. The first three are really Central American species that are occasionally seen in southern border states like Texas and Arizona. The belted kingfisher, however, can be seen across most of our continent for at least part of the year. Belted kingfishers live in New Jersey yearround as long as there is open water for them to fish in during winter. Kingfishers eat many species of small fish as well as crustaceans, invertebrates, insects and even berries. These birds are easily recognized by their stocky builds, shaggy crests and large bills. The male is two-toned, grayish blue and white. The female is more colorful than the male, which is rare in the avian world. She is similarly blue and white but also has a chestnut band across her belly and down her flanks. Kingfishers nest not on the water’s surface, as the ancient Greeks mistakenly believed, but in burrows they dig into earthen banks. Males establish a territory at the start of breeding season and court females by feeding them. Once paired up, they select a nest site. They prefer a bank of earth that’s both high enough to avoid the danger of flooding and is clear of tree roots that would make digging too challenging. If these ideal conditions aren’t available, kingfishers may build nests in road cuts, ditches or sand or gravel pits. Using their large, strong bills and specialized front claws, which are fused together for added strength, both the male and female birds excavate the nest burrow. Quite a feat of engineering, the burrows are typically 3 to 6 feet long and slope upwards from the bank’s edge so that any rainfall drains out. At the end of the burrow is a nest chamber, where the female lays five to eight eggs. After three weeks of incubation and another month of nestling development, the chicks finally leave the nest. And then, thanks to hard work by the parents Shop with us starting in July! MARKET IN THE PARK 12-4PM JULY 9 TH - Market & Concert in Maxim Glen AUG. 20 TH - Market & Concert in Maxim Glen SEPT. 10 TH - Hopatcong Days in Maxim/Modick SATURDAY EVENTS OCT. 15 TH - Market & Halloween in Maxim/Modick DEC. 10 TH - Holiday Market & Santa in Modick Park Once a Month Market in the DPW Lot JULY – NOV 3 RD SUNDAYS 12-4PM farmtoartfun.com/events Belted kingfisher in flight Belted kingfisher, female Scan the QR code to hear what a belted kingfisher sounds like. as well as the ongoing cycle of nature, the world is blessed by having a few more belted kingfishers. Have you seen any yet this year? Spotted any nest burrows? Why not go look for some along streams, rivers, ponds or lakes that are clear and unclouded (and therefore better for seeing prey in the water). Look for kingfishers on perches hanging over the water, like bare tree branches or telephone wires. Listen for their metallic, rattling call. As you seek them out, bear in mind one final legend about the kingfisher that is worth sharing, if for no other reason than it’s my favorite: only the righteous get to see them. Are you worthy? Go find out. Get out there, enjoy the halcyon days of early summer and go birding! Gated Marina Seasonal Space Rentals 973-663-1192 Sheltered/No Wake Zone Private Off Street Parking 123 Brady Road ~ Lake Hopatcong
15 Commerce Boulevard, Suite 201 • Roxbury Mall (Route 10 East) • Succasunna, NJ 07876 (973) 328-1225 • www.MorrisCountyDentist.com • Dental Implants • Cosmetic Dentistry • Porcelain Veneers • Family Dentistry • Invisalign • Dentures • Teeth Whitening • Crowns and Bridges • Smile Makeovers • Sedation Dentistry New Patient Special Dental Implants $149 Cleaning, Exam, Full Set of Films Regularly $362 •Cannot be combined with other discounts •Refer to New Patient Specials on our website for details •Coupon must be presented and mentioned at time of scheduling Expires 6/30/21 Dr. Goldberg is a leading expert on dental implants. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, which is a degree held by only 1% of dentists worldwide. Whether you require a single implant or complex full-mouth rehabilitation, a free consultation with Dr. Goldberg should be considered. General & Cosmetic Dentistry Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, check-ups, fillings, Invisalign, dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they build with their patients. Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist with credentials in multiple organizations. Please visit his website for a complete listing. DENTAL DIGEST New Patient Special FREE Implant, Cosmetic or General Dentistry Consultation Regularly $125.00 •Cannot be combined with other discounts •Limited to 50 minutes Expires 6/30/21 Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI, FAAID Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry DENTAL INSURANCE: THE BASICS, AND IS IT WORTH THE EXPENSE? Did you know dental insurance isn’t insurance at all? An insurance plan reimburses you for a loss. As an example, if your house burns down, your insurance company covers the loss. With an insurance plan, the insurer caries the risk. Dental “insurance” is really a “benefit plan.” YOU carry the risk, not the insurance company. It is designed to cover only certain procedures, and is capped with an annual maximum. That maximum allows the insurance company to know in advance its absolute greatest annual expenditure. It is at levels that really haven’t changed since dental insurance was invented in 1954. But your premiums keep increasing…. Almost on a daily basis, patients will ask me if its worth purchasing an “insurance plan” they saw advertised on TV or a flier in the mail. Usually it is not. You’d be better off putting those monthly premiums in YOUR pocket, rather than the insurance company’s. Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI Some definitions: MAXIMUM: The plan maximum is the most amount of money the company will pay during the benefit period. In 1954, that amount was about $1,000 to $1,500 per year. If your policy kept up with inflation, that would now be roughly $10,688 to $16,031. However, it is still between $1,000 to $2,000 per year. EXCLUSIONS: Many procedures are not covered, so be careful. These can include: white fillings versus metal fillings, teeth that were missing before the new policy goes into effect, some extractions (this is new: dental policies will push the burden onto your medical plan). Other services could include implants, crowns, or dentures. WAITING PERIODS: When you purchase a plan, many companies will not cover services for variable periods of time. We have seen waiting periods up to one year!!! So while you pay the company a monthly premium, you don’t have benefits until your Waiting Period is over. NETWORKS: Depending on the plan you purchase, you may be forced to go to certain offices or see certain doctors. Otherwise, you may have no benefits. You might have to travel 50 miles to find a participating office! PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: If you are missing teeth when you purchase the plan, the ‘insurance” company may not pay for those replacement teeth, or even decrease the benefit by the percentage of missing teeth. About the author: Dr. Ira Goldberg has been performing implant procedures for 26 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. For a free consultation, please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www.MorrisCountyDentist.com Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist, and also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. lakehopatcongnews.com 39
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2022 Memorial Day Issue

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