Dennis Puleston Warbler Woods Preserve
Location: Yaphank, NY
Size: 700 acres
Date of hike: April 8, 2017
The Dennis Puleston Warbler Woods Preserve is a property known for bird watching, hiking and hunting that is named after one of Long Island's most respected naturalists: the late Dennis Puleston. I spotted its sign after finishing a quick hike at the nearby Prosser Pines Nature Preserve. Without hesitation, I slammed my brakes and embarked on my second hike of the day. A nature doubleheader!
Before exploring, I briefly researched the history and habitats of Warbler Woods Preserve. Apparently, Puleston – who passed away in 2001 – fell in love with the park's land when he observed the "blazing orange throat" of a Blackburnian warbler flying into the forest when he moved to Brookhaven after World War II, according to the Suffolk County Parks Department's website. "He called it Warbler Woods," the website said. "A park known for its solitude and interesting sights, it is definitely for those looking to be immersed in nature." I also found a website run by the Dennis Puleston Osprey Fund that has videos of the preserve's ospreys that were livestreamed from 2003-2009. Interestingly, the site said that Puleston studied declining osprey populations in the 1960s and attributed their dwindling numbers to high levels of the insecticide DDT. He and a few friends subsequently sued the government, leading to a movement that would result in the banning of DDT and the creation of the Environmental Defense Fund. The county added the land to its park system in 2006.
The preserve has several entrances, numbered 1 through 4, on Yaphank Middle Island Road just north of Shannon Boulevard and south of the Middle Island Country Club. The main one, which is #3, has room for two or three cars on the east side of Yaphank Middle Island Road. Entrances #2 and #4 are also located on the east side of that road, while entrance #1 is on west side of the street and has a section of the 10-mile-long Carmans River. Unfortunately, the paths are all unmarked, so unless you know where you're going it's difficult to find your way back without using GPS. Anyway, in addition to the river, the preserve also boasts a string of pretty ponds and a ton of deer. I even saw a hunting platform halfway up one tree and a deer skull hanging from another. Archery hunting is allowed from Oct. 1 until Jan 31, according to the county, but a sign said it's illegal to discharge within 150 feet of a structure.
The hike's highlight for me were the birds, as the preserve is a "critical breeding and resting ground" for dozens of bird species – some of which migrate from Central and South America, according to the Long Island Pine Barrens Society. One of its species is the aforementioned osprey, whose local population is now "thriving" in part to Puleston's contributions, according to the fund. From what I read, ospreys aren't considered a common bird in Puleston's home country of England, and he was impressed with how they nested high in old trees along the Carmans River. "Little did he know then his beloved ospreys would seriously decline in his lifetime only to be restored by his commitment to their well being," the fund's website said.
My music of choice was a mix of progressive metal with one tune in particular standing out: Redemption's "Transcendence." It's the lengthy closing song from the group's 2005 album, The Fullness of Time, and has introspective lyrics that literally made me stop in my tracks. Sure, I've heard it before, but it had been a while. So it was like hearing the song again for the first time. "The smoke has finally cleared, and I can see the wreckage of my past that lies about me," Ray Alder sang. I couldn't help but sing too as I hiked the empty preserve.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking out the wooded ravines and kettle hole ponds of Dennis Puleston Warbler Woods Preserve. It's the perfect place if you're seeking solitude. While nearby Prosser Pines Nature Preserve and Cathedral Pines County Park are lovely, they attract a lot of hikers and bikers, respectively. But here, all you'll see are the trees.
(Updated: Nov. 22, 2020)
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