Belted kingfishers are found throughout North America; as a matter of fact they are considered one of the most widespread land birds in same. They are not considered year-round residents on the Island, but if the winter is mild and there is open water, belted kingfishers can be seen on the Vineyard all year long. Small numbers of belted kingfishers breed on the Vineyard. We are pretty sure that these breeding birds do not remain year-round, but migrate south to areas in Central and northern South America. However those kingfishers that breed north of the Vineyard come to spend the winters on-Island.

Head up to Aquinnah on any Saturday, rain or shine, warm or frigid. Turn left onto Church street and be on the lookout for a green field. Get out of the car and begin walking along a small path through the trees. At first the woods are still and silent. Then the sounds of children singing drift in from the distance. Keep walking. The voices grow louder, there is a guitar and the smell of smoke. A few more steps and the path opens up to reveal a teepee and a large campfire.

The commercial bay scallop season is open in all towns save Aquinnah, and as hardy shellfishermen don their orange and yellow foul weather gear, perhaps hoping for a small hedge against hard economic times, the early reports on the season are mixed.

Edgartown is having an average to healthy year, but the scallops coming out of Cape Pogue are small. Chilmark expects to have a short season this year. Sengekontacket remains mostly the steady domain of family fishermen (no dragging is allowed there). And the Lagoon Pond is hot.