Long Island gets hummingbirds throughout the summer, but not many. The ones we do get flock to the beautiful Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary. 

The Sanctuary, maintained and owned by Paul Adams, Professor of Neuroscience at Stony Brook University, is landscaped with wonderful flowers and trees that the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds (and other pollinators) need to survive. 

Historically, the Sanctuary has been open to a limited number of visitors, with signed waivers during the month of August

Sadly, the Town of Riverhead and the Sanctuary's neighbors want it closed down to the public for good. Six of the Sanctuary's neighbors issued a Summons and Complaint demanding that the Hummingbird Sanctuary be closed and that it pay $3 million in compensation for their suffering the existence of the Sanctuary. Immediately following the initation of the lawsuit, The Town of Riverhead served the Sanctuary with a Code violation that stated "Operation of a Humming Bird Sanctuary (open to the public by appointment or otherwise) is a prohibited use". 

I think we can all agree that it would be a terrible shame to close the Sanctuary to the public. On an Island that is increasingly overdeveloped, this Sanctuary offers solace to many and a wonderful place to connect with nature and hummingbirds.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SAVE THE SANCTUARY! In addition to signing and sharing our petition, please call Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter at (631) 727-3200, ext 251 or Riverhead Town Attorney Robert F. Kozakiewicz at (631) 727-3200, ext 216 and ask them to answer the following questions:

(1) Why the Notice of Violation was issued?

(2) Why they issued a Notice based solely on neighbors complaining?

(3) Will they formally retract the Violation Notice?