I have lost a friend and dear man, Joseph Ten Eyck Brinckerhoff,
who died on January 21, 2003. He lived at and owned Lake Walton
Park until he retired in 2001.
For many years Carol Jack and I birded around the park
always finding wonderful surprises. In the Spring the Osprey
would check the lake, warblers checked the bushes long the
water’s edge, the Red-shouldered Hawk nested in the
campground for a while, and Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks,
Wood Ducks and other ducks were plentiful in the fall. In
1991 he allowed me to put up two Bluebird houses in his yard
and we would visit each time I went to check the boxes. He
had allowed other members of the club to bird on his property
for many years. I only hope that this area, now that he is
gone, will be open for birding in the future.
He went to school with Jim Key. Many years ago he was a
member of the Waterman Bird Club and has been interested
in birds most of his adult life.
Last summer I arranged for Stan DeOrsey and Barbara Butler
to meet Mr. Brinckerhoff to talk about the history of birding
in Dutchess County and Lake Walton. He was very helpful to
them and always interesting to talk to.
He will be missed by myself and others who knew him. My
condolences to his family.
