Thousand Islands Boldt, as proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, instructed the hotel's "maître d'hôtel", Oscar Tschirky, to put the dressing on the menu in 1894. Sociologists attempting to determine the true origin of Thousand Island dressing found that several conflicting origin stories exist, and that they vary between the various islands and villages of the Thousand Islands region. None appear to have any strong written evidence to support their specific claims. Thousand Islands The Thousand Islands constitute an archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario.
North American river otter by North American river otters in various areas. Susceptibility of these species is greatest during the summer (when waterfowl broods are vulnerable) and autumn. The North American river otters have also been known to catch and consume moulting American wigeon ("Mareca americana") and green-winged teal ("Anas crecca"). Other species of birds found within their diets include: northern pintail ("Anas acuta"); mallard ("Anas platyrhynchos"); canvasback ("Aythya valisineria"); ruddy duck ("Oxyura jamaicensis"); and the American coot ("Fulica americana"). Although they consume birds, North American river otters do not feed on bird eggs. Aquatic invertebrates have been recognized as an integral part of