Treehugger Tuesday

From Mother Nature Network:

Woodland Hawks Lured to the Big City by Cornucopia of Backyard Birds
Noel Kirkpatrick
November 10, 2018, 11:09 a.m.

Many people put up bird feeders in hopes of attracting avian wildlife. It turns out those backyard birds are attracting even bigger birds.

As birds come to cities for the feeders, woodland hawks are flocking to the "urban buffet" they create, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The hunting is so good, in fact, that many hawks are now city-bred.

"For hawks, the secret is out: There is a hyperabundance of prey" in the city, Benjamin Zuckerberg, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of wildlife ecology and a senior author of the study, said in a statement.

A new concrete perch

In the past, hawks struggled to survive as habitat loss, hunting and the pesticide DDT reduced their populations. Eventually regulations were put into place, including stronger protections for migratory birds, and hawks staged somewhat of a comeback. Habitat loss, however, wasn't easily undone, and as the woodland hawks' population rebounded, they had to find new hunting grounds. Luckily, cities and bird-loving humans provided some assistance.

"Bird feeders are like buffets," Zuckerberg said, "It is an easy meal."

Researchers looked at 20 years of data collected by participants in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. This citizen science project covered backyard birding information in Chicago from 1996 to 2016. What they found was a steady increase in the hawk population in the city's center, flying away from rural areas.

"Project FeederWatch is the perfect program for this kind of research because you can use that information not only to document hawks, but also their prey," Zuckerberg said.

The researchers published their findings in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Two things surprised the researchers as they studied the data. The first was that the birds seemingly adapted to life in the big city quickly. Woodland hawks, like the Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), are considered "perch-and-scan" predators. They sit still on a branch, hiding in tree cover, and then swoop onto their prey once it comes within striking distance. Branches, it turns out, weren't a deal breaker for these hawks; food was.

"I was surprised that tree canopy cover was not important in colonization by these woodland hawks," Jennifer McCabe, a postdoctoral fellow at Wisconsin-Madison who led the study, said. "However, they aren't nesting in the winter, meaning they are more concerned about their own survival and not raising young. So, it makes sense that food availability would be so important."

The second surprise was related to food availability. The hawks didn't seem to care how large or small the prey was. They just wanted a bird snack.

"Prey biomass wasn't an important driver of colonization or persistence," McCabe explained. "Much of the literature states, at least for Cooper's hawks, that they prefer larger-bodied prey like doves and pigeons. Perhaps these hawks are cueing in on the sheer number of birds and not particular species."

The biggest takeaway is that urban areas are now an important wildlife habitat, a place where nature has adapted to urban life.

"Don't discount urban areas as habitat," Zuckerberg said. "The more we know about which species and what landscape factors allow those species to colonize and persist in urban areas, the better we can manage wildlife in an ever-developing world." ...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, November 17, 2018 to Sunday, November 18, 2018:

Bedford Audubon
August 25, 2018 through November 27, 2018, 9am to 4pm
Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
Arthur Butler Sanctuary, Chestnut Ridge Rd., Bedford Corners, NY
The fall Hawkwatch starts Saturday, August 25! Join us at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners every day from 9 am to 5 pm, weather permitting, to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
See more details

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

**********

Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 9am
Autumn Birding at Hallockville and Hallock State Park
Leader: MaryLaura Lamont
Sponsored by the Hallockville Museum Farm this walk is about two miles and goes through fields and into the woods of Hallock State Park. We will be looking for a variety of migrants, and wintering birds.
Bring binoculars. Dress for the weather. There is a $7 charge for this walk, $5 for members of Hallockville Museum Farm. The fee benefits the Museum’s education fund. Please call the Museum for reservations, 631-298-5292

Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9am
Old Mastic Autumn Bird Walk at the William Floyd Estate
Leader: MaryLaura LaMont
William Floyd Estate has a variety of habitats featuring fields, creeks, woods and marsh so it brings in a rich variety of birds as they migrate through the 613 acres. Situated on beautiful Moriches Bay we can observe shorebirds, ducks, hawks and possibly Bald Eagles as well as sparrows, woodpeckers and some warblers.
Join us for this late autumn bird walk of about 3 miles. Please use the main Entrance Gate at 245 Park Drive, Mastic Beach Call 631-399-2030 for more info or directions. No reservations necessary.

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Feminist Bird Club
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Ramapough Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp

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Gateway National Park
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 10:00am
Winter Waterfowl Workshop at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee: Free
Join us for a slide presentation on waterfowl followed by a walk around the ponds to look for many species of ducks and geese. Leaders: Don Riepe, Tod Winston.

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Great South Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9:00am
Elizabeth Morton NWR
Leader(s): Bob Grover (516-318-8536) Ken Thompson (631-612-8028)
Sunrise Highway east past Shinnecock Canal. Look for a North Sea Road Noyack sign and bear left on CR52. Stay on CR52 and then turn left at light onto CR38. After 1.4 miles on CR38, turn right onto Noyack Road after 5 miles turn left onto refuge.

(Nature walks will be cancelled if it is raining or snowing.)

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 6:30am - 8:00am
Birding in Peace
By September, offspring of this year's nesting birds will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.

Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful Saturday/Sunday morning walking tours to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home. Green-Wood’s official birding checklist is available to pick up from the security guard at the main entrance on 25th Street or to print here. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

$10 for members of Green-Wood and BHS / $15 for non-members

Click here for our inclement weather policy.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Joe DiCostanzo
Registrar: Pearl Broder — pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday, November 5
Ride: $15 or public transportation

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 11:00 a.m.
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Included in All-Garden Pass
Get Tickets

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 9am – 3pm
Van Trip to the Winter Waterfowl Workshop
Register for our van trip to the Winter Waterfowl Workshop and get to Jamaica bay the easy way--by passenger van! Bring lunch and water. Limited to 12. $53 (37)
Click here to register

Saturday, November 17, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, November 17, 9:30am – 12:00pm
"Duck Walk" starts at Whitney Pond
Leader: Jennifer (516) 767-3454
Where: 40.786853, -73.703315 (map)

Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

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NYC H2O
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 12pm
Ridgewood Reservoir ​​​Community Tour

Sunday, November 18, 2018, 1pm
Wastewater and Nature Walk Tour

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NYC WILD!
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Tarrytown

For the FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH WALK click HERE

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Prospect Park
Leader: Arie Gilbert (917) 693-7178

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South Shore Audubon Society
November 18, 2018
Jones Beach West End 2

From the Southern State Parkway, exit onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway south. After entering Jones Beach State Park, exit right (west) into the West End. Continue west to West End 2 parking lot; we meet in the northeast corner of the lot.

From the Wantagh State Parkway, travel south. Upon entering Jones Beach State Park, exit at Bay Drive and continue west to West End 2 parking lot; we meet in the northeast corner of the lot.
Directions via Google Maps

Bird walks led by a member of SSAS are conducted nearly every Sunday morning from late August through early June. Walks are open to the public and are free of charge. We especially encourage youngsters to attend.

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Fort Tryon Park Bird and Tree Walk with Naturalist Gabriel Willow at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
The park is home to a diverse bird population, with 20 bird species that live here year-round and over 60 more that visit during certain seasons.
Free! ...Read more

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, November 9, 2018:

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Nov. 09, 2018
* NYNY1811.09

- Birds Mentioned

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER+
VARIED THRUSH+
HARRIS'S SPARROW+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

EURASIAN WIGEON
Common Eider
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
Great Shearwater
MANX SHEARWATER
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
Northern Gannet
Cattle Egret
Piping Plover
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
MARBLED GODWIT
Parasitic Jaeger
Razorbill
Black-legged Kittiwake
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Downy Woodpecker
WESTERN KINGBIRD
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Orange-crowned Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Vesper Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
DICKCISSEL
Purple Finch
RED CROSSBILL
Pine Siskin
EVENING GROSBEAK

(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44nybirdsorg

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, November 9, 2018 at 9:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are HARRIS’S SPARROW, VARIED THRUSH, SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, pelagic trip results including MANX SHEARWATER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS, DICKCISSEL, EVENING GROSBEAK, RED CROSSBILL and more.

Perhaps the best of the exceptional birds this week was Central Park's first HARRIS'S SPARROW, an immature found last Sunday by the North Meadow in the northern part of the park; nicely photographed, the Sparrow could not be relocated on Monday or following days.

Also very noteworthy was a VARIED THRUSH found Sunday at 57th Street and 8th Avenue in central Manhattan, apparently a window strike victim; taken to the Wild Bird Fund for rehabilitation, the Thrush was released later in the week at an undisclosed location.

Presumably due to its remote location and lack of seekers, the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at the Deep Hollow Ranch east of the town of Montauk has only been reported on the initial weekend of October 20th and 21st, then not until Sunday the 28th, and now again on Sunday November 4th. Look for the bird along the fences on the south side of route 27 - it may still be around.

Another notable flycatcher, a WESTERN KINGBIRD, was seen as a fly-by during last Sunday’s morning flight at Robert Moses State Park.

A pelagic trip last Sunday aboard the Brooklyn VI, sponsored by See Life Paulagics, went out about 70 miles along Hudson Canyon. Seabirds encountered included 3 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 5 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 2 MANX and about two dozen GREAT SHEARWATERS, 4 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS, a few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, an apparent distant RAZORBILL, and over 1,000 NORTHERN GANNETS, most of the latter around a spectacular feeding frenzy stirred up by active Fin and Humpback Whales and several dozen Common Dolphins. Notable among about 14 species of land birds appearing around the boat way out in the Canyon were DOWNY WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, MARSH and WINTER WRENS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN, as well as a DARK-EYED JUNCO clever enough to stay with the ship, taking advantage of seed and a roosting plant brought on board for just such an occasion.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was still on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Saturday, and two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were around the Point Lookout jetties Wednesday. Some local COMMON EIDER included 110 at Shinnecock Inlet today.

Of the up to 5 MARBLED GODWITS visiting the bar off the Jones Beach West End Coast Guard Station, at least 4 were there today, and an HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at Georgica Cove in East Hampton Wednesday.

The 2 CATTLE EGRETS still at Timber Point Golf Club Saturday were likely the same 2 at Bellport Country Club on Sunday.

Two RED-NECKED GREBES were off the Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island last Sunday, a PARASITIC JAEGER was off Fort Tilden Monday, 7 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were still visiting Jones Beach West End Field 2 to Thursday, 5 ROYAL TERNS were still at Floyd Bennett Field Saturday, and 2 PIPING PLOVERS Wednesday were among the many shorebirds lingering at Jones Beach West End.

A DICKCISSEL flew by Robert Moses State Park along with 130 PURPLE FINCHES and 225 PINE SISKINS last Sunday. Other winter Finches featured 6 RED CROSSBILLS photographed at Jones Beach West End Wednesday, while EVENING GROSBEAKS included about a dozen moving over Central Park’s Shakespeare Garden yesterday and singles at Hempstead Lake State Park Thursday and in northern Westchester County today.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen again in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park Monday, and among the various late WARBLERS were a few more seasonal ORANGE-CROWNEDS as well as NORTHERN PARULA, CAPE MAY, MAGNOLIA, and others.

VESPER SPARROWS were seen at Floyd Bennett Field and Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn last weekend.

To phone in reports, on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922 and leave a message.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

From Mother Nature Network:

11 Startling Stats about Earth's Disappearing Wildlife
Russell McLendon
October 30, 2018, 2:48 p.m.

Our planet has lost 60 percent of its vertebrate animals since 1970, a new report warns, but there still may be time to save the rest.

Habitat loss is the main threat to many endangered land animals like snow leopards, the WWF warns. (Photo: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr)

Earth is most likely experiencing its sixth mass extinction. The planet has been through at least five such catastrophes before, but this is the first one in human history — and the first one with human fingerprints.

A new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) offers sobering details about this decline, which has already cut the planet's vertebrate wildlife populations by an average of 60 percent in just 40 years. The 2018 Living Planet Report reveals the troubling extent of this and other environmental crises around the world, but it also sheds light on the ways we can still protect and rehabilitate what's left.

"Science is showing us the harsh reality our forests, oceans and rivers are enduring at our hands," says Marco Lambertini, director of WWF International, in a statement. "Inch by inch and species by species, shrinking wildlife numbers and wild places are an indicator of the tremendous impact and pressure we are exerting on the planet, undermining the very living fabric that sustains us all: nature and biodiversity."

This is the first edition since 2016 of the Living Planet Report, which the WWF releases every two years. The full report spans 140 dense pages in a 15-megabyte PDF, and as WWF chief scientist Jon Hoekstra acknowledged in 2014, these reports "can seem very overwhelming and complex."

Click here to read the entire article.

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, November 10, 2018 to Sunday, November 11, 2018:

Bedford Audubon
August 25, 2018 through November 27, 2018, 9am to 4pm
Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
Arthur Butler Sanctuary, Chestnut Ridge Rd., Bedford Corners, NY
The fall Hawkwatch starts Saturday, August 25! Join us at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners every day from 9 am to 5 pm, weather permitting, to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
See more details

Saturday, November 10, 2018
Leader's Choice with Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson
TBA
November is the best month for rarities – while we may not be chasing a Forked-tailed Flycatcher, Tait will scout out the latest and greatest for the group to see. Time and location to be determined! Will start in morning; within 1 ½ hrs. drive of Westchester.

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

Saturday, November 10, 2018, 8:00am - 11:00am
Prospect Park
Meet 8 am at the Bartel Pritchard Prospect Park entrance. no registration required. Leader Ed Crowne Note: Nearest train stop is the “F or G” lines to Prospect Park /15th Street Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

**********

Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 8:30am
Suffolk County Farm
350 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank
Leader(s): Vera Capogna (516-639-5430) and John Gluth (631-827-0120)
Take Sunrise Highway to exit 57N, Horseblock Rd. Bear right onto County Road 21, Yaphank Ave. Travel approximately one mile to the Cornell Cooperative Extension on left. Turn left onto the entrance road. Take your first right and follow down and meet at the visitors parking area on your left

Note:
Nature walks will be cancelled if it is raining or snowing.

**********

Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, November 11, 2018, 9:00am
Jones Beach Late Migration
November is a strange month for birding. The neotropical migrants are gone and the waterfowl haven’t arrived yet. Jones Beach is one place where it seems there is always something to see and we can’t predict what it will be, so bring your binoculars and a scope (if you have one) and let’s spin the wheel of birds.

Directions: Take the Meadowbrook or Wantagh Expressway until the end and meet at the Field 2 comfort station.
Call 585-880-0915 to register.

**********

Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Prospect Park
Meet: Bartel Pritchard Park Entrance
Leader: Roberta Manian
Registrar: Mary Beth Kooper — marybeth@nyc.rr.com
Registration opens: Monday, October 29
F train to the 15th Street to Prospect Park station
Meet at the Bartel Pritchard entrance at 8:00 am

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 11:00 a.m.
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Included in All-Garden Pass
Get Tickets

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Sunday, November 11, 2018, 9:30am – 7:00pm
Snow Geese and Tundra Swans of Brigantine, NJ
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Brigantine, part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, is one of the East Coast's premier sites for waterbirds, offering a diversity of species and panoramic views. Bring lunch and water. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $125 (87)
Click here to register

Sunday, November 11, 2018, 9:30am – 11:30am
Fall Birding at Wave Hill, Bronx
Sundays, September 9, October 14, November 11 and December 9, 9:30-11:30am
Guide: Gabriel Willow with Wave Hill
Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center. Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for resident and migrating birds. Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission (see www.wavehill.org for more information)

**********

North Shore Audubon
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 8am – 12pm
Point Lookout and Lido Preserve
Leader: Steve 516-987-8103
Where: 40.588320, -73.584722 (map)

Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

**********

NYC WILD!
Sunday, November 11, 2018, 9:30am - 5:30pm
Croton Dam to Ossining

For the FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH WALK click HERE

**********

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, November 10, 2018
High Rock Park and Pouch Camp
Join Ray Matarazzo for a fall foliage hike to Stump Pond. Investigate this unique corner of the Greenbelt with one of Staten Island’s finest environmental educators. The walk will focus on the identification of trees, some of the most colorful species, Hickory, Maple, Sweetgum and Tupelo. Participants will meet in the parking lot at 200 Nevada Avenue.
For more information call Ray Matarazzo at (718) 317-7666.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, November 10, 2018
South Shore Potpourri
Leader: Ian Resnick (917) 626-9562

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Massapequa Preserve
From Sunrise Highway, turn north onto Broadway, Massapequa. Travel under the Long Island Rail Road overpass, then make the first right onto Veterans Boulevard (headed east). Go past the Massapequa train station and into the parking lot at the east end of the station. The preserve is directly east of the parking lot.
Directions via Google Maps

Bird walks led by a member of SSAS are conducted nearly every Sunday morning from late August through early June. Walks are open to the public and are free of charge. We especially encourage youngsters to attend.

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Nature Walks: Birds and the Winter Garden at Wave Hill House (in Wave Hill), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow and Wave Hill Senior Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day lead a fall walk to see birds and bird habitats that provide food and shelter in the garden.
Free!

Birding: Winter Birding at 68th Street and Colonial Road (in Owl's Head Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!

Nature Walks: Birds and the Winter Garden at Wave Hill House (in Wave Hill), Bronx
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow and Wave Hill Senior Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day lead a fall walk to see birds and bird habitats that provide food and shelter in the garden

Sunday, November 11, 2018
Fall Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. ...Read more

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, November 2, 2018:

-RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Nov. 2, 2018
* NYNY1811.02

- Birds Mentioned

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER+
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER+
NORTHERN WHEATEAR+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Common Eider
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Red-necked Grebe
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
MARBLED GODWIT
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-legged Kittiwake
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Royal Tern
Cory’s Shearwater
Northern Gannet
CATTLE EGRET
Purple Finch
RED CROSSBILL
COMMON REDPOLL
Pine Siskin
EVENING GROSBEAK
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Vesper Sparrow
LARK SPARROW
DICKCISSEL

(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44nybirdsorg

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Gail Benson

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings! This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, November 2, 2018 at 10:00 pm.

The highlights of today’s tape are NORTHERN WHEATEAR, SCISSOR-TAILED and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, BLACK-HEADED GULL, HARLEQUIN DUCK, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS, CATTLE EGRET, LARK SPARROW, EVENING GROSBEAK, COMMON REDPOLL, RED CROSSBILL, DICKCISSEL and more.

Most notable among a nice list of rarities this week was a NORTHERN WHEATEAR spotted last Sunday at Heckscher State Park. The WHEATEAR hunted from various perches along the park roadway’s median strip and adjacent road edges through Tuesday, providing wonderful views during its stay near the new cottage construction on the east side of the park.

Then on Wednesday Heckscher produced an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER; somewhat more elusive as it foraged around Field 6 and the former pool building closer to Field 7 both Wednesday and Thursday. The ASH-THROATED was not uncovered today, but once the strong winds abate it might resurface there this weekend.

The SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER present at the Deep Hollow Dude Ranch out in Montauk on October 20th and 21st was not reported during the week until seen again and photographed there last Sunday. Check the pastures on the south side of Route 27 if in that area.

Last Saturday’s storm produced some interesting avian results, including an immature BLACK-HEADED GULL at Sagg Pond in Bridgehampton and an HUDSONIAN GODWIT along Horsemill Lane in Mecox. At Riis Park, where the rains were less intense, the morning’s totals included 3 COMMON EIDER and a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK, 8 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 3 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 2 CASPIAN, 2 BLACK and 44 ROYAL TERNS and 642 NORTHERN GANNETS. Enduring more rain, birders at Robert Moses State Park tallied a few PARASITIC JAEGERS and 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES as well as 22 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, the latter comparable to the 24 counted on eastern Long Island, where some CORY’S SHEARWATERS were also added to the mix.

A shorebird of note from last Saturday was a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on Fisher’s Island, where a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was also present.

Following the storm, a strong flight Tuesday morning, especially along Long Island’s south shore, provided an estimated 10,000 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS passing by Robert Moses State Park, but perhaps more significant were over 2,000 each of PINE SISKIN and PURPLE FINCH – a good year for winter finches looking better and better. More evidence of this were the 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS at Sunken Meadow State Park Sunday, a male lingering to Tuesday, and singles over Moses Park Wednesday and at a Mastic home Thursday. If not yet convinced, single COMMON REDPOLLS were heard over Moses Park Wednesday and in northern Westchester Thursday, and 2 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Midland Beach on Staten Island Wednesday.

At Jones Beach West End up to 5 MARBLED GODWITS were seen on the island off the Coast Guard Station at least to Wednesday, and single LARK and VESPER SPARROWS were there last Sunday. Other VESPER SPARROWS included 2 on Governor’s Island Sunday and 2 at Brooklyn’s Calvert Vaux Park Tuesday, with several others also about.

On Thursday, of note were a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK at Point Lookout and a RED-NECKED GREBE off Brooklyn’s Plumb Beach.

A small invasion of CATTLE EGRETS featured 2 Monday off Depot Lane in Cutchogue, 1 at Heckscher Park Tuesday, 2 at Timber Point Golf Course Wednesday, and 1 at Wainscott Pond today.

Single DICKCISSELS were at Sunken Meadow Sunday to Thursday and at Moses Park Field 5 Tuesday.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT stayed in Manhattan’s City Hall Park to Monday, with another in Brookhaven Wednesday, and several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen during the week, along with a nice assortment of other lingering Warblers.

To phone in reports, on Long Island call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922 and leave a message.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

From the website Treehugger:

Spectacular forest-dwelling swallowtail discovered in Fiji
Melissa Breyer
October 31, 2018

Scientists call it a remarkable discovery in an area where butterfly wildlife was thought to be well known.

While determining the exact number of the planet's species would obviously be impossible, over the years experts and their statistical models have come to a figure of 8.7 million total species. At this point, 1.64 million have been named, leaving a whopping 81 percent of the planet's animals, plants and fungi unknown to us. And while the fact that we're losing species at an alarming rate is like watching a train wreck in slow motion – the Center for Biological Diversity notes that we are currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago – sometimes there are glimpses of beauty that inspire hope.



One such glimpse came as a surprise to scientists: A resplendent swallowtail butterfly (pictured above) discovered in a place where said scientists thought they already knew everything.

The large, new-to-science, swallowtail, Papilio natewa, was first photographed in 2017 by Australian ornithologist Greg Kerr, on the Pacific Island of Vanua Levu in Fiji.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History explains that when Kerr sent the image to specialists around the world for identification, they were all puzzled. But then during a more recent trip, John Tennent from Oxford University Museum of Natural History confirmed that it was indeed a new species.

"For such an unusual and large new butterfly to be discovered somewhere we thought was so well known is remarkable," said John Tennant, who is a Pacific butterfly specialist.

While Tennant is responsible for discovering and naming over a hundred new species and subspecies of butterflies in the last quarter of a century, he says that this beauty is "easily the most spectacular." The butterfly is unusually unique because there are only two other swallowtail butterfly species known in this part of the Pacific, and only one of those is from Fiji.

"Because they are large, conspicuous and often beautiful in appearance, Swallowtail butterflies have been intensively studied for over 150 years," says James Hogan, manager of butterfly collections at Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

It also appears to dwell in the forests, a true forest species, which is unusual for a swallowtail.

"To find a new species like this, not only in a small and reasonably well-studied area like Fiji, but also one which looks unlike any other Swallowtail is truly exceptional. For John Tennent, Greg Kerr and the rest of the team this really is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery."

Now we just need to tip-toe away and let P. natewa do its spectacular forest-dwelling swallowtail things without dumb humans getting in its way and wiping the species out. That these elusive beauties have remained undetected for so long gives me hope that they've got a fighting chance.

Scientists call it a remarkable discovery in an area where butterfly wildlife was thought to be well known. ...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, November 3, 2018 to Sunday, November 4, 2018:

Bedford Audubon
August 25, 2018 through November 27, 2018, 9am to 4pm
Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
Arthur Butler Sanctuary, Chestnut Ridge Rd., Bedford Corners, NY
The fall Hawkwatch starts Saturday, August 25! Join us at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners every day from 9 am to 5 pm, weather permitting, to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
See more details

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Gateway’s Breezy Point and Fort Tilden, Queens
Leader: Steve Nanz
Focus: early winter species, raptors, ocean seafowl open field species
Car fee: $12.00
Registrar: Heidi Steiner-Nanz email heidi.steiner.bklyn@gmail.com or call before 8 pm 718- 369-2116
Registration Period: Oct 27th – Nov 1st
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, November 3, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

Sunday, November 4, 2018, 8:00am - 11:00am
Prospect Park First Sunday Walk
Meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse, the first Sunday of every month except July and August. Leaders are members of the Brooklyn Bird Club. Bring binoculars.

**********

Feminist Bird Club
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Our 2 year anniversary :)

**********

Gateway National Park
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 10:00am to 12:00pm
A Winter Hike at Breezy Point
Location: Meet at Ft. Tilden Building 1 and Carpool to Breezy Point.
Fees: Free
American Littoral Society Partner program.
View Details

**********

Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, November 4, 2018, 6:30am - 8:00am
Birding in Peace
By September, offspring of this year's nesting birds will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.

Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful Saturday/Sunday morning walking tours to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home. Green-Wood’s official birding checklist is available to pick up from the security guard at the main entrance on 25th Street or to print here. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

$10 for members of Green-Wood and BHS / $15 for non-members

Click here for our inclement weather policy.

**********

Hudson River Audubon Society
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Jones Beach – Late Fall Migrants
Meet at 8AM at the Coast Guard Station in West End II
This is a good time for a rarity or a western stray to show up. A variety of bird should be seen from seabirds, ducks, hawks, shorebirds and late land migrants.
http://hras.org/wtobird/jonesbeach.html

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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 9:00am
Montauk Point Exploration
Late shorebirds, early waterfowl, straggling waders, and migrating raptors will be our targets as we make numerous stops along the way.
Directions: Meet at the Montauk Point State Park parking lot by the concession stand. Call 631-839-1773 to register.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, November 3, 2018
South Shores of Jamaica Bay
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Registrar: Anne Lazarus — amlazarus47@gmail.com or 212-673-9059
Registration opens: Monday, October 22

Sunday, November 4, 2018
State Line Park, New Jersey
Leader: Pieter Prall
Registrar: Sandra Maury — sandramaury39@gmail.com or 212-874-4881
Registration opens: Monday, October 22
Ride: $20

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 11:00 a.m.
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Included in All-Garden Pass
Get Tickets

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 9am – 3pm
Beginning Birding Field Trip
Classes: Tuesdays, October 16-30, 6:30-8:45pm
Trips: Saturdays, October 27, 8-11am, and November 3, 9am-3pm
Instructor: Tod Winston
Learn the keys to identifying the spectacular variety of birds that migrate southwards through New York City every fall. Even if you've never picked up a pair of binoculars, you’ll soon be identifying warblers, thrushes, waterbirds, and more—both by sight and by ear. Three fun and educational in-class sessions and two field trips to Central Park and Jamaica Bay (transport to Jamaica Bay included). Limited to 12. $179 (125)
Click here to register

Saturday, November 3, 2018, 9am – 3pm
Ducks, Raptors and More at Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Come explore the lovely coves and rocky outcroppings of Pelham Bay Park, as we look for wintering ducks, migrating raptors, and more. Pelham Bay Park's combination of open water, salt marsh, rocky shore, both young and old growth forest, rare coastal tall grass meadows, and patches of dry and wet oak savanna are not just unique within the city, but also on this continent. Bring lunch and water. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $97 (68)
Click here to register

Saturday, November 3, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

**********

North Shore Audubon
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 8am – 12pm
Nassau County Museum of Art
Leader: Peggy (516) 883-2130
Where: Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Dr, Roslyn, NY 11576, USA (map)

Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

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NYC WILD!
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 10:00am - 6:30pm
Storm King

Sunday, November 4, 2018, 8:00am - 8:00pm
Bear Mountain
Alternate outing: NYC Marathon!

For the FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH WALK click HERE

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, November 4, 2018
APEC
Leader: Eric; Ian (917) 279-7530

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South Shore Audubon Society
November 4, 2018
Hempstead Lake State Park
From the Southern State Parkway, take Exit 18 (Eagle Avenue) south to Field 3 (use second park entrance and make an immediate left turn.)
Directions via Google Maps

Bird walks led by a member of SSAS are conducted nearly every Sunday morning from late August through early June. Walks are open to the public and are free of charge. We especially encourage youngsters to attend.

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, November 3, 2018
The New York City Naturalist Club: Owl Prowl at Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan
7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Our park rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Registration required.
Free!

Sunday, November 4, 2018
Animal of the Month Club: Turkey Vulture at Parking Lot (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free! ...Read more

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, October, 26, 2018:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 26, 2018
* NYNY1810.26

- Birds mentioned
PURPLE GALLINULE+
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Tundra Swan
EURASIAN WIGEON
Redhead
Cory's Shearwater
American Bittern
CATTLE EGRET
GOLDEN EAGLE
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
MARBLED GODWIT
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
POMARINE JAEGER
Parasitic Jaeger
Northern Flicker
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (western subspecies "Audubon's" form)
Yellow-breasted Chat
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
DICKCISSEL
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
EVENING GROSBEAK

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 26th 2018 at 8pm. The highlights of today's tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, EURASIAN WIGEON, CATTLE EGRET, MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, POMARINE JAEGER, GOLDEN EAGLE, Audubon's form of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, EVENING GROSBEAK, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK, DICKCISSEL and much more.

An interesting week with good rarities at either end of Long Island and a lot in between.

The immature PURPLE GALLINULE, found last Friday afternoon in Prospect Park, happily continued around the east side of Prospect Park Lake at least through Wednesday with no reports since then. That area also produced other interesting birds including a warbler catching AMERICAN BITTERN on Sunday and a NELSON'S SPARROW to Monday.

Out in the Montauk area a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found Saturday at the Deep Hollow Dude Ranch mostly using fences on the south side of Route 27 perhaps the same SCISSOR-TAILED that had spent awhile previously in the Albany area. The flycatcher has not been reported out there since Sunday.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was still at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center in Brooklyn today and while on Brooklyn waterfowl we apologize for a report of TUNDRA SWAN last Friday in Brooklyn it was actually an immature Mute Swan. Waterfowl variety locally does continue to increase including 3 REDHEAD showing up a Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Tuesday. A CATTLE EGRET was present for a short while along Ocean Parkway just east of Jones Beach State Park last Sunday. At Jones Beach West End 5 MARBLED GODWITS were still present on the bar off the Coast Guard Station yesterday and 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were still at Miller Field on Staten Island on Monday. Up to 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS continue at Santapogue Creek off Venetian Boulevard in West Babylon. Late this afternoon an active congregation of birds off Robert Moses State Park field 2 included, among the gulls and terns, 8 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 65 BONAPARTE'S GULLS along with a very interested group of 10 PARASITIC JAEGERS and a single POMARINE JAEGER. Another such gathering off Montauk Point last Saturday featured 100s of CORY'S SHEARWATERS and 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS.

The hawk season continues and GOLDEN EAGLES have appeared locally including one over Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan Sunday and another at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye Wednesday these overshadowed by the record 128 counted Thursday at Franklin Mountain in Oneonta. A heavy coastal Long Island flight of landbirds Thursday morning included expected species like YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, NORTHERN FLICKER and AMERICAN ROBIN but also heavy numbers of PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS the latter fueling the hope of a good winter finch flight coming up. A few EVENING GROSBEAKS have already appeared regionally including one Wednesday at Sunken Meadow State Park and on Thursday 2 at the north end of Central Park and another in Setauket. The massive arrival of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS included an Audubon's form found Tuesday at Pine Neck Sanctuary in East Quogue.

A few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were noted this week and 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS visited downtown Manhattan parks to mid week. BLUE GROSBEAKS were reported from Prospect Park Saturday and Kissena Park Monday with a DICKCISSEL at Jones Beach West End Saturday.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS included one at Floyd Bennett Field last weekend, one at Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn to today and 2 in Kissena Park yesterday. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were noted at Robert Moses State Park Monday and Jones Beach West End Wednesday while higher than normal VESPER SPARROWS included 6 at Croton Point Park Monday, 5 on Staten Island and 2 on Governors Island Sunday and 2 at Jones Beach West End Tuesday with several others around. NELSON'S SPARROWS included one in Central Park Sunday.

Among the plethora of rather late migrants still being seen was an apparent YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at Owl's Head Park in Brooklyn today.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, or call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

From "Island Conservation":

Albatross-eating Mice Responsible for Two Million Fewer Seabird Chicks on UK Island Each Year
19 October 2018
New study finds Albatross-eating Mice present on Gough Island in the South Atlantic are causing 2 Million fewer seabird eggs and chicks every year.

- Introduced house mice on the UK Overseas Territory of Gough Island in the South Atlantic are killing seabirds at greater levels than feared resulting in at least two million fewer seabird chicks each year
- Without action, the Tristan albatross is likely to be one of the next UK birds to go globally extinct
- Plans are underway to save this and other species. The RSPB confirms plan to eradicate the mice in 2020, in one of the most ambitious projects of its kind ever attempted.

New research shows that mice are eating seabird chicks at an alarming rate, resulting in two million fewer seabird eggs and chicks on a single UK island each year and putting some seabird species at the risk of extinction.

The study, supported by the RSPB, found that the number of chicks and eggs surviving on Gough is much lower than it would be if mice were absent. This environmental catastrophe threatens albatrosses and petrels with extinction.

Mice were accidentally introduced by sailors to the remote Gough Island during the 19th century. Now, over 100 years later mice have colonised the entire island, and evolved to be 50% larger than the average house mouse. They have learned to eat the eggs and chicks of the island’s once abundant birds.


A Tristan Albatross chick. Credit: J Cleeland

The island, a World Heritage Site in the South Atlantic is considered one of the most important seabird colonies in the world, hosting more than ten million birds. There are 24 species of bird that nest on the island, 22 of which are seabirds.

Gough Island hosts 99 per cent of the world’s Critically Endangered Tristan albatross and Atlantic petrel populations – two species especially vulnerable to mouse predation because their chicks are left alone in winter. Just 2,000 Tristan albatross pairs now remain.

Read the full article here

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, October 27, 2018 to Sunday, October 28, 2018:

Bedford Audubon
August 25, 2018 through November 27, 2018, 9am to 4pm
Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
Arthur Butler Sanctuary, Chestnut Ridge Rd., Bedford Corners, NY
The fall Hawkwatch starts Saturday, August 25! Join us at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners every day from 9 am to 5 pm, weather permitting, to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
See more details

October 27, 2018, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Croton Point Park
Croton Point is a fine local birding spot, especially good in late October for sparrows, raptors and other open country birds like Horned Larks. Meet at Bylane at 7:15am or at the Croton Point Park entrance booth at 8 am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warmly.
Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, October 27, 2018
6 Diamonds Fields/Calvert Vaux Park
Leader: Molly Adams
Focus: Sparrows, early winter species, Pipits, raptors, open field species, early waterfowl
Car fee: $10.00
Registrar: Bobbi Manian roberta.manian@gmail.com
Registration Period: Oct 20th – Oct 25th
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 8:00am - 11:00am
Ridgewood Reservoir Walk
Leaders: Steve Nanz and Heidi Steiner-Nanz
Focus: Observing fall migrants.
Registrar: Email Heidi Steiner at heidi.steiner.bklyn@gmail.com if you would like to car pool. Or, meet at 8:00AM at the top of the stairs of the main entrance, directly across Vermont Place from the parking lot.
Car pool fee: $10
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

**********

Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Floyd Bennett Field
Leader: Rob Jett
Registrar: Miriam Rakowski — miriamrakowski@hotmail.com or 212-749-7376
Registration opens: Monday, October 15
Ride: $15 or public transportation

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 11:00 a.m.
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Included in All-Garden Pass
Get Tickets

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 27, 2018, 8am – 11am
Beginning Birding Field Trip
Classes: Tuesdays, October 16-30, 6:30-8:45pm
Trips: Saturdays, October 27, 8-11am, and November 3, 9am-3pm
Instructor: Tod Winston
Learn the keys to identifying the spectacular variety of birds that migrate southwards through New York City every fall. Even if you've never picked up a pair of binoculars, you’ll soon be identifying warblers, thrushes, waterbirds, and more—both by sight and by ear. Three fun and educational in-class sessions and two field trips to Central Park and Jamaica Bay (transport to Jamaica Bay included). Limited to 12. $179 (125)
Click here to register

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 8am – 11am
Morning Fall Migration Walk in Prospect Park
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Join Gabriel Willow for a leisurely walk to get to know the fall migrants of 'Brooklyn's Backyard', beautiful Prospect Park. Prospect Park has a wide variety of habitats that attracts a number of both breeding and passage migrant bird species, with even more recorded than in Central Park. We will explore the park's meadows, forests, and waterways in search of migratory warblers, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, waterfowl, and more. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 2pm – 3pm
Governors Island Bird Walk
Saturdays, September 8, September 15, September 29, October 6 and October 27, 2-3pm
Sundays, September 9, October 14 and October 28 2–3pm
Guide: NYC Audubon
Meet at Nolan Park house #17. Join us for a bird walk around beautiful and historic Governors Island, which boasts over 192 species recorded on ebird.org. Learn about the island’s fascinating history and search for waterbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and more. Binoculars are available. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Sunday, October 28, 2018, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Fall Foliage Hike in the Greenbelt, Staten Island
Guide: Gabriel Willow with NYC Parks, the Greenbelt Conservancy
Join us as we journey to Moses Mountain, which provides a panoramic view of Staten Island and points beyond. We'll look for migrating hawks, warblers, and other songbirds—with crimson sumac and other autumn foliage as a backdrop. Bring lunch and water. Transportation from the Staten Island St. George Terminal provided. Limited to 18. $43 (30)
Click here to register

Sunday, October 28, 2018, 9:30am – 10:30am
Queens Botanical Garden Bird Walks
Saturdays September 8 and October 20, and Sundays, September 23, October 7 and 28, 9:30-10:30am
Guide: Corey Finger with Queens Botanical Garden
Explore Queens Botanical Garden in search of migrant songbirds and learn about the valuable resources that the Garden offers birds and other wildlife. Binoculars available. Register for one date or the whole series of five walks (walk-ins welcome). Email info@queensbotanical.org or visit www.queensbotanical.org/calendar to register. Each walk limited to 25. Free (with Garden admission)

Sunday, October 28, 2018, 2pm – 3pm
Governors Island Bird Walk
Saturdays, September 8, September 15, September 29, October 6 and October 27, 2-3pm
Sundays, September 9, October 14 and October 28 2–3pm
Guide: NYC Audubon
Meet at Nolan Park house #17. Join us for a bird walk around beautiful and historic Governors Island, which boasts over 192 species recorded on ebird.org. Learn about the island’s fascinating history and search for waterbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and more. Binoculars are available. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, October 27, 2018, 8am – 12pm
Humes Estate
Leader: Barbara (516) 628-9022
Where: 5 Frost Mill Rd, Mill Neck, NY 11765(map)

Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, October 27, 2018, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Brookfield Park
Join Protectors of Pine Oak Woods for a natural history tour of Staten Island’s newest open space park. We will view numerous salt creeks, freshwater wetlands, grasslands and beautiful scenery; a must for hawk watching. Brookfield Park stretches along the south eastern banks of Richmond Creek and runs from Richmond Avenue to Richmondtown.
Meet in the main parking lot at 575 Arthur Kill Road, just north of Armstrong Avenue.
For more information contact Ray Matarazzo at 718-317-7666.

Sunday, October 28, 2018, 9:15am-3:45pm
The Richard Buegler Fall 10-Mile Greenbelt Walk
The Fall-10 miler will begin at Willowbrook Park, the western gateway to Staten Island’s magnificent centerpiece. The Greenbelt stretches through the Corson’s Brook Woods of Willowbrook and extends through the deciduous woodlands that inhabit Staten Island’s heartland. Explore the woods and wetlands of our borough’s largest park with Protectors as we enjoy the fall foliage. Participants will meet in the Eton Place parking lot beside Willowbrook Pond at the Carousel For All Children.
For more information call Dominick Durso at 917-478-7607.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Prospect Park
Leader: Arie Gilbert (917) 693-7178

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South Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Marine Nature Study Area
From Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, turn onto Long Beach Road, traveling south. Proceed to Waukena Avenue and turn left. From this point onward, there are brown signs directing visitors to the sanctuary. Turn right onto Park Avenue (at a traffic light), then turn left onto Golf Drive. Continue on Golf Drive to Slice Drive, turn right, and proceed one short block into the sanctuary.
Directions via Google Maps

Bird walks led by a member of SSAS are conducted nearly every Sunday morning from late August through early June. Walks are open to the public and are free of charge. We especially encourage youngsters to attend.

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Bird Watching at the Reservoir at Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens
8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Start your day with an early morning bird watching walk led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.
Free!

Sunday, October 28, 2018
Bird Walk with New York City Audubon at Queens Botanical Garden, Queens
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Spot and identify creatures of flight and learn how Queens Botanical Garden provides important resources for birds like water, shelter, and insects to eat. ...Read more

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, October 19, 2018

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Oct. 19, 2018
* NYNY1810.19

- Birds mentioned
PURPLE GALLINULE+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

TUNDRA SWAN
EURASIAN WIGEON
HARLEQUIN DUCK
GOLDEN EAGLE
SANDHILL CRANE
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
MARBLED GODWIT
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Parasitic Jaeger
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
SUMMER TANAGER
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Vesper Sparrow
LARK SPARROW
Nelson's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
DICKCISSEL
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compilers: Tom Burke and Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, October 19th 2018 at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are PURPLE GALLINULE, SANDHILL CRANE, MARBLED GODWIT, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, TUNDRA SWAN, EURASIAN WIGEON, HARLEQUIN DUCK, GOLDEN EAGLE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, SUMMER TANAGER and more.

Late this afternoon an immature PURPLE GALLINULE was spotted along the edge of the peninsula on Prospect Park Lake in Brooklyn. Hopefully it will remain for the weekend.

A SANDHILL CRANE was reported flying over Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan Tuesday heading southwest just before noon. Occurring more regularly in our area now another two SANDHILLS were seen heading into Westchester County as they passed over the Greenwich Audubon Hawkwatch in northwestern Greenwich Thursday morning.

Just as shorebird and warbler seasons give way to the incoming waterfowl most interesting among the arriving species, all spotted today, were a TUNDRA SWAN at Coney Island Creek in Brooklyn, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON at the Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center and the drake HARLEQUIN DUCK at Orient Point.

Among the later shorebirds a group of MARBLED GODWITS, with usually 4 to 6 individuals noted, continues at Jones Beach West End the birds usually seen with a large American Oystercatcher flock around the island off the Coast Guard Station near high tide. Two HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen at Miller Field on Staten Island today with STILT SANDPIPER also reported there and small groups of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS included 17 at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn yesterday.

Interesting was a flock of 9 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES spotted among numerous other gulls and terns off Fort Tilden last Saturday. That melee also producing a PARASITIC JAEGER Saturday with 3 off Breezy Point Monday. Two CASPIAN and 18 ROYAL TERNS were at the now open Mecox Inlet today and 5 more ROYALS were at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn yesterday.

The hawk season is currently going strong with the first of the GOLDEN EAGLES appearing over Hook Mountain in Rockland County and at the Greenwich Audubon watch on Thursday.

An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was spotted in Central Park Thursday following an immature at Shore Road Park off the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn from Monday.

Unusual among this week's passerines were single BLUE GROSBEAKS at Floyd Bennett Field Sunday and at Central Park Tuesday while DICKCISSELS were found in Brooklyn's Green-wood Cemetery and at Sunken Meadow State Park Sunday and at Calvert Vaux Park Tuesday. A LARK SPARROW found at Jones Beach West End last Saturday was still around the hedgerow by the Coast Guard Station Thursday and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW also there Saturday was not relocated. Other CLAY-COLOREDS featured 2 at Robert Moses State Park and one at Floyd Bennett Field Saturday and on Sunday singles at Bush Terminal Piers Park and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. VESPER SPARROWS were spotted at Green-wood Cemetery Sunday, Calvert Vaux Park Wednesday and at the Salt Marsh Nature Center today while other sparrows include some coastal NELSON'S and a FOX arriving in Central Park Thursday.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT visited Gilgo from Saturday to Tuesday and various species of warblers continue to visit local parks including scattered ORANGE-CROWNEDS and such quickly diminishing species as CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, PRAIRIE and WILSON'S.

A late OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was at Salt Marsh Nature Center Sunday and interesting was a report of a SUMMER TANAGER at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island today.

Decent flights last weekend and on Thursday have brought promising numbers of PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES to our area with other winter finches hopefully to follow.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 or call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript ...Read more