Birding at the NY Botanic Garden

I just received a note from Carol Capobianco at the New York Botanic Garden. They have just resumed their weekly bird walks:

Bird Walks Resume at The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden’s weekly bird walks resume for the season September 5, just in time for early fall migration. Today’s Plant Talk blog post tells which birds you might see coming through the Garden on their way south to their wintering grounds.

With Saturday’s walk, guide and naturalist Debbie Becker begins her 24th season leading bird walks for the Garden, from September through June. Debbie’s passion is birding, and she knows the birds of the Garden intimately. Debbie can almost pinpoint the exact tree or shrub, and certainly the section of the Garden, particular species of birds will be found during the different seasons of the year.

Over 200 species of birds have been seen at the Garden, making use of the varied habitats (forest, river, gardens, etc.) found within its 250 acres. Some birds are year-round residents, others come for the summer to nest, others winter here, and still others pass through on their spring and fall migrations, making use of the abundant food supplies—whether it be seeds, fruits, nuts, nectar, insects, or even other birds and small mammals, as in the case of birds of prey.

The Garden has attracted uncommon sightings, as in the case of last winter’s white-winged crossbills, and offers wonderful opportunities to see wildlife up close, such as the great horned owl pair that has been nesting and raising young here for about 20 years. This past spring birders were abuzz when a pair of red-tailed hawks built a nest on the New York City Landmark Library building and hatched and raised three young. See various blogs about the hawks and other sightings at the Garden. As you know, the adult male, Hawkeye, has since died, which is mentioned in today’s blog as well.

And come join us on a bird walk – or come on your own during the week and let us know what you see.