Friday's Foto
Celebrate your inner nerd with my new t-shirt design! Available on my Spreadshirt shop in multiple colors and products.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Treehugger Tuesday
Guerilla Gardening
Here is a great story about filmmaker and "Vigilant Gardener" Todd Bieber. I just happened to spot him late one night early in his project scoping out a tiny, abused plot of land that he converted into an urban vegetable garden. The garden is at the end of my block and I eventually crossed paths with Todd and his girlfriend giving me the opportunity to thank them for their wanton act of selflessness. It's a great story that I hope will inspire others to act:
Upcoming Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of December 31, 2011 - January 1, 2012:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Early Morning Bird Walk: Bring in the New Year with Birds
Sunday, January 1, 2012, 10 a.m.
Start the new year surrounded by nature!
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Years "First" Day birding in Prospect Park
Meet 9am at Bartel Square park entrance (opposite Pavilion Movie Theater at 15th St and Prospect Park West / Southwest Avenues)
http://tinyurl.com/BPProspect
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh TEXT Message 347-622-3559 if necessary
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New York City Audubon Society
Sun, January 1, 2012, 11am – 1pm
New Year's Day Beachwalk at Breezy Point
Guides: Mickey Cohen, Don Riepe With Gateway National Recreation Area Meet at Building #1 in Fort Tilden, Breezy Point, Queens. Keep up the 30-year tradition by joining us for a brisk hike along the beach at Fort Tilden to celebrate the New Year. At noon, we'll signal across the bay to a group at Sandy Hook, then hike up to the hawk watch platform for a great view of the ocean and New York Harbor. Afterwards, we'll visit the Rockaway Artist's Alliance building for coffee, cake and free champagne. No reservation necessary. For more information contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. No limit. Free
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, January 1, 2012 from noon till 2:00pm.
22nd Annual New Years Day Crooke's Point Walk
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods along with Natural Resources Protective Association are hosting the 22nd annual nature walk along Crooke's Point to greet the new year with friends and colleagues. Share your snack food of choice as we discuss current environmental issues and plan for the year to come. Meet in the main parking lot at the corner of Hylan Blvd. and Buffalo Street.
For more information call Cliff Hagen at (718) 313-8591
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Bird Walks
8:00 a.m.
Focus on wildlife happenings in the park with NYC Audubon experts and the Urban Park...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Free
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Morning Bird Walk: Bring in the New Year with Birds
10:00 a.m.
Explore the Lullwater and Peninsula Nature Trails and discover the beautiful plumage and...
Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
Free
...Read more
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday's Foto
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Treehugger Tuesday
Earth Liberation Front documentary could win an Oscar
From the New York Times:
December 13, 2011, 2:34 pm
If a Tree Falls, Can it Win an Oscar?
By ANDREW C. REVKIN
This fall, I was fortunate to attend a screening of “If a Tree Falls — A Story of the Earth Liberation Front,” an extraordinary documentary by the brilliant young filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman that explores the prosecution of members of the Earth Liberation Front for a series of costly arson fires. The trailers and some descriptions of the film made me a bit concerned that it would be a one-sided depiction of environmental heroes going to extremes. It was nothing of the kind.
Read the entire review here.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday's Foto
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Winter Breeding Birds
This may not seem like a typical season for breeding birds, but there is a least one species that has begun the process.
During much of the year I rarely find the Green-Wood Cemetery Great Horned Owls roosting close to each other. Come December, however, they appear to be inseparable. If I can find one, its mate is usually perched a few feet away. As of a couple of weeks ago, our two Brooklyn owls are now in breeding mode and should be on nest within about a month. There is a good reason that they start in the dead of winter - incubation takes about a month; the owlets don't fledge for another month; they rely on learning hunting skills from their parents for another 3 to 5 months. If all goes well, the first brood of Brooklyn Great Horned Owls in probably 100 years will be self sufficient by next Fall.
Separating our female owl from her mate is sometimes a bit tricky. Seen together, there is an obvious difference as the female is significantly larger and bulkier. She also tends to be more vigilant and less tolerant of people. I'll always try my best to be silent when near them, but if I encroach on her comfort zone, she'll open her eyes and shoot me a look like she's preparing to fly down and rip my face off if I don't back off. Fortunately, Great Horned Owls aren't known for that type of aggressive behavior, but I totally get where she's coming from. In addition to her immense size and scary gaze, I've also noticed that she is very gray in color. She does have the characteristic rusty-orange facial disks and wash on her underside, but her forehead and back are a perfect match for gray tree bark.
Compared to our female owl, the male Great Horned Owl is tall and slim, almost like a Long-eared Owl. Unlike the terrifying persona of his mate, he tends to be more easygoing. More often than not, he won't even open his eyes when Marge or I are nearby. Occasionally, he'll lazily peek out of one eye, then go back to snoozing. He is also much more rufous in coloration. As you can see here, his underside is very orange-red. There is also a lot of rusty color on his forehead, whereas the female has almost none at all.
If they do nest again this winter it will be our Brooklyn owl's fourth attempt in as many years. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they are successful and that it is the beginning of the magnificent "king owl's" return to the county of Kings.
...Read more
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Treehugger Tuesday
From the CNN-Money website:
EPA sounds alarm on Fracking in Wyoming
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Environmental Protection Agency said this week that chemicals from "fracking," a controversial method of extracting natural gas from the ground, have polluted groundwater in Wyoming.
The findings represent the first time in the heated debate over fracking that the agency has drawn such a connection, which has long been claimed by environmental activists.
In a statement released on Thursday, the EPA said a study had found that groundwater in an aquifer around Pavillion, Wyoming, contained "compounds likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing."
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process in which water, sand and chemicals are injected deep into the ground to crack the shale rock and unleash natural gas. The process has sparked concern in part due to worries about its effect on drinking water.
The EPA constructed a pair of wells to test water quality in the Wyoming aquifer, near where natural gas firm Encana (ECA) has drilled. Within these wells, researchers found synthetic chemicals associated with the fracking process as well as high methane levels and benzene concentrations "well above" Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
As a precautionary step, the Department of Health and Human Services has advised local residents to use alternative sources of water for drinking and cooking and to use ventilation when showering, in order to air out potentially dangerous chemicals.
Doug Hock a spokesman for Encana, said concerns about the pollution of drinking water "are not borne out by the facts." The EPA's test wells, he noted, were far below the depth of drinking water wells.
"At a depth where you would expect to find hydrocarbons, they found hydrocarbons. In drinking wells, they found no impacts due to oil and gas," he said.
"We've done extensive testing, the state has done extensive testing, and never have we found the effects of oil and gas in these drinking water wells," Hock said.
The EPA, however, is worried that this may change.
A warning for shale gas investors
"Given the area's complex geology and the proximity of drinking water wells to ground water contamination, EPA is concerned about the movement of contaminants within the aquifer and the safety of drinking water wells over time," the agency said. Samples of drinking wells showed small amounts of compounds "consistent with migration from areas of gas production," it added.
The EPA was careful to note that its findings "are specific to Pavillion" and are not applicable to fracking projects all over the country. Natural gas, the agency added, "plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future."
In addition, the study is still preliminary at this point, subject to public comment and a peer-review process.
The shale gas phenomenon has spread over the past decade from Texas, to the Southeast to, most recently, the Northeast via the giant Marcellus Shale. All the while, it has been dogged by environmental concerns.
Amy Mall, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the EPA's report "validates things Americans all over the country have been saying for years."
...Read more
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas Bird Count
This week is the start of the Christmas Bird Count period, so rather than list the weekly upcoming trips I've provided information on where and when to participate.
The Christmas Bird Count, begun by Frank Chapman in 1900, has grown to become the largest wildlife survey on the planet. He began with a group of just 27 people covering only a few areas, but by last year it had expanded to 2215 counts and tens of thousands of participants - a new record. You can download a summary of the 2010 counts here.
Below is a chart showing the counts being held within New York City. For a complete list of counts being held statewide check the New York State Ornithological Society's CBC webpage here. To search for count information in your state click here.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Brooklyn Eagle
I received the following email from my friend Marge:
From: Marge
Date: December 7, 2011
Subject: Bald Eagle at Green-Wood Cemetery
So … I'm in Cedar Dell where the old brownstone monuments are and the "Sea Captain" overlooks it. I take my tour inside there to see the skull and crossbones on the old brownstone. As I'm boarding the trolley I look, and in the distance, I see a huge form in the tree. I said to the passengers, "It must be one of our red-tails, let me get my bins". One person said, "Wow, that bird looks big" and I said, "It sure does". It was in a tree up on the path by the "Sea Captain", I was all the way across Cedar Dell. I took out my bins and immediately exclaimed, "Oh my God, it's a Bald Eagle. I have to get a pic or no one will believe me!"
I ran across Cedar Dell, got a lot of blurred pics and then my camera DIED. The batteries went dead. All I got were 3 pics […]. As I got closer, he flew off. He was tremendous. It made my day.
Marge
Friday, December 09, 2011
Coney Island Rare Birds
The number and diversity of land birds in NYC's inland parks have dramatically dropped off over the last few weeks. The inactivity in Prospect Park the other day was depressing. The only wildlife at the annual Breeze Hill bird feeders were two portly Gray Squirrels gorging on sunflower seeds. Perhaps the winter birds from the latter half of the Fall migration have continued to more southerly locations and the species that normally overwinter in our park woodlands have yet to arrive. During the week a story appeared in one of the local news blogs about a Snowy Owl sighting on Hoffman Island, near the Verazzano Bridge. Heydi and I headed down to Coney Island over the weekend optimistic that the owl would fly across the water to the dunes along Coney Island Creek.
Seaducks and other seabirds have increased in abundance along New York City's coastline, so the unrealistic expectation that a Snowy Owl would appear in our bins was tempered by the thought that we could more reasonably find eiders or a rare gull during our search. We would work our usual route from the Stillwell Avenue train station:
- Scope the water and jetties from the edge of the boardwalk at Stillwell
- An East to West survey from the end of the fishing pier
- Walk to the western most jetty and scan from Norton Point and around to the East
- Walk north to Coney Island Creek Park and scan Gravesend Bay
- Walk the dunes into Coney Island Creek and scan both sides of the water from the sand spit
- Walk to the edge of the water in front of Mark Twain Junior High School and scan the cover at Calvert Vaux Park
From the fishing pier there appeared to be a tremendous amount of gull activity near the Rockaway Inlet, but it was too far to identify anything unusual. There were several hundred Red-breasted Mergansers a little closer to us, in fact, mergansers have suddenly appeared in large numbers all around the coast. The temperature was relatively warm for early December and the water was like glass, so I couldn't blame the weather for my inability to locate any new birds in the water off of Coney Island. Scanning Gravesend Bay towards the Verazzano Bridge only turned up a few loons, some Buffleheads and Red-breasted Merganser and the expected gulls.
At the border between Coney Island Creek Park and Leon Kaiser Park there is a little bump of sand that sticks into the creek. It is a pathetically small remnant of the dune habitat that used to exist along the coast here. Gulls frequently congregate here, especially at low-tide, so I make it a point to sneak up the back of the dune to scan the birds. While scoping the shore from this spot on Saturday I noticed an interesting looking bird on the shore near the baseball fields at Six Diamonds Field. It was well over a quarter mile away and all I could be sure of was that it was a bold black and white bird sleeping on the shore with its head tucked under its wing. I told Heydi that I thought it might be an avocet, but couldn't be certain. We both chuckled at the thought as that would be a ridiculous bird to see in December ... in Coney Island. From that distance it looked something like this:
After a moment I thought that, perhaps, it might just be a gull with some wing feathers out of place. Also, from that distance, I couldn't tell if it was standing in the water or on the shore, so judging the length of its legs was impossible. It was compelling enough that we decided to get a closer look. We walked to a small concrete pier about a hundred yards closer. The idea of it being an avocet was still in my head, but I tried to talk myself out of it and from the new location we thought that it might not be a gull, but possibly a Long-tailed Duck sitting on the shore. We had to get closer and walked to the edge of the creek behind Mark Twain Junior High School.
As we approached the handball courts next to the creek I noticed a small, white goose within a flock of Canada Geese. I thought it might be a Ross's Goose and focused my scope on it. It was a Ross's Goose and we decided to try and take some photos of it in the bright, early morning sunshine. The flock was paddling away from us, so we crossed the school's parking lot and walked down Neptune Avenue to West 23rd Street. West 23rd Street dead-ends at the water and there are frequently lots of waterfowl in that spot. Of course by the time we walked the 1/4 mile to get closer to the goose, they had all turned around and gone back...so we did, too.
In the 45 minutes or so that it took us to chase down the Ross's Goose and take a bunch of photos, we had completely lost track of our quest to identify the mystery black and white bird. At this point we were directly across the water from the sleeping bird, but about 250 yards away. From that distance I realize that it wasn't standing on the shore, but in the water, so it must have had very long legs. A Gadwall swam behind it giving me a good idea of its size ... smaller than the Gadwall. I told Heydi that I was pretty sure that it was an avocet, but wanted to wait until it woke up, so I could see its bill. After about five minutes of staring at a sleeping bird with its head tucked under its wing, it popped its head out revealing the long, thin, upturned bill of an American Avocet:
After a minute of "Holy craps" and high-fives we began texting people to get the word out. This was a significant find and many people would be dropping everything to come and see this unusual shorebird. In addition to it being a rare vagrant to NYC, Bull's Birds of New York State lists November 15th as the extreme date. These birds usually migrate along the west coast, but they are being seen with more frequency in the east.
We never did see any eiders or rare gulls, but my first Brooklyn American Avocet more than made up of it. Check out some of Heydi's photos here.
...Read more
Friday's Foto
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
November Birds
November wasn't a big month for new birds, although I did manage to add a handful of year species. One nice surprise was the addition of a life bird.
During November of 2010 I added a total of four new year birds, one of which was a life bird. Coincidentally, this past November I also added four new birds, one of which was also a life bird. The month had a very promising start when I found three new species in one day.
Spring Creek is a muddy little inlet located between two capped landfills, runs under the parkway at Erskine Avenue and ends (or begins) at a water treatment plant. The water rarely freezes here and is an interesting place to look for waterfowl, wading birds and raptors in the winter. On the first weekend of the month there were several Long-billed Dowitchers and a flock of yellow-legs feeding along the creek's exposed, low-tide mudflat. From there we headed over to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to look for a reported Eared Grebe. We found the grebe and, while still at the refuge, also spotted a pair of Blue-winged Teal resting on the shore of the West Pond. Ironically, I had given up on the possibility of finding one of these beautiful ducks this year. It would be three weeks before I located another new bird species for the year.
During Thanksgiving week, when I was 200 miles from Brooklyn, I got to read all about the happy birders going to see a Ross's Goose near Flatbush Avenue. I'd somehow managed to miss seeing this diminutive, white goose in the nearly 20 years that I've been looking at birds. I assumed that this one would also elude me. Fortunately, I was wrong as the bird seemed to enjoy the accommodations in Brooklyn and I got to see it when I returned after the holiday.
Just a quick note about my "October Birds" posting. I hadn't entered my October 30th sightings when I created the posting, so one NYS species was inadvertently omitted from the total. Heydi and I had seen several White-winged Scoters while scoping from the beach at Fort Tilden. My state final total should have been 253.
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NYS total: 257
Kings total: 245
254) Long-billed Dowitcher (Spring Creek--Brooklyn, 11/06/11)
255) Blue-winged Teal (Jamaica Bay West--Brooklyn, 11/06/11)
256) Eared Grebe (Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, 11/06/11)
257) Ross's Goose (Brooklyn Golf Center, 11/28/11)
...Read more
Treehugger Tuesday
The beginnings of Chicago's planned extensive bike lane system. I just hope it doesn't result in the controversy that has embroiled NYC's attempts at greener transportation:
Kinzie Street: Chicago's First Protected Bike lane from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Upcoming Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of December 10th - December 11th, 2011:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 10 a.m.
Discover Tour
Every Sunday, 3 p.m.
Discover the Prospect Park you never knew! Meet birds and other wildlife on this walk, guided by a naturalist.
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Central Park Holidays birding
Meet 8:30 am at 100th Street and Central Park West park entrance
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh TEXT Message 347-622-3559 if necessary
Focus: Waterfowl, winter species, raptors, and other holiday season delights
Site map: http://tinyurl.com/CPbirdingdec11th
http://nycbirds.com/mapCPK.html
Nearest train stop: "B" or "C" to 96th or 103rd Street train stations
Notes: Use www.hopstop.com for guidance. There will be extensive walking towards Sherman Square/Grand Army Plaza (NYC) at 59th street and 5th Ave where leader will exit. Birders can leave en route for a shorter walk.
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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. 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 migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 10am – 1pm
Jamaica Bay: Winter Birds and Survival
Guide: Don Riepe With Gateway National Recreation Area Meet at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center for an easy hike around the West Pond, gardens and upland woods. Learn how plants and animals adapt to winter, and look for waterfowl, owls, and wintering birds. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 25. Free
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Long Pond
From reptiles and amphibians to birds and mammals, we’ll look for signs of animal life during this one and a half mile hike through the woodlands of Long Pond Park. In addition evidence of the geologic history and human influence on the park will also be observed. Meet at PS 6, on Page Avenue and Academy Avenue about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Forest Restoration Workshop, The Greenbelt
For the 186th consecutive monthly restoration we will meet in the parking lot of the Greenbelt Nature Center at the junction of Rockland Avenue and Brielle Road. We will walk sections of the White and Blue Trails where we will spend two hours removing vines from saplings along the trails. If you don’t have your own, Protectors will supply gloves and pruners (& refreshments). After a two hour work session, we will take a short walk over nearby trails.
For more information call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036, or Chuck Perry at 718-667-1393.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Moderate Nature Exploration Hike
1:00 p.m.
Hiking is the ultimate way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress. Regardless of the...
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park-Orchard Beach), Bronx
Cost: Free
Wilderness Survival
1:00 p.m.
What would you do if you found yourself lost in the woods? Do you know how to build your...
Location: Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free
Astronomy
6:00 p.m.
The wonders of the universe are ready to be discovered and New York City parks are the...
Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
Cost: Free
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Vigorous Fitness Hike
10:00 a.m.
Hiking is the ultimate way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress. Regardless of the...
Location: Inwood Hill Nature Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
10:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: 72nd Road and Grand Central Parkway Service Road (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
Cost: Free
Wilderness Survival
11:00 a.m.
What would you do if you found yourself lost in the woods? Do you know how to build your...
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free
Moderate Nature Exploration Hike
3:00 p.m.
Hiking is the ultimate way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress. Regardless of the...
Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free
...Read more
Friday, December 02, 2011
Friday's Foto
Thursday, December 01, 2011
A Brooklyn Lifer
I've been birding for nearly 20 years and have seen some pretty amazing birds around New York. My Brooklyn list is getting close to 300 species. Each new species that I see in New York State makes the odds of getting to see a life bird in Kings County a little less probable. On Monday, however, I was able to add a new species, not just for Brooklyn, but for my overall life list.
On Monday, November 21, I received a text message from Doug that he was looking at a Ross's Goose within a flock of Canada Geese at Floyd Bennett Field. It would have been impossible for me to run down there, so was resigned to the fact that I'd miss seeing one of these tiny geese ... again. They are seen sporatically around NYC, just not by me. In addition, during a birding road trip with friends in 2006 to upstate New York, several were seen flying within immense flocks of Snow Geese, again, not by me. Unfortunately, I would be leaving the next day to visit family for Thanksgiving and wouldn't be back until late Saturday night postponing my life Ross's Goose sighting until who-knows-when. I decided not to make myself crazy over missing this species, because with south winds predicted for the week there was a fairly good possibility that it would hang around Brooklyn. I was feeling even more optimistic when Heydi texted me on Saturday that she spotted it feeding on the grass at the driving range across Flatbush Avenue from Floyd Bennett Field.
On Sunday morning I took the subway then the bus to Floyd Bennett Field. The bus stops directly in front of the Brooklyn Golf Center. I had in the back of my mind that I'd get off the bus, walk up to the driving range and see the Ross's Goose immediately. Then I would turn around and go back home in time for lunch with Robin. Things aren't always as simple in reality. There weren't any geese on the driving range and, due to the beautiful, warm sunny weather, there were plenty of people whacking golf balls. I walked across Flatbush Avenue and spent the next few hours wandering the grassland and surrounding habitats looking for flocks of geese. When I couldn't find any, I walked back to the driving range, hoping that the geese had returned to feed on the stubbly grass. They hadn't, so I waited for the bus and headed home. Later that night I read on the NYS Birding list that the Ross's Goose had been seen at the driving range at dusk. DOH!
On Monday I decided to try my luck again and run down to Floyd Bennett Field over lunch time. This time there was nobody driving balls at the golf center and a few Brant and Canada Goose were feeding on the grass. There was no sign of a tiny, white goose. I thought about just waiting around to see if it returned, but figured that it could also be feeding on the grasslands across the road at Floyd Bennett. I walked across Flatbush to Floyd Bennett Field.
There were a few small flocks of Canada Geese on the recently mowed fields, but nothing unusual. Horned Larks have returned and a small flock was feeding on the cricket field's stubble. American Pipit, another arctic breeder, flew overhead making their namesake "pip-it, pip-it" flight call. Near the runway next to the North 40 a Peregrine Falcon was drying off from a perch on a section of metal fencing after bathing in a puddle. Three American Kestrels seemed to be in an endless squabble with a Merlin that was patrolling the fields.
After about 30 minutes, I returned to the driving range. Peering through the chain-link fence at the south end of the field, I noticed that the size of the feeding flock had increased considerably since I checked earlier. Near the center of the flock of Brant and Canada Geese was a compact, white goose. I finally found my life Ross's Goose. 
I walked across the parking lot to the opposite side of the field to get a closer look. There was a golfer directly in front of the flock getting ready to hit some balls. I was concerned that I'd finally found a Ross's Goose and now it was about to get nailed by a flying golf ball. Luckily, the guy seemed more concerned with perfecting his swing than bringing home a goose. I was really surprised that the birds didn't even flinch when the balls were whacked, even when they whizzed passed only a few yards over their heads.
The Ross's Goose was smaller than I'd imagined. It nearly disappeared when a Canada Goose passed in front of it. It appeared to be about the same size as a Brant, although the Sibley guide data shows that they are a bit smaller. They also lack the "grin patch" that is seen on the Snow Goose. The website "Surfbirds" has a very good article on how to separate the Ross's Goose and Snow Goose here. I spent as much time as possible studying this Brooklyn rarity before grabbing the northbound bus. Finding a new bird is always a great experience, being able to share it with others is even better, so get over to Floyd Bennett Field this weekend and maybe you'll get lucky.
Here's a short video of the goose feeding on the driving range:
...Read more
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