A Swim in the Lavendar Lake
New York City has done a lot over the past several decades to clean up their waterways. Then there's the Gowanus Canal. This piece appeared in the New York Times last week:
A Fetid Protest: Swimming the Gowanus Canal
By Eleanor Randolph October 20, 2015 10:44 am
New York City’s Gowanus Canal is one of the foulest, most polluted stretches of water in the country. It was a dumping ground for a variety of industries and assorted criminal types for over 100 years. Raw sewage flows into the canal routinely when it rains. And the Environmental Protection Agency has issued this simple and direct warning: “Never swim in the canal.”
Yet last Saturday Christopher Swain did just that. He swam through disgusting waste and garbage, through a toxic foam that smelled like gas and hydraulic fluid, through multi-colored swirls of oily water. Before the swim, he took time out to explain his reasons for doing what was widely viewed as rash, dumb or simply insane.
“Call me crazy, but I have hope,” Mr. Swain noted shortly before the swim. “I dream of the day when the Gowanus Canal — and all the impaired waterways of New York City — are hailed as urban jewels.” More specifically, he said he swam the canal to remind people that the Clean Water Act of 1972 promised that humans could “use and enjoy” the nation’s waterways for swimming, fishing and boating. By indulging in this perilous dip, he wanted to prod officials to clean up this very ripe toxic waste site very quickly.
Right now, the EPA has estimated that it will take $506 million and another five years, at least, to dredge out the substance that covers the bottom of the canal. Often called “black mayonnaise,” it is a deadly mix that includes PCBs, asbestos chips, arsenic, copper, lead and mercury, as well as trash such as pieces of toilets and illegal guns. Viruses and bacteria thrive in this foul soup, an extra warning to anybody who imagines following in Mr. Swain’s unhealthy wake.
The 47-year-old environmental activist acknowledged that he worked hard to protect himself from the canal’s poisonous stew. He wore a puncture-resistant suit with gloves and fins that kept him dry up to his neck. Then, however, there was his head. He wore a cap and ear plugs and smeared his skin with protective jelly. And he did the breaststroke, trying to keep his head above water. When it did not work and he got water in his mouth, a team member following in a nearby kayak gave him hydrogen peroxide to zap the germs. Friendly doctors have been watching him closely since the swim, he said, to make certain he has not been overly contaminated.
Almost anybody who visits the Gowanus Canal imagines a little Venice someday in the heart of Brooklyn. Mr. Swain has taken a drastic route to make his case, but maybe he will help push the government to make the Gowanus a place people can “use and enjoy” and, of course, survive.
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Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, October 31, 2015 to Sunday, November 1, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 31, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, November 1, 2015, 10 am – 11 am
Early Morning Birdwalk: Feather Friends
Observe Park regulars like chickadees, early winter residents like Northern Shovelers, and the returning ducks that spend the winter in the Lake. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club, this tour leaves promptly at 10 am.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Floyd Bennett Field Preserve
Leaders: Tom Stephenson and Heydi Lopes
Focus: sparrows, raptors, early winter species
Car Fee: $10.00
Registrar: Bobbi Manian roberta.manian@gmail.com
Registration Period: October 24th - October 29th
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 31, 2015
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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Newtown Historical Society
Sunday, November 1, 2015, 9:00am
Ridgewood Reservoir
On Sunday, November 1st, Newtown Historical Society will be offering a special nature and history tour of the Ridgewood Reservoir starting at 9am in the main parking lot on Vermont Place at Highland Park. We will view the historic structures in the recently renovated park, observe the natural world and discuss its future.
You can take public transportation to Highland Park. The B13 bus stops along Cypress Hills Street and the Q56 stops along Jamaica Avenue. The Cleveland Street stop on the J train is 3 blocks from the park. Or, you can drive or bike.
This tour will be led by special guest Rob Jett, author of The City Birder.
This tour is 100% FREE and will be a great experience for children and adults alike. For more info or to RSVP, write to NewtownHistory@gmail.com or call 718-366-3715.
You may wish to bring binoculars and cameras.
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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 31, 2015, 8am – 11am
Beginning Birding (trip - Central Park)
Classes: Thursdays, October 22, October 29, and November 5, 6:30-8:30pm
Trips: Saturdays, October 31, 8-11am, and November 7, 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. $172 (120)
Click here to register
Saturday, October 31, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon 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 31, 2015, 9am – 1pm
Fall Migration on Randall's Island
Guides: Gabriel Willow, Christopher Girgenti of Randall's Island
With Randall's Island Park Alliance, Inc.
Meet on the N.W. corner of 102nd Street and FDR Drive. We'll walk across the foot bridge to Randall's Island, an under-explored location in the East River that hosts restored freshwater wetlands and salt marsh. We'll look for fall migrants as we explore the results of recent restoration efforts. Two miles of walking and some modest climbs. Limited to 20. $40 (28)
Click here to register
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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Jamaica Bay NWR
Leader: Lenore Figueroa 718-343-1391
Notes:
Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike. Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 AM unless indicated. Please note: all phone numbers are area code 516 unless otherwise indicated. In most cases, the contacts are also leaders for the respective walks. Go to our website at http://northshoreaudubon.org/for directions. We would like to encourage carpooling, where possible.
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
October 31, 2015, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fall 10 mile Greenbelt Hike
Where: Petrides Complex
Free
Contact: Dominick Durso 917-478-7607
Our Fall 10 mile Greenbelt Hike will be on October 31st. Colors should be in peak with contrasting greens. Wear comfortable boots and long pants. Ten moderate miles in all weather. Park at the end of Staten Island Blvd a Block off Ocean Terrace just above Petrides Campus. Bring lunch and adequate beverage. The walk starts on Staten Island Boulevard, behind the Petrides complex at 9:15AM.
For more information call Dominick Durso at 917-478-7607
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South Shore Audubon Society
November 1, 2015
Mill Pond Park
Notes:
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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Early Morning Birdwalk: Feather Friends at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Observe Park regulars like chickadees, early winter residents like Northern Shovelers, and the returning ducks that spend the winter in the Lake.
Free!
Moses Mountain Hike at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join us for a jaunt to Moses Mountain to experience the forest in its full fall glory and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view and look for birds of prey.
Free!
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Last Saturday I spent several hours birding at Floyd Bennett Field. The recent cold front brought a lot of birds into the area, but one stood out due to its sudden omnipresence - Yellow-rumped Warblers.
The North-40 section of Floyd Bennett Field is a series of grassy foot paths bordered by a scattering of trees, small shrubs, invasive vines and, in some places, walls of phragmites. The name comes from the fact that it is approximately 40 acres of undeveloped habitat at the northern-most border of this historic airfield. It is easy to get turned around and disoriented here, but thankfully one would only have to wander for a mile or two before eventually stumbling out onto one of the defunct runways. It was in this area on Saturday that I began musing about a frightening scenario.
As I mentioned, there were suddenly Yellow-rumped Warblers literally everywhere. When walking along the trails I was dumbstruck by the shear number of these 12 gram, hyperactive songbirds. They were feeding in the grass. They were chasing insects low, along the sides of the paths. They were hawking for bugs at the tops of the trees. They darted passed my face in pursuit of a flying meal. I even spotted several flocks flying passed high above the North-40. When I counted a few dozen directly in front of me I also wondered how many there were in the dense tangle of green between all the paths. What was the likelihood that there were over 10,000 of these recent southbound migrants in just this 40 acre patch? Judging by the constant presence of their distinctive "pip" call throughout Floyd Bennett Field, I'd say it was very likely.
Heydi and I slowly walked east along the trails, stopping periodically to scan the yellow-rumps for something different. As we continued walking all the birds would leapfrog ahead, always keeping a safe amount of space between us and them. Then I realized something that I was hoping that they didn't. There were so many of them, that if they all decided to turn around and attack, they could probably kill us. In Alfred Hitchcock's classic "The Birds", Tipi Hedren is nearly taken out by a roomful of crows and Herring Gulls. Consider this, it would take about 90 yellow-rumps to equal the mass of one Herring Gull. I weigh around 175 pounds and am pretty sure I can take one a few gulls. Six might be my limit. So if 500 plus yellow-rumps came at me it could be a slow, painful end for The City Birder. All those pointy beaks and sharp, tiny claws coming at me from all sides. Running would be futile as these suckers are fast. Nightmares are made of this. I might be able to hold my own against less than 500. Imagine coming upon other birders after escaping this near death mobbing. You're covered in scratches and tiny peck holes. Feathers stuck in your hair. Black eye:
"Oh my God, Rob, what happened!"
"It was the yellow-rumps..."
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Oil Drilling to end in Arctic Habitats
The following article was published in the Washington Post:
In a major setback for Arctic drilling, the Obama administration cancels two oil lease sales
By Chris Mooney
October 16
This story has been updated.
Citing Shell’s decision to indefinitely cancel plans to explore for oil in the Chukchi Sea after drilling an initial, unsuccessful test well, the Interior Department late Friday announced it was canceling two Arctic ocean oil lease sales scheduled for 2016 and 2017. The agency also cited a lack industry nominations of specific areas of exploration interest as a reason for not going forward.
The sales canceled involved one lease in the Chukchi Sea and another in the Beaufort Sea, to the northwest and north of Alaska, respectively.
“In light of Shell’s announcement, the amount of acreage already under lease and current market conditions, it does not make sense to prepare for lease sales in the Arctic in the next year and a half,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in a statement. The move represented a second major setback to Arctic oil drilling plans that as recently as a month ago had seemed to be moving forward smoothly.
Environmental organizations, which had widely protested Shell’s plans and lambasted the Obama administration for approving them, quickly applauded the news Friday.
“Following Shell’s recent decision to halt its Arctic Ocean drilling for the foreseeable future, the Department of the Interior made an entirely reasonable decision today to not hold new lease sales in 2016 and 2017 in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, respectively. Because of Shell’s failure to find significant oil in the Chukchi Sea, new Arctic Ocean lease sales—which require extensive government preparation and costs—would likely be unsuccessful,” said Lois Epstein, Arctic program director at the Wilderness Society, in a statement.
The cancellation marked a reversal for those who had hoped oil companies would be able to discover large oil reserves that would help make the country less dependent on imported crude oil. Last year, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which conducts the lease sales, quadrupled its assessment of how much oil might be available for exploitation from a 2008 lease sale in the Chukchi Sea, from 1 billion to 4.3 billion barrels of oil, or its natural gas equivalent.
One factor that has dampened interest in Arctic ocean drilling of late is the current, relatively low price of oil, which makes pricey remote exploration less attractive.
“This is part and parcel of what we’ve seen across the spectrum of the oil and gas industry, which is, companies are cutting back on investment,” says Pavel Molchanov, an oil analyst with Raymond James. “And when companies are cutting back on investment, with the degree of austerity that’s been taking place, the reality is, everything gets cut.”
But ultimately, Arctic ocean drilling may be a very long game, and one that companies could reconsider in the future. “Because Shell did not find an economical resource base, that doesn’t mean that we shut the door on it,” adds Fadel Gheit, an oil and gas analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. “Maybe we revisit it after a while. After all, we knew that there was shale oil 50 years ago but it was not economically viable to pursue.”
...Read more
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, October 24, 2015 to Sunday, October 25, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 24, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
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Brooklyn Bird Club
October 23rd - 25th
Weekends: Autumn in New Jersey's northern Highlands
(Members only, limit 12)
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Fall migrants various locations, including two hawk watches; primarily hawks and sparrows, open space species.
Car fee: $120 .00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com (preferred) or 347-622-3559 text
Registration Period: June 1st - Oct 11th
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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
Saturday, October 24, 2015 1:00pm
Nature Hike
Enjoy a guided hike through Freshkills Park and learn about habitats, wildlife, and research projects at the site.
This 1-2 mile trek includes moderate to steep elevations. Water, bug spray, and comfortable shoes recommended.
Space is limited, ages 10+. Free.
Meet shuttle into the park at Schmul Park (Wild Ave & Melvin Ave)
Presented in association with Archtober, Architecture and Design Month New York City, October 2015.
Sign Up at EventBrite
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Gateway National Parks
Sunday, October 25, 2015
An Autumn Hike at Breezy Point
Location: Fort Tilden, Building 1 - Queens (Carpool to Breezy Point) Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Ryan Visitor Center Contact Phone Number: 718-338-3799
Carpool in a caravan led by Mickey Maxwell Cohen of American Littoral Society to the little known western tip of the Rockaway Peninsula. Highlights will include dune foliage, shorebirds and a surprising assortment of rocks and minerals used in the construction of the Breezy Point Jetty. Insect repellent, sun protection, binoculars, and a magnifying glass will be helpful.
This is an American Littoral Society and Gateway NRA Partnership Program. (2 miles)
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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Floyd Bennett Field
Leader: Rob Jett (aka "The City Birder)
Registrar: Pearl Broder — pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday October 5
Ride: $15 or public transportation
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 24, 2015
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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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 24, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon 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 24, 2015, 9:15am – 4:00pm
Fall Foliage Hike in the Greenbelt, Staten Island
Guide: Gabriel Willow with NYC Parks and the Greenbelt Conservancy
Meet at the Manhattan terminal of the S.I. Ferry and 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 on Staten Island provided. Limited to 18. $42 (29)
Click here to register
Sunday, October 25, 2015, 10am – 11am
Birding Basics For Families, Central Park
Guides: NYC Audubon, Conservancy Discovery Guides
Offered by The Central Park Conservancy
Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues). Experience Central Park’s precious bird habitat and migration hot spot with Conservancy Discovery Guides and NYC Audubon. Witness firsthand how the Conservancy’s work has made the Park a sanctuary for birds. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free, pre-registration recommended. For weather cancellation updates and pre-registration information, call 212-772-0288.
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Paulagics
Friday/Saturday, October 23-24, 2015
Brooklyn Overnight Pelagic Trip
Cost: $220
Departs: 10:30PM
Returns: 4:30 PM (approximately)
Boat: Brooklyn VI
Marina: 2200 Emmons Ave.
Pier 6 Sheepshead Bay
Brooklyn, New York 11235
Cost: $ 220
Notes: NEED 9 PEOPLE TO SAIL!!
Target Birds: Cory’s, Great, and Manx Shearwaters, Red Phalarope, Kittiwake, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers. Hoping to find Rarities! Exploration of this seas at this time is mostly to find rare species.
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, October 24, 2015, 8:56 pm – 9:56 pm
Mount Loretto Unique Area
Leader: Anthony Ciancimino
Join birder Anthony Ciancimino for a guided nature walk through the fields at Mountt Loretto Unique Area. The focus on this walk will be migrating sparrows, including Lincoln’s, White crowned, and Field Sparrows. Other possibilties include Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Meadowlark. Arriving migrant waterfowl could also be present on the ponds which dot the property. Participants will meet in the parking lot off of Hylan Boulevard, across from the CYO Center. For more information email Anthony Ciancimino at sibirdwatcher@yahoo.com.
Free
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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Caumsett State Park
Leader: Rich Kelly 516-509-1094
Meet at park at 7:30am
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Alley Pond Park
Notes:
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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Birding Basics for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and migration hot spot! Bring your family on a guided walk led by Central Park Conservancy staff and the NYC Audubon Society.
Free!
Highbridge Hawk Watch at Tower Plaza (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Learn about the hawks in your community and observe some of their interesting behaviors.
Free!
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I mentioned in my last posting that I was thinking about great birds I've seen without the use of a car. Unlike most of the United States, New York City is unique in that there are subways and buses that can get you nearly anywhere at any time. They've also expanded their bike lanes and rental bike program making, in many cases, a car unnecessary. As a city birder, I've seen a good number of rare birds via mass transit. Below is a list of some of my best rare bird chases / sightings using only public transportation or bicycle. I invite you to add your best mass transit bird stories in the comments section.
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King Eider, August 29, 2014
Plum Beach, Brooklyn
I have my friend Shane to thank for finding this seaduck and getting the word out quickly. In this case I thought it would be faster to bike down to the beach than wait for a train and bus. I posted about it here.
Red-necked Phalarope, August 15, 2011
Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn
No so much rare, as rarely seen around NYC. This was another great find by Shane that I was able to pedal down to the coast and see. I posted about it here.
Glaucous Gull, December 22, 2013
Coney Island Creek Park, Brooklyn
Probably my most ridiculous, circuitous afternoon of subway and bus rides ever as I attempted to track down a Glaucous Gull in Coney Island. It took 2 buses, a subway and a long walk in the freezing rain to be successful. I covered the marathon chase here.
Couch's Kingbird, December 26, 2014
West Village, Manhattan
The first New York State record of a Couch's Kingbird was at the unlikely location of Washington Street in Manhattan's West Village. Much of the mainstream media picked up on the story. Here's one piece from CBS News. For this chase all I had to do was take the F train to the A train and walk a few blocks.
Gray-hooded Gull, July 30, 2011
Coney Island, Brooklyn
Without question, this bird wins the grand prize as it had never been recorded in New York State and only one other time in North America. It was also likely the easiest mega-rarity in New York City for people see. The bird was hanging around on the beach about 350 yards from a major transit hub for 4 different train lines and several buses. This bird also caught the attention of the mainstream media. Here's an article from the New York Times. You can read my posting about it here.
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No matter what city you call home, I'd love to hear about your best train, bus or bicycle birds. Put your stories in the comments section below.
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Floyd Bennett Field was pretty birdy early Saturday morning. Lots of sparrows were moving south and by late morning Heydi, Keir and I had tallied 10 species, including a Vesper Sparrow. Our day's highlight, however, was seen in a tiny, crowded urban park about 10 miles to the north of this historic airport.
It was around 10am when a tweet from Heather Wolf came in about a Sora hanging out at Brooklyn Bridge Park's pier 1. The three of us decided not to chase after it, but rather continue a much more low key amble around Floyd Bennett. Josh, who ran into us a few minutes earlier (and appears to be doing a big Brooklyn year), immediately headed north towards the bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge Park seems like an unlikely place to find a secretive marsh bird like a Sora. Besides the fact that it is a new, crowded tourist destination, there is still construction going on in many places and the only thing that passes for a wetland habitat is a tiny patch at the edge next to the pedestrian/bicycle path. Nevertheless, Heather Wolf clearly shows on her website that this patch of green on the East River is a magnet for a diversity of migrating birds that follow the city's rivers.
When I learned about the Sora sighting I had just assumed that it was seen at the edge of the water in a small landscaped wetland on the east side of pier 1. I was wrong. As you can see in Heather's photo here the young bird was actually walking around at the edge of a small lawn, occasionally disappearing into the underbrush at the south end of the lawn. I guess it was exhausted and hungry, dropping into the closest big green spot at the edge of the river. Most birders I know can tell similar stories of uncharacteristically "cooperative" birds that they've encountered. The reality is that these birds are desperate to rest and refuel, making running away from humans a low priority...sometimes with fatal results.
By around noon the birds around Floyd Bennett Field were starting to dwindle. In addition, the din of an NYPD helicopter practicing low above the grasslands was getting on our nerves. After one final low pass Heydi turned to me and said, "Wanna go find the Sora?" You don't have to ask me twice. We decided to hop on the F train at Kings Highway and take it to the York Street station, which is about 1/2 mile from the park.
Two birders, Jean and Mike, were already at the meadow when we arrived. Jean had seen the Sora disappear into the underbrush about 10 minutes before we got there and it hadn't been seen since. A few minutes later Allie joined us in the search. From the top of the ridge I thought I got a glimpse of the bird's distinctive brown and white streaked back as it walked through the vegetation heading more or less east. After about 15 minutes of staking out this spot another birder came by and asked what we were looking at. I explained about the Sora, to which he replied, "I just saw it about 10 minutes ago at the small pond."
I never caught his name, but he kindly walked us the 100 yards back to where he last saw it. As you can see by this photo, the young Sora was right where he left it. We must have watched it for 30 minutes as it foraged along the water's edge, periodically taking breaks to preen.
On the subway ride back Heydi lamented that she had to take the F all the way back to Kings Highway. I facetiously remarked that it is such a drag that one must take public transportation to see a Sora. Which got me thinking about something. As a city birder, I've gotten to see a lot of amazing birds by bicycle, subway or bus. Look for my next posting about best mass transit birds.
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From Hunter to Ecological Researcher
From from Natural History Museum Denmark:
"Ruben is an ex-hunter who works as an assistant researcher in the Udzungwa National Park in Tanzania. His large knowledge of the jungle led a group of scientists to collect new data on the poorly described Mountain dwarf galago (Galagoides orinus), and more importantly to the discovery of a new species of mammals – the Grey Faced Sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis)."
Yesterday's directionally challenged White Ibis spotted over Prospect Park by Klemens Gasser was relocated this morning by wildlife photographer Ryan Morrissey in Green-Wood Cemetery. This Brooklyn first stuck around long enough for some great photos at the edge of the Valley Water, but not long enough for the legions of birders who headed into the cemetery for this NY rarity. Ryan just sent me this note and some wonderful photos:
Hey Rob,
Good to see you again today, hopefully someone was able to relocate the Ibis. Here are a few pics from when it was being more sociable. I can see now that it was eating earthworms and grubs.
Take care,
Ryan
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, October 17, 2015 to Sunday, October 18, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 17, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Marine Park Sparrows
Leader: Sean Zimmer
Focus: Fall migrants peak of sparrows. Raptors, late season warblers, marsh and water birds.
Car fee: $10.00 (or public transportation)
Registrar: Kathy Toomey email kathleentoomey@gmail.com
Registration Period: Oct 6th - Oct 15th
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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, October 18, 2015 - 11:00 AM
Dwarf Pine Plains, Westhampton
Dwarf Pine Plain communities are rare ecosystems that exist in only a few locations in the entire world. The New Jersey Dwarf Pine Plains, the Shawangunk Mountains Dwarf Pine Plains, and the Long Island Dwarf Pine Plains are the three existing communities. The Dwarf Pine Plains earned its name from the height of the vegetation that exists in the community. Dominated by pitch pines and scrub oak, these trees will rarely exceed 3 to 6 feet in height. Today we will be exploring the Dwarf Pine Plains to to enjoy its beauty and look for migrating birds and the beautiful Buck Moth which can be seen during their mating flight.
Directions: Take route 27 to County Road 31 south toward West Hampton. The trail head is located about 1/10 of a mile off of the exit on the east side of County Road 31, turn left into the SCWA complex.
Registration: 585-880-0915
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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Randall’s Island
Leader: Alan Drogin
Registrar: Miriam Rakowski — miriamrakowski@hotmail.com or 212-749-7376
Registration opens: Monday October 5
Ride: $10 or public transportation
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 17, 2015
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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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 17, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon 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 17, 2015, 8am – 8pm
NYC Audubon Day at Hawk Mountain, PA
Guides: Hawk Mountain Education Specialist, Gabriel Willow
Mid-October is the perfect time to visit Hawk Mountain, one of the premier hawk-watching spots in the East. Gabriel Willow and a Hawk Mountain education specialist will introduce us to the variety of raptors that may be seen, including golden eagles, buteos, and falcons The path to the hawk watch site is a 3/4 mile hike through mountainous woodland. Bring lunch. Group program, trail admission, and transportation by van included. Limited to 12. $139 (97)
Click here to register
Sunday, October 18, 2015, 10am – 11am
Birding Basics For Families, Central Park
Guides: NYC Audubon, Conservancy Discovery Guides
Offered by The Central Park Conservancy
Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues). Experience Central Park’s precious bird habitat and migration hot spot with Conservancy Discovery Guides and NYC Audubon. Witness firsthand how the Conservancy’s work has made the Park a sanctuary for birds. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free, pre-registration recommended. For weather cancellation updates and pre-registration information, call 212-772-0288.
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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Alley Pond Park
Leader: Trudy Horowitz 718-224-8432
Notes:
Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike. Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 AM unless indicated. Please note: all phone numbers are area code 516 unless otherwise indicated. In most cases, the contacts are also leaders for the respective walks. Go to our website at http://northshoreaudubon.org/ for directions. We would like to encourage carpooling, where possible.
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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Prospect Park
Leader: Arie Gilbert - 917-693-7178
Meeting: 7:30am near Prospect Park Zoo on Flatbush Avenue
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Hempstead Lake State Park
Notes:
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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Birding: Fall Migration at Cunningham Park Parking Lot (in Cunningham Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Nocturnal Wildlife at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Birding Basics for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and migration hot spot! Bring your family on a guided walk led by Central Park Conservancy staff and the NYC Audubon Society.
Free!
...Read more
Tuesday evening's winds weren't overly conducive to a big flight of birds, but there was still a lot of activity in Green-Wood Cemetery for my Wednesday morning walk. There were also some definite signs of a season in transition.
At the start of the walk I noticed that the grounds crews had, for whatever reason, decided that Wednesday was lawnmower day. In addition to this making the cemetery much louder than usual, I spotted lots and lots of unidentified songbird flocks zipping passed ahead of the mowers. I was only able to pick out some White-throated and Chipping Sparrows, but suffice to say there were a significant influx of birds in the area.
One sure sign of winter's approach was spotting my first Brown Creepers of the season. I love these tiny, bark-patterned birds. I usually hear their high, thin whistled calls before I spot them. Using the spiky ends of their tails to keep them from slipping backwards, they inch up trees, probing for spider eggs and other insects. They only move upwards, while nuthatches move downwards. I'm waiting for the day when I see these two species passing each other in opposite directions on a tree trunk. I hope they'll high-five, or at least give each other a wing-bump. Another species in the overwintering category that was in Green-Wood on Wednesday was Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It was making its distinctive mewing call from a stand of pines overlooking the Sylvan Water. We never did manage to get him in our bins despite a full minute of his close proximity vocalizing. There was also a sudden uptick in the number of both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets. These diminutive, hyperactive songbirds are half-hardy and small numbers can usually be found locally through the winter months. Amazingly, Golden-crowned Kinglets are not much larger than some hummingbirds. Several years ago I wrote about an up-close, personal experience with one of these adorable birds here.
Another new seasonal arrival for me yesterday was Winter Wren. Despite what their name might imply, most of these birds will just pass through Brooklyn in the fall / early-winter then continue to their overwintering grounds south of New York City. White-throated Sparrows seemed to have increased in abundance a bit since Sunday's walk. Pretty soon we'll be seeing them along weedy edges and wooded areas nearly everywhere. Listen for their melodic, "Oh-sweet-canada-canada" (or "Poor-Sam-Peabody-Peabody").
The cemetery's numerous fruiting dogwoods (Flowering Dogwood and Kousa Dogwood) and yew trees have attracted a near constant stream of hungry robins, Hermit Thrushes and Scarlet Tanagers. The berries in the latter are small enough and soft enough that some vireos and warblers were also feeding on them.
The next cold front should bring even more birds.
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Location: Green-Wood Cemetery
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Species: 53
Cooper's Hawk (1.)
Red-tailed Hawk (2.)
Laughing Gull
Belted Kingfisher (2.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1.)
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel (1.)
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Wood-Pewee (1.)
Eastern Phoebe (25.)
Red-eyed Vireo (3.)
Black-capped Chickadee (1.)
White-breasted Nuthatch (1.)
Brown Creeper (2.)
House Wren (1.)
Winter Wren (1.)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (20.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (10.)
Hermit Thrush (5.)
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing (5.)
Ovenbird (1.)
Black-and-white Warbler (2.)
Common Yellowthroat (4.)
Magnolia Warbler (1.)
Blackpoll Warbler (6.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler 13
Palm Warbler (30.)
Pine Warbler (2.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (15.)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1.)
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow (20 - 30.)
Savannah Sparrow (3.)
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (4.)
Eastern Towhee (3.)
Scarlet Tanager (6.)
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch
Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow
...Read more
Think Before You Drink
I've posted in the past the numerous issues created by the growing bottled water industry. The following article from Salon does a great job of encapsulating the huge cost on the environment and our health.
We’re drinking ourselves to death: The alarming numbers behind our bottled water addiction
Saturday, Sep 19, 2015 09:00 AM EDT
Last year, Americans drank more than 10 billion gallons of bottled H2O. The toll on the environment was devastating
This article originally appeared on AlterNet (http://www.alternet.org/).
This spring, as California withered in its fourth year of drought and mandatory water restrictions were enacted for the first time in the state’s history, a news story broke revealing that Nestlé Waters North America was tapping springs in the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California using a permit that expired 27 years ago. And when the company’s CEO Tim Brown was asked on a radio program if Nestlé would stop bottling water in the Golden State, he replied, “Absolutely not. In fact, if I could increase it, I would.” That’s because bottled water is big business, even in a country where most people have clean, safe tap water readily and cheaply available. (Although it should be noted that Starbucks agreed to stop sourcing and manufacturing their Ethos brand water in California after being drought-shamed.)
Profits made by the industry are much to the chagrin of nonprofits like Corporate Accountability International (CAI), a corporate watchdog, and Food and Water Watch (FWW), a consumer advocacy group, both of which have waged campaigns against the bottled water industry for years. But representatives from both organizations say they’ve won key fights against the industry in the last 10 years and have helped shift people’s consciousness on the issue.
A Battle of Numbers
In 2014 bottled water companies spent more than $84 million on advertising to compete with each other and to convince consumers that bottled water is healthier than soda and safer than tap. And it seems to be paying o!: Americans have an increasing love of bottled water, particularly those half-liter-sized single-use bottles that are ubiquitous at every check-out stand and in every vending machine. According to Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), a data and consulting firm, in the last 14 years consumption of bottled water in the U.S. has risen steadily, with the only exception being a quick dip during the 2008-2009 recession.
In 2000, Americans each drank an average of 23 gallons of bottled water. By 2014, that number hit 34 gallons a person. That translates to 10.7 billion gallons for the U.S. market and sales of $13 billion last year. At the same time, consumption of soda is falling, and by 2017, bottled water sales may surpass that of soda for the first time.
But there is also indication that more eco-conscious consumers are carrying reusable bottles to refill with tap. A Harris poll in 2010 found that 23 percent of respondents switched from bottled water to tap (the number was slightly higher during 2009 recession). Reusable bottles are now chic and available in myriad designs and styles. And a Wall Street Journal story tracked recent acquisitions in the reusable bottle industry that indicate big growth as well, although probably not enough to make a dent in the earnings of bottling giants like Nestlé, Coke and Pepsi.
Why the Fight Over Bottled Water
“The single most important factor in the growth of bottled water is heightened consumer demand for healthier refreshment,” says BMC’s managing director of research Gary A. Hemphill. “Convenience of the packaging and aggressive pricing have been contributing factors.”
That convenience, though, comes with an environmental cost. The Pacific Institute, a nonprofit research organization, found that it took the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil to make all the plastic water bottles that thirsty Americans drank in 2006 — enough to keep a million cars chugging along the roads for a year. And this is only the energy to make the bottles, not the energy it takes to get them to the store, keep them cold or ship the empties o! to recycling plants or landfills.
Of the billions of plastic water bottles sold each year, the majority don’t end up being recycled. Those single-serving bottles, also known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles because of the kind of resin they’re made with, are recycled at a rate of about 31 percent in the U.S. The other 69 percent end up in landfills or as litter.
And while recycling them is definitely a better option than throwing them away, it comes with a cost, too. Stiv Wilson, director of campaigns at the Story of Stu! Project, says that most PET bottles that are recycled end up, not as new plastic bottles, but as textiles, such as clothing. And when you wash synthetic clothing, microplastics end up going down the drain and back into waterways. These tiny plastic fragments are dangerous for wildlife, especially in oceans.
“If you start out with a bad material to begin with, recycling it is going to be an equally bad material,” says Wilson. “You’re changing its shape but its environmental implications are the same.” PET bottles are part of a growing epidemic of plastic waste that’s projected to get worse. A recent study found that by 2050, 99 percent of seabirds will be ingesting plastic.
Ingesting plastic trash is deadly for seabirds
“We notice in all the data that the amount of plastic in the environment is growing exponentially,” says Wilson. “We are exporting it to places that can’t deal with it, we’re burning it with dioxins going into the air. The whole chain of custody is bad for the environment, for animals and the humans that deal with it. The more you produce, the worse it gets. The problem grows.”
Even on land, plastic water bottles are a problem — and in some of our most beautiful natural areas, as a recent controversy over bottled water in National Parks has shown. According to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), more than 20 national parks have banned the sale of plastic water bottles, reporting that plastic bottles average almost one third of the solid waste that parks must pay (with taxpayer money) to have removed.
After Zion National Park in Utah banned the sale of plastic water bottles, the park saw sales of reusable bottles jump 78 percent and kept it 60,000 bottles (or 5,000 pounds of plastic) a year out of the waste stream. The park also made a concerted e!ort to provide bottle refilling stations across the park so there would be ample opportunity to refill reusable bottles.
There might be more parks with bans but 200 water bottlers backed by the International Bottled Water Association have fought back to oppose measures by parks to cut down on the sale of disposable plastic water bottles. The group was not too happy when National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis wrote that parks “must be a visible exemplar of sustainability,” and said in 2011 that the more than 400 hundreds entities in the National Park Service could ban the sale of plastic bottles if they meet strict requirements for making drinking water available to visitors.
Park officials contend that trashcans are overflowing with bottles in some parks. The bottling industry counters that people are more apt to choose sugary drinks, like soda, if they don’t have access to bottled water. The bottled water industry alliance used its Washington muscle to add a rider to an appropriations bill in July that would have stopped parks from restricting bottled water sales. The bill didn’t pass for other reasons, but it’s likely not the last time the rider will surface in legislation.
Changing Tide
Bottlers may be making big money, but activists have also notched their own share of wins. “When we first started, really no one was out there challenging the misleading marketing that the bottled water industry was giving the public,” said John Stewart, deputy campaign director at CAI, which first began campaigning against bottled water in 2004. “You had no information available to consumers about the sources of bottling and you had communities whose water supplies were being threatened by companies like Nestlé with total impunity.”
If you buy the marketing, then it would appear that most bottled water comes from pristine mountain springs beside snow-capped peaks. But in reality, about half of all bottled water, including Pepsi’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani, come from municipal sources that are then purified or treated in some way. Activists fought to have companies label the source of its water and they succeeded with two of the top three — Pepsi and Nestlé. “We also garnered national media stories that put a spotlight on the fact that bottling corporations were taking our tap water and selling it back to us at thousands of times the price,” said Stewart. “People finally began to see they were getting duped.”
When companies aren’t bottling from municipal sources, the water is mostly spring water tapped from wilderness areas, like Nestlé bottling in the San Bernardino National Forest, or rural communities. Some communities concerned about industrial withdrawals of groundwater have fought back against spring water bottlers — the biggest being Nestlé, which owns dozens of regional brands like Arrowhead, Calistoga, Deer Park, Ice Mountain and Poland Spring. Coalitions have helped back communities in victories in Maine, Michigan and California (among other areas) in fights against Nestlé.
One the biggest was in McCloud, California, which sits in the shadow of snowy Mount Shasta, and actually looks like the label on so many bottles. Residents of McCloud fought for six years against Nestlé’s plan for a water bottling facility that first intended to draw 200 million gallons of water a year from a local spring. Nestlé finally scrapped its plans and left town, but ended up heading 200 miles down the road to the city of Sacramento, where it got a sweetheart deal on the city’s municipal water supply.
CAI and FWW have also worked with college students. Close to a hundred have taken some action, says Stewart. “Not all the schools have been able to ban the sale of bottled water on campus but we’ve come up with other strategies like passing resolutions that student government funds can’t be used to purchase bottled water or increasing the availability of tap water on campus or helping to get water fountains retrofitted so you can refill your reusable bottle,” says Emily Wurth, FWW’s water program director.
In just six months, Lake Mead National Recreation Area visitors have kept more than 13,600 water bottles out of landfills by using a new hydration station.
Changes have also come at the municipal level. In 2007, San Francisco led the charge by prohibiting the city from spending money on bottled water for its offices. At the 2010 Conference of Mayors, 72 percent of mayors said they have considered “eliminating or reducing bottled water purchases within city facilities” and nine mayors had already adopted a ban proposal. In 2015, San Francisco passed a law (to be phased in over four years) that will ban the sale of bottled water on city property.
These victories, say activists, are part of a much bigger fight — larger than the bottled water industry itself. “We are shifting to fight the wholesale privatization of water a little more,” says Stewart. He says supporters who have joined coalitions to fight bottled water “deeply understand the problematic nature of water for profit and the commodification of water” that transcends from bottled water to private control of municipal power and sewer systems.
Currently the vast majority (90 percent) of water systems in the U.S. are publically run, but cash-strapped cities and towns are also targets of multinational water companies, says Stewart. The situation is made more dire by massive shortfalls in federal funding that used to help support municipal water and now is usually cut during federal budget crunches.
“Cities are so desperate that they don’t think about long-term implications of job cuts, rate hikes, loss of control over the quality of the water and any kind of accountability when it comes to how the system is managed,” says Stewart. “We need to turn all eyes to our public water systems and aging infrastructure and our public services in general that are threatened by privatization.”
(http://www.alternet.org)
...Read more
With the threat of a hurricane looming over the northeastern US, local birders (myself included) were making plans to hit the coast in search of storm displaced seabirds. When meteorologists finally announced that Joachin had made a right turn and was heading out to sea sparing the New York coastline I think I heard a unified "argh!" coming from NYC birders. Despite the good news-bad news scenario, many of my friends made early morning treks to various Brooklyn coastal areas on Sunday. There were no hurricane conditions locally, but extremely high tides, gusting winds and a lesser storm system could have pushed some interesting birds into the area. I think this may be known as the "eternally optimistic birder effect". I was not so optimistic and opted to sleep late, then take a lazy walk around Green-Wood Cemetery looking for new southbound migrants. It actually turned out to be a pretty good morning.
The first thing I noticed on entering the cemetery near "The Flats" was that there were Palm Warblers virtually everywhere. They were flying low to the ground for very short distances in flocks varying in size from only a few individual to a few dozen. Mixed in with them were smaller numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Also within the warbler flocks was a recent influx of migrating sparrows. White-throated Sparrows have begun arriving as have a few Dark-eyed Juncos. Chipping Sparrows also made up a smaller amount. Northern Flickers were ubiquitous and I'm sure my final count of 83 is conservative. I spotted a large, presumably female, Sharp-shinned Hawk several times making diving passes at the flickers. At this time of year I frequently find piles of their lovely yellow feathers near hawk kill sites.
Of the sparrow species I tallied in the cemetery on Sunday the highlights were a pair of White-crowned Sparrows and Lincoln's Sparrows in two different locations. Lincoln's Sparrows are sometimes difficult to separate from Song Sparrows, but the "Nemesis Bird" website has a very good identification piece on the two sparrows here. There also seemed to be several Swamp Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows newly arrived in the cemetery.
In general, Green-Wood Cemetery was pretty birdy, especially given the dearth of birding reports coming from the rest of the borough. I finished my lazy man's birding morning with 62 species of birds - 12 species of warbler and 9 species of sparrow.
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Location: Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
Date: Sunday, Oct 4, 2015
Species: 62 species
Wood Duck (4.)
Double-crested Cormorant
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1.)
Red-tailed Hawk (1.)
Laughing Gull
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1.)
Belted Kingfisher (2.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1.)
Downy Woodpecker (1.)
Hairy Woodpecker (1.)
Northern Flicker (83.)
American Kestrel (1.)
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe (12.)
Blue-headed Vireo (2.)
Red-eyed Vireo (1.)
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch (1.)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (3.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1.)
Swainson's Thrush (1.)
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird (3.)
Black-and-white Warbler (2.)
Common Yellowthroat (13.)
American Redstart (4.)
Northern Parula (2.)
Magnolia Warbler (3.)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1. Feeding at edge of grass bordering Crescent Water.)
Blackpoll Warbler (4.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (6.)
Palm Warbler (50.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (9.)
Black-throated Green Warbler (1.)
Chipping Sparrow (15.)
Dark-eyed Junco (6.)
White-crowned Sparrow (2.)
White-throated Sparrow (25.)
Savannah Sparrow (4.)
Song Sparrow (2.)
Lincoln's Sparrow (2.)
Swamp Sparrow (5.)
Eastern Towhee (1.)
Scarlet Tanager (5.)
Indigo Bunting (1.)
Red-winged Blackbird (1.)
Baltimore Oriole (2.)
American Goldfinch
Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow (2.), American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow
...Read more
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