Treehugger Tuesday

From the website Treehugger:

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here for our inclement weather policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH WALK click HERE

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treehugger Tuesday

From "Island Conservation":

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

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

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

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

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


A Tristan Albatross chick. Credit: J Cleeland

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

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

Read the full article here

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flashback ... um, Wednesday

A friend of mine was birding in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, this morning and caught a fleeting glimpse of what he perceived to be an unusual looking wren. A few folks responded, including myself, with, in retrospect, were probably subconscious "God I hope it's a rarity" suggestions. Ultimately, he was unable to relocate the bird and it will have to be noted as a "wren sp.". This not-entirely-uncommon fingers crossed moment happens sometimes in birding. Usually it's just a common bird, but sometimes it turns out to be something really cool. It reminded me of a bird from 19 years ago that showed up in the exact spot where my friend reported his brown plumaged, fleeting specter.

The date was October 9, 1999. A group of us had just returned from a less than productive trip to Overpeck Park in Bergen County, New Jersey. The best bird of the day was a Vesper Sparrow. In addition, reviewing my report 19 years later I just focused in on this, at the time seemingly inconsequential entry:

"Blue-headed Vireo (singing!?)"

With almost two decades more experience under my belt now, I'm going to assume this "vireo" was only heard and not seen. That said, on a date in October it was more likely a Purple Finch. DOH! Anyway, returning to Brooklyn a little disappointed from our measly day list, some of us headed into Prospect Park to continue birding. Here's my original report from later that afternoon:

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SUBJECT: NYC Rarity in Prospect Park
DATE: Saturday, October 9, 1999
OBSERVERS: DALE DYER, Dave Mazzio, Daniel Barkley, Peter Dorosh, Rob Jett, Karen Keith, Jerry Layton, Steve Nanz, Inara Schwartz
REPORTER: Rob Jett

I know this is starting to sound a bit odd, but I have another rarity to report in Prospect Park. It is perhaps a rarity for New York City and Steve Nanz photographed it for the record.

Dale Dyer, a longtime Prospect birder, ran into Jerry Layton returning from our Overpeck Park trip (report to follow) and dragged him into Prospect Park to show him a bird. While looking at sparrows in the "Sparrow Bowl" next to the tennis house he spotted a very vocal SEDGE WREN. Steve Nanz happened along and they both got good looks at the bird. He then took off on his bike to grab every birder he could find in the park.

When most of us arrived the bird had stopped its incessant, slow "chit, chit, chit" that Steve described to us, so locating it was impossible. We sat and waited, and waited; we stayed there for an hour and a half. I got frustrated and broke the cardinal rule of birding and walked behind the brush to flush the bird. When I didn't see anything I figured the bird was gone and was about to leave when Peter shouted "he's out in the open!" The bird was sitting about a foot off the ground on some stalks of dried Burdock and afforded us great looks.

It's a very little wren. It appears considerably smaller that a Marsh. The dark crown is finely streak with white, the eyebrow is not as bold and distinct as a Marsh and is off-white or buffy. It also appeared to have a thin dark line through the eye. The streaking on the back is much finer that that of a Marsh and there is more of it. The undersides are mostly off-white with a beautiful buffy color on the breast sides and flanks. There was also light streaking on the wings that was more buffy colored compared to the back streaks. I'm not sure if it's diagnostic, but I noticed that when it was perched it occasionally bobbed up and down like a Winter Wren.

Here is how to get to where the bird was found. If you enter Prospect Park from the 9th Street entrance walk straight ahead past the Bandshell on your right. Cross the road. At the first sidewalk make a left. You will pass the Tennis House on your right. At the first intersection in the walkway make a right turn. The walkway starts to go downhill towards the Swanboat Ponds. Don't go down the hill to the ponds, instead make a left and walk on the grassy area on top of the hill (you'll see a bunch of saplings with red slat fencing around them). As you walk across the hill you'll see the grassy "bowl" in front of you. There is a very large Elm Tree at the apex of the bowl that shades the weedy area where the wren was seen today. For people coming from other directions, it's the only grassy bowl between the Tennis House and Picnic House (across from the ponds). The plants are primarily Burdock, Mugwort, Pokeweed, Smartweed and other grasses. If the bird isn't visible right away be patient it tends to dig in deep.



Photo courtesy of Steve Nanz ...Read more

Weekly Sparrow Spotlight

Deriving its common name from their propensity to sing at twilight, the Vesper Sparrow is an uncommon, but regular visitor to Brooklyn during migration. Nesting in open, grassy areas, their range extends north to south from Alberta, Canada to central Arizona and east to west from Nova Scotia to Oregon. They overwinter in southern to east-central North America south to the Gulf Coast and central Mexico.

This medium-sized, chunky sparrow is the only species in their genus. With a streaked underside, bold white eyering and white outer tail feathers that flash during flight, it is a distinctive sparrow, not usually confused with other species.

The IUCN Red List list the Vesper Sparrow as "Least Concern" despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing. The New York State Department of Environment Conservation lists it as "Special Concern" as the state's population has declined by 49%.

It's scientific name, Pooecetes gramineus, means "grass dweller, grassy".

Treehugger Tuesday

From the website "Treehugger":

These children are saving Iceland's lost puffins
Melissa Breyer
October 16, 2018

The 'puffin patrol' is saving baby puffins by the handful.

First of all, just to get you in the "awww" mood, there's this: Baby puffins are called PUFFLINGS. Sorry for shouting, but I'm sure you understand.

Now, about these pufflings – they are not having the best time of it. Forty percent of all Atlantic puffins live in Iceland and their population there has dropped dramatically since the early 2000s – from 7 million to 5.4 million. And while warming temperatures and hunting are primarily to blame, it appears that a lot of pufflings hatch from the nest and accidentally wander into towns, where they may meet unhappy endings thanks to cats and cars. CBS news explains, that instinct tells baby puffins to follow moonlight out to sea, but town lights can draw them in the wrong direction instead.

On the Iceland island of Heimaey, this is where the "puffin patrol" comes in. Donning winter wear and headlamps, the children of Heimaey go out in the town on rescue missions, scooping up misguided pufflings and delivering them to the local aquarium. Once there, the chicks are tended to, tagged, and prepared to be released back to where they belong.

Remarkably, this season alone some 5,000 of the sweet wee seabirds have been rescued and released. I wish there was something that could be done about the light pollution that is disorienting them in the first place, but in the meantime, it's encouraging to know that the good children of Heimaey appear to be taking this mission to heart. Clearly they are doing good for the pufflings, and I can only imagine that the pufflings are doing something good for the children in return.

See the kids in action in this clip from BBC News.

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, October 20, 2018 to Sunday, October 21, 2018:

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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Floyd Bennett Field
Leader: Rob Jett
Focus: Sparrows, Pipits, raptors, open field species, early waterfowl
Car fee: $10.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com or text only cell 347-622-3559
Registration Period: Oct 13th – Oct 18th
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

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City Island Bird Walks
Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8:30am
Bird Walk for Fall Migrants
Meet at the Orchard Beach Parking Lot, near the entrance booths

Basic Information:
Our walks are free, informal, friendly and fun. The walks usually last about 3-4 hours, depending on many variables, which include weather, birds, and fatigue. If you want to leave early, there are no hard feelings.

Please come prepared! Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have one. I will bring a spotting scope but feel free to bring your own if you have one. Beginners especially welcome!

Sorry, no dogs!
Please email me if you need directions!
Finally a string of northwest winds has brought in some birds. Let’s check out the edges near the waterline, and possibly Hunter Island, if there’s time. We’ll meet near the entrance booths in the parking lot.

If it’s pouring rain, we will not walk. However, if the weather is a bit damp, gray or drizzly, we will go. If you’re not sure, check the webpage. I will post a cancellation notice by 7:00 AM on that day or before.

If you have any questions, email me, jack@cityislandbirds.com.

Please be aware that there is public transportation, but I cannot pick up anyone at the station. If you want to come by subway, email me, and I will give you directions

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Gateway National Parks
Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8:30am to 10:00am
Bird Hike Series
Location: Great Kills Park Ranger Station
Learn about local and migrant birds at various stops from the saltmarsh to Crooke’s Point, wear appropriate footwear.
View Details

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 10:00am to 11:30am
Tracks and Trails: Animal Signs Walk
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fees: Free
Even if we might not see them, animals are all around us. Become an "animal detective" by learning about and discovering clues that animals leave behind.
View Details

Sunday, October 21, 2018, 10:00am to 3:00pm
Jamaica Bay Raptorama!
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fees: Free
Celebrate fascinating birds of prey!
View Details

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, October 14, 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm (class)
Sunday, October 21, 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm (walk)
Me and My Sparrows
It’s a little known fact that the common house sparrow was introduced to North America right here at Green-Wood. In 1854, about 100 were brought from England and released in the Cemetery (as well as along the Narrows) as natural predators of the inchworms that were destroying trees throughout the city. Today there are approximately seventy-four million sparrows in the United States, and even veteran birders say they are among the most difficult to distinguish. Are you ready to take the sparrow challenge? From the American Tree Sparrow to the White-crowned Sparrow, this course will focus on the seventeen regularly-occurring New World sparrow species around the Big Apple, breaking down the basics of size, shape, and behavior.

Once ticket secures a spot for both sessions, on October 14th and October 21st, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Comfortable footwear is recommended, as we will be exploring Green-Wood for part of the class.

$25 for members of Green-Wood and BHS / $30 for non-members

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Great South Bay Audubon
Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8:30am
Caumsett SP
Leader(s): John Gluth (631-827-0120) Ken Thompson (631-612-8028)
Northern State to exit 42N (Route 35). 35 to 25A. 25A west to West Neck Road (right turn). West Neck/Lloyd Harbor Rd. into Lloyd Neck. Entrance to park on left. Meet in Parking lot.
(Nature walks will be cancelled if it is raining or snowing.)

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Hudson River Audubon
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Lenoir Nature Preserve Hawk Watch
19 Dudley St. Yonkers
Meet at 10 AM behind the Lenoir Mansion
http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Fort Tilden 2
Leader: Richard ZainEldeen
Registrar: Pearl Broder — pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday, October 8
Ride: $15

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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Raptor Trust and Great Swamp, NJ
Guides: Don Riepe, Tod Winston
Enjoy a private tour of the Raptor Trust rehabilitation center and see many owls and hawks up close. Afterwards, we’ll hike the boardwalk trails of the beautiful Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to look for raptors, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians. Bring lunch. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 11. $122 (86)
Click here to register

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

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

Sunday, October 21, 2018, 8am – 3pm
Birding Gems of Staten Island: Freshkills Park
Sundays, October 21 and December 2, 8am-3pm
Guide: Cliff Hagen
Come with NYC Audubon for a special opportunity to see Freshkills Park in transition from what was once the world’s largest landfill into an expansive park. Currently closed to the general public, the Park is home to rolling grasslands, tidal marshes, successional woodlands and a freshwater pond system, which host an array of breeding birds, butterflies, mammals, frogs, and turtles. Each autumn, migrant species abound as they travel along the Atlantic Flyway. Sparrows, Osprey, a collection of waterfowl, and lingering warblers seek refuge in the park. Overhead, raptors soar along the terminal moraine as they make their way south for the impending winter. Late-blooming flowers attract an assortment of butterflies and dragonflies. Transport by passenger van from Staten Island St. George Terminal included. Limited to 12. $57 (40) per walk
Click here to register

Sunday, October 21, 2018, 9am – 10am
Bird Walk at the Evergreens Cemetery, Queens
Guide: Corey Finger with The Evergreens Cemetery
Meet inside the cemetery entrance at Bushwick Avenue and Conway Street. Join us for a family-friendly walk exploring the serene grounds of the cemetery as we keep an eye out for the variety of species that call The Evergreens home. Moderately strenuous with many hills and stairs. Register here. No limit. Free
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, October 20, 2018, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Oceanside - Marine Nature Study Area
Leader: Ralph (516) 785-3375
Marine Nature Study Area, 500 Slice Dr, Oceanside, NY 11572, USA (map)

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

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New York City WILD!
Sunday, October 21, 2018, 8:00am - 7:00pm
NOW GET OUT: Poughkeepsie Two Bridges Walk

For the full information about each walk click HERE

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Kissena Park
Leader: Eric Miller (917) 279-7530

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Mill Pond Park

Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road. The park is four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway.
Directions via Google Maps

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

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

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Bird Walks with New York City Audubon at Queens Botanical Garden, Queens
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Spot and identify creatures of flight and learn how QBG provides important resources for birds like water, shelter, and insects to eat.

Fall Bird Walk for Beginners at Alley Pond Environmental Center, Queens
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Try to spot our various species of birds – both the year-round residents and the multitudes of warblers migrating through at this time.
Free!

Sunday, October 21, 2018
Birding: Raptor Migration at Gateway Drive and Erskine Street (in Spring Creek Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.
Free! ...Read more

Weekly Sparrow Spotlight

The White-crowned Sparrow is another uncommon visitor to the east coast who one would be unlikely to confuse with another sparrow. It’s large size and bold black and white head stripes give this sparrow a unique appearance. Fall juveniles have brown stripes in place of the black. Look for this conspicuous sparrow in brushy habitats and woodland edges.

Is sparrow ID giving you trouble? Join me for my two part sparrow identification class at Green-Wood Cemetery. Click here for more info or to sign up.

Treehugger Tuesday

From the website MNN:

Scottish doctors prescribe bird-watching, walking and other 'nature prescriptions'
Mary Jo DiLonardo
October 8, 2018, 10:23 a.m.

Mother Nature offers amazing benefits. A stroll in the fresh air can clear your head, relax your body and just make you feel better. Now doctors in Scotland are encouraging some patients to get outdoors for some natural medicine.

Doctors in Shetland, an archipelago of Scotland, are going to start prescribing bird-watching, taking rambling walks and picking up driftwood from the beach to help with health and well-being.

The Nature Prescriptions program is a partnership between NHS Shetland and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland. According to a release about the project, "Nature Prescriptions recognizes the benefits of nature on reducing blood pressure, reducing anxiety and increasing happiness as well as the growing disconnection with nature throughout society."

Patients will be offered fliers that include suggested bird walks and calendars from RSPB, showing bird species and plants and which routes to take, reports The Guardian.

After a successful pilot program at a doctor's office in Scalloway in 2017, the program will be rolled out to all 10 general practitioner's offices throughout Shetland.

A supplemental approach

The nature walks won't replace traditional medicine, but they'll provide a supplemental treatment, says Dr. Chloe Evans, who piloted the program.

"I want to take part because the project provides a structured way for patients to access nature as part of a non-drug approach to health problems," Evans said.

"The benefits to patients are that it is free, easily accessible, allows increased connection with surroundings which hopefully leads to improved physical and mental health for individuals."

Depending on the time of year, suggestions might include walking on the beach to look for shells, going bird-watching, hill walking on the moors or just standing still and quiet for a few minutes for some outdoor mindfulness.

"There is overwhelming evidence that nature has health benefits for body and mind. Shetland is 'stappit foo' [stuffed full] of natural wonders. Whenever you open your front door you can hear or see some kind of natural delight – be it a gull or a lapwing calling or the roll of a heathery hill," said Karen MacKelvie, community engagement officer for RSPB Scotland.

"However, despite many doctors using the outdoors as a resource to combat ill-health, far fewer recommend the same strategy to their patients. So, we saw an opportunity to design a leaflet that helps doctors describe the health benefits of nature and provides plenty of local ideas to help doctors fire-up their patients’ imaginations and get them outdoors."

Scottish doctors prescribe bird-watching, walking and other 'nature prescriptions'

It's no secret that spending time outside is good for your health, but doctors in Scotland are prescribing this natural medicine for overall well-being.
...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, October 13, 2018 to Sunday, October 14, 2018:

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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 7:15am
Prospect Park Saturday Walk
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik Meet at Ocean/Parkside Avenues, “The Pergola” at 7:15 am No registration necessary.
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

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Gateway National Parks
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Hawk Migration at Fort Tilden
Location: Meet @ Ft. Tilden Chapel
Fees: Free
American Littoral Society Partnership-program.
View Details

Sunday, October 14, 2018, 11:00am to 2:00pm
Greenbelt to Great Kills Hike
Location: Willowbrook Park - 1 Eton Place
Join us and our friends from NYC Green-belt Educators to travel (one way!) from Willowbrook Park to Great Kills Park.
View Details

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, October 14, 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm (class)
Sunday, October 21, 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm (walk)
Me and My Sparrows
It’s a little known fact that the common house sparrow was introduced to North America right here at Green-Wood. In 1854, about 100 were brought from England and released in the Cemetery (as well as along the Narrows) as natural predators of the inchworms that were destroying trees throughout the city. Today there are approximately seventy-four million sparrows in the United States, and even veteran birders say they are among the most difficult to distinguish. Are you ready to take the sparrow challenge? From the American Tree Sparrow to the White-crowned Sparrow, this course will focus on the seventeen regularly-occurring New World sparrow species around the Big Apple, breaking down the basics of size, shape, and behavior.

Once ticket secures a spot for both sessions, on October 14th and October 21st, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Comfortable footwear is recommended, as we will be exploring Green-Wood for part of the class.

$25 for members of Green-Wood and BHS / $30 for non-members

Sunday, October 14, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Alive at Green-Wood
There’s a lot more to a cemetery than death. There’s life – a lot of it. In fact, for Green-Wood, the natural environment is a critical part of our future. Join us for this new walking tour to explore the potential of the Cemetery’s 478 acres as a public garden, a distinction that means much more than manicured lawns and azaleas. It means that we work to teach our visitors about Green-Wood’s ecology and environmental diversity. As an accredited arboretum, the Cemetery has over 7,000 trees and a master plan that includes new interpretive panels (signs) across the grounds. You’ll learn so much about the natural beauty and wildlife at Green-Wood that you’ll want to come back and give your own tour to family and friends!

Comfortable footwear recommended. Please note, tour route is on grass and uneven terrain.

$15 for members of Green-Wood and BHS/$20 for non-members.

Click here for our inclement weather policy.

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Hudson River Audubon
Saturday, October 13, 2018
The Big Sit and 10am Lenoir Hawk Watch
Meet at Lenoir Nature Preserve behind the Lenoir Mansion anytime between 8AM and 3PM
A great way to enjoy birds without an effort!
The object of the "BIG SIT" is to tally as many bird species as we can in a day from a single position. We'll be out on the Lenoir lawn (at our hawk watch sight) overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. Bring a chair, drink and snacks and join us anytime on that day and help us find the birds!
http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html

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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon
Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 9:00am
Robert Moses Hawk Watch
The best place to see migrating raptors on Long Island. Great viewing platform, with some of the birds flying by at eye level, always has expert hawk watchers to answer any questions you may have. Exploring the surrounding areas should turn up other migrants as well as possible rarities.

Directions: Proceed south on Robert Moses Parkway, over the bridge to Robert Moses State Park. From the water tower circle (check for peregrine falcon), proceed east to parking lot #5. We will meet in the NE corner of the parking lot. Call 631-885-1881 to register.

Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 11:00am
Buck Moths in Westhampton
Perhaps Long Island’s most unique insect, the buck moth dwells only along the coast in pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, including the Long Island Dwarf Pine Plains, on deep dry sands. We will journey to the Dwarf Pine Plains in Westhampton Beach to find this autumn specialty.

Directions: Take Exit 63 off the Sunrise Highway and go south 0.2 mile to a parking lot of the Suffolk County Water Authority building. The trail begins at the south side of the lot. Call 585-880-0915 to register.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Randall’s Island
Leader: Alan Drogin
Registrar: Miriam Rakowski — miriamrakowski@hotmail.com or 212-749-7376
Registration opens: Monday, October 1
Ride: $10 or public transportation

Sunday, October 14, 2018
6TH Annual Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk, Central Park
Leader: Lenore Swenson — information only lenoreswenson@gmail.com or 212-533-9567
No registration. Public transportation
Meet at 103rd Street and Central Park West at 7:30 am

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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 8am – 8pm
NYC Audubon Day at Hawk Mountain, PA
Guides: Gabriel Willow, Hawk Mountain Education Specialist
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

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 9:00am – 11:30am
Fall Migrants of Inwood Hill Park
Guide: Annie Barry
Join Annie Barry for a hike through a mature forest in search of kinglets, warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, thrushes and more, then search the shore of the Inwood Hill Park saltmarshes for herons and ducks. Some hilly walking required. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 10am – 1pm
Hawk Migration at Fort Tilden, Queens
Guide: Don Riepe with American Littoral Society, Gateway National Recreation Area
Meet at the little church in Fort Tilden. Hike along the beach, dunes, and woodlands to look for migrating hawks, falcons and other raptors. Visit the hawk-watch platform for a good view of beach and bay. Contact Don Riepe at 718-474-0896 or donriepe@gmail.com to learn more and register. Limited to 30.
Free

Sunday, October 14, 2018, 8:00am – 10:30am
Fall Migrants of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx
Guides: Tod Winston, Joseph McManus, Susan Olsen with Woodlawn Conservancy
Join us for a morning bird walk and tour of beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery: Tod Winston and Joseph McManus will help look for fall migrants and year-round residents on the expansive, wooded cemetery grounds, while the Woodlawn Conservancy's Susan Olsen will share fascinating stories about Woodlawn’s history and the interesting mixture of individuals interred there. Visit www.thewoodlawncemetery.org/events for more information. Limited to 20. $35 (25)
Click here to register

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

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

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Upper Francis Pond and Bailey Arboretum (map)
Leader: Jennifer (516) 767-3454

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

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, October 13, 2018 or Sunday, October 14, 2018
Big Sit
Leader: Corey Finger - 10000birdsblogger@gmail.com

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Point Lookout Town Park (and Lido Preserve afterwards)

From the Southern State Parkway, exit onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway south. Exit from the Meadowbrook at Loop Parkway (just before the Jones Beach toll booths) toward Point Lookout. The Loop Parkway ends west of Point Lookout at Lido Boulevard. Continue straight across Lido Boulevard into Point Lookout Park. Travel past the ticket booths and curve left into the very large parking lot on the south side of the park. Park in the southeast corner, closest to the private homes of the village of Point Lookout and the beach. We will walk east along the beach toward Jones Inlet. After returning to the parking lot, we will drive west on Lido Boulevard to Lido Beach Passive Nature Preserve on the north side of Lido Boulevard to walk through the bay marsh.
Directions to Point Lookout Park via Google Maps | Directions to Lido Beach Passive Nature Preserve via Google Maps

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

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

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Tour of the Ridgewood Reservoir at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a 50+ acre natural oasis that straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens.
Free!

Birding: Fall Migrants at Beach 59th Street and Boardwalk (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see fall migratory birds.
Free!

Tour of the Ridgewood Reservoir at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
The Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a 50+ acre natural oasis that straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens. Join us to explore this incredible natural resource.
Free!

Sunday, October 14, 2018
Fall Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks.

Tours of the Ridgewood Reservoir at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a 50+ acre natural oasis that straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens. Join us to explore this incredible natural resource.
Free!

Tours of the Ridgewood Reservoir at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
The Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a 50+ acre natural oasis that straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens.
Free! ...Read more

Weekly Sparrow Spotlight

To the uninitiated, it would be easy to pass off the Eastern Towhee as something other than a sparrow. It’s robust size, large bill and robin-like plumage might make some mistake it for a thrush. Its habit of hanging out in mixed flocks of sparrows and scratching in the ground for seeds quickly dispels that notion. Breeding locally in dense thickets, they frequently give away their location by calling their own name (“ta-wee”).

Is sparrow ID giving you trouble? Join me for my two part sparrow identification class at Green-Wood Cemetery. Click here for more info or to sign up.

Treehugger Tuesday

From the website Earther:

Mass Die-Off of Orcas Feared Due to Chemicals Banned in the '70s
Maddie Stone
October 1, 2018

A group of industrial chemicals humans started banning decades ago could cause many of the world’s orca whale populations to collapse over the next century, an alarming new study has found.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, better known as PCBs, are manmade compounds once used in a range of applications from electrical appliances to household paints. They were widely banned in the 1970s and 1980s after extensive contamination of humans and the environment was uncovered. Research has since linked the chemicals to endocrine and immune system disruption and reproductive failure in vertebrates—a legacy that continues to ripple through the biosphere thanks to PCBs’ longevity and their knack for accumulating up the food chain.

Nowhere is this more evident than in orca whales, apex predators that have the unfortunate tendency to hoard industrial pollutants in their blubber. PCB concentrations above 50 milligrams per kilogram of tissue are a health concern for marine mammals, yet in some orca populations numbers in the hundreds are more common. Mother whales pass the chemicals to their babies in the placenta and in their milk, transferring the toxic heritage from generation to generation. Despite all this, nobody had systematically investigated what PCBs could mean for orca whales’ futures.

The new study, published Thursday in Science, did just that, and the results aren’t pretty: Out of 19 populations examined, 10 appear to be at “high risk of collapse” over the next 100 years due to PCB exposure alone.

“It really was quite shocking to all of us,” lead study author Jean-Pierre Desforges, a biologist at Aarhus University, told Earther.

To arrive at their depressing conclusion, Desforges and his colleagues built a global database of PCB concentrations in orca whale blubber, and used prior studies of how PCBs impact reproduction and immune deficiency in whales (they used data on minke whales for reproductive effects, owing to a lack of data from orcas). This was all fed into models to look at the the accumulation and loss of PCBs in the 19 populations over the next 100 years, and to project population-level trends.

Not surprisingly, orcas living near highly industrialized areas where PCBs have leached into soil and waterways tended to be most contaminated and have a grimmer future outlook. But diet also plays an important role, as illustrated by the fact that whale populations dining primarily on marine mammals tended to have much higher PCB exposure than neighboring populations that preferred a lower food chain, fish-based diet.

Five populations—the Northeast Pacific Bigg’s whales, orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar, and those in waters off Japan, Brazil, and the United Kingdom—“tend[ed] toward complete collapse” in the researchers’ models. Five more groups were also projected to decline over the next century thanks to PCBs, to say nothing of other stressors from noise pollution to overfishing.

Marine ecologist Olivia Lee of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, said the study’s models offered “a sobering potential case of disaster for orcas in a world of persistent PCBs.” She did point out a few caveats, including the fact that the authors chose to keep the effect of PCBs on calves the same from generation to generation, something which “really helped drive population trends downwards.”

“I don’t think this is a bad approach, but it leaves no scenarios for adaptation in the 100 year simulation,” Lee said.

Desforges also said that prey switching, which can happen when one food source becomes more or less abundant, could alter whales’ exposure into the future. If rapid Arctic warming drives more whales north, for instance, that could affect their diets with untold impacts on PCB exposure.

Nothing is set in stone, but the findings certainly underscore the need to rid the world of these chemicals for good. The Stockholm Convention, an international treaty to reduce and eliminate persistent organic pollutants like PCBs, went into effect back in 2004. But the treaty doesn’t compel nations to stop using PCB-laden equipment until 2025, and globally, an estimated 80 percent of old PCBs have yet to be destroyed via incineration, waste-kilns, or one of many chemical decontamination methods. The pervasive use of these chemicals in paints and sealants in the 1950s and 1960s means lots of old buildings remain contaminated, too.

“In reality, countries aren’t really getting rid of equipment as fast as they should be,” Desforges said. “We’re trying to make sure people understand this crisis isn’t over.”
...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, October 6, 2018 to Sunday, October 7, 2018:

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

October 5, 2018 - October 8, 2018
Cape May Migration Bonanza!
Be part of a perennial favorite—our annual Columbus Weekend trip to Cape May. Fall is the best season to visit this world-class birding hotspot, and our Naturalist-in-Residence, Tait Johansson, will maximize your experience by leading you to a variety of habitats in search of migrating raptors, passerines and shorebirdsd. Register early: this trip has a strict limit of 16 participants! Cost: Lodging, meals, and $100 for members, $130 for non-members and we’ll credit $30 towards your membership. We've negotiated special rates with two inns in Cape May which include: The Heritage Inn- Room rate of $170.00 per night for Friday and Saturday night, $150.00 on Sunday night. Also available is the Sound Winds Inn- Room rate of $165.00 per night for Friday and Saturday night, $145.00 on Sunday night. You may make your reservation directly with either facility by calling 609-884-7300. Let them know you are with Bedford Audubon for your special rate. Easy-Moderate.
Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.
See more details

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Liberty State Park to Finderne Wetlands, New Jersey
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Sparrows peak time, raptors, land bird migration
Car fee: $20.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com or text only cell 347-622-3559
Registration Period: Sept 29th – Oct 4th
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 6, 2018, 7:15am
Prospect Park Saturday Walk
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik Meet at Ocean/Parkside Avenues, “The Pergola” at 7:15 am No registration necessary.
Please review our trip guidelines here: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/information-registration

Saturday, October 6, 2018, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Prospect Park: Birdwatching for Beginners
Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

Sunday, October 7, 2018, 8:00am - 11:00am
Prospect Park First Sunday Walk
Meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse, the first Sunday of every month except July and August. Leaders are members of the Brooklyn Bird Club. Bring binoculars.

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Eastern Long Island Audubon
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 8am
Fire Island Hawk Watch and Hike to the Lighthouse
Leader: Eileen Schwinn
For this well-liked field trip, we will meet at the eastern end of Parking Lot 5, at Robert Moses State Park. We will stop at the Hawk Watch, where, with favorable winds, we will be joining other Long Island birders for a while, and hopefully see a number of east to west flying raptors. We will then walk the 3/4 mile boardwalk to the Fire Island Lighthouse, looking for migrating song birds along the way. Dress for the weather, and perhaps, bring a light snack and water. Binoculars a must. For more details, please contact Eileen Schwinn at beachmed@optonline.net or call 516-662-7751 the day of the trip.​

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Birding in Peace
By September, offspring of this year's nesting birds will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.

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

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

Click here for our inclement weather policy.

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Hudson River Audubon
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Hawk Day - Lenoir Nature Preserve
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM - Hawk Watch on lawn
1:00 PM - Live Hawks! Meet hawks from Pace.
3:00 PM – Butterfly Walk. Learn about the incredible journey of the Monarch Butterfly
http://www.hras.org/wtobird/lenoir.html

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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon
Sunday, October 7, 2018, 11:00am
Buck Moths in Westhampton
Perhaps Long Island’s most unique insect, the buck moth dwells only along the coast in pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, including the Long Island Dwarf Pine Plains, on deep dry sands. We will journey to the Dwarf Pine Plains in Westhampton Beach to find this autumn specialty.

Directions: Take Exit 63 off the Sunrise Highway and go south 0.2 mile to a parking lot of the Suffolk County Water Authority building. The trail begins at the south side of the lot. Call 585-880-0915 to register.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Staten Island Conference House Park and Mount Loretto
Leader: Seth Wollney
Registrar: Judy Rabi — jsrabi@verizon.net or 917-658-1832
Registration opens: Monday, September 24
Ride: $20

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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Birding Brooklyn Bridge Park
Guide: Heather Wolf
Meet at Pier 1 park entrance at the intersection of Old Fulton Street and Furman Street. Join Heather Wolf, author of Birding at the Bridge, for a picturesque bird walk along the Brooklyn waterfront. Target species include Barn Swallow and Gray Catbird (both of which nest in the Park and will be raising young at this time), Laughing Gull, Common Tern, and more. RSVP preferred. Limited to 19. Free
Click here to register

Saturday, October 7, 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am
Van Cortlandt Fall Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

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

Sunday, October 7, 2018, 9am – 12pm
Sparrow ID Workshop Trip
Thursday, October 4, 7-8:30pm (class); Sunday, October 7, 9am-noon (trip)
Instructor: Gabriel Willow
Sparrows are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify, yet beautiful and fascinating once they can be distinguished. Learn to identify those LBJs (little brown jobs) by studying behavior, field marks, and songs. Sparrow species seen in prior years include Field, Swamp, Savannah, White-crowned, and Lincoln's. Limited to 12. $65 (45)
Click here to register

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

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Garvies Point Preserve
Leader: Lindy (516) 628-1315
Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

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NYC Wild!
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 12:00pm
Brooklyn: Green-Wood Cemetery Photography and Nature Walk

Sunday, October 7, 2018, 1:00pm
Brooklyn: Prospect Park Photography and Nature Walk
For the FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH WALK click HERE to take you to the Eventbrite Profile page where you will find all details (scroll down to the thumbnails) for each of the outings and how to SIGN UP !

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Seaside Nature Preserve
Though only 21 acres in size the Seaside Nature Preserve includes a natural beach, an open field, playgrounds and an overall relaxing environment for humans and wildlife. Scheduled for low tide we will be able to take a look at intertidal life as well as observe the potential for expansion during this hour-long stroll. Meet at the park entrance at the end of Nelson Avenue. For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.
Read More

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Greenwich Audubon Hawk Watch
Leader: Steve Schellenger (516) 987-8103

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve

From the Meadowbrook Parkway, use the Merrick Road M9 east exit. Enter the Department of Sanitation entrance immediately on right (if you’re driving west on Merrick Road, make a U-turn after Central Boulevard and before the Meadowbrook Parkway). Look for signs to Levy Park and Preserve parking lot.
Directions via Google Maps

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

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

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Birding: Fall Migrants at 138th Place and 11th Avenue (in Powell's Cove Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in New York City.
Free!

Birding: Fall Migrants at Isham Street and Seaman Avenue (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in New York City.
Free!

Sunday, October 7, 2018
Bird Walks with New York City Audubon at Queens Botanical Garden, Queens
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Spot and identify creatures of flight and learn how Queens Botanical Garden provides important resources for birds like water, shelter, and insects to eat.

Birding: Fall Migrants at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. To enhance your experience, we encourage you to bring binoculars, or ask a ranger to borrow a pair.
Free!

The New York City Naturalist Club: Trees of Tompkins Square Park at Saint Marks Place and Avenue A (in Tompkins Square Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
This hike is of light intensity, featuring a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths and an introduction to tree identification.
Free! ...Read more