With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and
books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and Thailand!). We
have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird walks 
sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and the 
other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - and 
that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying the 
local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

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Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots,
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long
by 177 feet wide, of which area the church occupies a space about 78 by 120
feet at the Broadway end, while at the Church Street end the Church School
takes off another slice about 30 feet wide. The space remaining consists of the
main yard at the rear of the church, between it and the school, and a wing on
either side of the church, each about 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. A narrow
walk completes the circuit of the churchyard, about twenty feet from its outer
edge. The grounds contain three large, ten medium, and forty smaller trees, not
counting several that were being removed at the time of my count, and a number
of shrubs and flowers, grass-plots and grass grown graves. Even the most
nerve-hardened native bird would hardly select such a spot for a summer home,
nor attempt to take up winter quarters there.

Throughout the greater part of the summer and winter the noisy flock of English
Sparrows domiciled here holds undisputed sway. It seems probable that the
native birds that occur in the churchyard during migrations are such as are
attracted to the green spot while passing in their flights directly over it,
and that they are in no case stragglers from the temporary residents of the
near-by country or parks. I have visited the churchyard many times in summer
and winter, and during these periods between regular migratory seasons, I have
yet to see or hear of the occurrence of a native bird. I have no spring record
later than May, and no fall record after November, save the one of the Tree
Sparrow, December 8, in which case it could not be fairly said that the season
of migration was past.

>From my data I am inclined to believe, too, that the bird movement of this very
restricted area reflects in a small way, that of the outside country. When the
greatest number of birds was seen in the churchyard, it generally transpired
that a bird-wave was on in the country just outside the city, which was also
reflected in Central Park.

Misfortune is said to make strange bed-fellows, and certainly migration
produces unexpected incongruities between birds and environment. Species whose
sociability about the homes of man in the country would lead one to expect them
to be among the first and most common to occur in the city parks and green
spots, seem in many cases to be strangely wanting in the records for such
places, while others of notably retiring habits, surprise one by their
unexpected appearance in the crowded marts of civilization. The Woodcock has
been recorded on the lawn of the American Museum of Natural History and in
Trinity Cemetery, while my Saint Paul's records of Song and Chipping Sparrows,
Robin, Yellow Warbler, and some other of our more familiar birds are
surprisingly few. According to the indications of the three seasons covered by
my observations, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker appears to be a regular visitor,
which seems rather surprising.

Observations covering the period from the first to the last record were: for
1903, spring, 5 days, no birds; but on 19 days, 18 species were observed and 59
individuals counted. Total for spring 1903 was 24 days of observation. For Fall
1903, there were 25 days with no birds seen; there were 47 days when 26 species
and 187 individuals were seen. Total for fall 1903 was 72 days of observation.

For spring 1904, there were 7 days with no birds seen; there were 24 days with
22 species seen and 87 individuals counted. Total for spring 1904 was 31 days
of observation.

For the three seasons, this gives an average of one species seen per 2.25 days
of observation, and 3.64 individuals on average for each day of observation.

The list of birds noted is as follows:

1. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 5 records, -- 1903: April 29, 1; Sept. 25, 1; Oct.
12, 2; Oct. 22, 1; 1904, April 6, 1; total, 6.

2. Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 record, -- Oct. 1, 1903, 1.

3. Eastern Phoebe, 3 records, 1903, Sept. 12, 1; Sept 25, 1; Oct. 15, 1; total,
3.

4. Least Flycatcher, 5 records, 1903, May 19, 3; May 22, 1; Sept. 24, 1; Sept.
25, 1; 1904, May 13, 1; total, 7.

5. White-crowned Sparrow, 2 records, -- 1904, April 25, 2; April 26, 2; total,
4 (probably only two birds).

6. White-throated Sparrow, 16 records, -- 1903, May 1, 1; May 16, 1 ; May 18,
1; May 20, 1; May 26, 1; May 28, 1; Sept. 24, 1; Sept. 26, 1; Sept. 30, 1; Oct.
19, 2; Oct. 23, 1; Oct. 24, 1; 1904 April 25, 2; April 26, 3; May 10, 1; May
11, 1; total, 19.

7. [American] Tree Sparrow, 1 record, --  Dec. 8, 1903, 1.

8. Chipping Sparrow, 6 records, -- 1903 May 11, 1; 1904, April 18, 2; May 3, 1;
May 9, 1; May 11, 1; May 12, 1; total, 7.

9. Field Sparrow, 5 records, 1903, Oct.8, 1; 1904, April 18, 1; April  28,
1; April 29, 1 May 2, 1; total, 5

10. Slate-colored Junco, 24 records, 1903, April 29, 1; Sept. 26, 1; Sept. 29,
2; Sept. 30, 3; Oct. 2, 1; Oct. 3, 1; Oct 12, 1; Oct. 13, 1; Oct. 14, 1; Oct.
22, 3; Oct. 23, 1; Oct. 24, 1; Oct. 26, 3; Oct. 27, 2; Oct. 28, 2; Oct. 29, 6;
Oct. 30, 1; Oct. 31, 5; Nov. 2, 1; Nov. 5, 1; Nov. 6, 1; Nov. 10, 1; Nov. 16,
1; 1904, Apri1 30, 1; total, 45.

11. Song Sparrow 1 record, -- April 30, 1904, 1.

12. [Eastern] Towhee, 7 records, --- 1903 May 1, male; May 6, male; May 7,
female; Oct. 3, female; 1904, May 5, female; May 10, 2 females; May 13, male;
May 16, female; total, 9.

13. Indigo Bunting, 1 record, -- May 12, 1904, bright male.

14. Scarlet Tanager, 1 record, -- May 14, 1904, male.

15. Red-eyed Vireo, 2 records, -- 1904 May 12, 1; May 13, 1; total 2.

16. Blue-wing Warbler, 2 records, -- 1903, Sept. 8, 1; Sept. 25, 1; total 2.

17. Parula Warbler, 1 record, -- May 5, 1904, 1.

18. Yellow Warbler, 3 records, -- 1903 May 19, 1; May 22, 1; Sept. 4, 1; total,
3.

19. Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 record, -- Oct. 22, 1903, 1.

20. Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warbler, 1 record, -- Oct. 13, 1904, 1.

21. Magnolia Warbler, 1 record, -- May 20, 1903, 1.

22. Palm Warbler, 1 record, -- Oct. 13, 1903, 1.

23. Ovenbird, 11 records, -- 1903, May 15, 1; May 16, 2; May 18, 2; May 19, 2;
Sept. 1, 1; 1904, April 25, 1; Apr. 26, 1; May 5, 1; May 16, 1; May 17, 1; May
18, 1; total, 14.

24. [Northern] Water Thrush, 1 record, -- May 19, 1903, 1.

25. Northern [Common] Yellow-throat, 7 records -- 1903, May 14 , 1; May 22, 1;
Oct. 12, 1; 1904 May 11, 1; May 20, 2; May 21, 1; May 24, 2; total , 9.

26. Canadian Warbler, 1 record, -- May 21, 1903, 1.

27. American Redstart, 5 records, -- 1903, May 19, 1; Sept. 1, 2; Sept. 3, 1;
Sept. 4, 1; 1904, May 20, 1; total, 6.

28. Catbirds, 10 records, -- 1903, May 9, 1; May 15, 1; May 19, 1; May 20, 1;
Sept 29, 1; 1904, May 5, 1; May 7, 2; May 12, 1; May 13, 1; May 20, 1; total,
11.

29. Brown Thrasher, 4 records, -- 1903, May 4, 1; May 5, 1; May 16, 1; May 18,
1; May 20, 3; May 22, 2; May 23, 1; May 26, 1; May 27, 2; Sept. 30, 1; Oct. 3,
1; 1904, May 5, 2; May 6, 1; May 24, 1; total, 19.

30. Winter Wren, 1 record, -- Oct. 28, 1904, 1.

31. Brown Creeper, 1 record, -- Oct. 12, 1903, 1. 

32. Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3 records, -- 1903, Sept. 1, 1; Sept. 8, 1; Sept.
24, 1; total, 3.

33. [Black-capped] Chickadee 14 records, -- 1903, Sept. 15, 3; Sept. 23, 1;
Sept. 25, 7; Sept. 29, 2; Sept. 30, 2; Oct. 1, 4; Oct. 6, 2; Oct. 7, 2; Oct.
10, 1; Oct. 12, 2; Oct. 16, 3; Oct. 19, 1; Oct. 30, 1; total, 33.

34. Golden-crowed Kinglet, 3 records, 1903, Oct. 21, 1; Oct. 29, 1; Oct. 31, 1;
total, 1.

35. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 records, 1903, Oct. 13, 2; Oct. 14, 3; Oct. 21, 2;
Oct. 23, 1; Oct. 24, 1; total, 9.

36. Wood Thrush, 2 records, 1903, Oct. 14, 1; 1904, May 17, 1; total 2.

37. Wilson's Thrush [= Veery], 5 records, 1903, May 19, 1; 1904, May 12, 2; May
17, 1; May 20, 1; May 24, 2; total, 7.

38. Olive-backed Thrush [= Swainson's Thrush], 14 records, 1903, May 22, 2; May
27, 1; Sept. 8, 2; Sept. 9, 1; Sept. 29, 2; Sept. 30, 1; Oct. 1, 1; Oct. 14, 1;
1904, May 11, 1; May 12, 2; May 17, 1; May 13, 1; May 18, 1; May 20, 1; total,
16.

39. Hermit Thrush 32 records, -- 1903 April 29, 6; May 4, 1; Sept. 30, 2; Oct.
6, 1; Oct. 12, 2; Oct. 13, 2; Oct.14, 8; Oct. 15, 4; Oct. 16, 1; Oct. 21, 1;
Oct. 23, 3; Oct. 24, 2; Oct. 26, 2; Oct. 27, 4; Oct. 28, 2; Oct. 29, 2; Oct.
30, 2; Oct. 31, 4; Nov. 2, 1; Nov. 4, 3; Nov. 5, 1; Nov. 9, 1; Nov. 10, 1;
Nov.11, 1; Nov. 16, 1; Nov. 23, 2; Nov. 24, 2; 1904, April 25, 8; April 26, 2;
April 30, 2; total, 79.

40. American Robin, 2 records, --1903, Oct. 21, 1; Oct. 22, 1; total, 2.

41. Bluebird, 1 record, -- Nov. 6, 1903, 2.

In the record above given, where a species occurred on consecutive dates,
doubtless in some cases the same individual remained two or more days. In one
instance, at least, this was certainly the case. A Hermit Thrush, one of four
noted October 15, 1903, had a bar of light yellowish on the left wing. This
bird was again noted on the 16th, the only one seen on the latter date. In the
majority of cases, however, such records probably represent different
individuals, and as far as I am able to judge, the birds make but a brief stop
in the churchyard. In some cases the birds noted in the morning were gone by
noon, and others not noted in the morning had appeared.

Truly Saint Paul's Churchyard seems to be for many migrant birds an oasis in a
desert of brick and mortar, a spot where tired and hungry individuals may drop
down to rest and feed, and incidentally to gladden the eye and quicken the
pulse of the city confined nature lover.

A Robin (young of the year) noted August 30, will perhaps necessitate the
modification of the statement regarding absence of birds during summer, though
it is quite possible that this individual had begun a migratory movement. 

With the exception of the Robin above referred to, the first migrant (a
[Northern] Water-Thrush) was not noted until Sept. 13, and the indications of
the churchyard evidence were that the fall migration was either begun late, or
that the earlier migration was hurriedly performed, with few stops.  


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