[nysbirds-l] Western Tanager 11:25am City Hall Park, NYC

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
FYI - I'm not sure if it's been posted, but the previously reported Western
Tanager is being seen now in the same vicinity as previous reports on the
NE side of city hall park.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Western Tanager 11:25am City Hall Park, NYC

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
FYI - I'm not sure if it's been posted, but the previously reported Western
Tanager is being seen now in the same vicinity as previous reports on the
NE side of city hall park.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nfc-l] Fwd: Interesting coastal flight happening now in the greater NYC metropolitan area

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hello all,
For those in the greater New York metropolitan area, an interesting and
large flight is happening now. Despite what would normally be marginal
conditions for fall movements (mild temperatures and southerly winds),
migrants apparently decided time of the season would trump those tonight,
even if only in a limited geographic area (check your favorite local radar
outlet for visuals). In lights of some of the taller buildings in
east midtown Manhattan migrants can be seen passing now, and there is also
a nice audible component to this movement (White-throated Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, and Hermit Thrush among some other species).

Good nocturnal birding,
Andrew

--

NFC-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_WELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_RULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nfc-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nfc-l] Fwd: Interesting coastal flight happening now in the greater NYC metropolitan area

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hello all,
For those in the greater New York metropolitan area, an interesting and
large flight is happening now. Despite what would normally be marginal
conditions for fall movements (mild temperatures and southerly winds),
migrants apparently decided time of the season would trump those tonight,
even if only in a limited geographic area (check your favorite local radar
outlet for visuals). In lights of some of the taller buildings in
east midtown Manhattan migrants can be seen passing now, and there is also
a nice audible component to this movement (White-throated Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, and Hermit Thrush among some other species).

Good nocturnal birding,
Andrew

--

NFC-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_WELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_RULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nfc-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] NYC Visible (and audible) Nocturnal Migration now

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
For those of you in Manhattan, NYC, may I suggest stopping what you are
doing and stepping out side right now. There is a large amount of nocturnal
movement happening, quite easily visible at times even with the naked eye
from street level (and more so with binoculars looking up to the cloud
ceiling from building rooftops) in the lights of a number of up-lit
buildings on the Upper East Side, and presumably elsewhere in the city and
surrounding areas. There's also quite a lot of calling happening (lots of
White-throated Sparrows, some Dark-eyed Juncos, Hermit Thrush). A quick
check of radar will show why - there is a heavy flight underway in
favorable winds and birds are interacting with isolated thunderstorms and
low cloud ceilings (and the artificial light dome of NYC).

Good nocturnal birding!
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] NYC Visible (and audible) Nocturnal Migration now

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
For those of you in Manhattan, NYC, may I suggest stopping what you are
doing and stepping out side right now. There is a large amount of nocturnal
movement happening, quite easily visible at times even with the naked eye
from street level (and more so with binoculars looking up to the cloud
ceiling from building rooftops) in the lights of a number of up-lit
buildings on the Upper East Side, and presumably elsewhere in the city and
surrounding areas. There's also quite a lot of calling happening (lots of
White-throated Sparrows, some Dark-eyed Juncos, Hermit Thrush). A quick
check of radar will show why - there is a heavy flight underway in
favorable winds and birds are interacting with isolated thunderstorms and
low cloud ceilings (and the artificial light dome of NYC).

Good nocturnal birding!
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Barnacle Goose at Randall's island, NYC

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
Anya Auerbach found a barnacle goose this morning at Randall's island, which 
was still present as of about 12:15pm in the channel along the NE shoreline of 
the island between field 44 and the ny post building.

Good luck if you go.
Best,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Snowy Owl at Randall's island, NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hello all,
I just received an excited text from David Barrett who is watching a Snowy Owl 
on the NE side of Randall's Island, ball field 29. 

Good luck if you go, and please act in a respectful and ethical manner. We've 
all, I am sure, heard too many stories this winter about people harassing 
Snowies.

Regards,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Snowy Owl at Randall's island, NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hello all,
I just received an excited text from David Barrett who is watching a Snowy Owl 
on the NE side of Randall's Island, ball field 29. 

Good luck if you go, and please act in a respectful and ethical manner. We've 
all, I am sure, heard too many stories this winter about people harassing 
Snowies.

Regards,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

East River/Randall's Island note: WAS Re: [nysbirds-l] [ebirdsnyc] Hudson River Update

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
The most noteworthy bird at Randall's Island this morning around 1145 was a
single Royal Tern flyby - the bird was headed south toward Manhattan.
Additionally, Randall's had many gulls on the ball fields, including a
large number of Laughing Gulls. A flock of 12 dark-winged scoters trying to
ride things out in the bay and eventually took off and made themselves
known as 12 Black Scoters. Numerous Common Loons were present, as were a
substantial flock of Brant at the island. Small numbers of very soggy
Savannah Sparrows are also still present. However, the marsh area that held
Nelson's Sparrow in the last weeks was totally underwater, as was much of
the path and adjacent ball fields.

There are small numbers of birds present south of Roosevelt Island now,
nothing earth shattering.

Best,
Andrew

On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 11:55 AM, Matt Bango  wrote:

> I've been watching the Hudson since around 9 AM from Jersey City and my
> observations have been basically the same as Jacob's. The only thing to add
> is I had 7 SURF SCOTERS flying north about 30 minutes ago fairly close to
> the Jersey side of the Hudson.
>
> It's not too bad out there now, but winds are definitely picking up.
> Various boardwalks along the Hudson on the Jersey side are already closed
> (and lightly flooded). It might be tough to find a good vantage point from
> Jersey City if storm surges are as high as anticipated.
>
> Good birding and stay safe,
> Matt
> http://mattbangophotography.com
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 11:41 AM, Jacob Drucker 
> wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I got to the Hudson at about 8:30 this am, and though Peter Scully and I
>> didn't see anything too absurdly oceanic we had a few WHITE-WINGED and a
>> BLACK SCOTER, likely trying to avoid the storm. A PINE SISKIN was a nice
>> surprise too. Nearly all birds were flying up river.
>>
>> The weather wasn't too bad on hurricane standards with very little rain.
>> Of course it was windy but working with binoculars was definitely
>> manageable. The water level was also quite high, occasionally just spilling
>> over the sea wall, but with the tide falling as I left this became less of
>> an issue. In regards to the Upper West Side, if the water levels and rain
>> are in decent condition, the 70th st pier is an ideal spot to look, but
>> most of our birding was done from the Boat Basin Cafe on 79th st, which is
>> very well sheltered and would be ideal for viewing if the rain becomes
>> heavy and if storm surge becomes a problem.
>>
>> Full list with comments here:
>> http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11894032
>>
>> Good birding and stay safe,
>> Jacob Drucker
>> Amherst, MA
>>
>>  __._,_.___
>>   Reply via web 
>> post
>>   Reply
>> to sender
>>   Reply
>> to group
>>   Start
>> a New 
>> Topic
>>   Messages
>> in this 
>> topic(1)
>> Recent Activity:
>>
>>- New 
>> Members
>>1
>>
>>  Visit Your 
>> Group
>>  ebirdsnyc: bird sightings from the NYC area
>>  [image: Yahoo! 
>> Groups]
>> Switch to: 
>> Text-Only,
>> Daily 
>> Digest•
>> Unsubscribe • 
>> Terms
>> of Use  • Send us Feedback
>> 
>>.
>>
>> __,_._,___
>>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and 
> Leave
> *Archives:*
> The Mail 
> Archive
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME

[nysbirds-l] big coastal flight near/over NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
For those in the greater metropolitan New York area, there is a substantial
movement of birds (and bats and insects) occurring this evening. The
distribution of the movement is rather limited, geographically speaking,
given the proximity of high pressure to the NE and a stalled front to the
SE, but many birds are aloft. Flight calling is happening in the overcast
and artificially lit sky - numerous White-throated and Savannah Sparrows,
Hermit Thrush, 2-3 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and a number of other species.
It's also possible to see birds against the clouds around uplit buildings
(as well as bats and more than a few moths and a mantid) - Northern
Flicker, numerous small and medium sized passerines, a cuckoo.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Randall's Island, NYC: Nelson's Sparrows

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A quick note about Randall's Island and sparrows - although a tide chart
may be helpful for timing a visit to this site (see Ben's email thread from
yesterday), timing a trip there in the early morning (at least this
morning) seems a must. There were no people in the vicinity this morning at
sunrise, and the number and diversity of sparrows on or just off the bike
path were great, including at least a single Nelson's (and hefty numbers of
Savannah Sparrows). Several Nelson's are clearly present (it seems at least
3, maybe 5), though not always easily seen as Anders highlighted. There may
be a Saltmarsh Sparrow present as well, as several have suggested offline,
though my views of a candidate this morning were not sufficient beyond
Nelson's/Saltmarsh. Regardless, patience in the area behind
Ballpark/Backstop 42 will probably be rewarded with some nice views of all
the birds present.

This is certainly a location worth visiting and worth watching!
Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Randall's Island, NYC: Nelson's Sparrows

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A quick note about Randall's Island and sparrows - although a tide chart
may be helpful for timing a visit to this site (see Ben's email thread from
yesterday), timing a trip there in the early morning (at least this
morning) seems a must. There were no people in the vicinity this morning at
sunrise, and the number and diversity of sparrows on or just off the bike
path were great, including at least a single Nelson's (and hefty numbers of
Savannah Sparrows). Several Nelson's are clearly present (it seems at least
3, maybe 5), though not always easily seen as Anders highlighted. There may
be a Saltmarsh Sparrow present as well, as several have suggested offline,
though my views of a candidate this morning were not sufficient beyond
Nelson's/Saltmarsh. Regardless, patience in the area behind
Ballpark/Backstop 42 will probably be rewarded with some nice views of all
the birds present.

This is certainly a location worth visiting and worth watching!
Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] flight calling and low altitude flight in NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
For those in the New York, NY this evening, you might want to give a look
and a listen outside. It's quite the interesting night, with light and
northerly winds and low cloud ceilings. Small numbers of migrants are
visible (10X binoculars and 20-60X scope) in the lights of brightly lit
buildings enshrouded in the low ceiling, particularly from my vantage point
about 50m above street level and looking west toward 875 3rd Ave. Scanning
the sky around this building and others nearby has been surprisingly
productive (Green Heron, Northern Flicker, cuckoo sp., numerous small
passerines, etc.), and flight calls (Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes
are dominating at present) are audible from this height and occasionally at
street level based on a few forays around the neighborhood.

Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Tribute in Light memorial, manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hello all,
For those borders still awake in manhattan

There are presently, as of about 11pm, many hundreds of birds in the beams of 
light in lower manhattan. Greenwich and rector streets are at the heart of te 
action. Warblers dominate, including many American redstarts, ovenbird, 
magnolia warbler in the mix, as well as scarlet tanager, veery, swainson's 
thrush. Lots of birds at many altitudes. Also a peregrine hunting in the 
beams... 

Regards,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] moonwatching and flight calls - New York, New York

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
There is a nice coastal flight of birds (and insects) occurring at present
in the coastal areas of the greater NYC metro area, visible on radar (log
on to your favorite online radar site) and with a telescope aimed at the
moon. This flight is also audible, at times, and flight calls from the
Sutton Place area in Manhattan in the last 30 minutes included a Green
Heron, 4-5 Veeries, an American Redstart, and 2 Scarlet Tanagers.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] moonwatching and flight calls - New York, New York

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
There is a nice coastal flight of birds (and insects) occurring at present
in the coastal areas of the greater NYC metro area, visible on radar (log
on to your favorite online radar site) and with a telescope aimed at the
moon. This flight is also audible, at times, and flight calls from the
Sutton Place area in Manhattan in the last 30 minutes included a Green
Heron, 4-5 Veeries, an American Redstart, and 2 Scarlet Tanagers.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nfc-l] a few flight calls this evening (24 July, ~11PM) from NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
A little listening from my terrace on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (NY,
NY) in the last 30 minutes yielded a few flight calls from vocal nocturnal
migrants, including a single Solitary Sandpiper, a Veery, and two modulated
warbler calls that were probably from a single Yellow Warbler.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NFC-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_WELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_RULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nfc-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nfc-l] a few flight calls this evening (24 July, ~11PM) from NY, NY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good evening all,
A little listening from my terrace on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (NY,
NY) in the last 30 minutes yielded a few flight calls from vocal nocturnal
migrants, including a single Solitary Sandpiper, a Veery, and two modulated
warbler calls that were probably from a single Yellow Warbler.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NFC-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_WELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_RULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nfc-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Roosevelt Island, Manhattan (NYC)

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A brief note for those in New York, NY to advise that an adult
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron just flew south down the East River past
Roosevelt Island, approximately 835 EDT. It banked around the island and
appeared to descend around the south end.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Roosevelt Island, Manhattan (NYC)

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A brief note for those in New York, NY to advise that an adult
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron just flew south down the East River past
Roosevelt Island, approximately 835 EDT. It banked around the island and
appeared to descend around the south end.

Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] More Manhattan Selasphorus pics....

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
To add to (or subtract from) this discussion, I forward a link that Andy
Guthrie sent me.  It's a fascinating (and LONG!) thread from the Illinois
Birder's Forum re: Broad-tailed versus Rufous identification, with some
interesting twists - http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=49536.0

Best,
Andrew


On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:54 PM, Jacob Drucker wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Here are a few more pics of this hummer:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/58638795@N08/
>
> The first, blurry picture, shows the gorget shining (looked orangey and
> pinkish depending on angle), as well as a nice tail-spread, not really
> revealing a notch in R2, but definitely showing the R1>R2>R3 (R2-D2). The
> second picture also shows the different generations of feathers in the
> wing, while the last picture shows what looks like body molt around the
> neck.
>
> --Jacob
>
>
> --
>
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
>
> ARCHIVES:
> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html
>
> Please submit your observations to eBird:
> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
>
> --
>
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] More Manhattan Selasphorus pics....

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
To add to (or subtract from) this discussion, I forward a link that Andy
Guthrie sent me.  It's a fascinating (and LONG!) thread from the Illinois
Birder's Forum re: Broad-tailed versus Rufous identification, with some
interesting twists - http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=49536.0

Best,
Andrew


On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:54 PM, Jacob Drucker jacobdruc...@msn.comwrote:

 Hi All,

 Here are a few more pics of this hummer:
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/58638795@N08/

 The first, blurry picture, shows the gorget shining (looked orangey and
 pinkish depending on angle), as well as a nice tail-spread, not really
 revealing a notch in R2, but definitely showing the R1R2R3 (R2-D2). The
 second picture also shows the different generations of feathers in the
 wing, while the last picture shows what looks like body molt around the
 neck.

 --Jacob


 --

 NYSbirds-L List Info:
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

 ARCHIVES:
 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

 Please submit your observations to eBird:
 http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

 --



--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] FWD: White-winged Dove in Brooklyn

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
I forward information gleaned while reviewing recent eBird
submissions: a WHITE-WINGED DOVE has put in two appearances (so far) in a
backyard in Brooklyn; Avi Lewis found the bird in the block bounded by
Avenues V and W, Bedford Avenue, and East 26th Street in the Sheepshead Bay
area of Brooklyn.

The bird was seen briefly yesterday (27 NOV) and seen briefly this morning
(28 NOV), both times in a flock of Mourning Doves.

IMPORTANT: because of the configuration of houses and yards in the block,
there is NO outside access to or from the yard, so searching nearby parks
and then surrounding areas like Marine Park or Plumb Beach might be a good
bet.

I will post additional information if I receive any news.

Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] FWD: White-winged Dove in Brooklyn

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
I forward information gleaned while reviewing recent eBird
submissions: a WHITE-WINGED DOVE has put in two appearances (so far) in a
backyard in Brooklyn; Avi Lewis found the bird in the block bounded by
Avenues V and W, Bedford Avenue, and East 26th Street in the Sheepshead Bay
area of Brooklyn.

The bird was seen briefly yesterday (27 NOV) and seen briefly this morning
(28 NOV), both times in a flock of Mourning Doves.

IMPORTANT: because of the configuration of houses and yards in the block,
there is NO outside access to or from the yard, so searching nearby parks
and then surrounding areas like Marine Park or Plumb Beach might be a good
bet.

I will post additional information if I receive any news.

Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Short-eared Owl over Manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
Presently a Short-eared Owl flying west high over Manhattan ~745AM,
headed toward midtown in the 50s, part of a nice morning flight
currently underway (many American Robins!).
Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Short-eared Owl over Manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
Presently a Short-eared Owl flying west high over Manhattan ~745AM,
headed toward midtown in the 50s, part of a nice morning flight
currently underway (many American Robins!).
Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Black vulture over manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
For those currently on manhattan island, there is presently (~1pm) a black 
vulture soaring with 2 peregrines, four turkey vultures, and a northern harrier 
over midtown in the lower 50s. From my vantage on the east side, the birds look 
to be over the central portion of the island, drifting toward the Hudson. Nice 
raptor flight ongoing today here, more to post later.

Good birding
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Black vulture over manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
For those currently on manhattan island, there is presently (~1pm) a black 
vulture soaring with 2 peregrines, four turkey vultures, and a northern harrier 
over midtown in the lower 50s. From my vantage on the east side, the birds look 
to be over the central portion of the island, drifting toward the Hudson. Nice 
raptor flight ongoing today here, more to post later.

Good birding
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] CACKLING GOOSE, Eastern Meadowlarks at Marshlands Conservancy, Rye NY, 17 October

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A quick note - during a late morning/midday bird walk at Marshlands
Conservancy in Rye, NY today, we had the good fortune to find a
CACKLING GOOSE in a passing flock of 55 Canada Geese.  The flock was
moving west-southwest toward Mamaroneck, NY, last we saw it.

The other avian highlight of the walk was encountering two Eastern
Meadowlarks on the Marie's Neck side of the marsh (the southern most
portion of the marsh, for those unfamiliar with Marshlands'
locations).

In addition, a small raptor movement was in evidence, with 6
Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Osprey, 1 Red-shouldered
Hawk, and 1 Bald Eagle passing during the 2-hour walk.

Non-avian highlights: a mantis sp. and several lepidopterans including
a beautiful Question Mark and several Mourning Cloaks among the last
gasp of Monarchs passing.
Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] CACKLING GOOSE, Eastern Meadowlarks at Marshlands Conservancy, Rye NY, 17 October

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
A quick note - during a late morning/midday bird walk at Marshlands
Conservancy in Rye, NY today, we had the good fortune to find a
CACKLING GOOSE in a passing flock of 55 Canada Geese.  The flock was
moving west-southwest toward Mamaroneck, NY, last we saw it.

The other avian highlight of the walk was encountering two Eastern
Meadowlarks on the Marie's Neck side of the marsh (the southern most
portion of the marsh, for those unfamiliar with Marshlands'
locations).

In addition, a small raptor movement was in evidence, with 6
Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Osprey, 1 Red-shouldered
Hawk, and 1 Bald Eagle passing during the 2-hour walk.

Non-avian highlights: a mantis sp. and several lepidopterans including
a beautiful Question Mark and several Mourning Cloaks among the last
gasp of Monarchs passing.
Good birding,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] 2 bridled terns and 2 wilson's storm-petrels

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
Doug Gochfeld, Sean Sime, Shane Blodgett, and I just had two Bridled Terns 
moving south past veteran's memorial pier in Brooklyn. We've also seen two 
Wilson's Storm-Petrels moving out of the bay and a large number of Laughing 
Gulls.

Best,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] 2 bridled terns and 2 wilson's storm-petrels

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
Doug Gochfeld, Sean Sime, Shane Blodgett, and I just had two Bridled Terns 
moving south past veteran's memorial pier in Brooklyn. We've also seen two 
Wilson's Storm-Petrels moving out of the bay and a large number of Laughing 
Gulls.

Best,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Leach's storm-petrel and sandwich tern passing w55th st, manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
I have not seen a post from the hudson for a while, so an update: 1 leach's 
storm-petrel, 1 sandwich tern, several flocks of sanderlings, 330-345pm.

Best
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Sooty tern (2) on the east river in manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
Searching this morning so far on the east side of manhattan has yielded 2 sooty 
terns, at least 7 black terns, 2 royal terns and a little blue heron. 
Best,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Sooty tern (2) on the east river in manhattan

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
Searching this morning so far on the east side of manhattan has yielded 2 sooty 
terns, at least 7 black terns, 2 royal terns and a little blue heron. 
Best,
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Gray-hooded Gull still present as of 645am

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
In case no one has posted yet, the Gray-hooded Gull is present this morning 
just off the boardwalk near a beautiful fake palm tree beachward of the wonder 
wheel.

Good luck if you go.
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] Gray-hooded Gull still present as of 645am

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Good morning all,
In case no one has posted yet, the Gray-hooded Gull is present this morning 
just off the boardwalk near a beautiful fake palm tree beachward of the wonder 
wheel.

Good luck if you go.
Andrew
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[nysbirds-l] 2 Cave Swallows on the East Side of Manhattan, 230PM

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Happy Thanksgiving all,
As of 2:45PM, 2 CAVE SWALLOWS were flying around the south end of
Roosevelt Island and over the East River, approximately at 50th-52nd
Sts. and the FDR on the E Side of Manhattan.
Best,
Andrew

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
I want to comment on some points in the checklist thread about eBird
and lists - the eBird team can speak to issues about how to generate
lists and give much more detail than I, but I want to discuss comments
relevant to science and eBird and what is an is not science.  To speak
to the statement that eBird "ain't" science and "what one accepts as
science" and is just entertainment and such, I'd like to highlight a
link (http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100810/full/news.2010.395.html)
and a series of recent peer-reviewed publications at the end of this
message. Researchers, at the Lab of Ornithology AND from other
institutions, are starting to use eBird and AKN data in their
manuscripts - manuscripts that are getting press, acceptance, and
peer-review.

I'd also like to follow up on another point about data quality.
There's a robust verification process that uses automated checklist
filters and local experts to vet data and query observers on unusual,
rare, or anomalous sightings - is it perfect (i.e. flagging all
unusual records in every location that such records appear?), no, but
is it getting better every month (i.e. increasing speed of review, new
tools to review, new eBird alert tools to tell people when something
rare has been reported), yes.  If you're keen to read the details, see
this link: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/ebird-data-quality.
Additionally, this vetting process from local experts and the email
correspondence for details and confirmation is linked directly to the
NYSARC committee for review species.

Finally, I'd like to address the whole "more holes than swiss cheese"
statement.  Species lists, maps, summary accounts - they are all
imperfect to some degree.  They are largely static - that does not
make them useless by any stretch of the imagination, but it does mean
that they may be rather out of date as soon as they are produced.
eBird offers the possibility of something very different - maps made
with data almost as they are observed/recorded/generated, from crowds,
with verification processes in place, and taking advantage of an
ever-growing network of connected birders.  Although the greater New
York City area and Kingbird Region 10 area, where I live, has perhaps
been slow to adopt eBird and eBird entry practices, the growth in
report submission and improved data quality is real and large.  The
"swiss cheese" problem is, in fact, being addressed, as I mentioned
above.

If you seek a list of birds that occur in New York City, try querying
eBird to make one for you - query the database back to 1900, ask for
the five counties in the greater metro area, ask for all months of the
year, and see what you get.  I suspect you will find that the result
is closer to a comprehensive list than you think.  Is every species
recorded in NYC EVER on that list, perhaps not . . . but, can you be
comfortable with the knowledge that this list is growing, under
frequent review, generated by experts' and citizen scientists'
submissions alike, and that the likelihood of every species ever
recorded in the area appearing the eBird database is increasing?

Best,
Andrew

References (I can probably send these privately offlist if anyone is interested)
Internal, Lab of Ornithology researchers
Fink, D. and Hochachka, W. M. 2011. Mining information from citizen
science data: The use of new analytical techniques for exploratory
analysis of broad-scale observational data. (to appear in CITIZEN
SCIENCE: PUBLIC COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH edited by
Dickinson, J. and Bonney, R. Cornell Univeristy press)

Hochachka, W.M., Fink, D. and Zuckerberg, B. 2011. Use of citizen
science monitoring for pattern discovery and biological inference (to
appear in Design and Analysis of Long-term Ecological Monitoring
Studies edited by Gitzen, R.A., Millspaugh, J.J., Cooper, A.B., and
Licht, D.S. Cambridge University Press)

Kelling, S. 2011. Using Bioinformatics In Citizen Science. (to appear
in CITIZEN SCIENCE: PUBLIC COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
edited by Dickinson, J. and Bonney, R. Cornell University press)

Fink, D., Hochachka, W. M., Zuckerberg, B., Winkler, D. W., Shaby, B.,
Munson, M. Arthur, Hooker, G. J., Riedewald, M., Sheldon, D., Kelling,
S.  2010. Spatiotemporal Exploratory models for Large-scale Survey
Data. Ecological Applications (in press).

Swarthout, S.B., K.V. Rosenberg K.V., T.C. Wil, M.I. Moreno. 2008. A
collaborative web-based recording program for housing records of
migratory birds during non-breeding periods in Central and South
America. Ornitologia Neotropical 19:531-539

Munson, M.A., Caruana, R. Fink, D., Hochachka, W.M. Iliff, M.,
Rosenberg, K., Sheldon, D., Sullivan, B., Wood, C., Kelling, S. 2010.
A Method for Measuring the Relative Information Content of Data from
Different Monitoring Protocols. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
(Accepted manuscript; in revision)

Kelling, S., Hochachka, W.M. Fink, D. Riedewald, M. Caruana, R.,
Ballard, G. and Hooker, G. 2009. 

Re: [nysbirds-l] (semi-)official NYC checklist ? - SUMMARY

[Andrew Farnsworth]

Hi all,
I want to comment on some points in the checklist thread about eBird
and lists - the eBird team can speak to issues about how to generate
lists and give much more detail than I, but I want to discuss comments
relevant to science and eBird and what is an is not science.  To speak
to the statement that eBird ain't science and what one accepts as
science and is just entertainment and such, I'd like to highlight a
link (http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100810/full/news.2010.395.html)
and a series of recent peer-reviewed publications at the end of this
message. Researchers, at the Lab of Ornithology AND from other
institutions, are starting to use eBird and AKN data in their
manuscripts - manuscripts that are getting press, acceptance, and
peer-review.

I'd also like to follow up on another point about data quality.
There's a robust verification process that uses automated checklist
filters and local experts to vet data and query observers on unusual,
rare, or anomalous sightings - is it perfect (i.e. flagging all
unusual records in every location that such records appear?), no, but
is it getting better every month (i.e. increasing speed of review, new
tools to review, new eBird alert tools to tell people when something
rare has been reported), yes.  If you're keen to read the details, see
this link: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/ebird-data-quality.
Additionally, this vetting process from local experts and the email
correspondence for details and confirmation is linked directly to the
NYSARC committee for review species.

Finally, I'd like to address the whole more holes than swiss cheese
statement.  Species lists, maps, summary accounts - they are all
imperfect to some degree.  They are largely static - that does not
make them useless by any stretch of the imagination, but it does mean
that they may be rather out of date as soon as they are produced.
eBird offers the possibility of something very different - maps made
with data almost as they are observed/recorded/generated, from crowds,
with verification processes in place, and taking advantage of an
ever-growing network of connected birders.  Although the greater New
York City area and Kingbird Region 10 area, where I live, has perhaps
been slow to adopt eBird and eBird entry practices, the growth in
report submission and improved data quality is real and large.  The
swiss cheese problem is, in fact, being addressed, as I mentioned
above.

If you seek a list of birds that occur in New York City, try querying
eBird to make one for you - query the database back to 1900, ask for
the five counties in the greater metro area, ask for all months of the
year, and see what you get.  I suspect you will find that the result
is closer to a comprehensive list than you think.  Is every species
recorded in NYC EVER on that list, perhaps not . . . but, can you be
comfortable with the knowledge that this list is growing, under
frequent review, generated by experts' and citizen scientists'
submissions alike, and that the likelihood of every species ever
recorded in the area appearing the eBird database is increasing?

Best,
Andrew

References (I can probably send these privately offlist if anyone is interested)
Internal, Lab of Ornithology researchers
Fink, D. and Hochachka, W. M. 2011. Mining information from citizen
science data: The use of new analytical techniques for exploratory
analysis of broad-scale observational data. (to appear in CITIZEN
SCIENCE: PUBLIC COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH edited by
Dickinson, J. and Bonney, R. Cornell Univeristy press)

Hochachka, W.M., Fink, D. and Zuckerberg, B. 2011. Use of citizen
science monitoring for pattern discovery and biological inference (to
appear in Design and Analysis of Long-term Ecological Monitoring
Studies edited by Gitzen, R.A., Millspaugh, J.J., Cooper, A.B., and
Licht, D.S. Cambridge University Press)

Kelling, S. 2011. Using Bioinformatics In Citizen Science. (to appear
in CITIZEN SCIENCE: PUBLIC COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
edited by Dickinson, J. and Bonney, R. Cornell University press)

Fink, D., Hochachka, W. M., Zuckerberg, B., Winkler, D. W., Shaby, B.,
Munson, M. Arthur, Hooker, G. J., Riedewald, M., Sheldon, D., Kelling,
S.  2010. Spatiotemporal Exploratory models for Large-scale Survey
Data. Ecological Applications (in press).

Swarthout, S.B., K.V. Rosenberg K.V., T.C. Wil, M.I. Moreno. 2008. A
collaborative web-based recording program for housing records of
migratory birds during non-breeding periods in Central and South
America. Ornitologia Neotropical 19:531-539

Munson, M.A., Caruana, R. Fink, D., Hochachka, W.M. Iliff, M.,
Rosenberg, K., Sheldon, D., Sullivan, B., Wood, C., Kelling, S. 2010.
A Method for Measuring the Relative Information Content of Data from
Different Monitoring Protocols. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
(Accepted manuscript; in revision)

Kelling, S., Hochachka, W.M. Fink, D. Riedewald, M. Caruana, R.,
Ballard, G. and Hooker, G. 2009.