[nysbirds-l] Neglect of Croton Point Park's grasslands

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi-- As many of you already know, the restored grasslands in Croton Point
Park, Westchester County, are a true refuge for threatened grassland
bird species in a built-up region. Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and (a
couple of summers ago) even Dickcissels nest there, while nonbreeding
visitors and winter residents have included Snow Bunting, Horned Lark,
Lapland Longspur, LeConte's Sparrow, various raptors, and many other
species. (The rarity list is pretty astonishing.)

The restoration came about because of a huge effort by the county and
state, along with local environmental groups and volunteers. But now, just
a couple of years later, maintenance of the grasslands has basically been
abandoned. Unsurprisingly, invasives are already flooding back in, and the
obvious deterioration may be irreversible in just a couple of years.

After unsuccessful attempts by many of us to engage with local officials, I
contacted a local newspaper, which just published this long investigative
piece:
https://www.theexaminernews.com/urgent-need-to-address-maintenance-lapses-at-croton-point/
.
Especially if you know and love the park, I hope you'll take a look...and
maybe add your voice to the chorus demanding that the state and county
continue to support this vital habitat. Thank you for reading this far!
--Joe Wallace

>

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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park warblers

[Joseph Wallace]

This park has become quite a magnet for unexpected warbler species the last
couple of weeks, especially singing males in lovely plumage. So far I've
seen Magnolia, Northern Parula, Black-and-White, and Ovenbird...and though
they don't all flag as rare, I bird this park a lot, and this seems very
unusual here in this season. (They don't look or act like early
migrants--is the consensus that these are birds displaced by the Canadian
wildfires, or some other cause?) Seems worth keeping an eye out in the park
for others as well
--Joe Wallace
P.S. Andrew Baksh's heartening report from Jamaica Bay reminded me of the
Father's Day essay I wrote for Saw Mill River Audubon--and posted here--a
few years back, about my Dad and that wonderful preserve. As it happens, he
and it also appear in my latest piece, which is more about the
places--landscapes--that speak most deeply to us. Dad had his, I have mine,
and I always wonder if you all have one, too. Apologies if this is too o/t,
but if you're interested:
https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/our-inner-landscapes/.

>

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[nysbirds-l] Birds and wasps--quick follow-up

[Joseph Wallace]

So this morning I was birding in Croton Landing Park when I spotted another
group of wasps rising and falling over a patch of grass. This time I
identified the species as the widespread *Scolia dubia, *a handsome
parasitic species...and as I watched a Mockingbird that was foraging nearby
hopped directly into the center of the wasp aggregation. As with
yesterday's Mourning Doves, the bird and wasps both seemed unworried.

I watched the Mockingbird snatch and eat two insects (not wasps) off the
ground in about thirty seconds, so it's easy to theorize that the wasps
might benefit the bird by startling or distracting its prey. Still hard to
see how a flock of Mourning Doves would benefit, though
--Joe W

>

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--

[nysbirds-l] Birds and wasps--quick follow-up

[Joseph Wallace]

So this morning I was birding in Croton Landing Park when I spotted another
group of wasps rising and falling over a patch of grass. This time I
identified the species as the widespread *Scolia dubia, *a handsome
parasitic species...and as I watched a Mockingbird that was foraging nearby
hopped directly into the center of the wasp aggregation. As with
yesterday's Mourning Doves, the bird and wasps both seemed unworried.

I watched the Mockingbird snatch and eat two insects (not wasps) off the
ground in about thirty seconds, so it's easy to theorize that the wasps
might benefit the bird by startling or distracting its prey. Still hard to
see how a flock of Mourning Doves would benefit, though
--Joe W

>

--

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--

[nysbirds-l] Mourning Doves and wasps, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

Hope it's okay to post an intriguing behavior involving a far-from-rare
species...apologies if it's too off-topic.

I was in the midst of an early-morning walk when I saw about eight Mourning
Doves foraging together on the dry grass of a mowed lawn. I scanned the
group with my binoculars, idly hoping there might be a Collared-Dove among
them. Nope, all Mournings...and dozens of large black wasps (about half the
size of Cicada Killers) rising and falling a foot or two over the grass.
The flock, tightly packed, was foraging entirely within the periphery of a
ground-digging wasp colony, stepping right over the holes the wasps had
made; neither the birds nor the insects seemed especially perturbed by
this, each one leaving the other alone. Finally the flock, startled by
something else, flew off, and the wasps' behavior didn't change at all.

A cursory internet search hasn't turned up any stories about commensal or
other relationships between Mourning Doves and any wasp species, so I'm
left wondering what I was seeing. Was it coincidental, and the wasps
(unaggressive like Cicada Killers) were just waiting for the birds to
leave? (It didn't look coincidental--it was a big lawn, and this the only
dove flock.) Do the wasps confer some kind of protection for the doves from
hawks and other predators? If so, what do they get in return that causes
them to allow the birds to tromp all around them?

I love asking questions like this, and wonder if any of you have ever seen
something similar. Thanks!
--Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Mourning Doves and wasps, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

Hope it's okay to post an intriguing behavior involving a far-from-rare
species...apologies if it's too off-topic.

I was in the midst of an early-morning walk when I saw about eight Mourning
Doves foraging together on the dry grass of a mowed lawn. I scanned the
group with my binoculars, idly hoping there might be a Collared-Dove among
them. Nope, all Mournings...and dozens of large black wasps (about half the
size of Cicada Killers) rising and falling a foot or two over the grass.
The flock, tightly packed, was foraging entirely within the periphery of a
ground-digging wasp colony, stepping right over the holes the wasps had
made; neither the birds nor the insects seemed especially perturbed by
this, each one leaving the other alone. Finally the flock, startled by
something else, flew off, and the wasps' behavior didn't change at all.

A cursory internet search hasn't turned up any stories about commensal or
other relationships between Mourning Doves and any wasp species, so I'm
left wondering what I was seeing. Was it coincidental, and the wasps
(unaggressive like Cicada Killers) were just waiting for the birds to
leave? (It didn't look coincidental--it was a big lawn, and this the only
dove flock.) Do the wasps confer some kind of protection for the doves from
hawks and other predators? If so, what do they get in return that causes
them to allow the birds to tromp all around them?

I love asking questions like this, and wonder if any of you have ever seen
something similar. Thanks!
--Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Yellow-throated Warbler, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

The spring mini-invasion of this lovely species continues with an
individual present at least from about 5:20 to 6:00 (still there when we
got chased by the rain), on the road out to Teller's Point just beyond
where all the RVs are parked. It was actively foraging among small
hackberry and other leafless trees on both sides of the road, sometimes
approaching to within 8 or 10 feet of us. If you try for it tomorrow, good
luck! --Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Yellow-throated Warbler, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

The spring mini-invasion of this lovely species continues with an
individual present at least from about 5:20 to 6:00 (still there when we
got chased by the rain), on the road out to Teller's Point just beyond
where all the RVs are parked. It was actively foraging among small
hackberry and other leafless trees on both sides of the road, sometimes
approaching to within 8 or 10 feet of us. If you try for it tomorrow, good
luck! --Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park in transition

[Joseph Wallace]

This week at the park has shown how even the doldrums of March can be
filled with motion...and preparation. Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and
American Pipits have all stopped by in the past few days, and today I
watched three Red Fox Sparrows (the most I've ever seen at one time)
kicking up leaf litter in a tight group, presumably getting ready for their
own journey. At the same time, a flock of newly arrived Tree Swallows was
wheeling above Croton Bay; my first Eastern Phoebe of the season made an
appearance; and many resident birds are already on territory. It's a
fascinatingly changeable time in the park right now, matching the weather.

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park in transition

[Joseph Wallace]

This week at the park has shown how even the doldrums of March can be
filled with motion...and preparation. Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and
American Pipits have all stopped by in the past few days, and today I
watched three Red Fox Sparrows (the most I've ever seen at one time)
kicking up leaf litter in a tight group, presumably getting ready for their
own journey. At the same time, a flock of newly arrived Tree Swallows was
wheeling above Croton Bay; my first Eastern Phoebe of the season made an
appearance; and many resident birds are already on territory. It's a
fascinatingly changeable time in the park right now, matching the weather.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

First spotted last evening by a photographer before flying off, the bird
returned today. As of ten minutes ago, it was foraging in long grasses
between the eastern slope of the grassland hill and the phragmites marsh,
between the two roads/paths that bisect that area. Best place to park is in
the RV lot, the furthest lot from the entrance but the nearest to that
area.

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

First spotted last evening by a photographer before flying off, the bird
returned today. As of ten minutes ago, it was foraging in long grasses
between the eastern slope of the grassland hill and the phragmites marsh,
between the two roads/paths that bisect that area. Best place to park is in
the RV lot, the furthest lot from the entrance but the nearest to that
area.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] On southern-bird influx

[Joseph Wallace]

I was thinking about Angus's question as to why Limpkins and
Anhingas haven't been present in the ongoing influx of southern species. I
have no theory about Limpkins (since they *are* known to disperse widely at
times)...but perhaps Anhingas' true lack of waterproofing (and, therefore,
risk of hypothermia) severely limits how far north they can disperse,
regardless of breeding success/habitat loss/etc on their home turf?

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] On southern-bird influx

[Joseph Wallace]

I was thinking about Angus's question as to why Limpkins and
Anhingas haven't been present in the ongoing influx of southern species. I
have no theory about Limpkins (since they *are* known to disperse widely at
times)...but perhaps Anhingas' true lack of waterproofing (and, therefore,
risk of hypothermia) severely limits how far north they can disperse,
regardless of breeding success/habitat loss/etc on their home turf?

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow thoughts

[Joseph Wallace]

Quick clarification: I should have written that there's been an influx into
"New York County and elsewhere in the region." (There's been only one in
the actual county thus far.)  Thanks--

On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 4:50 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> This isn't specifically a sighting report, so apologies if it's too
> off-topic.
>
> As a lifelong New Yorker who's felt disconnected from the city this past
> year-plus, I'm grateful for Tom Fiore's vivid reports on the ebb and flow
> of bird- (and other) life through the city. I was especially interested to
> read the recent news of a brief influx of Lark Sparrows into New York
> County.
>
> A month ago, my wife and I came upon a Lark Sparrow in the marvelous
> restored grasslands at Croton Point Park in Westchester. It was, I learned,
> the first July record for the county, and only about the twelfth ever.
> Unsurprisingly, we thought it was a typical one-off...but this subsequent
> influx has made me wonder if something else might be going on.
>
> This was, after all, the Summer of the Spoonbill, with discussions of why
> the species' range appears to be expanding. And one of the joys of Croton
> Point Park has been witnessing the breeding success of Dickcissels, a bird
> that seems to be reclaiming long-lost turf every year. So I wonder if the
> Lark Sparrows we've been seeing aren't actually "lost souls" (like
> Westchester's Tropical Kingbird of a few months back), but early scouts for
> an eventual range expansion as well.
> Thanks for listening--
> Joseph Wallace
>

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow thoughts

[Joseph Wallace]

Quick clarification: I should have written that there's been an influx into
"New York County and elsewhere in the region." (There's been only one in
the actual county thus far.)  Thanks--

On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 4:50 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> This isn't specifically a sighting report, so apologies if it's too
> off-topic.
>
> As a lifelong New Yorker who's felt disconnected from the city this past
> year-plus, I'm grateful for Tom Fiore's vivid reports on the ebb and flow
> of bird- (and other) life through the city. I was especially interested to
> read the recent news of a brief influx of Lark Sparrows into New York
> County.
>
> A month ago, my wife and I came upon a Lark Sparrow in the marvelous
> restored grasslands at Croton Point Park in Westchester. It was, I learned,
> the first July record for the county, and only about the twelfth ever.
> Unsurprisingly, we thought it was a typical one-off...but this subsequent
> influx has made me wonder if something else might be going on.
>
> This was, after all, the Summer of the Spoonbill, with discussions of why
> the species' range appears to be expanding. And one of the joys of Croton
> Point Park has been witnessing the breeding success of Dickcissels, a bird
> that seems to be reclaiming long-lost turf every year. So I wonder if the
> Lark Sparrows we've been seeing aren't actually "lost souls" (like
> Westchester's Tropical Kingbird of a few months back), but early scouts for
> an eventual range expansion as well.
> Thanks for listening--
> Joseph Wallace
>

--

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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow thoughts

[Joseph Wallace]

This isn't specifically a sighting report, so apologies if it's too
off-topic.

As a lifelong New Yorker who's felt disconnected from the city this past
year-plus, I'm grateful for Tom Fiore's vivid reports on the ebb and flow
of bird- (and other) life through the city. I was especially interested to
read the recent news of a brief influx of Lark Sparrows into New York
County.

A month ago, my wife and I came upon a Lark Sparrow in the marvelous
restored grasslands at Croton Point Park in Westchester. It was, I learned,
the first July record for the county, and only about the twelfth ever.
Unsurprisingly, we thought it was a typical one-off...but this subsequent
influx has made me wonder if something else might be going on.

This was, after all, the Summer of the Spoonbill, with discussions of why
the species' range appears to be expanding. And one of the joys of Croton
Point Park has been witnessing the breeding success of Dickcissels, a bird
that seems to be reclaiming long-lost turf every year. So I wonder if the
Lark Sparrows we've been seeing aren't actually "lost souls" (like
Westchester's Tropical Kingbird of a few months back), but early scouts for
an eventual range expansion as well.
Thanks for listening--
Joseph Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow thoughts

[Joseph Wallace]

This isn't specifically a sighting report, so apologies if it's too
off-topic.

As a lifelong New Yorker who's felt disconnected from the city this past
year-plus, I'm grateful for Tom Fiore's vivid reports on the ebb and flow
of bird- (and other) life through the city. I was especially interested to
read the recent news of a brief influx of Lark Sparrows into New York
County.

A month ago, my wife and I came upon a Lark Sparrow in the marvelous
restored grasslands at Croton Point Park in Westchester. It was, I learned,
the first July record for the county, and only about the twelfth ever.
Unsurprisingly, we thought it was a typical one-off...but this subsequent
influx has made me wonder if something else might be going on.

This was, after all, the Summer of the Spoonbill, with discussions of why
the species' range appears to be expanding. And one of the joys of Croton
Point Park has been witnessing the breeding success of Dickcissels, a bird
that seems to be reclaiming long-lost turf every year. So I wonder if the
Lark Sparrows we've been seeing aren't actually "lost souls" (like
Westchester's Tropical Kingbird of a few months back), but early scouts for
an eventual range expansion as well.
Thanks for listening--
Joseph Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

One more clarification, and a suggestion: NOT the walking path at base of
the hill, but the rutted gravel one a little further up, with "protected
grasslands/keep to central path" sign guarding it. Best parking option
would be in small lot at campground, just across main road from grassland.
Apologies for the multiple posts. --Joe

On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:24 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> BROWN sign--sorry.
>
> On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:16 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
>> Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
>> for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
>> grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
>> gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
>> sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
>> close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
>> Wallace and Sharon AvRutick
>>
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

One more clarification, and a suggestion: NOT the walking path at base of
the hill, but the rutted gravel one a little further up, with "protected
grasslands/keep to central path" sign guarding it. Best parking option
would be in small lot at campground, just across main road from grassland.
Apologies for the multiple posts. --Joe

On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:24 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> BROWN sign--sorry.
>
> On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:16 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
>> Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
>> for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
>> grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
>> gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
>> sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
>> close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
>> Wallace and Sharon AvRutick
>>
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

BROWN sign--sorry.

On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:16 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
> for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
> grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
> gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
> sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
> close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
> Wallace and Sharon AvRutick
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

BROWN sign--sorry.

On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 7:16 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
> for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
> grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
> gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
> sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
> close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
> Wallace and Sharon AvRutick
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Lark Sparrow, Croton Point Park grassland

[Joseph Wallace]

Southwestern side of restored grasslands, observed at about 6:00 tonight
for several minutes. Bird was on southwestern side of central path over the
grassland hill: If you walk up hill from maintenance shed, it was on first
gravel path/road to the left, where there's a green "protected grasslands"
sign. Bird was very tame, observed for several minutes foraging on ground
close to central path and perched on nearby mullein stalk. Good luck--Joe
Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all--
I just wanted to pop in one more time to thank everyone for their lovely
notes and shared memories (mostly sent directly to me) of birding in
Jamaica Bay and across NYC over the years. Everyone has an "origin story"
for their love of birds and nature, and I wish we could all be in a room
(no, a park!) swapping ours.

Thanks again for welcoming and reading my little piece, and for being so
open in return.
--Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all--
I just wanted to pop in one more time to thank everyone for their lovely
notes and shared memories (mostly sent directly to me) of birding in
Jamaica Bay and across NYC over the years. Everyone has an "origin story"
for their love of birds and nature, and I wish we could all be in a room
(no, a park!) swapping ours.

Thanks again for welcoming and reading my little piece, and for being so
open in return.
--Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all--

One more update: The image has now been swapped out for an incontrovertible
Glossy Ibis. Thanks again for the heads-up about this!
--Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all--

One more update: The image has now been swapped out for an incontrovertible
Glossy Ibis. Thanks again for the heads-up about this!
--Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

PS-- I'm laughing about this, because maybe it was inevitable...but it has
been pointed out to me that the ibis photo in my piece is of a White-faced
(a rare stray to Jamaica Bay), not the Glossy. I wish I had supplied the
pic, because that would have given me a new state bird, but we'll try to
fix instead. Thanks for the heads-up, all!

Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

PS-- I'm laughing about this, because maybe it was inevitable...but it has
been pointed out to me that the ibis photo in my piece is of a White-faced
(a rare stray to Jamaica Bay), not the Glossy. I wish I had supplied the
pic, because that would have given me a new state bird, but we'll try to
fix instead. Thanks for the heads-up, all!

Joe

On Tue, Jun 22, 2021 at 5:17 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
> nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
> Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
> you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
> on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
> (aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
> Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/
>
> If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I
> know you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
> Thanks--Joe
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
(aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/

If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I know
you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
Thanks--Joe

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] On Jamaica Bay in the 1940s...and '60s

[Joseph Wallace]

Hi all-- For a couple of years I've been writing short pieces on birds,
nature in general, and the environment for the wonderful Saw Mill River
Audubon. I hope you don't mind my sharing this one, because I know many of
you treasure Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It was my father's favorite spot
on earth, and the place he introduced me to the lifelong joys of birding
(aka birdwatching) back in the 1960s. So that's what I wrote about for
Father's Day: https://www.blog.sawmillriveraudubon.org/the-odd-duck/

If you take a look at this little time capsule, I hope you enjoy it. I know
you all have a compelling birding origin story of your own.
Thanks--Joe

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Quick update: It seems like swallow "feather play" has been recorded in
Barn Swallows but documented much more heavily in Tree Swallows. With a
little more research, I found a first-hand report (on The Birding
Project's blog) of very similar behavior to Trees in the closely related
Violet-green out west (e.g., chasing, mates exchanging a feather in
midair.) But it seems to me that these behaviors can be more readily
explained as competition and pair-bonding than what I witnessed. The Barn
Swallow was dropping and catching the feather solo for several minutes, and
though nearby swallows swooped in occasionally to check it out as it
floated, not one of them touched it. It seemed to me like pure play (or
agility practice, I guess).

Now I'm interested in whether there are similar reports in other Hirundo
swallows in Africa, Asia, etc. Thanks to all one more time for making this
conversation so fascinating and informative. --Joe

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Quick update: It seems like swallow "feather play" has been recorded in
Barn Swallows but documented much more heavily in Tree Swallows. With a
little more research, I found a first-hand report (on The Birding
Project's blog) of very similar behavior to Trees in the closely related
Violet-green out west (e.g., chasing, mates exchanging a feather in
midair.) But it seems to me that these behaviors can be more readily
explained as competition and pair-bonding than what I witnessed. The Barn
Swallow was dropping and catching the feather solo for several minutes, and
though nearby swallows swooped in occasionally to check it out as it
floated, not one of them touched it. It seemed to me like pure play (or
agility practice, I guess).

Now I'm interested in whether there are similar reports in other Hirundo
swallows in Africa, Asia, etc. Thanks to all one more time for making this
conversation so fascinating and informative. --Joe

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
popular nest-liner there.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:

> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>
> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>
> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>
> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>
> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>
> Bob Yunick
> Schenectady
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert Paxton 
> To: Joseph Wallace 
> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>
> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
> feathers.
>Bob Paxton
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>
> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>
> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
> Thanks--Joe Wallace
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
popular nest-liner there.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:

> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>
> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>
> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>
> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>
> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>
> Bob Yunick
> Schenectady
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert Paxton 
> To: Joseph Wallace 
> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>
> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
> feathers.
>Bob Paxton
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>
> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>
> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
> Thanks--Joe Wallace
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating.
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a
long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a
creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also
turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder
what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers?
It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe

--

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating.
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a
long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a
creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also
turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder
what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers?
It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, Shane. I guess that's long been debated (e.g., do cats play?),
since almost all forms of play also have a "practice" aspect. I was telling
my swallow story to a friend in the D.C. area, and he described a pair of
foxes who had a den near his backyard. The kits would come out in the early
morning and play with the balls my friend's family had left in the
yard...but the play was pouncing, chasing etc. So I'd like to believe it
can be both.

Hope it's okay to continue this conversation here. (I find it fascinating!)
I/we can take it private if it's taking up too much space.
--Joe

On Sun, Jun 6, 2021 at 11:49 AM Shane Blodgett 
wrote:

> For birds that catch prey on the wing I wonder if this behavior is just
> for “fun“ or could also be seen as “practice.”
>
> Regards,
> Shane Blodgett
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 6, 2021, at 10:53 AM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> 
> Thank you all for your replies (here and directly to me) and the
> references. I love that feather-play is a "swallow thing." The one I
> watched varied its game, swooping in from all angles and approaches. Twice
> it flew almost straight upwards until it was perhaps fifty feet off the
> ground before releasing the feather.
>
> I'm intrigued by the fact that one of the earlier reports also specifies a
> large *white* feather; my guess is that, like yesterday's, it was a down
> feather, which would float in the air much more satisfactorily than a
> denser one.
>
> I write essays on nature for a local Audubon Society. I think my next
> piece will focus on bird play! Thanks again--
> Joe
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:34 PM Brendan Fogarty  wrote:
>
>> Joseph and all,
>>
>> This behavior seems familiar, but I cannot say if I have seen it before
>> in person or in media. It is definitely documented; below is an excerpt
>> from Birds of the World online.
>>
>> "In Britain, 3 juveniles were observed apparently playing with large
>> white feather while in flight, repeatedly dropping it and catching it
>> before it reached the ground (1). Adults are also known to exhibit this
>> same behavior (2)."
>>
>> 1. Thompson, B. G. (1990). Behaviour of Swallows with feather. British
>> Birds 83:239
>>
>> 2. Turner, A. K. (2004). Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins). In
>> Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and
>> Wagtails (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Cristie, Editors), Lynx
>> Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
>>
>> Best,
>> Brendan Fogarty
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:23 PM Ardith Bondi 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> That is very cool! This is not exactly the same, but I was photographing
>>> a Tree Swallow at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area on Long Island last
>>> Tuesday with a 500 mm PF lens (think, short and light for a 500mm) on a
>>> Nikon D850 with a very loud shutter. I suddenly realized that the swallow
>>> was singing in response to the shutter. The more I pressed it, the more the
>>> bird sang. I tried a varied pattern to test it. When I finally stopped, the
>>> bird waited a second and then flew off. I had never experienced that
>>> before, either. I have watched penguins play in  Antarctica. Penguins climb
>>> up on things and jump off them just for fun. They’ll even do it with a
>>> buddy.
>>>
>>> Ardith Bondi
>>> NYC
>>> www.ardithbondi.com
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jun 5, 2021, at 10:04 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>>
>>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>>
>>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>>

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, Shane. I guess that's long been debated (e.g., do cats play?),
since almost all forms of play also have a "practice" aspect. I was telling
my swallow story to a friend in the D.C. area, and he described a pair of
foxes who had a den near his backyard. The kits would come out in the early
morning and play with the balls my friend's family had left in the
yard...but the play was pouncing, chasing etc. So I'd like to believe it
can be both.

Hope it's okay to continue this conversation here. (I find it fascinating!)
I/we can take it private if it's taking up too much space.
--Joe

On Sun, Jun 6, 2021 at 11:49 AM Shane Blodgett 
wrote:

> For birds that catch prey on the wing I wonder if this behavior is just
> for “fun“ or could also be seen as “practice.”
>
> Regards,
> Shane Blodgett
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 6, 2021, at 10:53 AM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> 
> Thank you all for your replies (here and directly to me) and the
> references. I love that feather-play is a "swallow thing." The one I
> watched varied its game, swooping in from all angles and approaches. Twice
> it flew almost straight upwards until it was perhaps fifty feet off the
> ground before releasing the feather.
>
> I'm intrigued by the fact that one of the earlier reports also specifies a
> large *white* feather; my guess is that, like yesterday's, it was a down
> feather, which would float in the air much more satisfactorily than a
> denser one.
>
> I write essays on nature for a local Audubon Society. I think my next
> piece will focus on bird play! Thanks again--
> Joe
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:34 PM Brendan Fogarty  wrote:
>
>> Joseph and all,
>>
>> This behavior seems familiar, but I cannot say if I have seen it before
>> in person or in media. It is definitely documented; below is an excerpt
>> from Birds of the World online.
>>
>> "In Britain, 3 juveniles were observed apparently playing with large
>> white feather while in flight, repeatedly dropping it and catching it
>> before it reached the ground (1). Adults are also known to exhibit this
>> same behavior (2)."
>>
>> 1. Thompson, B. G. (1990). Behaviour of Swallows with feather. British
>> Birds 83:239
>>
>> 2. Turner, A. K. (2004). Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins). In
>> Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and
>> Wagtails (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Cristie, Editors), Lynx
>> Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
>>
>> Best,
>> Brendan Fogarty
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:23 PM Ardith Bondi 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> That is very cool! This is not exactly the same, but I was photographing
>>> a Tree Swallow at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area on Long Island last
>>> Tuesday with a 500 mm PF lens (think, short and light for a 500mm) on a
>>> Nikon D850 with a very loud shutter. I suddenly realized that the swallow
>>> was singing in response to the shutter. The more I pressed it, the more the
>>> bird sang. I tried a varied pattern to test it. When I finally stopped, the
>>> bird waited a second and then flew off. I had never experienced that
>>> before, either. I have watched penguins play in  Antarctica. Penguins climb
>>> up on things and jump off them just for fun. They’ll even do it with a
>>> buddy.
>>>
>>> Ardith Bondi
>>> NYC
>>> www.ardithbondi.com
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jun 5, 2021, at 10:04 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>>
>>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>>
>>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>>

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thank you all for your replies (here and directly to me) and the
references. I love that feather-play is a "swallow thing." The one I
watched varied its game, swooping in from all angles and approaches. Twice
it flew almost straight upwards until it was perhaps fifty feet off the
ground before releasing the feather.

I'm intrigued by the fact that one of the earlier reports also specifies a
large *white* feather; my guess is that, like yesterday's, it was a down
feather, which would float in the air much more satisfactorily than a
denser one.

I write essays on nature for a local Audubon Society. I think my next piece
will focus on bird play! Thanks again--
Joe

On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:34 PM Brendan Fogarty  wrote:

> Joseph and all,
>
> This behavior seems familiar, but I cannot say if I have seen it before in
> person or in media. It is definitely documented; below is an excerpt from
> Birds of the World online.
>
> "In Britain, 3 juveniles were observed apparently playing with large white
> feather while in flight, repeatedly dropping it and catching it before it
> reached the ground (1). Adults are also known to exhibit this same
> behavior (2)."
>
> 1. Thompson, B. G. (1990). Behaviour of Swallows with feather. British
> Birds 83:239
>
> 2. Turner, A. K. (2004). Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins). In
> Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and
> Wagtails (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Cristie, Editors), Lynx
> Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
>
> Best,
> Brendan Fogarty
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:23 PM Ardith Bondi  wrote:
>
>> That is very cool! This is not exactly the same, but I was photographing
>> a Tree Swallow at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area on Long Island last
>> Tuesday with a 500 mm PF lens (think, short and light for a 500mm) on a
>> Nikon D850 with a very loud shutter. I suddenly realized that the swallow
>> was singing in response to the shutter. The more I pressed it, the more the
>> bird sang. I tried a varied pattern to test it. When I finally stopped, the
>> bird waited a second and then flew off. I had never experienced that
>> before, either. I have watched penguins play in  Antarctica. Penguins climb
>> up on things and jump off them just for fun. They’ll even do it with a
>> buddy.
>>
>> Ardith Bondi
>> NYC
>> www.ardithbondi.com
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jun 5, 2021, at 10:04 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>
>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>
>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
>> Thanks--Joe Wallace
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
>> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm>
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
>> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
>> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
>> --
>>
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
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>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>&

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

Thank you all for your replies (here and directly to me) and the
references. I love that feather-play is a "swallow thing." The one I
watched varied its game, swooping in from all angles and approaches. Twice
it flew almost straight upwards until it was perhaps fifty feet off the
ground before releasing the feather.

I'm intrigued by the fact that one of the earlier reports also specifies a
large *white* feather; my guess is that, like yesterday's, it was a down
feather, which would float in the air much more satisfactorily than a
denser one.

I write essays on nature for a local Audubon Society. I think my next piece
will focus on bird play! Thanks again--
Joe

On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:34 PM Brendan Fogarty  wrote:

> Joseph and all,
>
> This behavior seems familiar, but I cannot say if I have seen it before in
> person or in media. It is definitely documented; below is an excerpt from
> Birds of the World online.
>
> "In Britain, 3 juveniles were observed apparently playing with large white
> feather while in flight, repeatedly dropping it and catching it before it
> reached the ground (1). Adults are also known to exhibit this same
> behavior (2)."
>
> 1. Thompson, B. G. (1990). Behaviour of Swallows with feather. British
> Birds 83:239
>
> 2. Turner, A. K. (2004). Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins). In
> Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and
> Wagtails (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Cristie, Editors), Lynx
> Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
>
> Best,
> Brendan Fogarty
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:23 PM Ardith Bondi  wrote:
>
>> That is very cool! This is not exactly the same, but I was photographing
>> a Tree Swallow at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area on Long Island last
>> Tuesday with a 500 mm PF lens (think, short and light for a 500mm) on a
>> Nikon D850 with a very loud shutter. I suddenly realized that the swallow
>> was singing in response to the shutter. The more I pressed it, the more the
>> bird sang. I tried a varied pattern to test it. When I finally stopped, the
>> bird waited a second and then flew off. I had never experienced that
>> before, either. I have watched penguins play in  Antarctica. Penguins climb
>> up on things and jump off them just for fun. They’ll even do it with a
>> buddy.
>>
>> Ardith Bondi
>> NYC
>> www.ardithbondi.com
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Jun 5, 2021, at 10:04 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>
>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>
>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
>> Thanks--Joe Wallace
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
>> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm>
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
>> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
>> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
>> --
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[nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t, but
I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.

For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.

I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
Thanks--Joe Wallace

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[nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t, but
I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.

For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.

I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
Thanks--Joe Wallace

--

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[nysbirds-l] Jones Beach Gannets, Piping Plovers, etc

[Joseph Wallace]

A ten-minute stationary count just east of Parking Area 6 resulted in a
tally of at least 250 gannets, all flying (singly and in groups up to about
20) east to west with the brisk wind. During a nearly two-hour walk after
this, gannets streamed by the whole time, though in diminishing numbers.
Other sightings included a pair each of Piping Plovers and American
Oystercatchers on the (nearly deserted) beach that heads east from the lot,
and three (late?) Long-tailed Ducks just offshore. --Joe Wallace

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[nysbirds-l] Jones Beach Gannets, Piping Plovers, etc

[Joseph Wallace]

A ten-minute stationary count just east of Parking Area 6 resulted in a
tally of at least 250 gannets, all flying (singly and in groups up to about
20) east to west with the brisk wind. During a nearly two-hour walk after
this, gannets streamed by the whole time, though in diminishing numbers.
Other sightings included a pair each of Piping Plovers and American
Oystercatchers on the (nearly deserted) beach that heads east from the lot,
and three (late?) Long-tailed Ducks just offshore. --Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Tundra Swan, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A careful walk in the park at around 5:00 this afternoon revealed a single
Tundra Swan in the cove off the brick-strewn beach adjacent to the grassy
area to the south of the main parking lot. A return to the busy area at
around 6:00 got us there just in time to see it take off and fly upriver
and out of sight. A first for us in Westchester. --Joe Wallace and Sharon
AvRutick

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Tundra Swan, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A careful walk in the park at around 5:00 this afternoon revealed a single
Tundra Swan in the cove off the brick-strewn beach adjacent to the grassy
area to the south of the main parking lot. A return to the busy area at
around 6:00 got us there just in time to see it take off and fly upriver
and out of sight. A first for us in Westchester. --Joe Wallace and Sharon
AvRutick

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Landing Woodcock?

[Joseph Wallace]

At around 5:50, after a spectacular sunset, my wife and I were walking just
south of the tiny marsh (with boardwalk) north of the playing field in
Croton Landing when we glimpsed a round-bodied, long-billed bird flying on
angled wings into the marsh. It certainly looked like an American Woodcock
to us. Have they begun appearing elsewhere yet?

>

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Landing Woodcock?

[Joseph Wallace]

At around 5:50, after a spectacular sunset, my wife and I were walking just
south of the tiny marsh (with boardwalk) north of the playing field in
Croton Landing when we glimpsed a round-bodied, long-billed bird flying on
angled wings into the marsh. It certainly looked like an American Woodcock
to us. Have they begun appearing elsewhere yet?

>

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick late-afternoon walk across the grassland revealed at least seven
Eastern Meadowlarks; a tight-knit group of five Horned Larks foraging on
the newly turned earth (one step in a major restoration project to
eradicate invasives and re-plant native grasses); and a restless flock of
perhaps 20 American Pipits. Winter is most definitely coming. --Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick late-afternoon walk across the grassland revealed at least seven
Eastern Meadowlarks; a tight-knit group of five Horned Larks foraging on
the newly turned earth (one step in a major restoration project to
eradicate invasives and re-plant native grasses); and a restless flock of
perhaps 20 American Pipits. Winter is most definitely coming. --Joe Wallace

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Fall in Croton/Thanks to Tom F. and others

[Joseph Wallace]

In the era of 280-character rare bird alerts (and, yes, I do rely on
those), I really value this place's continued survival. Not only for the
heads-up on birds outside NYC (such as the Western Kingbird and Upland
Sandpiper in my new town), but for such things as the radar migration
discussions, Alan Drogin's former Bryant Park reports (which inspired me to
do urban-greenspace surveys of my own) and current forays in Hudson Yards,
and above all Tom Fiore's extraordinary macro views of migration and the
life of NYC's birds. To me, it's about more than specific sightings,
especially in this day and age.

In that spirit, I've been spending a lot of time watching the ebb and flow
in Croton on Hudson (we moved here in May), especially down in Croton
Landing, a pretty remarkable mix of created habitats (freshwater ponds,
riverside beaches, a mini cattail marsh, fields with tall trees, and of
course the river). This month (both on the Landing and in the town) has
seen so many signs of in-progress and impending migration, things I never
really noticed before but that seem representative of the process outside
the five boroughs.

After a midsummer silence, several species have seemed to return to
territory and are singing (if sometimes weakly and sporadically) at the
Landing, including Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole.
Red-tailed Hawks have been endlessly vocal--complaining young on their own?
The Killdeer who nest around the Croton train tracks have been flighty and
vocal as well. Among mammals, the landing's woodchucks are getting
themselves fat.

In town, there's a large population of vultures that spends all winter
here. After a summer where I saw mostly Turkey, the flocks seem
larger--real kettles--and include many Black Vultures as well. Also, twice
in the past two weeks, my neighborhood has been inundated with Grackles
(February-size numbers), gleaning every bit of food they can find before
moving on. Plus a noticeable rise in warblers coming through, though only
the expected species.

It's still in the high 80s nearly every day...but change is in the air.
Hope you don't mind this non-rarity report from "up north."

--Joe Wallace

--

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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Fall in Croton/Thanks to Tom F. and others

[Joseph Wallace]

In the era of 280-character rare bird alerts (and, yes, I do rely on
those), I really value this place's continued survival. Not only for the
heads-up on birds outside NYC (such as the Western Kingbird and Upland
Sandpiper in my new town), but for such things as the radar migration
discussions, Alan Drogin's former Bryant Park reports (which inspired me to
do urban-greenspace surveys of my own) and current forays in Hudson Yards,
and above all Tom Fiore's extraordinary macro views of migration and the
life of NYC's birds. To me, it's about more than specific sightings,
especially in this day and age.

In that spirit, I've been spending a lot of time watching the ebb and flow
in Croton on Hudson (we moved here in May), especially down in Croton
Landing, a pretty remarkable mix of created habitats (freshwater ponds,
riverside beaches, a mini cattail marsh, fields with tall trees, and of
course the river). This month (both on the Landing and in the town) has
seen so many signs of in-progress and impending migration, things I never
really noticed before but that seem representative of the process outside
the five boroughs.

After a midsummer silence, several species have seemed to return to
territory and are singing (if sometimes weakly and sporadically) at the
Landing, including Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole.
Red-tailed Hawks have been endlessly vocal--complaining young on their own?
The Killdeer who nest around the Croton train tracks have been flighty and
vocal as well. Among mammals, the landing's woodchucks are getting
themselves fat.

In town, there's a large population of vultures that spends all winter
here. After a summer where I saw mostly Turkey, the flocks seem
larger--real kettles--and include many Black Vultures as well. Also, twice
in the past two weeks, my neighborhood has been inundated with Grackles
(February-size numbers), gleaning every bit of food they can find before
moving on. Plus a noticeable rise in warblers coming through, though only
the expected species.

It's still in the high 80s nearly every day...but change is in the air.
Hope you don't mind this non-rarity report from "up north."

--Joe Wallace

--

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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Yellowthroat "study"

[Joseph Wallace]

An hour in Bryant Park at midday (we miss you, Alan D!) was quieter than
many other urban parks, but did reveal three Ovenbirds, Swainson's and
Hermit Thrush, abundant Catbirds, Song, White-throated, and Chipping
Sparrow, and (including the plantings around the library) at least nine
Common Yellowthroats...seven of which were male. Adding the two seen later
on the closed lawn in Madison Square Park, both male, today's sightings
continued the multiyear trend I've observed of a seemingly disproportionate
ratio of male to female Yellowthroats in these small Midtown parks. Nothing
but speculative reasons why, however.

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Yellowthroat "study"

[Joseph Wallace]

An hour in Bryant Park at midday (we miss you, Alan D!) was quieter than
many other urban parks, but did reveal three Ovenbirds, Swainson's and
Hermit Thrush, abundant Catbirds, Song, White-throated, and Chipping
Sparrow, and (including the plantings around the library) at least nine
Common Yellowthroats...seven of which were male. Adding the two seen later
on the closed lawn in Madison Square Park, both male, today's sightings
continued the multiyear trend I've observed of a seemingly disproportionate
ratio of male to female Yellowthroats in these small Midtown parks. Nothing
but speculative reasons why, however.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park migration--no Sora or CT Warbler

[Joseph Wallace]

Some pretty diligent searching between about 11:30 and 2:00 today failed to
turn up either prize species, but it was an interesting harbinger of
fall/winter in this little park and nearby library plantings. Along with
perhaps half a dozen Yellowthroats (only one mature male), three Ovenbirds,
and perhaps four Waterthrushes (one possibly a Louisiana), and some
Catbirds. Also a single Swainson's Thrush (the first of many for me here in
the months to come, I'm sure) and a female American Redstart in the shrubs
between Fifth Ave and the library. --Joe Wallace

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park migration--no Sora or CT Warbler

[Joseph Wallace]

Some pretty diligent searching between about 11:30 and 2:00 today failed to
turn up either prize species, but it was an interesting harbinger of
fall/winter in this little park and nearby library plantings. Along with
perhaps half a dozen Yellowthroats (only one mature male), three Ovenbirds,
and perhaps four Waterthrushes (one possibly a Louisiana), and some
Catbirds. Also a single Swainson's Thrush (the first of many for me here in
the months to come, I'm sure) and a female American Redstart in the shrubs
between Fifth Ave and the library. --Joe Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park welcomes fall

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by Alan D.--and by the cool weather--I ventured into misty/drizzly
Bryant Park. As is so often the case for about nine months a year, the
dominant migrant was Common Yellowthroat, with at least five seen feasting
on the bug-rich plantings. One was a male in full plumage, another a young
male, but the other three were in more nondescript plumage, making my
ongoing study of warbler gender ratios in the small urban parks harder to
pursue. Also noted: three catbirds, an (unexpected?) immature
White-throated Sparrow, and a robust male twelve-spotted skimmer
dragonfly.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park welcomes fall

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by Alan D.--and by the cool weather--I ventured into misty/drizzly
Bryant Park. As is so often the case for about nine months a year, the
dominant migrant was Common Yellowthroat, with at least five seen feasting
on the bug-rich plantings. One was a male in full plumage, another a young
male, but the other three were in more nondescript plumage, making my
ongoing study of warbler gender ratios in the small urban parks harder to
pursue. Also noted: three catbirds, an (unexpected?) immature
White-throated Sparrow, and a robust male twelve-spotted skimmer
dragonfly.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, Angus...I find this discussion very interesting. I agree about the
"trap" qualities of Bryant Park, though I do hope that many of the birds
eventually move on. (A pair of park workers once told me that they call in
animal rehab often for disoriented Woodcocks, so at least those birds
survive.)

The gender disparity in Yellowthroats intrigues me as well. I've been
trying to check the park about once a week since last fall, and there have
been Yellowthroats there nearly every visit aside from deep winter. And
virtually every time there have been more males than females. That amazing
day last month (with the Mourning Warbler on the lawn of Madison Square
Park), when I saw 16 Yellowthroats on the lawn at Bryant Park, 10 of them
were male...and that was actually a lower ratio than usual, though obv a
larger sample size. (And speaking of Madison Sq. Park...the male/female
Yellowthroat ratio has been similarly skewed when I've searched there...a
small-park thing?) Thanks again--Joe

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue

[Joseph Wallace]

Thanks, Angus...I find this discussion very interesting. I agree about the
"trap" qualities of Bryant Park, though I do hope that many of the birds
eventually move on. (A pair of park workers once told me that they call in
animal rehab often for disoriented Woodcocks, so at least those birds
survive.)

The gender disparity in Yellowthroats intrigues me as well. I've been
trying to check the park about once a week since last fall, and there have
been Yellowthroats there nearly every visit aside from deep winter. And
virtually every time there have been more males than females. That amazing
day last month (with the Mourning Warbler on the lawn of Madison Square
Park), when I saw 16 Yellowthroats on the lawn at Bryant Park, 10 of them
were male...and that was actually a lower ratio than usual, though obv a
larger sample size. (And speaking of Madison Sq. Park...the male/female
Yellowthroat ratio has been similarly skewed when I've searched there...a
small-park thing?) Thanks again--Joe

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue

[Joseph Wallace]

A check of the park between 11AM and noon revealed the skittish Northern
Waterthrush in the same location as before (southwest corner around the
shack), as well as a scattering of other lingering species amid the nesting
Catbirds: a single Ovenbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Swamp Sparrow, a
handful of White-throated Sparrows, and two male Common Yellowthroats.

The presence of these adult birds into mid-June makes me wonder: Are they
"stuck" here, or simply an overflow of individuals that haven't paired up
this year? Also, there's been a preponderance of male Yellowthroats in the
Bryant Park population I've seen all spring: Is this reflective of some
population quirk in the area, a matter of which gender chooses the small
urban greenspace, or (most likely) some factor I haven't thought of? (I
know what female Yellowthroats look like, and the park is so small that I
haven't been missing larger numbers of them than males.) --Joe Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Northern Waterthrush etc continue

[Joseph Wallace]

A check of the park between 11AM and noon revealed the skittish Northern
Waterthrush in the same location as before (southwest corner around the
shack), as well as a scattering of other lingering species amid the nesting
Catbirds: a single Ovenbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Swamp Sparrow, a
handful of White-throated Sparrows, and two male Common Yellowthroats.

The presence of these adult birds into mid-June makes me wonder: Are they
"stuck" here, or simply an overflow of individuals that haven't paired up
this year? Also, there's been a preponderance of male Yellowthroats in the
Bryant Park population I've seen all spring: Is this reflective of some
population quirk in the area, a matter of which gender chooses the small
urban greenspace, or (most likely) some factor I haven't thought of? (I
know what female Yellowthroats look like, and the park is so small that I
haven't been missing larger numbers of them than males.) --Joe Wallace

--

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

ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Waterthrush

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick circuit in the hot midday of the crowded park revealed an
unexpected Waterthrush in the southwest corner, where the plantings are
deeper and hiding places easier to find. I'm nearly certain it was a
Northern, but though it was active, moving back and forth and around the
shack there, it stayed in deep shadow and remained silent. Other sightings
in the park included a pair of Catbirds apparently nesting in a yew (?) on
the northern edge and a female Brown-headed Cowbird lurking near the
Catbirds' bush.

--

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park Waterthrush

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick circuit in the hot midday of the crowded park revealed an
unexpected Waterthrush in the southwest corner, where the plantings are
deeper and hiding places easier to find. I'm nearly certain it was a
Northern, but though it was active, moving back and forth and around the
shack there, it stayed in deep shadow and remained silent. Other sightings
in the park included a pair of Catbirds apparently nesting in a yew (?) on
the northern edge and a female Brown-headed Cowbird lurking near the
Catbirds' bush.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Madison Square Park

[Joseph Wallace]

An absurdly timed exploration of Madison Sq. Park (about 11:30AM-12:30PM)
revealed that last week's lawn hordes had moved on. Only some careful
searching turned up a lone Swainson's Thrush, 9 Yellowthroats (6 male), and
8 Ovenbirds. Most distinctive was a Wood Thrush singing throughout on the
park's northern edge. If this is the same individual that was singing there
last week, it's showing all the determination of a Shake Shack
line-stander. --Joe Wallace

--

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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Madison Square Park

[Joseph Wallace]

An absurdly timed exploration of Madison Sq. Park (about 11:30AM-12:30PM)
revealed that last week's lawn hordes had moved on. Only some careful
searching turned up a lone Swainson's Thrush, 9 Yellowthroats (6 male), and
8 Ovenbirds. Most distinctive was a Wood Thrush singing throughout on the
park's northern edge. If this is the same individual that was singing there
last week, it's showing all the determination of a Shake Shack
line-stander. --Joe Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park: Thrushes, Swamp Sparrow

[Joseph Wallace]

A 10:15-11:15 exploration of the park revealed one briefly glimpsed
(presumably) Gray-Cheeked Thrush (in the SW corner); at least three
Swainson's Thrushes in the plantings on the park's edges; two or three
Swamp Sparrows; six Yellowthroats (all but one male); about as many
Ovenbirds; a plethora of paired-off Catbirds; and a Baltimore Oriole
singing in a plane tree overhead. One interesting non-avian sighting: a
small orange dragonfly (perhaps Eastern Amberwing, *Perithemis tenera?*)
hovering over the planters at the park's mid-Sixth Avenue entrance. --Joe
Wallace

--

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park: Thrushes, Swamp Sparrow

[Joseph Wallace]

A 10:15-11:15 exploration of the park revealed one briefly glimpsed
(presumably) Gray-Cheeked Thrush (in the SW corner); at least three
Swainson's Thrushes in the plantings on the park's edges; two or three
Swamp Sparrows; six Yellowthroats (all but one male); about as many
Ovenbirds; a plethora of paired-off Catbirds; and a Baltimore Oriole
singing in a plane tree overhead. One interesting non-avian sighting: a
small orange dragonfly (perhaps Eastern Amberwing, *Perithemis tenera?*)
hovering over the planters at the park's mid-Sixth Avenue entrance. --Joe
Wallace

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park: Yellowthroat Horde, Swainson's Thrush plus

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by the spectacle at Madison Square Park (where I can add
Black-and-White and Northern Parula Warblers to Ethan's terrific list from
a great day there), I splashed through the rain at around 3:00 for a lap or
two around Bryant Park.

Feeding on the lawn were *at least* 10 male and 6 female Common
Yellowthroats, probably a few more. They were joined by a single female
American Redstart and a small Empidonax flycatcher, which I pegged as a
Least but never got a great look at through fogged-up glasses. In the
plantings bordering the lawn were a single Swainson's Thrush and at least 8
to 10 Ovenbirds. (Given that I barely examined the park's periphery, I'd
guess the overall numbers were significantly higher than that.) --Joe
Wallace

--

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park: Yellowthroat Horde, Swainson's Thrush plus

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by the spectacle at Madison Square Park (where I can add
Black-and-White and Northern Parula Warblers to Ethan's terrific list from
a great day there), I splashed through the rain at around 3:00 for a lap or
two around Bryant Park.

Feeding on the lawn were *at least* 10 male and 6 female Common
Yellowthroats, probably a few more. They were joined by a single female
American Redstart and a small Empidonax flycatcher, which I pegged as a
Least but never got a great look at through fogged-up glasses. In the
plantings bordering the lawn were a single Swainson's Thrush and at least 8
to 10 Ovenbirds. (Given that I barely examined the park's periphery, I'd
guess the overall numbers were significantly higher than that.) --Joe
Wallace

--

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

ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick check of Bryant Park at around 5:30 this evening (maximum
human-biomass time) revealed no spillover from the spectacle to the north,
save three Ovenbirds and a plethora (well, at least six) Northern Catbirds
(paired up--I wonder how many nest here). Also: one still-sticking-around
Hermit Thrush and a handful of White-throated Sparrows.

A similar walk at midday yesterday also turned up Ovenbirds and Catbirds in
both Herald Square Park (one of each) and Madison Sq. Park (four of each),
but no other recent arrivals.

--

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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A quick check of Bryant Park at around 5:30 this evening (maximum
human-biomass time) revealed no spillover from the spectacle to the north,
save three Ovenbirds and a plethora (well, at least six) Northern Catbirds
(paired up--I wonder how many nest here). Also: one still-sticking-around
Hermit Thrush and a handful of White-throated Sparrows.

A similar walk at midday yesterday also turned up Ovenbirds and Catbirds in
both Herald Square Park (one of each) and Madison Sq. Park (four of each),
but no other recent arrivals.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Rockefeller State Park, Westchester

[Joseph Wallace]

At last! A walk down Old Sleepy Hollow Trail revealed a massive invasion of
Rockefeller's typical migratory and nesting species over the past couple of
days. Among the highlights were a slew of warblers, most singing and many
at eye level: Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula,
Yellow, Blue-winged, and Myrtle, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart,
and a Waterthrush (probably Louisiana). Also: Baltimore and Orchard
Orioles, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Warbling Vireo, Veery, Wood Thrush, and a
whole flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, at least six males (including one
fascinating immature in transition plumage) in one loose group, tussling,
singing, "tinking", and challenging us invaders. Lovely.

--

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ARCHIVES:
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Rockefeller State Park, Westchester

[Joseph Wallace]

At last! A walk down Old Sleepy Hollow Trail revealed a massive invasion of
Rockefeller's typical migratory and nesting species over the past couple of
days. Among the highlights were a slew of warblers, most singing and many
at eye level: Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula,
Yellow, Blue-winged, and Myrtle, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart,
and a Waterthrush (probably Louisiana). Also: Baltimore and Orchard
Orioles, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Warbling Vireo, Veery, Wood Thrush, and a
whole flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, at least six males (including one
fascinating immature in transition plumage) in one loose group, tussling,
singing, "tinking", and challenging us invaders. Lovely.

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
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ARCHIVES:
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton vultures

[Joseph Wallace]

Forgot: A 4:00 drive through the town encountered an impressive flock of
vultures prior to roosting...one part of which included a minimum of 40
near the library, while there were others in the trees near the high school
and in smaller associated flocks. Most were Turkey Vultures, but there was
a scattering of Black Vultures among them. --Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton vultures

[Joseph Wallace]

Forgot: A 4:00 drive through the town encountered an impressive flock of
vultures prior to roosting...one part of which included a minimum of 40
near the library, while there were others in the trees near the high school
and in smaller associated flocks. Most were Turkey Vultures, but there was
a scattering of Black Vultures among them. --Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park Lark etc

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by the raptors at Shawangunk NWR last weekend and last night's
snowfall, we spent a couple of mid-afternoon hours today at Croton P.P. It
was quiet, the grassland featuring a lone Horned Lark flying around calling
and then feeding on the snowy path. In the absence of ice, a single adult
Bald Eagle perched on a piece of wood sticking out from the bay near the
railroad bridge; it was buzzed by gulls and buzzed them in turn when it
lifted off. Harbingers of season's change included two Grackles at the
entrance feeder and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating, with the female
subsequently tugging at some twigs near her perch. --Joe Wallace and Sharon
AvRutick

--

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ARCHIVES:
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2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Croton Point Park Lark etc

[Joseph Wallace]

Inspired by the raptors at Shawangunk NWR last weekend and last night's
snowfall, we spent a couple of mid-afternoon hours today at Croton P.P. It
was quiet, the grassland featuring a lone Horned Lark flying around calling
and then feeding on the snowy path. In the absence of ice, a single adult
Bald Eagle perched on a piece of wood sticking out from the bay near the
railroad bridge; it was buzzed by gulls and buzzed them in turn when it
lifted off. Harbingers of season's change included two Grackles at the
entrance feeder and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating, with the female
subsequently tugging at some twigs near her perch. --Joe Wallace and Sharon
AvRutick

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Long-tailed Duck, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

The male Long-tailed Duck was still present in the river off Croton Point
Park as of 3:00 today, alone beyond the jumble of shoreline ice to the west
of the beach at the base of the nature-center hill. Otherwise, we saw about
half a dozen Bald Eagles, but no sign of the previously reported
Rough-legged Hawks. --Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Long-tailed Duck, Croton Point Park

[Joseph Wallace]

The male Long-tailed Duck was still present in the river off Croton Point
Park as of 3:00 today, alone beyond the jumble of shoreline ice to the west
of the beach at the base of the nature-center hill. Otherwise, we saw about
half a dozen Bald Eagles, but no sign of the previously reported
Rough-legged Hawks. --Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
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ARCHIVES:
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

Wow, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Anders!

I'm looking forward to regular visits to Bryant Park throughout the year,
so I can get a sense of its ebb and flow.

On Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 8:08 AM, Anders Peltomaa <anders.pelto...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Joseph,
> This paper by Jacob Drucker came to my mind.
>
> The Mysteries of Micro-Parks
> http://linnaeannewyork.org/birding-resources-rba/bird-micro-parks.html
>
> Anders Peltomaa
> Manhattan
>
> On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 11:14 PM Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> A check-in at the park today found a pair of intrepid Hermit Thrushes and
>> a lone male Yellowthroat still hanging in amid the White-throats, but no
>> sign of last week's Woodcock, Orange-Crowned Warbler, or Catbird (which may
>> have been a holdover from those I was told nested in the park over the
>> summer).
>>
>> My new fascination with these small urban parks has provokes a question:
>> Having written often about the rainforest over the years, I remember when
>> ornithologists suddenly thought to study the river islands that dot the
>> Amazon...and found an unexpected and distinctive avifauna there. Has anyone
>> studied the migrant and nesting bird populations at NYC's little "islands,"
>> and how they compare to the larger parks? Are the Yellowthroats, Ovenbirds,
>> etc, just spillovers, or do some species actually prefer the smaller parks?
>> And if so, why? Hope it's okay to ponder this here. --Joe Wallace
>> --
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>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

Wow, that's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Anders!

I'm looking forward to regular visits to Bryant Park throughout the year,
so I can get a sense of its ebb and flow.

On Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 8:08 AM, Anders Peltomaa 
wrote:

> Hi Joseph,
> This paper by Jacob Drucker came to my mind.
>
> The Mysteries of Micro-Parks
> http://linnaeannewyork.org/birding-resources-rba/bird-micro-parks.html
>
> Anders Peltomaa
> Manhattan
>
> On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 11:14 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
>> A check-in at the park today found a pair of intrepid Hermit Thrushes and
>> a lone male Yellowthroat still hanging in amid the White-throats, but no
>> sign of last week's Woodcock, Orange-Crowned Warbler, or Catbird (which may
>> have been a holdover from those I was told nested in the park over the
>> summer).
>>
>> My new fascination with these small urban parks has provokes a question:
>> Having written often about the rainforest over the years, I remember when
>> ornithologists suddenly thought to study the river islands that dot the
>> Amazon...and found an unexpected and distinctive avifauna there. Has anyone
>> studied the migrant and nesting bird populations at NYC's little "islands,"
>> and how they compare to the larger parks? Are the Yellowthroats, Ovenbirds,
>> etc, just spillovers, or do some species actually prefer the smaller parks?
>> And if so, why? Hope it's okay to ponder this here. --Joe Wallace
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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>> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
>> --
>>
>

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[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A check-in at the park today found a pair of intrepid Hermit Thrushes and a
lone male Yellowthroat still hanging in amid the White-throats, but no sign
of last week's Woodcock, Orange-Crowned Warbler, or Catbird (which may have
been a holdover from those I was told nested in the park over the summer).

My new fascination with these small urban parks has provokes a question:
Having written often about the rainforest over the years, I remember when
ornithologists suddenly thought to study the river islands that dot the
Amazon...and found an unexpected and distinctive avifauna there. Has anyone
studied the migrant and nesting bird populations at NYC's little "islands,"
and how they compare to the larger parks? Are the Yellowthroats, Ovenbirds,
etc, just spillovers, or do some species actually prefer the smaller parks?
And if so, why? Hope it's okay to ponder this here. --Joe Wallace

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[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

A check-in at the park today found a pair of intrepid Hermit Thrushes and a
lone male Yellowthroat still hanging in amid the White-throats, but no sign
of last week's Woodcock, Orange-Crowned Warbler, or Catbird (which may have
been a holdover from those I was told nested in the park over the summer).

My new fascination with these small urban parks has provokes a question:
Having written often about the rainforest over the years, I remember when
ornithologists suddenly thought to study the river islands that dot the
Amazon...and found an unexpected and distinctive avifauna there. Has anyone
studied the migrant and nesting bird populations at NYC's little "islands,"
and how they compare to the larger parks? Are the Yellowthroats, Ovenbirds,
etc, just spillovers, or do some species actually prefer the smaller parks?
And if so, why? Hope it's okay to ponder this here. --Joe Wallace

--

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[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

On Tuesday, an 11:30-12:00 walk along all four edges of the park and the
plantings around the library uncovered at least one (and probably two)
Common Yellowthroats, five Hermit Thrushes (four amid the library
plantings), a Catbird (in the park's southwest corner) and a Winter Wren
(in the scrubby plantings on the park's western edge, near the statue). The
Yellowthroats seem to have a predilection for the insides of the big
(wicker?) balls strung with white lights. --Joe Wallace

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[nysbirds-l] Bryant Park

[Joseph Wallace]

On Tuesday, an 11:30-12:00 walk along all four edges of the park and the
plantings around the library uncovered at least one (and probably two)
Common Yellowthroats, five Hermit Thrushes (four amid the library
plantings), a Catbird (in the park's southwest corner) and a Winter Wren
(in the scrubby plantings on the park's western edge, near the statue). The
Yellowthroats seem to have a predilection for the insides of the big
(wicker?) balls strung with white lights. --Joe Wallace

--

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[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Under newly clear skies--and warming temperatures--a dusk dog-walk revealed
a lone Common Nighthawk winging determinedly south over downtown
Pleasantville. Also seen: a couple of small bats (little brown?) and a
young green frog. --Joe Wallace

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[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Under newly clear skies--and warming temperatures--a dusk dog-walk revealed
a lone Common Nighthawk winging determinedly south over downtown
Pleasantville. Also seen: a couple of small bats (little brown?) and a
young green frog. --Joe Wallace

--

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Nice shot in NY Birders! No, not what we saw, but no way to confirm :(

Thanks, and sorry.

Joe

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 6:44 PM, Robert Lewis <rfer...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I was there too around 4:00 - 5:00 and saw only Least and Solitary.  I've
> posted a photo of the Least to the New York Birders facebook page.
>
> Bob Lewis
> Sleepy Hollow NY
>
>
> On Saturday, September 2, 2017, 4:29:56 PM EDT, Anne Swaim <
> annesw...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Group of Birders at Nannahagen now for about hour total. Just Least and
> two Solitary Sandpiper.
>
> On Sep 2, 2017, at 2:56 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
> 141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
> you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
> park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
> where we saw the bird.
>
> On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
> was still there when we left.
>
>
> --
>
>
> --
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Nice shot in NY Birders! No, not what we saw, but no way to confirm :(

Thanks, and sorry.

Joe

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 6:44 PM, Robert Lewis  wrote:

> I was there too around 4:00 - 5:00 and saw only Least and Solitary.  I've
> posted a photo of the Least to the New York Birders facebook page.
>
> Bob Lewis
> Sleepy Hollow NY
>
>
> On Saturday, September 2, 2017, 4:29:56 PM EDT, Anne Swaim <
> annesw...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Group of Birders at Nannahagen now for about hour total. Just Least and
> two Solitary Sandpiper.
>
> On Sep 2, 2017, at 2:56 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
> 141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
> you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
> park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
> where we saw the bird.
>
> On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
> was still there when we left.
>
>
> --
>
>
> --
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Alas. For what it's worth, a friend I texted before I could post hurried
over there and saw nothing at all except some big dogs frolicking on the
shore and an annoyed heron.

My wife and I weren't able to get any pics (we hadn't even expected to be
birding, and didn't want to chase after it), so we can't confirm it.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 4:29 PM, Anne Swaim <annesw...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Group of Birders at Nannahagen now for about hour total. Just Least and
> two Solitary Sandpiper.
>
> On Sep 2, 2017, at 2:56 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
> 141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
> you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
> park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
> where we saw the bird.
>
> On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
>> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
>> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
>> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
>> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
>> was still there when we left.
>>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>
>

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Alas. For what it's worth, a friend I texted before I could post hurried
over there and saw nothing at all except some big dogs frolicking on the
shore and an annoyed heron.

My wife and I weren't able to get any pics (we hadn't even expected to be
birding, and didn't want to chase after it), so we can't confirm it.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 4:29 PM, Anne Swaim  wrote:

> Group of Birders at Nannahagen now for about hour total. Just Least and
> two Solitary Sandpiper.
>
> On Sep 2, 2017, at 2:56 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
> 141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
> you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
> park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
> where we saw the bird.
>
> On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
>> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
>> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
>> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
>> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
>> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
>> was still there when we left.
>>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
> --
>
>

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Re:[nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
where we saw the bird.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace <joew...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
> was still there when we left.
>

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re:[nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Addendum: Nannahagen Park is located on Lake Street, off Broadway (Route
141) between Pleasantville and Thornwood. If you're looking for the bird,
you can park in the lot for the town pool, which is located just before the
park, and then walk to the other end of the (small) pond to the mudflat
where we saw the bird.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
> Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
> about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
> at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
> Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
> was still there when we left.
>

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

[nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
was still there when we left.

--

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Baird's Sandpiper, Westchester County

[Joseph Wallace]

Having been told that the water level in the managed pond in Nannahagan
Park in Pleasantville had mysteriously dropped, we went to take a look at
about 11AM. On the newly exposed mudflats near the little pedestrian bridge
at the south (bottom) end of the pond, we saw (sticking close to a lone
Spotted Sandpiper) a Baird's. We watched it for about twenty minutes; it
was still there when we left.

--

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ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

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[nysbirds-l] Doodletown

[Joseph Wallace]

A morning's walk through Doodletown, Bear Mountain State Park, was
typically productive (and typically wonderful). Cerulean Warblers were
apparent throughout, with the best views coming along the hillside near the
entrance (including an eye-level female and a singing male on a bare
branch) and near the Herbert Cemetery (another singing male). We also heard
and saw several Hooded Warblers, with the best view again coming opposite
Herbert Cemetery: a singing, eye-level male in beautiful plumage. Other
highlights included several cuckoos (calling Yellow-billed especially);
abundant vireos (including a Yellow-throated battling a catbird for turf);
and a Green Heron perched on a tree branch overlooking the pond. Non-avian
pleasures included a beaver in the pond; a couple of northern watersnakes;
and a pair of red efts, as gorgeous as always against the muddy trail.
--Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick, Westchester

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NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--

[nysbirds-l] Doodletown

[Joseph Wallace]

A morning's walk through Doodletown, Bear Mountain State Park, was
typically productive (and typically wonderful). Cerulean Warblers were
apparent throughout, with the best views coming along the hillside near the
entrance (including an eye-level female and a singing male on a bare
branch) and near the Herbert Cemetery (another singing male). We also heard
and saw several Hooded Warblers, with the best view again coming opposite
Herbert Cemetery: a singing, eye-level male in beautiful plumage. Other
highlights included several cuckoos (calling Yellow-billed especially);
abundant vireos (including a Yellow-throated battling a catbird for turf);
and a Green Heron perched on a tree branch overlooking the pond. Non-avian
pleasures included a beaver in the pond; a couple of northern watersnakes;
and a pair of red efts, as gorgeous as always against the muddy trail.
--Joe Wallace and Sharon AvRutick, Westchester

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

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

--