As there is obvious heightened interest in the species White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) just now, an article on the first nesting-record (paired with a Black Tern) for New York state and (then) just 2nd known nesting for all North America, which occured in summer 1992 at Perch River W.M.A. in northwestern Jefferson County, has been archived in this *P.D.F. file* (and is available to all at this point), thanks to the N.Y. State Ornithological Association (NYSOA). See - https://nybirds.org/KB_IssuesArchive/y1992v42n4.pdf <https://nybirds.org/KB_IssuesArchive/y1992v42n4.pdf> at Page 210, if interested. With thanks to the 1992 authors, Irene M. Mazzocchi and Sandra L. Muller and the editor[s] of the Kingbird journal. (Note that the link is to a download, in a PDF file-format).
______________ New York County (in N.Y. City) including Manhattan, Governors Island and Randall’s Island - thru June 8th - Not to make light of such a situation (or rather, to wish for more light), the darkness that befell the daytime, esp. in afternoon hours, in some parts of N.Y. City on Wed./7th, in particular, was emphasized for those who listen - those species of birds that mostly sing at true-dawn and at dusk, were singing at 1:30 pm, and on thru the day-time - which appeared as an eerie (and some even said "near-apocalyptic") light, or lack of light, with smoke all around us from the fires burning in parts of eastern Canada’s forests - and perhaps emphasized thru additional meteorological and atmospheric profundities. At 2 pm, on Wed. 6/7, it became difficult-to-impossible to see the Palisades (rock cliffs) of New Jersey from upper Manhattan, and this was not due to fog nor heavy rains. That feature -those cliffs- are hard to miss in the middle of a normal-weather afternoon. For those not alive or not living in this region in the 1970’s or before, it may have been never-known (or near-forgotten by others) that this type of thick hazy smog-smoke was a commonplace in some of those years, esp. in mild-summer weather. We have been accustomed to rather ‘cleaner’ *looking* air in this area and in many ways, we’ve had just that, too - although appearances (etc.). How did birds fare in such recent smoke-haze? For a small added perspective (from a national non-profit org. that works for bird conservation) see: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-wildfires-affect-birds <https://www.audubon.org/news/how-wildfires-affect-birds> (there is a lot more work being done on how wildfires affect birds, and of course, how climate-change may be affecting them - all of which continues to be in flux as conditions change.) ___ The Cliff Swallows (nesting) and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron[s] at Randall’s Island were ongoing. A very-few late Brant were found at Randall’s, as have been in single or very low no’s. elsewhere, this week in the county. And, as with Governors Island, there were ongoing Willow Flycatchers vocalizing on both of these islands. Acadian Flycactchers have been found in at least a few locations, one in the Central Park Ramble (and at least one also in that park’s n. end) lingering for some time by now; many observers have been to hear and observe the singing-calling Acadian at the Ramble within the past week. It’s been notable how many ‘late’ E. Wood-Pewees were still pushing thru, some of which lingered (and the species also will nest in the county, in limited numbers); some of those pewees have been in small parks or greenspaces, even in the occasional street tree in some areas here; all of those sort are likely to migrate onward, even at this date in June. A (late) Lincoln’s Sparrow still lingering at Bryant Park in mid-town Manhattan was well-photographed on June 3rd and again on June 4th and 5th - that species nests far to the north of N.Y. City. That mid-Manhattan park also was then still holding-on to at least one American Woodcock (which should have moved on many, many weeks ago at the latest) - not as unusual as these was the presence there of a lingering Ovenbird, a warbler species that has often lingered thru a summer in Manhattan, especially in some of the smaller greenspaces (and on past occasions, in a larger park as Central Park, as well). Multiple other Ovenbirds are also still present in Manhattan, into this week - many in some of the smaller greenspaces! (Common Yellowthroats also will be found on occasion in such small sites, not necessarily as breeding-pairs, although the species has nested in Manhattan, and in the county - more often doing so in larger and more-appropriate habitat, generally. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continued at a few locations, with one photographed as recently as June 5th in Fort Tryon Park, n. Manhattan - and present there again June 6th. This species has nested in this county at times, and may even be a regular-annual breeder in the county (that includes Central Park, as well.) A drake Wood Duck has lingered on at Central Park and this in very typical, with a chance that some more ‘woodies’ may show here as summer comes in fully. Also present in the county have been a few American Black Ducks and more of Gadwall, each being typical summer lingerers. There may even be a stray Brant or two around, if one looks thoroughly, although most of the latter lifted out in big movements-north already. Scarlet Tanagers continued in several locatons thru this week; in Central Park, many have taken note of one male in the Ramble; at least one more male has also been in that park’s n. end, and additionals have been in Riverside Park, at Fort Washington, and Inwood Hill Parks and may still be lingering in other sites. While it might seem unlikely to some observers, this species could potentially breed (or attempt to) in this county - as some do in parts of Bronx County (N.Y. City). Lingering (non-breeding) Swainson’s Thrushes were in a few areas (as well as the modest numbers of Wood Thrushes that breed, or attempt to annually in this county) with a few of those singing at times; fairly late now for a species that does not breed at all here nor very nearby. There are also a few reports of very-late Veery - which are not unprecedented in June, but are quite uncommon in this month in this county. (It might also be noted that there are reports, many confirmed, for a lot of the species noted in this report, from other counties in N.Y. City, and especially pertaining to migrant species -not breeding or generally not expected nor known to, in the city- and Veery is one of those kinds of species.) Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, which have nested in other years in the county, are ongoing this year, including in Central Park (and elsewhere). Red-breasted Nuthatch (not known as a modern-era breeder in this county) has made a June appearnce (on June 8th) which is unusual; the species has been showing in varying numbers here for essentially 12 months, with much-lighter periods, but no month entirely lacking - this refers to many which have passed, not to lingering birds such as were around (some seeming to linger) for more than half of the cooler months. We also have local “bias” as some observers flock to the same areas, those being productive, day in and week in and month after month. The relatively-few Orchard Orioles nesting in the county have been faring well, while many more Baltimore Orioles all around each of the 3 main islands, but especially in Manhattan’s larger parks and greenspaces, are more evident, being the more widespread and thus more-watched of the two species. Many other birds, both songbirds and others have been nesting, some with fledged young already, some still attending nests or (for a few species) working on 2nd (or even 3rd with a few busy American Robins!) nestings this spring. Later nesters have been working as well, such as many Cedar Waxwings and some others. Some of (16+) warblers seen into Thursday, June 8th - it’s plausible that a few additional species may have occurred - Ovenbird (multiple, including in Central Park - also in many smaller sites; this is a species that sometimes summers - but is not-known to breed here!) Northern Waterthrush (seen in Central Park Ramble and also n. end of same park each day this month so far; rathet late) Black-and-white Warbler (multiple, including in Central Park) Mourning Warbler (not that many, but some females have continued to ’skulk’ thru) Common Yellowthroat (multiple, including in Central Park - these have been seen in many locations in the county) Hooded Warbler (a few, mainly in female-like plumage, have continued to pass thru, rather late by now) American Redstart (still good numbers collectively, including in Central Park and in many other locations - running a bit late for the good numbers seen) Northern Parula (multiple, including in Central Park; a species that has very-rarely been found to breed in N.Y. City and rarely, in the adjacent counties.) Magnolia Warbler (multiple, although not very many, including in Central Park; one was lingering at Highbridge Park, n. Manhattan into at least June 6th) Tennessee Warbler (at least a few, mainly silent and presumed females, have come thru even to June 8th, a bit late) Blackburnian Warbler (although seemingly late, this species has had a “habit" of showing in very-minimal no’s. here, even in late June, and/or early July) Yellow Warbler (still good numbers collectively, including in Central Park; also all-thru the county in past few days; some show evidence of likely breeding) Blackpoll Warbler (still good numbers collectively, including in Central Park - more females have been passing as is expected in the past week, but also some males) Black-throated Blue Warbler (even at least 1 male was present in Manhattan to June 8th, and several females for this week) Black-throated Green Warbler (multiple, including in Central Park; in highly-separated areas) Canada Warbler (multiple, including in Central Park - and one adult male on June 5th at Canal Park in lower-west Manhattan) Going back almost a full week, the *report* of a Worm-eating Warbler at City Hall Park is interesting, as this is very late for that species in the county - and that warbler species is also one of several which, in addition to breeding not at all far from Manhattan / N.Y. City, has also expanded its’ known range north, the more-so in the past decade or so, well up into New England, even if scant the farther-north one is. This warbler also can be among the earlier-returning for some adults, in “fall” or really, in the summer’s southbound-season which can start even by the end of June, and is in full swing in July for some species (including many non-shorebirds). Some reports of E. Phoebes for June in this county are interesting, a species that is fairly-rare (at best) in breeding season here, and for which there are rather scant summering records. Far more widespread, and also a breeder, are E. Wood-Pewees at this season in N.Y. County. The lingering Great Crested Flycactchers in various locations may be presumed breeding and ought to be watched for nestlings, and fledged birds being fed, and flying near nest-sites. Eastern Kingbird remains the most-prominent (and readily seen) of the county’s *breeding* tyrannid (i.e., “New World”) flycatcher species. The most-regular vireos species of summer in the county, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, are both being found in numbers. Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and both species of vulture (in low no’s.) have been seen somewhat regularly, especially from the northern parts of Manhattan, and for Osprey at least from multiple locations. Red-tailed Hawks are (have been) nesting for some time in many locations and this includes active nests on all 3 of the islands noted for this report; by far the most nests again are on Manhattan island, in trees as well as many on various buildings and other structures, all with varying success so far (and some failures for a likely broad variety of reasons). American Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons also have been on nest-duty in the county, and a fair number of those nests are active and appear[ed] to be doing well. Noctural raptors have remained and this includes (at least) the resident Great Horned Owls and E. Screech-Owls of the county, the latter nesting naturally in a few quieter locations of Manhattan. Many other birds also have lingered, or are nesting, and/or visiting regularly, in N.Y. County. Thanks, to many quiet and keen observers. Good birding to all, Tom Fiore manhattan -- 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/ --
