Hi,
Thanks for this email. I can echo your experience. Since mid March I have
only bird watched from my windows of my 9th story apartment here in Elmhurst
Queens. I have been surprised by the variety of migrants that utilize the
backyards of the homes and my building that are only 1-2 blocks away from
Queens Center Mall and Queens Blvd. I never thought Catbirds would make their
homes in someone's yard near me. I wake up often also to the sound of a
Carolina Wren singing and to the squawking of a family of Crows. These days
they have taken to attacking the nests of two of the local pairs of
Mockingbirds. I know my street used to have more woodpeckers, including Downy
and Red-bellied WP, but I have only been able to find the Downy.
Another interesting note is that of the few migrants I have seen, 50% have been
female and the another 10-15% I can't say. A silent Red-eye Vireo, a pale
Great-crested Flycatcher and a couple others.
Finally, it is a new experience for me to see most of these birds from above
rather than from below or eye-level. This afternoon I was treated to a group
of Chimney Swifts swooping by the corner of my building (below my window) and
just a few yards away. I could almost reach out and touch them, if it wasn't
for the pesky gravity issue.
Cheers,
César
Una tarde la princesa vio una estrella aparecer; la princesa era traviesa y
la quiso ir a coger.
La quería para hacerla decorar un prendedor, con un verso y una perla, una
pluma y una flor.
Las princesas primorosas se parecen mucho a ti; cortan lirios, cortan rosas,
cortan astros. Son así.
-A Margarita Debayle (To Margarita Debayle) by Ruben Dario
On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 11:15:39 PM EDT, Anne Lazarus
<amlazaru...@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you Alan, and I will not forget the Golden-winged Warbler. Stuyvesant
Town we have seen 15 warbler species and today a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was
reported by one of my fellow birders there. What is sad, and I hope we can
stop it, is extensive herbicide cosmetic application. My friend is coughing
and I feel irritated from it, and I am sure it is toxic to all life in
Stuyvesant Town. We will try to stop it. Birding is in your own backyard. I
have gone to CP, and I drive there. I have only gone about 5 times. You can go
to other places, but do it carefully. I spray my car with Dr. Schulz`s
essential oils, quite powerful. I use his nasal application, very powerful,
his hand cleanser, powerful. We all spray our masks with silver or safe
disinfectant, and do it more than once. I appreciate your posting.
On Tue, May 26, 2020 at 10:59 PM Alan Drogin <dro...@earthlink.net> wrote:
This pandemic has forced me into birding the same mile of Riverside Park south
of 96th Street, just down the block from where I live, almost every day for
over two months now. Unable to chase birds throughout the hot spots of New York
State this season, the fortunate timing during peak Spring migration at least
has provided me with plenty of FOY pleasures. Nevertheless, this routine has
shown me that not all nature just passes through affording thrilling chance
encounters, but that there is a natural “neighborhood" just outside my door
which changes slowly with the seasons. Fortunately, Springtime is when the
male birds must stake out a territory and proclaim their constant presence
through glorious song in order to attract mates.
It has been my newfound pleasure to recognize the singing 7+ days of individual
Towhees, Cardinals, House Finches, and finally the Catbirds in their respective
“blocks” (there are just too many House Sparrows, Pigeons, Robins, and
Starlings to keep track of). This has been a chance to watch the gradual
cessation of White-throated Sparrows, the aggressive courtship of House
Sparrows, Robins giving chase, Starlings gathering nest material, and now the
constant high-pitched pleas for food from the gaping yellow mouths of awkward
fledgelings.
I now identify exactly three male Northern Flickers who alert each other with
their steady staccato calls of their “turf” across from 82nd, 84th, and 91st
streets. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers whinny in the middle at 86th. I’ve found
two of the Flickers clearing out respective tree holes in Hippo Playground and
just south of River Run Playground. Last week I saw a female sticking her head.
Since my first walk I have expected every day the loud “teakettle, teakettle
teakettle” of the Carolina Wren just north of Hippo Playground. Last Wednesday
I saw the wren on a tree stump by the high stone wall, but heard the song from
a few yards away - this must be the female mate. But then came a plaintive peep
a few yards in the other direction. Then all three swooped to a scrawny
sapling across my path - it was the baby getting fed. Dare I say a tinge of
grandparental pride?
Stay safe birding,
Alan Drogin
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