Thursday, 21 October, 2010
A brightly-plumaged PROTHONOTARY Warbler has been discovered as of mid-
day today next to the front facade and plantings of the main branch of
the New York Public Library, at 41 Street and Fifth Avenue in mid-town
Manhattan, New York City. The warbler, seemingly rather unfazed (to
some extent) by all the city bustle everywhere around it, has been
seen especially just to the left (if facing the library with one's
back to Fifth Avenue) of the large & well-known statues of the library
lions - in the shrubberies & flowers, as well as coming out on bare
earth & even several times or more onto the stone with various birders
and many other city-goers all around, above and amongst other birds
including more than a few White-thraoted Sparrows as well as more
typical city dwellers as feral introduced Rock Pigeons & House
Sparrows. The Prothonotary was seen by well over a dozen birders as of
3 p.m. and more folks were continuing to arrive to look for it in that
area. It does not appear to be an adult male as I had first thought
on an initial look, and it would be interesting to be able to look at
any photos rtaken to try & judge whether it might have any apparent
visible injuries. By behavior it is feeding well but it's open to
question whether bagels & scones & scraps of sandwiches are a good
diet for a wood-warbler normally attracted to wooded swampy
habitats... This bird was at least briefly said to have gone to or
towards the 42 Street side of Fifth Ave. by the library building's
plantings, but has been mainly south of the front main entrance as of
3 p.m. and before, since it was first found in mid-day. It initially
was also seen very close to 40 Street & Fifth Avenue. This is all
easy enough to walk & it would be best to coordinate effort with any
other birders present. The bird has been habitually appearing just
left of the main steps in what seems to be a slightly quieter "corner"
of the shrub & flower plantings, where there is a bit more visibility
for observation.
A great find - the young man who discovered this is an employee of the
New York Public Library there, and has seen many other species in the
surrounding Bryant Park although this species is definitely a first
for that list!
If the bird continues to be seen through the day & especially if seen
early on Friday, reports should be posted so that others might have an
opportunity to view the unusual mid-town (as well as late-season)
urban visitor.
Good luck,
Tom Fiore,
Manhattan
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