The Prothonotary Warbler in mid-town Manhattan (New York City) continued, as it did the day before - & going on all good informational evidence, for the past several weeks or more - at the front of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 41 Street, the bird often appearing in the plantings and out in the open just to the south of the "left" lion statue, and also going to the north side, right of the "right" lion statue on occasion. (The 2 lions cannot be missed when viewing the main front entrance to the library building from Fifth Ave. at 41 Street). In the afternoon today the warbler was possibly putting in as much time at the north side as elsewhere. Also continuing were several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the nearby locust trees. A number of observers were gathered watching the warbler.
Last Saturday and again this day, the warbler was observed finding miniscule insect life and consuming that food, which it did many hundreds of times on Saturday, beginning as early as 8:20 a.m. that morning with ambient air temperature running in the 50 F. range, and this week seeing a return of generally mild weather for the date. This individual is not, thus far, merely surviving on the detritus or on hand-outs from humans despite its having learned to take some foods left or offered by us (us being humans, not referring more specifically to birders in this instance). Obviously should the bird stay on the insect life available naturally will diminish, and may do so drastically in due course. An interesting aside here might be to ask how often is it that Prothonotary Warblers see snow - do some arrive in parts of their typical / known breeding and migratory ranges to experience spring snows? The species is found in far northern areas (compared with N.Y. City) including a good part of NY state and immediately west in the breeding season. I'm not aware of the records and how they stand in terms of likelihood for snowfall but would think that like many migrants, these may come into the U.S. early enough to experience snowfalls at times. It also could be argued (perhaps endlessly) that some of the migrants survive and some do not. I'm simply adding my 2 cents, I suppose in suggesting that this individual and others of its' species, as well as a great many tropical-wintering species of birds including many familiar to us in the northeast, do see harsh weather and at least some survive through bouts of difficult weather. It's clearly another thing to make it through a winter in the northeast, even in a relatively sheltered place such as mid-town Manhattan. If the bird really loves the area that much it might get itself to the atrium where so many birds have over-wintered indoors at 57th & Madison, less than 1 mile north in Manhattan. It won't, and it may be that if it hasn't the urge, instinct, ability, whatever it takes, to fly out to warmer climes soon, it won't be too likely a survivor here. It will of course not affect the species' status as this is still a common bird in the parts of the world where it has long been. (I'd privately predicted the entire discussion that has ensued recently on this list as to feeding & survival etc. - now all I would ask is that no one see fit to give this bird a human name. It is emphatically not anyone's pet even if it were to feed out of a human hand... it is a wild creature and is in a very small place of refuge (for now) from the dramatically nearby bustle of the center of a metropolis. We did not bring it to this place; perhaps we should not be trying to bring it away. Besides, it is now experiencing a life that very very few Prothonotary Warblers likely even "dream" of. Were this a Bachman's Warbler, the discussion might already be over as to what to do about it. Indeed it would be interesting to see what would ensue were it a Kirtland's Warbler as that bird is under federal protective laws. This one is too, actually, but not to the same extent and rightfully so. Anyone interfering with this bird is however in some small way potentially changing the manner of it's ongoing visit to this place. In my opinion it would be wrong to take this bird away and try to release anywhere, including into a tropical place for the coming winter. If there is someone who can read the mind of this bird it is probably beyond the scope of this list... I again note that for now, with mild weather, the bird is feeding on miniscule insect- invertebrate life in its present location, and I believe it is possible that it is (for now) obtaining sufficient energy for survival (for now) with that food intake. As for the crumbs and hand-outs, sure - if a friend offers me a piece of candy I more often than not accept. At Fifth Avenue & 41 Street there are a lot of NYC delicacies possible, although the typical "offerings" appear to be mostly mundane. A nice bagel & cream cheese perhaps but all that plain bread? All right, I can see that this bird is already a bit of a New Yorker - it has some attitude. I've seen it 'elbow' away some larger and far more (usually) aggressive House Sparrows in going after a choice tid-bit. The bird is endeared to us in part due to this behavior. If it were the more typical skulking behavior of a Prothonotary it might not be seen as often and as well as this one has been. The "choice" of location is obviously out of "character" as most of its' kind are swamp-loving and that habitat preference is usually strong even on migratory stop-overs. When was the last Prothonotary you observed in this sort of ultra-urban place? If you did, for how long did it linger? Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
