Thanks to a regular birder of the north end (Central Park, Manhattan,
N.Y. City), we now are aware that the Virginia Rail seen by some late
Thursday in the Loch / Ravine area of the park was a bird released
there, intentionally, earlier in the same day, by licensed bird
rehabilitators. The question I do not currently have an answer to is,
when & where was the rail first discovered? I had had the thought on
hearing the report of a rail at this location (really, & sadly,
anywhere in Manhattan) that this could have been an injured, stunned,
or otherwise unwell bird & even the thought that checking in with
local rehab. agencies or individuals might give a little more info. on
this sighting... as this has happened before and perhaps especially
with rallids in this big city. Of course they may also occur naturally
without befalling some injury or other misfortune, but it seems this
group (and a number of other groups of birds) can be especially prone
to mishap - OR, that we simply don't normally observe all the many
rails & other birds passing through the city in migrations, and thus
are that much more impressed with those that are found, albeit too
often in less than ideal situations for the individual bird[s].
Incidental to this, it is more than past due that if anyone encounters
a situation where someone appears to be intentionally harassing a
bird, or birds, or any wildlife, with incessant (this can be easily
defined as more than 3 minutes!) playing of recordings, or by any
other means, that individual ought to be put on video (and audio),
including any comments made to and from said individual[s], and that
audio-video then presented to all of the local bird clubs,
conservation organizations, & so forth, for their elucidation as to
that individual's character, and for understanding of such behavior by
someone past the age of 12. (or well past, at least in physical age.)
This is in reference to such an individual today, in common with pre-
teen-type behavior all too many other days, playing a Virginia Rail
recording, in the Ravine / Loch area in Central Park, at a volume and
for a length of time that is far out of bounds of any ethical sense.
(and an act prohibited & punishable by law, as it ought be, in many
many areas in the U.S. where birds and other wildlife occur.) Put
such individuals on notice. It is sometimes an act of simple
ignorance, but when an act of willful harassment of wildlife - as well
as harassment of other persons more inclined to quiet enjoyment of
such wildlife - this needs to be called out. This ought not be
tolerated of someone even aged 12 - and most certainly not by someone
past the half-century mark.
after seeking the rail for a time late today my last bird sighting in
Central was a Great Egret at the Pool near W. 100-103 Sts., around
6:30 p.m.
observe wildlife, responsibly.
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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