Tuesday, 5 April, 2016 -
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City
A Louisiana Waterthrush was found & photographed Tuesday in Central
Park, around mid-day. A very actively-feeding new arrival, the
warbler was in a good place for quiet & peaceful feeding, undisturbed
by any human activities (including any unnecessary over-playing of
audio at birds already in full view). This may've been a first-of-
year waterthrush in the park, even though a modest flight of the
species already occurred some days prior, including into some sites
well north of the N.Y. City area.
At the same area & time as the waterthrush sighting were a (red) Fox
Sparrow, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, an E. Phoebe, and several Hermit
Thrush, as well as much more common migrants or wintered-over
visitors. One of the multiple Red-tailed Hawks of the park's
perimeter areas also made a visit to the area. Obviously more
waterthrushes & all the other typical April-arrivals are hoped-for
when the weather allows.
Earlier Tuesday, some Great Egrets were flying over the n. end of the
park in the typical east & west flight-trajectory as seen in that part
of the park from this month to end of summer. The n. end also
featured a goodly batch of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers as it has for a few
days now, & other migrants which have been noted in recent days, all
in small or modest numbers. Belted Kingfisher has continued to be
seen in the last week esp. from the park's north end, but also
elsewhere at times. Palm Warbler was again present at least in the
n. end (with many more due in, any day.) Tree Swallows started to
reappear IN the park (besides high fly-overs which are typical in
early spring) and a few N. Rough-winged Swallows have been occasional
at most recently, the Meer. A report surfaced of a Barn Swallow from
the Meer as well, which is quite possible now.
At the reservoir, it seemed that some, perhaps many, ducks & some of
the other birds had moved, or even departed, although Pied-billed
Grebe was one that remained. N. Shovelers were also still there but
in reduced numbers to a week or more ago. One Hooded Merganser has
been lingering & Buffleheads also are, as well as fewer & fewer Ruddy
Ducks, of which some are in near-full breeding attire in recent days.
One male Wood Duck also has been in the same general area as
previously-recently.
On a pass thru the Ramble, I helped to clean up bits of wire & other
debris from the fencing that's being removed from a winter-work-site
in the central Ramble - while the contractors did a lunch-break - so
as to keep tourists & other visitors from tripping & getting hurt in
what's become yet another section of the park that is busy as can be
with visitors of all sorts. There was water from recent rain in the
area of the Ramble often called the "swamp" in the s.w. portion of the
Ramble; a number of plants are now planted growing there appropriate
to wetter conditions... with luck, it may be a good place to look for
some species with swamp-ish affinities in the migration period. Near
there, at the Azalea Pond, a breeding-plumaged Rusty Blackbird was
skulking about with a more typical-of-species wariness.
Work is also going to occur in the north end of the park, with the
hope that it may act as a deterrent to some visitors there who don't
know better and (unintentionally) may damage & undermine sensitive
habitat & cause more erosion. The upcoming north end work will be
especially in the Ravine ("Loch") area. All those big & bright signs
reminding park users where off-leash dogs are not permitted (at any
time) just might need enforcing, if new plantings are to do well. And
also since one would think a major park in a major city could enforce
the most basic of its regulations. And on the subject of behavior of
park-goers & birders & esp. tour-leaders in parks -
A gentle reminder to all including myself of the core principles in
basic birding ethics (applies anywhere in the world, even as
formulated & expressed by the American Birding Association, revised
versions) - see in particular Article 1, all aspects determining how
one may act most ethically while observing birds. In addition, please
see Article 4, items a. through g. - and with attention to 4.b. - with
respect to observed unethical behavior by anyone actively leading a
group or walk: attempt to document, and make that documentation
available to local & regional birding clubs, societies, organizations,
and in the case of repeat-offender situations, to the authorities for
the land or park in which the activity is observed, as well as to
enforcement, including if & as necessary, report to law-officers, if
that should seem the only recourse with a multi-repeat & un-repentant
"serial" offender. A clear first recourse is politely asking that
obvious-observed-unethical activity be terminated, and that it not be
repeated.
PRINCIPALS OF BIRDING ETHICS FROM THE AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION -
http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
(yes, the reminder's necessary, at least for some...)
.... Late on rainy Monday (4/4) I had a walk through parts of the SE
shore of Staten Island / Richmond Co. (NYC) and among sightings were 2
Glossy Ibis flying north, 6 Wilson's Snipe together in an annual site
for them, & some duckage on the bay including a drake Surf Scoter,
multiples of Long-tailed Duck & Common Goldeneye, modest no's. of Red-
breasted Merganser, & a sadly-very-diminished flock of Bonaparte's
Gulls, with NO Little in amongst the few "Bony's" I observed while N.
Gannets also were much reduced in the no's. present in comparison with
prior reports from the vicinity. Some passerine species were noted
but the rain had their activities a bit muted, & one Purple Martin
(male) was seen at the well-known nest colony site during a break in
rain. (Thanks to all who keep good reports flowing from Staten Island.)
Quiet, Reasonable, and Ethical birding to all, & thanks to one birder
for getting me going to the park albeit a lot later than a typical
start-out.
Tom Fiore
Manhattan
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