Re:[nysbirds-l] Birding Central Park on August 27, 2010
About Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), and a question as to food scarcity. Any comments on this topic appreciated, to the list if deemed appropriate, or off-list directed to me alone. Although it may get a bit esoteric to 'non-regulars' of the place about Central Park (and even more specifically one section of the park or more so the Ramble), what's interesting in Harry Maas' report (earlier today) & his comments is that that was, in great part, exactly what a couple of other experienced birders that cover the Ramble & its environs made comments on, indeed it echoes most specifically that in birding in a couple of particular locations in that park the birds, or at least most migrant insectivores among the birds, have been found in flocks (where any flock at all has been seen) and recently (this "fall" season) in short order, said flock mainly moves on not to be re-found. I have also noticed this to greater extent than usual in much of the north end of the park this season, with activity making it appear that one might expect birds to stay in a particular section (at least, if not in the specific location) and not move out in such seeming totality, while in re- visiting an area it has been more often that activity levels have dropped off to little or no migrant activity. The only exceptions and even they haven't been a guarantee by any means, have been visiting the immediate vicinity of flowing water, mainly 3 areas (and just 2 regularly visited by many birders, this or almost any season): the Pond and it's waterfall area, near Central Park South and up from "Sixth Ave." (aka Avenue of the Americas: only to out-of-towners), the Gill in the Ramble (of which the Azalea Pond is a part), and the Loch (in the area also known as the "ravine") within the park's north end, with perhaps lesser concentrations at times at areas near the Lake, near the Pool, at Tanner's Spring (which has seemed terriibly "slow" so far this season) and at the small stream flowing into the lake from just north of West 77th Street. In these areas, I have sometimes (but by no means always) found some activity in more hours during the day, most often (as could be expected at bird bathing-drinking sites) on sunnier, warmer days. The trees and shrubs surrounding such waters are often where the birds have been and not simply at the water, as in bathing & drinking activities. One thing that a great many birders have mentioned is whether the insectivores are finding enough prey items to sustain feeding in numbers, esp. in flocks, and in discrete areas, for any length of time; some birders believing that these birds are having to move on by force to find enough to eat, esp. just after arrival on migration. If this is so, it's unusual - more often there are places which provide feeding for many birds over long periods, although there are always (or have been) what we often call "hot-spots" which of course, are really mainly particular areas which whether on a very short-term or somewhat longer term produce a great many insects and perhaps, some fruits in the case of those birds that eat much fruit or imbibe of its nectar (a number of small birds do that as well as seeking insects including some warblers, many flycatchers, & certainly vireos, & others), but protein in the form of (more properly, small invertebrates, and not just "insects") is the driver, the most important source of energy and build-up of fat reserves, for a great many birds, not just passerine species. Are we seeing a lot of overly hungry birds - and if so is it a result of local (mild, but extended) drought that we had until the very recent rains here, or is there another situation ongoing this fall? Since I like to observe insect life as well as birds, I can't say that I've noticed any crash of certain insects in Central Park - I would ask if there have been regular field observations from, among others, the informal group who do moth-watching in the park, as that group of insects actually may provide a great many prey items to migrants in the form of the moth in caterpillar form. There has also been some comment from birders region- wide as to lower than average numbers of certain (usually common) biting insects in some areas, including boreal areas in northern realms, and (if this is actually the case) whether this points to a generalized lack of feeding on many typical prey items for birds of many kinds. The variety and profundity of insect life, and more generally of smaller invertebrate life, is typically such that insectivores may usually find alternative food (prey) items without great difficulty, so if it's so that there is a general lack of these food or prey items it may be that birds, including many migrants, are having a harder time than is usual. Any rapid moving-on by migrants at this season is somewhat unusual as
Re:[nysbirds-l] Birding Central Park on August 27, 2010
About Central Park (Manhattan, N.Y. City), and a question as to food scarcity. Any comments on this topic appreciated, to the list if deemed appropriate, or off-list directed to me alone. Although it may get a bit esoteric to 'non-regulars' of the place about Central Park (and even more specifically one section of the park or more so the Ramble), what's interesting in Harry Maas' report (earlier today) his comments is that that was, in great part, exactly what a couple of other experienced birders that cover the Ramble its environs made comments on, indeed it echoes most specifically that in birding in a couple of particular locations in that park the birds, or at least most migrant insectivores among the birds, have been found in flocks (where any flock at all has been seen) and recently (this fall season) in short order, said flock mainly moves on not to be re-found. I have also noticed this to greater extent than usual in much of the north end of the park this season, with activity making it appear that one might expect birds to stay in a particular section (at least, if not in the specific location) and not move out in such seeming totality, while in re- visiting an area it has been more often that activity levels have dropped off to little or no migrant activity. The only exceptions and even they haven't been a guarantee by any means, have been visiting the immediate vicinity of flowing water, mainly 3 areas (and just 2 regularly visited by many birders, this or almost any season): the Pond and it's waterfall area, near Central Park South and up from Sixth Ave. (aka Avenue of the Americas: only to out-of-towners), the Gill in the Ramble (of which the Azalea Pond is a part), and the Loch (in the area also known as the ravine) within the park's north end, with perhaps lesser concentrations at times at areas near the Lake, near the Pool, at Tanner's Spring (which has seemed terriibly slow so far this season) and at the small stream flowing into the lake from just north of West 77th Street. In these areas, I have sometimes (but by no means always) found some activity in more hours during the day, most often (as could be expected at bird bathing-drinking sites) on sunnier, warmer days. The trees and shrubs surrounding such waters are often where the birds have been and not simply at the water, as in bathing drinking activities. One thing that a great many birders have mentioned is whether the insectivores are finding enough prey items to sustain feeding in numbers, esp. in flocks, and in discrete areas, for any length of time; some birders believing that these birds are having to move on by force to find enough to eat, esp. just after arrival on migration. If this is so, it's unusual - more often there are places which provide feeding for many birds over long periods, although there are always (or have been) what we often call hot-spots which of course, are really mainly particular areas which whether on a very short-term or somewhat longer term produce a great many insects and perhaps, some fruits in the case of those birds that eat much fruit or imbibe of its nectar (a number of small birds do that as well as seeking insects including some warblers, many flycatchers, certainly vireos, others), but protein in the form of (more properly, small invertebrates, and not just insects) is the driver, the most important source of energy and build-up of fat reserves, for a great many birds, not just passerine species. Are we seeing a lot of overly hungry birds - and if so is it a result of local (mild, but extended) drought that we had until the very recent rains here, or is there another situation ongoing this fall? Since I like to observe insect life as well as birds, I can't say that I've noticed any crash of certain insects in Central Park - I would ask if there have been regular field observations from, among others, the informal group who do moth-watching in the park, as that group of insects actually may provide a great many prey items to migrants in the form of the moth in caterpillar form. There has also been some comment from birders region- wide as to lower than average numbers of certain (usually common) biting insects in some areas, including boreal areas in northern realms, and (if this is actually the case) whether this points to a generalized lack of feeding on many typical prey items for birds of many kinds. The variety and profundity of insect life, and more generally of smaller invertebrate life, is typically such that insectivores may usually find alternative food (prey) items without great difficulty, so if it's so that there is a general lack of these food or prey items it may be that birds, including many migrants, are having a harder time than is usual. Any rapid moving-on by migrants at this season is somewhat unusual as the fall
