Adult of apparent nominate race , the rarer one here. Main parking lot.
-----Original message----- From: Steve Walter <swalte...@verizon.net> To: 'Andrew Baksh' <birdingd...@gmail.com>, 'nysbirds-l' <nysbirds-l@cornell.edu> Sent: Mon, Feb 18, 2013 00:06:06 GMT+00:00 Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] Van Cortlandt Park I should have thought of this before. Van Cortlandt Park has of one the few (maybe only) remaining populations of Silvery Checkerspot (butterfly) in the region. It has disappeared from Connecticut and New Jersey. I knew of a few populations in Westchester, but I believe these are gone. Even when the checkerspots were there, the Van Cortlandt population was larger and more significant. I don't know the status in the rest of New York and whether a state agency (DEC, Natural Heritage Program) could get involved here. Needs to be looked into. The Silvery Checkerspot lives in open areas in woodlands. It lays its eggs on Woodland Sunflower, the only plant on which the larva can feed and grow. Paving in the Van Cortlandt woodlands has to be viewed as a major threat to the species surviving in our area. Steve Walter Bayside, NY From: bounce-74344763-8873...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-74344763-8873...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Andrew Baksh Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 10:20 AM To: nysbirds-l Cc: Nyc ebirds Subject: [nysbirds-l] Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park Report... Yesterday our walk at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx yielded the following highlights: EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 2 seen just before the trail off the Parade Grounds that leads to the foot bridge along the golf course. In this same area, we had an unexpected FIELD SPARROW, which unfortunately took off rather quickly due to foot traffic; the bird was last seen heading up into Vault Hill accompanied by an American Tree Sparrow. At the foot bridge near the golf course, we had 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and this area remains reliable to see them. Also 4 REDWING BLACKBIRDS also put in an appearance, the most we have seen this winter in that area. WINTER WRENS, 2 reluctant birds, one near the foot bridge and another on the inner path along the Putnam Trail. HORNED LARKS 9, on the Parade Grounds. KILLDEERS 2, on the Parade Grounds as well. Later on at Orchard Beach Pelham Bay Park , Andria and I had 2 flocks of COMMON GOLDENEYES 47 and 9 respectively; both rafts seen off of Twin Island as well as 23 PURPLE SANDPIPERS flying around as the tide came in. These were also viewed off of Twin Island looking out towards Execution Rocks Lighthouse. Finally, walking along the Putnam Trail yesterday at Van Cortlandt Park, was a very poignant moment for me as I thought of the trees and habitat loss that will take place if and when the Putnam Trail, is paved over with asphalt. Areas along the path that I learned about and became familiar with, that hosted nesting Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow Warblers, Orchard Orioles and Baltimore Orioles to name a few will all be lost. We are indeed a SELFISH species!! If you are interested and want to voice your opinion against the paving of the trail, you may visit and sign the petition at http://www.savetheputnamtrail.com/petition/ Good and Responsible Birding! Andrew Baksh Queens, NY www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> eBird! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
