Marie Winn's Central Park Nature News

A Children's Classic is born

2012-02-02T15:24:00.008-05:00

Hi Marie,

A while back I sent you three photos:

Good

Better

Best

...little knowing that it would lead to a book... but it did.

It's a children's book about squirrels living in Central Park, based upon a poem... "The Squirrel"

My hope is that it encourages children to learn to respect and appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature as they would take a walk in The Park.

I think those who would be lucky enough to possess an inner child would like it too.

Alexina B. White (whose son was the architect Stanford White) published a book of poems for children called "Little-Folk songs" in 1871, where her poem about squirrels first appeared.

The poem has been anthologized under the title "Whisky Frisky" or "The Squirrel".

Susan Lurie, is the writer who adapted the poem for the book.

It's available online for pre-order and due later this month.

A great photo

2012-01-25T17:45:00.002-05:00

Adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Central Park--1/22/12

photo courtesy of PaleMale.com

What a shot! Amazing, the way the berry matches the bird's color perfectly. And note the infrequently-noticeable yellow belly!

A phoebe but not THE phoebe

2012-01-21T13:19:00.005-05:00

Eastern Phoebe in Central Park -- 10/08/09
photo by David Speiser -- http://Lilibirds.com

This morning, during the first real snowfall for the year, birder Anders Peltomaa spotted an Eastern Phoebe at the Gill in the Ramble area. On eBirdsnyc he speculated that it was the same bird he saw hanging around the island on Turtle Pond earlier this winter and the same one that Phil Jeffrey found by the Castle on New Year's Day.

As long-time readers of this website know, every year starting in March I go a little nuts looking for the first phoebe of the Spring migration. The one reported by Anders today, however, is not the one. Clearly it has overwintered in the area, as phoebes occasionally do, [especially during milder winters]. Now that the season has taken a fiercer turn, let's hope this lovely harbinger of spring survives, Meanwhile, come March, I'll still be hunting for the first phoebe of the Spring migration.

Jacob's List

2012-01-18T15:36:00.011-05:00

Hermit Thrush - Central Park -- 10/7/08

photo by DAVID SPEISER http://www.Lilibirds.com

A great young birder named JACOB DRUCKER took a stroll in Central Park yesterday [1/17/12] and amassed a list of 40 species of birds. What's great about this list is: 1. It includes all species, even house sparrows. 2. It gives an estimate of numbers-- i.e. how many individuals of each species he saw. [An X instead of a number must mean MANY]

He writes"

An hour or so spent in Central Park this morning produced the following. Highlights included BROWN THRASHER, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and EASTERN TOWHEE.> Central Park-- Ramble Vicinity to Reservoir, New York, US-NY

Jan 17, 2012 8:40 AM - 10:10 AM

Protocol: Traveling 1.5 mile(s) 40 species

Canada Goose 80
Gadwall 14
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 120
Northern Shoveler 100
Bufflehead 12
Hooded Merganser 4
Ruddy Duck 30
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Coot 4
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull (American) X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 63 All across W drive from sparrow rock.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 25
American Crow 10
Tufted Titmouse 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 1
Hermit Thrush 3 All at Strawberry Fields.
American Robin 100 Many, strawberry fields, several elsewhere
Gray Catbird 2 SF, Castle
Brown Thrasher 1 SF
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1 Male, Castle.
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2 Source of Gill
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 200
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 12
Northern Cardinal 12
Common Grackle 200
Brown-headed Cowbird 2 With Grackle flock, W of Sparrow Rock
House Finch 30
American Goldfinch 16
House Sparrow X

Blakeman answers questions

2012-01-14T12:38:00.007-05:00

Pale Male and mate on Fifth Ave on January 6, 2012

photo courtesy of PaleMale.com

On 1/13, at my prompting, a NYC hawkwatcher named Jessica Schein wrote a note to John Blakeman with some interesting questions. As he always does the Ohio raptor expert promptly answered her. Below is the illuminating correspondence.

Hello,

I am new to the NY birding community as a result of the NYU hawks, although I read Red-tails in Love when it was published and kept up with the news of Pale Male & family.

I am more taken by raptors than by small (song) birds. I have been trying to finish off your Q&A's from 2005 on Marie's website. There is a lot to read. But I wonder if it needs an updating. Much has happened in NYC since 2005.

You have been very good at responding to questions first on the NYU chat room and then on Roger_Paw, but it would be nice to be able to ask some questions in a forum (older use of the word) other than a chat room or blog or Facebook to find out what you think.

My questions mostly relate to what will happen now that the city is just about filled with RTHs, other hawks are arriving, the Peregrines are expanding their territory (perhaps to be the battle of Bobst), and Bald Eagles have been seen in Manhattan, Brooklyn and beyond.

The blog The Origin of Species http://yojimbot.blogspot.com/ just posted some photos and videos of Peregrines (a long-time resident) a Cooper's and a juvi RT "battling" over the area around Morningside Park in Harlem.

Is it possible that any of these raptors will learn to live within the same territory? That two nesting pairs of RTs can live close to each other? Most of the larger park areas (say, over 5 acres) have lots of food. Rats and mice are around, but we humans don't always see them. Pigeons are everywhere in droves, and squirrels are way over their normal density.

What happens when the niches in the city are also filled up? Do the birds start seriously fighting, does the birthrate decline, or do more birds just die from starvation?

Why do I want to know? I'm just one of those people who likes to ask questions and learn.

Sincerely,

Jessica Schein
NY, NY

Here is John Blakeman's reply:

Jessica,

You have the mind of a raptor biologist, much above the pedestrian perspectives of most NY hawkwatchers.

And yes, I share your inattention to dickybirds. I have no problems with anyone who studies those, but they just don't much interest me.

First, in regard to my postings at Marie Winn's site (which she so graciously still provides), it may be time for me to put up a dedicated urban raptors blogsite, where I'd elaborate on cogent issues; including the ones you raise.

Your prime question concerns the saturation density of red-tails and other raptors in greater NYC. It's a question I've been pondering since I learned of Pale Male in Central Park. How many RT pairs can Manhattan and the other boroughs sustainably support. I have a pretty comprehensive understanding of this out here in the Ohio countryside. Our RTs require about 2 sq miles around each nest.

But clearly urban RTs tolerate a much greater territorial density than rural pairs. We know that territory size is primarily determined or controlled by prey density. That's exceptionally high in NYC, with the rats and squirrels (mostly rats, I think), so RT territories are much smaller.

So, is Manhattan now saturated with RTs? Hard to tell. Obviously, Washington Square Park was occupied last year, a new pair and territory. Will there be any more elsewhere in Manhattan? I don't know (actually, I've never been to NYC, so I have no idea where new nests and territories might occur).

But it sure looks like there must be some open turf or park space for the hawks to hunt in. I think that's the case with the St.. John the Divine Cathedral, the Riverside nest, clearly with Pale Male in Central Park, and now the NYU pair at Washington Sq Park.

I don't think a red-tail can survive by hunting in pure streetscapes, in concrete canyons without ground vegetation where rats can be hunted and killed.

Then you ask the question about survival of new birds seeking territories, with all the available ones occupied. Same phenomenon out here in the countryside, where all available RT habitats are (and have been) fully occupied. The multitude of young red-tails looking for unoccupied territories (and mates) each spring simply are out of luck. Only a fraction (small) of eyasses fledged each spring ever attain a mate and territory and pass on their genes to a new generation. Simply, the vast majority of young red-tails die before the end of their first year, mostly of starvation induced by trying to survive in prey-poor bad habitats. The good habitats are occupied by experienced haggards who don't much tolerate competition from youngsters. Out here, the young are forced to try to survive by eating voles caught in roadside ditches, where the adjacent fields are vast deserts of corn and soybeans.

Interspecific (between species) competition for prey and territory is a well-studied matter. Yes, there is lots of apparent confrontation. But most of this is ritualized, inasmuch as each species requires different territories. Peregrines kill birds out over open water. Cooper's Hawks kill small birds in woody or brushy areas. Red-tails hunt ground prey (rats) in area with low vegetation. The birds of these species will confront each other, often with great display. But there is seldom any physical contact.

Just how close an adjacent pair of red-tails will occupy territories in urban areas needs to be studied (as does all of urban red-tail biology -- no one is doing this, sadly; even though the birds live in urban areas very differently from their lives out in the more natural countryside).

Hope this information helps. Feel free to shoot me any other questions.

--John Blakeman

Bufflehead Calisthenics

2012-01-09T11:50:00.005-05:00

Photos [and brilliant idea] by MURRAY HEAD
Turtle Pond -- January 8, 2012

Phil sees first phoebe of the year

2012-01-01T13:50:00.006-05:00

from today's ]1/1/12] ebirdsNYC via Phil Jeffrey:

At 11:30 at TurtlePond: Eastern Phoebe: in trees just east of the castle.

Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK --10/2/06

It's 2012 [a more alliterative year]

2012-01-01T05:19:00.002-05:00

Talk to titmice. study starlings, worship warblers, obey orioles, embrace birds.

Baltimore Oriole in the Ramble 12/30/11 [near the Evodia Field]

photographed by MURRAY HEAD

Hey Tom, what about us??

2011-12-31T13:13:00.005-05:00

Wood Ducks photographed on 12/28 by MURRAY HEAD [two of a Wood Duck Quartet seen by Murray on The Pond at 59th Street]

Tom Fiore sent in the list below, of birds seen in Central Park on Thursday, December 29, 2011:

RUFOUS Hummingbird still around - at the flower plantings, especially in & around the shrubs with very small greenish flowers, by the entry to the American Museum of Natural History, in the small park bordered by West 81 Street and with Columbus Avenue & Central Park West on either side. This Rufous Hummingbird may be rather inconspicuous when feeding slowly among these shrubs, & also may be found perching quietly in or among these or other plants, including (in sun &/or milder temp's) on a tree's smaller branches or a shrub with no leaves. It could be best to allow up to one hour or more for a better chance of having a sighting, although the little hummer can sometimes be quite apparent when active. I would hazard a guess this bird may still be seen on the first day of 2012 and perhaps after that, too...

Red-headed Woodpecker continuing (young bird, lacking real red on head, although in photos, any young 'Red-headed' may begin to show this before brighter plumage develops in late winter) - in Central Park, near or within the north or northwest side of Hallet Sanctuary (fenced and no one allowed inside), regularly viewable from pedestrian paths on the outside by the fence, just above, or north of, the western-most edge of The Pond which is located in the southeast portion of Central, not far from Central Park South (also known as 60th Street, away from the park).

- - - - -

Thru (at least) Thursday, 29 December -

Lincoln's Sparrow, still in Bryant Park, mid-town Manhattan near 42 St. - this can sometimes take time to locate. It is a very unusual winter lingerer to this region, particularly the longer it is still to be found in the area (in the northeast of N. America, in general - but then, this has been a nearly-unique December for late-lingering birds of a wide variety of species. It is almost as though we are in a much more southern state, as judged just by the sheer variety and number of birds of late-lingering status, not only in NY state but all through New England states and in eastern Canada. This has been a very widely-noted phenomenon this fall and now, winter... but there are likely a variety of complex mechanisms of arrival and departure that (are and) have occurred with this situation & it would surely be fascinating to know from whence many of the various species came & also what their varied routes may have been before arriving...)

Indigo Bunting (brownish non-breeding plumage) in Central Park's north end, Wildflower Meadow & vicinity. While quite uncommon or nearly rare in winter, Indigos have overwintered occasionally in Central Park (including those that had feeders near their favored areas), & more so in the wider region. (A good idea to look closely at any such for the rarer possibility of Lazuli and even for any other, more remote, possibilities of bunting spp.) - this is an Indigo that's in Central now, however. The wildflower meadow is mid-park, at about "latitude" 103 St.

At least 4 species of warbler continuing (including 3 of the warbler spp. in midtown): [2] Yellow-breasted Chat[s], Common Yellowthroats, and Ovenbirds - plus Gray Catbirds, Eastern Towhee, Hermit Thrush, and other species all in Bryant Park in Manhattan (Fifth to Sixth Avenues, & 40th to 42nd Streets) - and elsewhere:

a lingering Orange-crowned Warbler that has been in & around the Lasker rink & the far NE edge of the Loch, as well as other parts of the N. end of Central Park for many weeks - assuming, as seems likely, the same individual, returning to various favored sites. (This is hardly a comprehensive list of warbler sightings of the island of Manhattan alone in the past week or more, and while some may have moved on, or vanished from the local scene, there is a possibility that a number of additional species, as well as more individuals, are extant even as the end of December is just about here - perhaps unprecedented in any records kept.)

There are some additional lingerers seen this week which may well still be around, including Baltimore Oriole (Central Park) and E. Phoebe (also Central Park), & some considered "half-hardy" which are reasonably likely to continue such as Brown Thrasher, & also more of the more-often found Gray Catbirds, Hermit Thrushes, & perhaps Ruby-crowned Kinglets, along with such very typical Manhattan winterers (in contemporary terms) as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Swamp Sparrow & some others. As snow has freshly fallen again in some far-northern and higher-elevation parts of the northeast, it will be interesting to see if a very late and not-so-readily detected "push" of extremely late "migrants" moves south into the south-most sections of NY state.

Good birding - for the remainder of this and all of next year, 2012!

Tom Fiore,

Manhattan

Sad news

2011-12-30T11:54:00.003-05:00

Violet tending eggs in the nest last April

Photo: Emily Rueb for the NY Times

Chris Gadsen reports on ebirdsnyc:

Violet, the red-tailed hawk of Washington Square Park died yesterday following surgery on her heart. She was believed to be about 5 years old.

Here is the article from the NYTimes: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/violet-the-red-tailed-hawk-is-dead/

Update -- as of yesterday

2011-12-28T10:51:00.006-05:00

1. Barred Owl -- probably still in the park, in general vicinity of the Boathouse

Photo of Barred Owl by Felipe Pimentel

2. Rufous Hummingbird - still hanging out in same location, on one side or other of the entrance to the Planetarium on 81st St, a bit west of Central Park West.

Photo of Rufous Hummingbird by Felipe Pimentel- December 16, 2011

NYU Hawk report via Head and Blakeman

2011-12-27T15:02:00.007-05:00

Christie M. Farriella for New York Daily News

Violet the red-tailed hawk is recuperating on Long Island after being rescued from Washington Square Park.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/violet-red-tailed-hawk-washington-square-park-mend-article-1.997069#ixzz1hlfAZXs8

For those following the Violet saga, here is a note from Murray Head, followed by a report by John Blakeman

Per Cathy Horvath in an email to me earlier this morning, "This is Violet eating her medication. I cut a mouse into 3 pieces and put her pain meds in one piece and her antibiotic pill in another piece. She is a very good patient!"

She is eating mice on her own but getting hand-fed the bits with the medication to ensure she is getting her meds.

And from John Blakeman

Make no comparisons with human mating or dating practices or ethics. These are wild red-tailed hawks, with very different biological instincts and behaviors.

Yes, Bobby has “taken up” with a new mate, so very quickly upon Violet’s capture and removal from Washington Square Park (which is best for her, given her declining state). But the appearance and acceptance of the new formel (female) is quite typical, particularly at this time, the very start of the reproductive season.

At Christmas Eve, upon learning of Violet’s “rescue,” I predicted that a new formel would be in the area within a few days; a week at most. I was wrong. It was just a few hours, the very next day. Understand that this was not perfidy, indiscretion, or selfishness on Bobby’s part. It’s pure, natural, and quite perfect red-tailed hawk biology.

So let’s watch what happens. There is now the highest chance that the new pair will fledge three eyasses this summer. In the meantime, hawkwatchers in Washington Square Park should be looking high above, to watch some thrilling courtship flights in the coming weeks. Bobby and the new formel (“Noelle?” – Seems right, since she appeared on Christmas Day.) will loft together into the sky in circling soars. Then, Bobby will soar much higher, with “Noelle” just a few hundred feet above the building tops. From his height several hundred feet above, Bobby will fold his wings and descend in a thrilling, accelerating dive directly at his new mate, soaring below. Just as he’s about to strike the new formel, at over 200 mph, she will instantly tilt sideways and allow Bobby to plunge through her formerly-occupied airspace.

Bobby will instantly open his wings and divert his momentum in a U-shape flight back upwards, bringing him back to the level of the formel. It’s one of the most thrilling avian flights on the planet. Only a few get to see it, and so seldom in cities. New Yorkers in January and February need to be looking above the trees and buildings in search of these red-tail spectacles.

Here’s to a wonderful new breeding season at NYU and Washington Square Park—and to Violet’s peaceful care and passing now in the least stressful conditions. My best regards to the Horvaths, the New York Times, NYU, and all the WSP hawkwatchers who are making all of this possible.

–John Blakeman

Help for Violet and PS

2011-12-25T14:21:00.007-05:00

photo of Violet's banded leg-- May 12, 2011, already showing signs of trouble

photo by Dr. Elizabeth Bunting

For those of you following the saga of Violet, the NYU redtail with an injured leg, the news is gratifying: she was finally captured yesterday, December 24th, and taken to a rehabilitator for life-saving treatment. The link below gives the story as published in the New York Times. Meanwhile Murray Head.the Central Park photographer whose photos you have often admired on this blog, warns:

"The video is so very hard to watch on one hand, but that she has been captured

and will get treated and hopefully survive and not slowly starve to death is I think wonderful news."

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/24/violet-captured-in-washington-square-park/

Oh yes...MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Rare visitor sticks around for Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T17:05:00.003-05:00

Rufous Hummingbird at AMNH -- photo by Jacob Drucker via NY Daily News

Tom Fiore reports today:

Saturday, 24 December, 2011 -

The Manhattan (N.Y. City) RUFOUS Hummingbird is still present, seen feeding in green-flowered shrubs next to the entrance of the American Museum of Natural History's "Rose Center" off West 81 Street, just inside the small park space, which is between Columbus Avenue & Central Park West. There is now a small nectar-feeder nearby, and in 30+ minutes, beginning around 7:50 a.m., the hummingbird was not seen visiting that small feeder, but exclusively in the greenish flowers & flying about a little, including, once, over towards the street but soon back to the building entry's plantings. Four of us watched this early a.m., with air temperatures starting at slightly below the freezing mark of 32 F. The hummer can be quite unobtrusive at times, feeding or sitting, well within densely-leaved shrubs.

Good birding.

Tom Fiore,

Manhattan

And here's an article from the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/west-coast-bird-rare-detour-city-article-1.996324

Barred Owl found near Literary Walk

2011-12-23T17:24:00.007-05:00

Barred Owl in Central Park -- photo by ALICE DEUTSCH

Judy Jamison, a birder I know from Steve Quinn's bird walks, wrote me this morning:

In CP 9:30 this a.m. between Literary Walk and the Drive, just south of Summerstage, I had no bins but saw large owl being mobbed by 6 noisy crows. Lamp post 6922.

Judy e-mailed another birder, Alice Deutsch, who went forthwith to the given location, identified the owl and took the great photo above.

Our local star and PPPS

2011-12-21T11:35:00.010-05:00

Yesterday at the entrance to the Rose Center [Planetarium] of the American Museum of Natural History -- I met photographer Beth Bergman. She was photographing the Rufous Hummingbird -- our latest avian star --- and very kindly gave me permission to include any of her photos on this site. Below is a small selection of yesterday's photos.

The hummingbird was first discovered by Noah Burg on December 14. By the next day the local birding world was there, paying obeisance to this amazing little bird.

There's a big collection of shots of the Rufous Hummingbird on Beth Bergman's website -- http://thebethlenz.blogspot.com--Check it out. It's a great blog. Among other things, she provides fascinating observations of the bird's feeding methods.

PS The bird is feeding on a Mahonia bush. This is an evergreen shrub with an abundance of yellow blossoms that are providing sustenance for the hummingbird at the moment.

PPS Note the first photo in which the bird appears to be sitting on a leaf while feeding!

PPPS This posted at 12:18 today [Wednesday] on the NYSBirds blog:

For anyone interested, the hummingbird continues at the entrance to the 81st entrance to the American Museum of Natural History. It is currently flycatching in the flowerbed on the left (east) side of the planitarium entrance and allows excellent study.  Angus Wilson, New York City & The Springs, NY

Last Phoebe of the year?

2011-12-18T16:15:00.008-05:00

Eastern Phoebe at Turtle Pond - 10:20am - TODAY [12/18/11] seen flying over the water near the island

Reported, photographed, and posted on eBirds by Anders Peltomaa

As many of you know, every spring I'm a bit obsessed with the first arrival of the Eastern Phoebe in Central Park. It is always one of the earliest spring migrants and come mid-March I'm usually out in the park first-phoebe-hunting. Here are some dates for that auspicious event from my records of recent years: 3/18/05, 3/16/06, 3/11/07, 3/12/08 [Prospect Park], 3/22/09, 3/11/10, 3/14/11. A pretty reliable bird, don't you think?

I've never been as meticulous in recording last sightings. But the bird above may very well be the last Eastern Phoebe Central Park will enjoy in 2011.

Dear Friends

2011-12-10T22:38:00.004-05:00

Forgot to tell you...
I'm off to CHINA tomorrow for a week!
Back December 19th.

Ducks et. al.

2011-12-09T20:56:00.013-05:00

Northern Shoveler, female on left, male on right

Tom Fiore's bird report for December 3 -9 included a survey of Central Park's larger waterbodies:

"The CP reservoir has held a modest variety of many of the most typical species including a couple of Pied-billed Grebes, more than 25 American Coot (with a few additional Coot at the Meer & the Lake), N. Shovelers in quantity (also showing well on the Lake and a few at the Meer), Bufflehead (at the Pool as well as elsewhere), Gadwall (in fairly high numbers lately), a single female-looking Green-winged Teal (occasionally at the NW part of reservoir shores), a few Hooded Merganser and a modest number (so far) of Ruddy Ducks, plus some lingering Double-crested Cormorants, and the most usual 3 species of gull found in & around the area: Ring-billed, herring and Great Black-backed..."

Photos by LLOYD SPITALNIK
http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

PLEASE NOTE

2011-12-05T14:10:00.002-05:00

The three previous items were posted late. You may not have seen them.

Blakeman on Violet's fate

2011-12-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

Violet on November 26, 2011

John Blakeman, hawk expert from Ohio, wrote to Donna Browne [http://palemaleirregulars.blogspot.com/] with pessimistic thoughts about the future of Violet, the NYU red-tailed hawk recently in the public eye::

There is no hope for Violet. Absolutely nothing can be done to save, treat, or cure her debilitated foot. She's doomed. It is impossible for a hawk to live on only one leg. Sooner or later, the un-rested, always-stood-upon remaining foot will get bumblefoot, an infection and loss of tissue very similar to human bed sores. Once that begins, the hawk will die.

So far, bumblefoot hasn't set in, probably because she's able to spend some time in the air, allowing microcirculation in the foot. But in Dec and Jan, with 16 hours of cold nights, the leg will be stressed. The game will be over.

And nothing could be done to treat the dead foot if she is trapped. Bumblefoot and death would result, just as in the wild, but perhaps with a short delay.

The sad, biological truth is that Violet is doomed. My scenario is this. In a few weeks (or sooner), bumblefoot will set in. Violet will become sick and sedentary, and will fly off to an obscure building nook or cranny and die without human observation. She'll just disappear, unseen.

With that, a new floater female will fly in and in a week or less take up with Bobby. Pair bonding will occur. A new pair will take up reproduction at the NYU nest.

And once again, the band had absolutely nothing to do with any of Violet's tribulations. It was properly and safely applied, at the right size and right place (the tarsus), five years ago. The injury was a squirrel or rat bite that crushed bone and ripped tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Healing was never complete. It couldn't have been. Too much tissue damage. She was fortunate to survive as long and as well as she did.

And some will ask how I can know all of this. Well, in the 70s and 80s I did hawk rehabbing and had several foot-injured hawks, caught in animal traps, with crushed toes or foot joints. I was able to save only those where a single toe was crushed, by the toe's amputation. When there was greater damage, the hawk had to stand on the

uninjured foot, which in time, usually a few weeks, always had lethal bumblefoot set in. My vet and I tried tetracycline treatments for the bumblefoot infection, but it never works. The bird always dies. Bumblefoot in one-legged hawks is universally fatal.

Violet isn't the first haggard (adult) or immature red-tail to die from injuries caused by prey attempted in capture. Rabbits and jack rabbits can give lethal and skin-tearing kicks. Even rats, if not quickly dispatched, can bite severely. And wings can be broken on limbs or fences when plunging onto fleeing prey. Many red-tails die with broken wings on the ground.

Life for red-tails is not always as calm or tranquil as it can appear in a Manhattan nest cam or through a pair of binoculars there. Sadly, we are witnessing the other side of red-tail life, the inevitable death that eventually frequents them all.

--John Blakeman

Milkweed and a HUMMINGBIRD

2011-12-03T17:14:00.001-05:00

Photo by DAVID SPEISER http://www.lilibirds.com

Caroline Greenleaf, who has Regina Alvarez's old job as Woodlands Manager of Central Park [now called Community Relations Manager] writes in to answer an old question I asked about milkweed and to make a bird report:

Marie: I am finally getting back to you about the milkweed in the Garden. It is indeed an annual, tropical milkweed: Aesclepias curassavica. I have not done extensive research, but have not found any connection between this species and late pupation.

Thought you would also like to know that I had a hummingbird in back of the 79th Street Yard on Wed. morning. Way too late! It was looking for nectar in the few blossoms that the overly-warm November temps had coaxed out. I just hope it took off for parts south before the cold wave hit.

Hope to see you soon,

Caroline

Caroline Greenleaf
Community Relations Manager
Central Park Conservancy

fall warblers, kinglets, ducks and others

2011-12-03T15:05:00.002-05:00

Palm Warbler in Central Park 10/20/08

photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos. com

Tom Fiore reports:

Friday, 2 December, 2011

...A Prairie Warbler as well as a Palm Warbler continued near the Pool, first on the south side of the Great Hill and then the Prairie flew over to the south shoreline of the Pool itself where after some searching I re-found it west of the waterfall. The Palm Warbler seemed to stay in position on the hill. Not all that far away in the northern end of the park, but close to the Lasker skating rink, which is at the SW corner of the Meer, a very obliging Orange-crowned Warbler showed, at first near the rink, but then moving across the Drive to just south of the rink, or about 100 feet, perhaps less, east of the eastern end of the Loch where it flows beneath the park drive. It seemed to be of the eastern race, not as bright as some western Orange-crowneds can be.

I was not able to find any warblers in the Ramble ...but did see a number of birds moving around on the slopes in conifers of Cedar Hill, including both species of Kinglet, Brown Creeper, numerous Slate-colored Juncos, & some others. There also were a few Golden, & at least one Ruby-crowned Kinglet[s] in the north end of the park. A look around the SE portion of the park yielded little other than thousands of visiting tourists but there was a Hermit Thrush near the Pond.

The reservoir had a decent collection of ducks and other waterbirds, including 2 Pied-billed Grebes, at least 22 American Coots,a female Green-winged Teal, 50+ N. Shovelers, 45+ Gadwall, 5+ Hooded Mergansers, and 40+ Ruddy Ducks, plus a few Bufflehead, the latter species also in modest numbers at the Pool and on the Meer. At least one pair of Wood Ducks were on the Lake and a female was at the Pond, semi-hiding at the time I spotted her. Gulls sorted through on the reservoir appeared to be of the 3 most regularly-seen spp.

Good birding,

Tom Fiore,

Bat Postscript

2011-12-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

Red Bat
Another bat communication from David Barrett:

Marie,

When trying to identify the bat that I reported, I chanced upon your commentary in the New York Times regarding Central Park bats. I ended up getting some email responses from birders who also watch for bats, and the consensus is that I probably saw a red bat, since it is the one most likely to hunt during the day. I did notice a hint of red in its fur, and the size corresponds well so that is what I am now thinking it was.

I understand from your article and elsewhere that bats are common in the Park, but this is the first one I have seen in the last year, so for me it was a fun sighting!

Best,

David Barrett

Here's what I wrote in the Times Q&A column in 2010:

I’m curious to learn what species of bats you observe at Central Park, and how many. Here in Olympia, Wash., the large lake in the center of the city has summer visitors of more than 3,000 bats a night; many of these are pregnant, then nursing, female little brown and Yuma bats.

— Posted by Judy Olmstead

We don’t really know how many bats show up in Central Park — nobody’s ever done a bat count. But here are the five species that have been sighted in the park so far: big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus); little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus); eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis); northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis); silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans).

The time to find bats in Central Park, as everywhere else, is a little after sunset, when light is failing but you can still easily make out shapes. You can see our only flying mammals swooping over the shores of the lake, or Turtle Pond, or any of the other bodies of water on most summer evenings, but you have to have an eye for them. Most passers-by unfamiliar with the odd pattern of bat flight simply think they are birds and don’t give them another look. Of course a bat detector can be helpful in finding bats in other places throughout the park. In the Ramble and other woodlands you can often find bats hunting around the decorative street lamps dotting the pathways. The light attracts moths, and the moths attract bats. Yum.

Bat Sighting in Central Park

2011-11-30T16:59:00.010-05:00

bat sleeping in daytime

photo by Ed Lam -- April 7, 2010

Yesterday, on e-Birds:

At 9:25AM there was a small bat looping around the Maintenance Meadow. Though it is certainly not a bird, I thought it might be of interest on a day when bird activity at the feeders appears to be low. I am guessing it was a Little Brown Bat, but it did not alight so with the cloudy skies it was hard to tell. David

The sad saga of Violet continues

2011-11-27T15:18:00.014-05:00

Violet, photographed on 11/26/11

Photo courtesy of PaleMale.com

Two articles about Violet have appeared in the New York Times during the last few days, [or the NYT webside], one two days ago and one today. I'm reprinting them below, as well as a few details at the end detailing the photographer's correspondence with the US Fisn&Wildlife Service

Two days ago

From the New York Times website-11/27/11 by Andy Newman -- : Bits and pieces of this story have been bouncing around the Web and the airwaves for a while now, but not yet formally reported in this space, so here goes:

The metal wildlife band now stuck on Violet the red-tailed hawk’s swollen leg has almost undoubtedly been on her leg for more than four years, presumably without problems for most of that time.

The band, if it is the one wildlife officials think it is, was put on Violet on Oct. 3, 2006, her hatchling year, in New Jersey near the Delaware Water Gap as part of an ongoing study of hawk migration patterns. That band is a size 7B, the correct size for red-tailed hawks.

Violet does not appear to have been documented again by humans again until October 2010, when the wildlife photographer and Pale Male chronicler Lincoln Karimphotographed a hawk in Washington Square Park with a swollen leg and a band jammed in the same position, halfway up her shin. It is widely believed to be Violet.

In December, Mr. Karim brought the hawk to the attention of the head of the federal Bird Banding Laboratory, Bruce Peterjohn, who, after some prodding from Mr. Karim, asked the Long Island-based raptor rehabilitator Robert Horvath to capture the bird and remove the band.

Mr. Horvath told us he did not attempt to do so because the bird was not nesting then and capture would have been difficult to impossible. (Five months later, when Violet’s difficulty with her swollen leg appeared toincrease suddenly, it was Mr. Horvath who went to New York University and did the initial assessment of her, at which he recommended her immediate capture.)

The data about the band emerged when a medical rescue team led by the state paid a visit to Violet on May 12, a few days after Mr. Horvath’s visit. The rescuers, who decided not to capture Violet for now, were able to read the last five digits of the nine-digit band number and reported them to the Bird Banding Lab.

While there is a very remote possibility that there is another size 7B band with the same last five digits on another bird, the band is overwhelmingly likely to be No. 1177-60335, Mr. Peterjohn said.

That band was placed by a bander at Stillwater, N.J., on a first-year hawk as part of a 40-year study of migrating hawks along the Kittatinny Ridge in western New Jersey overseen by Giselle Chazotte Smisko, a wildlife rehabilitator with a master bird-banding permit who directs theAvian Wildlife Center in Wantage, N.J.

The study has revealed, among other things, a reduction in fall red-tailed hawk migration that is probably linked not to a drop in the number of hawks but to climate change, Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said.

Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said that the band in question was fitted by a bander with more than 20 years’ experience who has since developed medical problems and is unavailable to be interviewed.

The centuries-old practice of banding birds to track their movements was brought to North America by the ornithologist and artist John James Audubon in 1803. At the time, he tied silver cords to birds; today, the bands are made mostly of lightweight aluminum

While opponents of banding have blamed the band for Violet’s injury, Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said bluntly, “This bird would not be alive now if the band was the cause of the problem.”

Experts, including Dr. Elizabeth Bunting, the wildlife veterinarian who observed Violet up close on May 12, have speculated that Violet may have sustained an injury in the last year or so, such as a bite from a squirrel or other prey, and that the swelling in her leg from that injury pushed the band up from her ankle to her shin, where it is now lodged.

The sedentary period Violet went through when she was sitting on her eggs is likely to have made the swelling worse, Dr. Bunting said.

Update, 3:41 p.m. |Currently, Dr. Bunting said, Violet appears to have good circulation in her leg — despite the swelling, there is some space around the band. The swelling could be due to scar tissue or fluid retention, neither of which is life-threatening, and it is not clear what role the band is playing in the injury, she said.

and here's today's NY Times story: 11/29/11

Violet the Hawk Has Worsening Leg Problems

By EMILY S. RUEB

Video taken on Nov. 26 in Washington Square Park shows Violet using her left foot to

anchor her food while her right leg dangles uselessly behind her.

Violet, mother of Pip, is now in danger of losing the banded leg that had plagued her even before the Hawk Cam started rolling on the 12th-floor window of New York University’s Bobst Library.

A video of Violet in Washington Square Park shot on Saturday by Lincoln Karim, the wildlife photographer and Pale Male chronicler, shows Violet’s right leg dangling uselessly below the metal wildlife band on her shin, the foot gray and scaly from lack of blood flow. There also appears to be a broken bone protruding above the band.
This does not bode well.
After watching the footage, Dr. Elizabeth Bunting, a veterinarian specializing in wildlife at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine who has observed Violet for several months, was not hopeful about the prospects for Violet’s leg — or her survival.
“Most people would say she can’t hang in there with one foot,” Dr. Bunting said. Some birds, like songbirds, are able to, she said. “But the bigger the bird, the less likely they are to compensate for the injury, especially raptors, who are dependent on their feet to eat.”
Without a hands-on medical assessment of her nerve function, the severity of the fracture and the circulation to her toes, it is hard to determine the prognosis for the leg, she said.
Mr. Karim first photographed Violet’s abnormal leg, with the wildlife band appearing to restrict circulation, in October 2010. He urged wildlife officials to have the band removed, but capturing her was deemed too difficult. [NOTE FROM MW-- PLEASE SEE THIS CORRESPONDENCE AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE TO GET A FULL PICTURE]
She was seen hobbling around the nest in May shortly after her hatchling, Pip, emerged, with her right leg tangled in what appeared to be fishing line and swollen to about three times its normal size. The metal wildlife band wedged on her shin appeared to be making the situation worse.
A panel of experts and officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Protection, including Dr. Bunting, were called in to assess Violet from close range. But they ultimately decided not to intervene, and left the nest, where Violet was feeding a week-old baby, alone.
Even as some called for the band to be removed, wildlife officials said it was not clear that the band, placed on Violet’s leg in 2006, was the cause of her injury at the time.
The department stuck by its decision on Monday. “Based on direct observations of her condition at that time, the consensus opinion, particularly given the need for Violet to continue to care for her young, was to avoid additional harm that could be caused by an attempted capture,” Michael Bopp, a spokesman for the D.E.C., said in an e-mail.
Dr. Bunting said it was possible that a subsequent trauma — like a run-in with a car or another animal — had hastened the worsening of the foot.
Now the question, once again, is whether or not to intervene.
Even if Violet is successfully trapped, which could take days, she would possibly face surgery and a long road to recovery. If the leg is not viable, Violet would be euthanized (amputating the leg and keeping her in captivity is not seen as a humane option).
“This is a philosophical question,” said Dr. Bunting. “Is it more humane to capture the animal and euthanize it if you can’t fix the leg; or leave her alone in the wild with the possibility she might die from starvation or infection, which is the fate of many wild animals?”
Even if Violet is able to survive the winter, it is unclear whether she would be fit for motherhood with her handicap.
“There is a high probability that Violet could not stand and support copulation with Bobby,” the Ohio raptor expert John Blakeman wrote in an e-mail after viewing the video, referring to Violet’s mate. “It may be impossible to form viable eggs this year.” And if an egg were to hatch, Mr. Blakeman wrote, Violet would have tremendous difficulty feeding her young.
“As morbid as it might be,” he wrote, “the very best happenstance would be for Violet’s prompt natural demise, that any infection in the useless leg would become systemic, with consequent septic death.”
Although Violet is capable of feeding and otherwise appears to be in good health, she has to put on a brave face to avoid becoming prey herself, Dr. Bunting said.
“They are incredibly tough customers,” said Dr. Bunting who said she was constantly surprised by the resilience of these creatures.
For now, Violet is hanging in there. But we don’t know for how long.

PS from MW
S from MWP: lincoln_karim@msn.comSubject: Re: Red Tail Hawk with bad band.
On October 29, 2010, the PaleMale.com photographer first sent a photo of Violet's banded leg to the Bird Banding Lab in Patuxent, Maryland, to demonstrate that bird banding can have adverse results. He received the following response:

Subject: Re: Red Tail Hawk with bad band.
From: bpeterjohn@usgs.gov
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:00:00 -0500From: bpeterjohn@usgs.gov
Dear Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:00:00 -050

With all due respect, your photographs do not support your claim that the Red-tailed Hawk's leg is impaired by the bird band. Your photos show that the bird is very capable of using that leg to capture prey (a squirrel), carry prey, and to dismember prey. In essence, it is behaving as a normal wild raptor. We see no need to take any action at this time, but are willing to reassess the situation should circumstances change.

Bruce Peterjohn
Chief
Bird Banding Lab
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Dear Mr. Karim:

With all due respect, your photographs do not support your claim that the Red-tailed Hawk's leg is impaired by the bird band. Your p

Remember Violet?

2011-11-27T14:08:00.014-05:00

Washington Square female hawk with her completely crippled leg on Saturday 11/26/11.
Photo and caption by Lincoln Karim

Many people are currently concerned about a female Red-tailed Hawk that made headlines last year. Violet, as she came to be called , is as one of a pair that attracted much media attention by nesting on a New York University Building looking out on Washington Square Park. . In recent weeks photographer Lincoln Karim has become concerned about the condition of Violet's left leg, the one that is banded, and was already banded when the hawk was first observed last year.

To be continued tomorrow...

Meanwhile, here is a bit of history of Violet's leg band, published in the New York Times on May 25, 2011:

The metal wildlife band now stuck on Violet the red-tailed hawk’s swollen leg has almost undoubtedly been on her leg for more than four years, presumably without problems for most of that time.

Mr. Horvath told us he did not attempt to do so because the bird was not nesting then and capture would have been difficult to impossible. (Five months later, when Violet’s difficulty with her swollen leg appeared to increase suddenly, it was Mr. Horvath who went to New York University and did the initial assessment of her, at which he recommended her immediate capture.)

While there is a very remote possibility that there is another size 7B band with the same last five digits on another bird, the band is overwhelmingly likely to be No. 1177-60335, Mr. Peterjohn said.

The study has revealed, among other things, a reduction in fall red-tailed hawk migration that is probably linked not to a drop in the number of hawks but to climate change, Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said.

Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said that the band in question was fitted by a bander with more than 20 years’ experience who has since developed medical problems and is unavailable to be interviewed.

While opponents of banding have blamed the band for Violet’s injury, Ms. Chazotte-Smisko said bluntly, “This bird would not be alive now if the band was the cause of the problem.”

The sedentary period Violet went through when she was sitting on her eggs is likely to have made the swelling worse, Dr. Bunting said.

Update, 3:41 p.m. | Currently, Dr. Bunting said, Violet appears to have good circulation in her leg — despite the swelling, there is some space around the band. The swelling could be due to scar tissue or fluid retention, neither of which is life-threatening, and it is not clear what role the band is playing in the injury, she said.

Rare Warbler in park today

2011-11-23T13:44:00.009-05:00

Photo of Black-throated Gray Warbler by David Speiser -- Central Park 9/20/08 www.lilibirds.com

On today's eBirdsNYC listserv, Phil Jeffrey writes:
Peter Scully just posted on NYSBirds that there is a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Central Park "near ramble shed" - which I interpret as the Maintenance Field building. One was also reported on this list on Nov 17th near the Gill.

The usual Thanksgiving suspects

2011-11-23T08:29:00.000-05:00

Fox Sparrow in Central Park - 1/20/09
photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK -- http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

From ebirdsNYC this morning:

A number of Fox Sparrows in Central Park this morning, along with flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos, also smaller number of White-throated Sparrows plus a few Song Sparrows. Also, Cedar Waxwings and a couple of Hermit Thrushes

A bird we won't eat for Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T11:45:00.003-05:00

Ardith Bondi, a regular correspondent, just sent in the photo above and wrote:

The Red-tailed Hawk, that looks suspiciously like one of the Riverside Park juveniles, remained perched on the 4th floor window of Brigitte Pearl's apartment on Riverside Drive at 109th St., for more than 45 minutes... She said she couldn't take her eyes off the bird as long as it sat there, it was so riveting.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving.

Ardith

A poetic visitor

2011-11-20T14:37:00.010-05:00

Hermit Thrush in Central Park on 10/31/11
Photo by PETER POST

Though the Hermit Thrush is not an uncommon bird in Central Park during the migration seasons, it is a special bird in American literary history. Walt Whitman considered the Hermit Thrush to be a symbol of the American voice, poetic and otherwise, in his elegy for Abraham Lincoln, "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd."In 1865 the poet wrote in his notebook "[Hermit Thrush]. . . sings oftener after sundown sometimes quite in the night / is very secluded / likes shaded, dark, places in swamps . . . his song is a hymn . . . he never sings near the farm houses—never in the settlement / is the bird of the solemn primal woods & of Nature pure & holy"

A few lines from verse 4 of Whitman's great elegiac poem about the death of Abraham Lincoln:

In the swamp in secluded recesses,

A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song.

Solitary the thrush,

The hermit withdrawn to himself, avoiding the settlements,

Sings by himself a song.

Song of the bleeding throat,

Death’s outlet song of life, (for well dear brother I know,

If thou wast not granted to sing thou would’st surely die.)

You are what you eat

2011-11-19T16:02:00.004-05:00

Cedar Waxwing -- Central Park--November 18, 2011

(Cedar Waxwings...The pigment in the berries they eat contributes to their tail wing tip color,

colors range from yellow to orange to close to red)

Probable Dietary Basis of a Color Variant of the Cedar Waxwing. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 60, no 3. pp. 361–368.

Hudon J & Brush AH. (1989).

Photo, headline and info by MURRAY HEAD

Ken's Trees

2011-11-16T14:32:00.022-05:00

A week ago Ken Chaya the coauthor [with Edward S. Bernard] of Central Park Entire: the Definitive illustrated Folding Map (click http://www.centralparknature.com to order this truly indispensible guide to ALL the trees in Central Park) wrote:

From the October 29th freak snowstorm and it's aftermath, to the current stunning display of fall color, the park has kept me very busy taking pictures and trying to keep track of all the damaged and lost trees for updates to my "Central Park Entire" map. For your interest I am attaching a series of photos I took immediately after the storm. With telling irony, they show both sides of nature; it's frightening destruction as well as it's remarkable beauty at this time of year.

Here are Ken's great photos:

Ash

Autumn Snow

Black-Tupelo

Elm

Hackberry

Hornbeam

Linden

Pinoak

Sugar Maple

Sweetgum

White Oak

2011-10-30T22:22:00.017-04:00

Historic Fall Snow Storm Devastates Central Park

Central Park received 2.9 inches of snow Saturday... a record for this time of year.

MURRAY HEAD writes:

The trees at The Plaza (North) had all their branches cut!

I was told by one of the workers that the trees were destroyed and had to have their limbs cut. In my non-expert opinion I don't see why they did not tape off the area, have some cops to enforce it and see if the trees recover. This was so shocking.

Here are a few of the pictures I took:

Murray 10/30/11

All photos by MURRAY HEAD

For further details, the NY Times just posted a story on their website:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/nyregion/in-central-park-storm-may-claim-1000-trees.html?_r=1

and on her website thebethlenz.blogspot.com photographer Beth Bergman speaks for all of us:

A time to mourn

Central Park is devastated. I do not think there is a single tree that has not lost a limb or three or four, trees with half their bodies ripped away, whole old beloved trees toppled. Many paths are roped off, rightly so, impassable. There are still things falling as the wind hits. Areas of shrubbery flattened. The fallen limbs still are leaf-laden, berry-laden, alive one moment, dead the next. Mother Nature has a reason for everything, but today's scenes are gut-wrenching.

Metamorphosis or Myth?

2011-10-29T22:21:00.017-04:00

My friend the photographer Murray Head is dubious. I will let him present his case to you and you can judge for yourselves:

Truth Out!

On Tuesday October 18 you reported a story entitled "Monarch of the Conservatory Garden." That story seems to support and perpetuate the "Metamorphosis" theory.

Now that idea has always sounded quite far fetched, so I went to the Conservatory Garden this afternoon [October 20] to do a little first hand investigation...and take a close look.

Now I am supposed to believe that this guy (a caterpillar)

goes to sleep...

and wakes up this!?

Just look at the number of feet, wrong color and

not a hint at wings... come on.

Then there is the "chrysalis"... from whence he magically emerges.

I asked a Conservancy zone gardener if he knew how it got there.

He did not! (I suspect it's a plant.)

Checking around I took a few more picture pictures...

I remain dubious.

Murray

10/20/11

All pictures today, except the last which was taken earlier.

Photos and captions by MURRAY HEAD

To be continued...

End of the Monarch story

2011-10-29T21:37:00.021-04:00

To conclude the story so rudely interrupted by the storm: I received another e-mail with photos and captions from photographer Murray Head. It provides a perfect ending:

Hi Marie,

I returned to the Conservatory Garden this morning to see how far things had developed...

Oh No! He flew the Chrysalis! He's gone and I didn't have the chance to say goodbye.

Then I heard a voice chirp... "Look over there."

I did. He wasn't gone, he was... he was... Twins!...and they were soaking up sunshine & sipping nectar, preparing for their journey to Mexico.

In a little while, one rose up and said to the other..."Now it's time to go."

They took off and headed toward the French Garden where 2,000 Korean Chrysanthemums were blooming, as the girls danced around the fountain... on this perfect Fall morning.

Chirp... "Look up!"

I did... It was most certainly one of the twins... turning and heading south.

"Now look once more," the voice said to me.

I did, it was the other, and I said... "Goodbye."

The end of my story... just the beginning of theirs.

Murray

10/28/11

Photos and captions by MURRAY HEAD

Tomorrow: Rebekah's Cocoon story

Name that Duck

2011-10-28T14:18:00.009-04:00

photo by Bill Schmoker

A few days ago the following query appeared on e-Birds:

Has anyone noticed this duck on Turtle Pond in Central Park: dark green to black head, puffy white "bib", and solid cinnamon-colored body (no remarkable features). Sorry I don't have a photo. Maybe a hybrid, but of what? It hangs out with the mallards there.

Gary Aspenberg

Ellen Michaels of Ellen Michaels Wildlife & Nature Photos replied:

Hi,
I believe the duck that he is speaking of is on the upper right of page 61 of the soft cover edition of The Sibley Field Guide To Birds. It is called a Domestic Mallard and has been in the park for a couple of months. Two months ago it was brown and white and now there is a greenish tinge on the head where it had been all brown.

Hope this helps,

Ellen

www.ellenmichaelsphotos.com

PS from Marie-- You can find the Domestic Mallard on p. 89 of the big version of Sibley

WARNING! X-Rated photos

2011-10-24T10:37:00.011-04:00

DOG STINKHORNS -- Mutinus Caninus

Photos by REBEKAH CRESHKOFF -- taken in Central Park on Sunday, October 23, 2011

from Wikipedia:

Mutinus caninus, commonly known as the dog stinkhorn, is a small thin, phallus-shaped woodland fungus, with a dark tip. It is often found growing in small groups on wood debris, or in leaf litter, during summer and autumn in Europe, Asia, and eastern North America. It is not generally considered edible, although there are reports of the immature 'eggs' being consumed.

PS from Marie: Talking about x-rated, one of the common stinkhorns you might also find in Central Park is the Phallus impudicus [see below]. When my sister and I were children, coming upon one of these while mushroom hunting with our father would send us into uncontrollable giggles.

Phallus impudicus

Missing shot found

2011-10-22T14:05:00.006-04:00

In my post of October 18 one particular shot was missing--the newly-emerged butterfly still on its chrysalis. Today Ellen Michaels, a wildlife photographer I occasionally encounter in Central Park [and always with delight] sent me a link to the missing photo she had taken on that same day, October 16th. She wrote:

Hi Marie,

I was at the North End on October 16 and did get the shot of the Monarch on the Chrysalis.

Best regards,

Ellen

Ellen Michaels Wildlife & Nature Photos

www.ellenmichaelsphotos.com

Everything you always wanted to know about Pumpkins and Pollinators

2011-10-19T11:43:00.005-04:00

Whether you wake to find mist hanging in damp hollows, snow draping the last of your tomato vines, or sunshine glinting off a warm sea, there is one thing that unites us all this month: pumpkins. With Halloween quickly followed by Thanksgiving, pumpkins seem to define this season. We make family trips in a quest for the perfect jack-o'-lantern, dress up in pumpkin costumes to go trick or treating, decorate our homes with them, and slice them up to make pies, bread, and soup.

Pumpkins are native to Central America and the desert Southwest. The pumpkin we typically carve or cook is a species calledCucurbita pepo, although there are four species ofCucurbita that include cultivars called pumpkins. With corn and beans, pumpkins and other squash form the "three sisters," a staple part of Native American agriculture. Because of this, pumpkins spread to new areas of North America, including New England, where Native tribes introduced the early Pilgrims to pumpkins. This was fortunate for the settlers, as pumpkins helped them fend off starvation during their first winters.

The squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) relies on pumpkins for survival, and seems to have followed pumpkins across the continent. The bee is a specialist forager and will only collect pollen from squash flowers. Females often nest in the ground around the base of pumpkin plants, and males take shelter in flowers overnight. Because of this, it must once have been limited to areas in which pumpkins are native. Yet today the squash bee has expanded its range, adapting to dramatically different climates and environments, and is found as far south as Florida and north as Ontario. These bees can often be found in home gardens, and will even colonize newly created community gardens amid the tall buildings and parking lots of a city, witness to their amazing ability to follow squash plants!

Although squash bees depend on pumpkin plants, it is not a one-way relationship. Squash bees are highly efficient pollinators of pumpkin flowers. Pumpkin flowers open at dawn, a period of the day that can be too dark or too cold for mostbees to be active. The squash bee, however, is adapted to fly in these conditions. It is an early riser, and will often be up half an hour before dawn, the perfect time to visit squash flowers. The bees also have widely spaced hairs in their pollen brush (a patch of hairs for carrying pollen), an adaptation to cope with pumpkin flowers' large pollen grains.

Squash bees are not the only bees that pollinate pumpkins, which is fortunate for those of us living in the few areas these bees haven't yet reached. There are four other species of Peponapis and a few species in the closely related genus Xenoglossa, which are also squash specialists. None of these are as abundant or widespread as the squash bee, nor as adept at moving into new areas. Bumble bees, including the common eastern (Bombus impatiens) and the two-spotted (Bombus bimaculatus), also are regular visitors, as is the long-horned bee Melissodes bimaculata, which is often seen on pumpkins in gardens of the eastern U.S. In addition, many farmers rent honey bees (Apis mellifera) to pollinate fields of pumpkins. This range of pollinators ensures the sustainability of North American pumpkin crops and our access to the perfect Halloween pumpkin

from The Xerces Society bulletin online

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.

PHOTO CREDITS

pumpkins by Matthew Shepherd, squash bee by Jim Cane, and squash bees on a squash flower by Bob Hammon

Monarch of the Conservatory Garden

2011-10-18T11:45:00.010-04:00

Last Sunday [10/16] an e-mail arrived from Rebekah Creshkoff. It said:

Mike Freeman just showed me a Monarch recently emerged from its chrysalis in the Conservatory Garden and 3 more huge caterpillars. Didn't have camera, alas. Going back tomorrow.

The next day I wrote Rebekah: Did you go back? In response she sent me the photos below, taken on Monday, October 17 at 8:30 a.m.:

Note the remains of the chrysalis on the bottom of the rainbow chard leaf in the photo above

Today [10/18] Rebekah wrote: Stopped by Conservatory Garden this a.m. The butterfly had flown, but the off-milkweed caterpillar still hadn't started wrapping itself.

Sorry, not a scoop

2011-10-11T10:01:00.005-04:00

Pale Male & mate-10/8/11

Photo courtesy of PaleMale.com

Here's what I wrote to Murray Head after I posted his reports of Pale Male's possible new nest:

Hi Murray, Thanks for the "scoop" [?] It might make a few pulse rates go up a little. And yet...and yet... it's October, not February or March, so I feel a bit dubious. Marie

Murray wrote back later:

Subject: Re: A Scoop!?

I did some investigation this afternoon at the Hawk Bench...

You have good reason to feel dubious.

Rik (Davis)... told me that Palemale exhibited this behavior a few years ago. The owners of the apt were away for about a month and Palemale would bring sticks and branches there. Rik walked below the Balustrade and found many sticks and branches on the street, the wind had blown them off the ledge... nothing to anchor them.

Sorry, Not a Scoop.

Murray

SCOOP??

2011-10-07T12:32:00.008-04:00

Pale Male at balustrade of building to the left of 927 Fifth Ave.

Photo by MURRAY HEAD -- 10/5/2011

Murray Head, the ace photographer, just sent an interesting note and the photo to the left:

Hi Marie,

Palemale and Ginger are bringing twigs and branches to a balustrade on the building to the left of 927 Fifth... A new nest!? A Scoop!?

Someone with a pair of binoculars might want to take a look.

Murray

Still lots of birds going through

2011-10-05T16:11:00.005-04:00

Hermit Thrush - Central Park, 10/16/07

Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

Phil Jeffrey reports, via e-Birds:A small flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets in Strawberry Fields reinforced the idea of late fall migration. Other seasonal firsts for me: Hermit Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Other notables:

Common Nighthawk flyby

Lincoln's Sparrows , 3;

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Canada Geese, two flocks traversing Manhattan.

Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture (3, seen well to south)
Gadwall
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Chimney Swift
Common Nighthawk (Maint. Field)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Strawberry Fields)
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush (multiple)
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow (Oven)
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow (Maint. Field, Azalea Pond)
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole (Maint. Field)
__._,_.___

Saturday in the Park with Phil

2011-10-02T09:40:00.005-04:00

Yellow-breasted Chat, Central Park, 10/3/06
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

A summary of yesterday's bird activity from Phil Jeffrey, one of Central Park's great birders and bird-reporters:

A fairly good migration day saw two hot spots for warblers: Strawberry Fields and the Maintenance Field and a decent raptor flight, mainly of Accipiters. There was a Chat in the Maintenance Field that wasn't very cooperative, otherwise nothing really out of place. Despite being Oct 1st, I notice the lack of any kinglets or sapsuckers, suggesting that there's a decent amount of migration still to come.The Barred Owl was not reported today.

Double-crested Cormorant (one flock of 30+)
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Gadwall (Turtle Pond)
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Solitary Sandpiper (Turtle Pond and Maint. Field flyby)
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Empidonax sp's (Acadian-ish in Strawberry, Yellow-bellied-ish in Maintenance)
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
House Wren
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Phil Jeffrey

Tom's overview of Central Park migration

2011-09-27T17:13:00.006-04:00

Cape May Warbler -- Central Park - 9/28/06

Photo by Cal Vornberger http://www.calvorn.com

Tom Fiore writes in NYS-Birds:

Sunday, 25 September, 2011 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City

Add at least one more Warbler species to the good variety for Sunday's sightings, a Cape May noted by J. Suzuki around the reservoir outer path, not far from the W. 90 Street park entrance, bringing a total tally to at least 24 wood-warbler species seen collectively in the park, that active day.
- - - - -
Monday, 26 September - there was additional flight - new arrivals, and also some apparent departure and dispersal from the bigger apparent (observed) flight (from Sat. overnight to) Sunday. Cuckoos were still evident with a number of sightings noted, by far more seen being Yellow-billed than Black-billed. A further reinforcement of Indigo Buntings, and also at least some further movement of flycatchers with Eastern Phoebe trying (but not yet succeeding) to out-number Eastern Wood-Pewees. A few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are a small sign of the season to come, even if it is already here on our calendars.

A fairly good diurnal movement of Blue Jay continued Monday - and a very good ongoing Cedar Waxwing movement, easily nearing the 4-digit numbers overall, many as flyover flocks through much of the day.

Also coming along are sparrows with the more interesting reports actually seeming to be from the city's southernmost borough (Richmond County) - Vesper and Clay-colored both reported there, Monday. These birds were at Snug Harbor, and Clove Lakes Park respectively and they, along with Connecticut Warbler at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, are located in the northern parts of the island. (Richmond County = Staten Island, NYC). the SINaturaList had the reports, that's in the big Yahoo-group bird-list "family".

The very mild, summer-like local weather certainly belies the big movement of many neotropical wintering species. It will be interesting to see just what is reported after any good "old-fashioned" cold front clears the NYC - Long Island region (Region 10, in the "Kingbird" designation) which appears to be in the works for the weekend, if not just before...

Good birding,

Tom Fiore,
Manhattan

Cuckoo time

2011-09-27T12:41:00.003-04:00

Black-billed Cuckoo -- from Birds of North America

A birder's report of TODAY'S birds [via e-birds]

I birded from 7.15-9.45 this morning. Started off slow but the second bird I saw was a Black Billed Cuckoo at Hernshead this made my morning. American Redstart MM Black and White Warbler HH Magnolia Warbler MM Northern Parula MM Magnolia MM Common Yellow Throat Tupelo Northern Waterthrush Ramble Palm Warbler Tupelo and Castle Ruby Throated Hummingbird upper lobe N. Flicker many Chimney Swifts Gray Catbirds Mourning Doves Kingbird flyover MM Easter Phoebe Tupelo Black Crown Night Heron Turtle pond Red Eyed Vireo Turtle pond Blue Headed Vireo MM Ray Slyper

NB: MM = Maintenance Meadow

Today's warblers

2011-09-22T13:43:00.006-04:00

photo of Blackpoll Warbler taken on 10/4/07

by DAVID SPEISER http://www.lilibirds.com

Joe DiCostanzo reports:

Another humid morning in Central Park for my Thursday morning American Museum Of Natural History bird walk group. The most active areas were the Belvedere Castle area and the south side of Turtle Pond. Highlights included:

Northern Parula (Belvedere & Turtle Pond)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Belvedere & Turtle Pond)

Magnolia Warbler (Belvedere & Turtle Pond)

Black-throated Green Warbler (Turtle Pond)

Pine Warbler (2 - Turtle Pond)

Blackpoll Warbler (2 - Turtle Pond)

Black-and-white Warbler (Turtle Pond)

Northern Waterthrush (Belvedere)

Common Yellowthroat (Turtle Pond)

Joe DiCostanzo

[reporting on e-birds]

__._,_.___

A not-very-Scarlet Tanager and others

2011-09-21T11:52:00.006-04:00

Scarlet Tanager -- fall plumage --9/23/07

Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK

9/21/11

On a humid morning in the Ramble, my American Museum of Natural History bird walk was able to find some warblers in the park. The most active areas were the south side of Turtle Pond and the Maintenance Meadow. Highlights included:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Tupelo Meadow)
Eastern Phoebe (Maintenance Meadow)
Brown Thrasher (Maintenance Meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (Maintenance Meadow)
Northern Parula (Maintenance Meadow & Turtle Pond)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Turtle Pond)
Magnolia Warbler (Maintenance Meadow & Turtle Pond)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Turtle Pond) Pine Warbler (Turtle Pond)
Blackpoll Warbler (Turtle Pond)
Black-and-white Warbler (Maintenance Meadow)
American Redstart (Maintenance Meadow)
Canada Warbler (Turtle Pond)
Scarlet Tanager (Maintenance Meadow)

Joe DiCostanzo

Nice Migration day

2011-09-16T14:27:00.008-04:00

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Photo by DAVID SPEISER - Central Park 9/27/07

Ray Sliper sent the followiog report and list to e-Birds today:

Mike Bryant and I, Ray Slyper, birded Strawberry Fields, Maintenance Meadow and the

Ramble.

Chestnut Sided Warbler SF

American Redstart SF-MM
Black and White Warbler SF-MM
Magnolia Warbler SF-MM
Northern Parula SF-MM
Black Throated Blue. SF
Common Yellow Throat
Northern Waterthrush Laupot Bridge
Wilson's Warbler
Palm Warbler SF
Blackpoll Warbler SF
Brown Thrasher MM
Titmice
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
N. Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Cedar Waxwings big flock Hernshead
Chimney Swifts
Gray Catbird
Mourning Doves
Breasted Grosbeak

Note::

SF = Strawberry Fields

MM = Maintenance Meadow

Rare Sparrow in Central Park has a close escape

2011-09-13T16:29:00.005-04:00

Karen Fung posted the first report of Central Park's latest "star" bird on eBirds at 11:50 a.m:

Adult Lark Sparrow currently at N End in the newly created field
north of the Balancing Rock which is at the south end of the Great
Hill. Found by Tom Perlman.

Among the birdwatchers who showed up was Malcom Morris, a North Woods Regular, who sent in the following dramatic report:

Wada

and I were watching the lark sparrow at the base of a small black cherry tree around 12 today from a distance of perhaps 15 yards when a kestrel came swooping over my shoulder and flew right at the lark sparrow. It wasn't clear whether there was contact or not but the sparrow ended up going right into the nearby brush and the kestrel up and around and then to a nearby high perch. Starr and Tom Perlman had mentioned seeing an active kestrel about a half hour before when we were all looking at the lark sparrow. The sparrow eventually came back to the edge of the fence along the south side of the field near a stump, but only ventured about six inches away from the fence. The kestrel stayed for a least a half hour more watching. We lost the sparrow in the brush behind the stump around 12:30 or so and when I left at 12:40, it hadn't been refound. The perils of migration right before our eyes Malcolm Morris

PS The photo above, by LLOYD SPITALNIK was taken at Jones Beach State Park on 11/6/10

Big news--A Chipmunk in Central Park

2011-09-12T10:34:00.004-04:00

It was found yesterday by my friend Rebekah Creshkoff, and the documentation is impeccable. Click on the link below to see Rebekah's charming youTube video that includes the chipping chipmunk sounds..

photo by Rebekah Creshkoff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLE3rXYeCw

Thrush of the Day and PS

2011-09-09T13:16:00.005-04:00

From e-Birds 9/9/11--- THIS MORNING:

Highlight of the morning was a Swainson's Thrush in the Ramble south of Tupelo.

David Barrett

How to tell a Swainson's Thrush from a Gray-cheeked Thrush:

The buffy eye-ring, upper breast and cheeks distinguish the Swainson's Thrush from the similar Gray-cheeked Thrush.

photo of Swainson's Thrush by LLOYD SPITALNIK

http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

photo taken on 10/3/06 in Central Park

Gorgeous Redhead in Central Park

2011-09-08T11:01:00.006-04:00

How to find her -- well, it's a him:

Red-headed Woodpecker- 4/14/07
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

Here's today's report from Joe DiCostanzo of the American Museum of Natural History:

Red-headed Woodpecker (adult) same tree as yesterday. As you go west on the paved trail from the small bridge at the south end of the Azalea Pond, the Gill is on your left (south). Yesterday and today the Red-headed was in the largest tree on the left side just off the trail (tall, very straight trunk). The bird is very uncooperative; it stays high in the tree and is often difficult to see. In the same tree we had several American Redstarts, a male Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Black-and-white Warbler and two Red-eyed Vireos.

What Dragonflies do when it's HOT

2011-09-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

Eastern Amberwing - Central Park - August 10, 2011
Photo by PETER POST

PETER POST writes:

Marie,

I thought you might like the attached photo of an male Eastern Amberwing
that I recently took, just a few feet inside the park, from the 72nd Street & Central Park West entrance. It is in the obelisk posture. A posture assumed by some dragonflies to minimize the surface area they expose to the heat of the sun. So called because it suggests an obelisk.

Peter

Q & A about Pale Male and fledgling

2011-09-05T12:36:00.006-04:00

Pale Male chasing fledgling away - 9/5/11

Courtesy of PaleMale.com

Mai Stewart asked hawk expert John Blakeman a question about a photo on today's PaleMale website, 9/5/11:

Hi John,

Hope you're having a good holiday!

Today's website shows what seems to be some kind of confrontation between PM and one of the fledglings, which Lincoln believes represents PM beginning to chase the fledglings away from that particular territory.

Do you think this is what's happening -- or would you have another explanation?

But if so, is it too early, or about the normal time? Has the fall migration begun, and do you expect that the fledglings will join it, i.e., move on out of CP? There's certainly enough prey here for everyone --

I believe there was a pix within the last few days of one of the fledglings sitting on top of the Beresford, which is definitely part of PM's territory. Do you think this may have sparked PM's aggressive action toward the fledgling?

Or is it possible for them to stay around, as long as they're a suitable distance away from the area PM claims?

Remember Junior/Charlotte -- they were down at Central Park South, which does give some room away from the 927 area, yet remaining in NYC and within the general area of CP.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Many thanks,
Mai

John Blakeman promptly answered - 9/5/11

Mai,

I haven't looked at Lincoln's photos on this, so I don't know the particulars.

But it's now September, and the days are getting 4 minutes shorter each day. For the hawks, everything is changing. Summer is gone; fall is here. It's time for immatures to get serious about migrating and moving out. So yes, Pale Male's "interaction" with an eyass may have an element of parental "motivation" to get the immatures to move on out.

I don't think "chase" is the proper word. That implies physical contact and so forth. But this can be a psychological "nudging," a parental displeasure with immatures tending to linger and wishing to mooch off the provisions of the parents. That worked in July and August, but Pale Male won't be caching or dropping much prey for his eyasses now.

The matter is not much related to prey availability at this time of year. Yes, if Pale Male and his consort allowed it, and the eyasses likewise agreed, they could remain well-fed in Central Park through the autumn and winter. But that's not how Red-tail biology works. If that were allowed, there would be an annual accumulation of persisting young hawks who would, sooner or later, overwhelm the prey resources of the local territory, even those of Central Park.

So, young Red-tails are motivated, both by instinct, and gentle parental nudging (perhaps as photographically noted by Lincoln Karim), to respond to internal urges to migrate.

Most likely, the Central Park eyasses will soon just disappear from the scene. At an opportune moment they will loft into the Manhattan sky, catch a rising thermal of heat rising above the hot urban streets and buildings, and within a few minutes find themselves at several thousand feet. From there, it's only a matter of turning to the south (or to the west) to be soaring above New Jersey.

And while aloft, the Central Park eyasses will easily spot the many other immature Red-tails also drifting south. Red-tails don't migrate in close groups or formations (Broadwinged Hawks do.). Still, they tend to move in widely-spaced groups. The Central Park immatures will easily affiliate and join such a soaring mass.

So, any day now, Pale Male's 2011 progeny will depart. It's all very natural and normal; an important part of Red-tail biology.

Pale Male and his mate will have no such migratory urges. They will remain in residence, with the autumn a season of relative ease for them. No eyasses to feed or watch out for. Life will be good. Lots of migrating Red-tails coming down the Hudson from more northern latitudes will fly over Central Park, but Pale Male and his mate will recognize that these birds are merely moving through, and pose no threats to the integrity of their local breeding territory.

From time to time in the autumn, some vagrant Red-tails may even be seen in Pale Male's territory, and he may not even challenge them, knowing full well that they are just resting for a few hours or a day, and will soon be back aloft and heading to the south. In autumn and early winter, many successful Red-tail haggards will allow territorial incursions. But as the days begin to lengthen (in January), or even as they stop shortening (in December), everything changes. The new breeding season will

have begun and the territory will be strongly defended once again.

--John Blakeman

Five Faithful Friends Find Fulfillment

2011-09-04T17:13:00.009-04:00

An American Redstart dines on a fly

photo by MURRAY HEAD -- 9/4/11 [today!]

A ten-Warbler morning in the Ramble!

Observers: Alice Deutsch, Sally Weiner, Susan Schulz, Kathleen Howley and I (Ardith Bondi)

Mostly in The Ramble:

Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo (a couple)
Red-eyed Vireo (several)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird (young bird by the foot path north of Tanner Spring)
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing (including a few immatures)
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler (we missed the BTG, but it was reliably
reported by a number of people)
Blackburnian Warbler (Oven)
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Waterthrush (Laupot)
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
White-throated Sparrow (1)
Northern Cardinal (still some young ones around)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (first fall male)
House Finch
House Sparrow

__._,_.___

PS Sorry about the alliteration...

PPS Thanks, Ardith, and thanks eBirds

__._,_.___

Hurricane Report : Q & A

2011-08-29T11:30:00.014-04:00

Sunday, August 28, 2011 -- doesn't look like anybody paid much attention to the sign...

photo by Sean Curnyn

Q: Bill Trankle writes today, August 29:

According to Yahoo! News the eye of Irene actually passed over Central Park. Remembering the trees that were laid waste a few years back I'm hoping that CP survived with minimal damage. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm, but those still pack some whoomph, so if you get a chance to post an update I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to hear how the park and its denizens survived the thrill ride.

Bill Trankle
Indianapolis, IN

A: Peter Post replies [via NYS Birds] yesterday, August 28, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Good Morning:

Despite Central Park being closed I spent an hour in the park this morning from 6:30-7:30. I birded the 72nd Street Lake, Turtle Pond, The Great Lawn and the Reservoir. I didn't expect much and wasn't disappointed. Visibility was poor and the only birds seen were 3 Mallards, and several robin and grackles.

There was a lot of debris from leaves, twigs, and some downed tree branches Water was over a foot deep on the paths in lower lying areas. I saw no one else except for several police cars and one park official. The police said nothing about my being in the park, but the park official, whom many of you know, told me to leave and then drove off. I came home soaking wet. My rain gear wasn't as waterproof as I thought.

Peter Post
New York city

Here's another report -- via eBirds:

Went through the park on a circuit from the reservoir through the ramble, some branches downed and some trees uprooted near the base of the point, little damage.
Birds:
BC Night Heron Upper Lobe
Gt Crested Flycatchers
Kingfisher Point
Blue Winged Warbler several in mixed flock north of Lauphot Bridge
Redstart several immatures
Black and White at least two
Canada
Worm Eating
Northern Water Thrush
Near Azelea Pond, add another flock with
Female Black Throated Blue at least two
plus one White Throated Sparrow (FoS for me)

Lots of visitors although the park was nominally closed

PS from Marie: I'll post another update as soon as I get a report on damage from the Conservancy

Fall Migration report

2011-08-25T16:37:00.004-04:00

Black-and-Whited Warbler--Central Park -- September 20, 2007

Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com

from eBirds, a very thorough report from three regular Central Park birdwatchers:

Observers: Alice Deutsch, Sally Weiner & Ardith Bondi

Reported by: Ardith Bondi

Double-crested Cormorant (Reservoir, but scarce)

Mallard

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove (many)

Downy Woodpecker, several, incl one young one around the Humming Tombstone, where, earlier this summer, I saw a parent feeding young.

Northern Flicker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Warbling Vireo (north side of Bow Bridge)

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse (several, upper Lobe)

Veery (Gill)

American Robin

Gray Catbird (quite a few)

European Starling

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Ramble)

Black-and-white Warbler (several in different places)

American Redstart (several in different places)

Northern Waterthrush (2 or 3, Azalea Pond and Upper Lobe)

Common Yellowthroat (Upper Lobe)

Canada Warbler (Upper Lobe)

Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Common Grackle

Baltimore Oriole (Turtle Pond)

House Finch (Ramble)

House Sparrow

__._,_.___

Summer Doldrums

2011-08-12T11:37:00.006-04:00

When you're hot, imagine having to wear a FUR COAT!

Photo by JEANETTE Holmes -- Ramble, Central Park, 8/5/11

for more great pictures by Jeanette. check out link below

http://jeanettesanimals.blogspot.com/2011/08/hello-warblers.html

PS Today's new warbler heading South was a PRAIRIE WARBLER. So far we've had sightings of Black & White, Yellow,Blue-winged, Redstart , Canada, Chestnut-sided and both Waterthrushes. Have I missed any?

On his way

2011-08-05T09:59:00.004-04:00

Blue-winged Warbler
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK - Central Park - 5/9/2007

News received a few minutes ago [via eBirds] from birder Karen Fung:

Blue-winged Warbler just flew into Azalea Pond [area], 9:38am

2011-08-03T09:37:00.008-04:00

Photo by MURRAY HEAD 8/2/11

Our faithful correspondent Murray Head writes:

Hi Marie,

A Peacock went for a walk and fly today leaving behind the comforts of the Central Park Children's Zoo

for a birds eye view of the park.

“A male peafowl or peacock has wandered from the Central Park Zoo,” the zoo’s parent, the Wildlife Conservation Society, said in a statement.

“The peacock poses no danger to anyone.”

The peacock perched five stories up, at 838 Fifth Avenue (65th Street), a large crowd gathered below to look and take pictures.

He is 2 years old, has no name and lives in an open-air aviary; he and his two fellow peafowl are free to come and go as they please, zoo officials said.

He selected some rather expensive real estate... one apartment was on selling for $24,000,000 two years ago.

Zoo personal were on hand to make sure he returned safely.

I do hope it all ends well.

Murray

8/2/11

Everything ended well! Here's the story from the New York Daily News:

Headline:
Peacock on the loose flies back to Central Park Zoo after escaping and spending night on 5th Ave.

BY Erik Badia, Barry Paddock and Lukas I. Alpert
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A peacock that flew the coop from the Central Park Zoo returned home safely Wednesday morning after spending the night perched on the ledge of a Fifth Ave. apartment.

The flighty fowl woke up from his snooze and decided to head back to the zoo at 6:45 a.m.

Flying diagonally across Fifth Ave., the bird landed next to the netted enclosure from which it had escaped the day before.

"We have recovered the peacock as anticipated this morning when it flew home at sunrise back into the Central Park Zoo," said zoo director Jeff Sailer.

"Our staff monitored the bird through the night, and at 6:45am, he flew back on his own. The bird is now secured in the aviary," he said.

Colleen Holmes, 36, and Stephanie Witowski, 29, were completing their morning run when the exotic bird sailed overhead.

"He just turned and flew off," Holmes said. "I can't believe he just flew over our heads."

"It's a beautiful bird," Witowski said.

Sailer said zookeepers were pretty confident the colorful creature would return home on its own from its adventure.

"A thorough understanding of the peacock's natural behavior allowed for the successful planning of its recovery," he said.

The beautifully-plumed bird had ended up on a fifth-floor window ledge at 838 Fifth Ave. across from the zoo on Tuesday, peering down at a growing crowd of onlookers and the yellow cabs whizzing.

As the hours passed, the avian escape-artist twisted and craned his neck, ruffled his feathers and cleaned himself, seemingly oblivious to all.

Around 3 a.m. he appeared to take a nap, waking up again sometime around 5 a.m. After another two hours, the bird grew bored and went home.

The Central Park Zoo, which discovered it was down one peacock during a morning count, had said the bird posed no danger.

Peafowl are omnivorous and eat plants, seeds, bugs and reptiles.

In May, a peahen escaped from the Bronx Zoo and was strutting around the Bronx for at least a day before being rescued by garage owner Matos Edison, a bird lover who plucked her out of traffic.

In March, the city's imagination was captured by a cobra that went missing for a week from the Bronx Zoo.

Fall Migration begins in Midsummer

2011-07-31T10:43:00.014-04:00

A Yellow Warbler in the Fall:
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK - Central Park 9/20/07

Yesterday [7/30/11] on eBirds, regular birder JEANETTE HOLMES
reported two warbler sightings in the Ramble: a Yellow Warbler and a Northern Waterthrush. [Check out her blog at:
http://jeanettesanimals.blogspot.com/2011/07/northern-waterthrush-and-yellow-warbler.html ]

So the Fall Migration is off and running.

I went back to my old Ramble records and found reports for first "fall" sightings of the Yellow Warbler on July 14, 1997, July 20, 2000, July 24, 1996, July 26, 1993, July 28, 1998, Aug 1, 1994, 1995;.

As for the Northern Waterthrush, first fall sightings were July 21, 1977; July 22, 1996;July 29, 2002. In fact, the Louisiana Waterthrush usually comes before the Northern, arriving as early as July 17 [2000]. I haven't heard of a sighting in Central Park yet...

By the end of the first week of August many more species of avian migrants will start to appear in Central Park. The next migrants to keep an eye out for: Black&White Warbler, American Redstart; Palm Warbler; Pine Warbler.

Here's the Northern Waterthrush:
Photo by LLOYD SPITALNIK
Central Park - 9/2/05

The kids are alright

2011-07-29T14:29:00.011-04:00

Murray Head sends in an update on Pale Male & Ginger's kids:

Hi Marie,

I assume you are still translating...But when you return to your blog you might like to post some pictures of Palemale and Ginger's kids...

Today [7/28/11] in the Park...

Seven photos by MURRAY HEAD- all taken on 7/28/11

PS And for all who inquired, I'm alright too! Thanks.

One nest empty, another not quite

2011-07-11T15:59:00.014-04:00

Murray Head writes:

Hi Marie,

Update:

(You probably know)

At 4:45 pm Sunday afternoon... Baby 2 fledged!

A loud cheer went up at the Hawk Bench as he flew off

and landed safely in a tree in the park.

Central Park is now blessed with two new magnificent Red-tailed Hawks along with the parents that created these miracles.

The nest is empty!

And speaking of nests...

Today my eye was on the sparrow...

I really loved Melody's pictures [on this blog yesterday]... so I went for a closer look.

This nest is not empty.

Alpha Baby

She will be back very soon...

Murray

7/11/11

Green light, Red light

2011-07-10T14:13:00.005-04:00

House Sparrow nest at the 72nd Street Transverse
Photo by MELODY ANDRES, 7/9/11

Melody writes:
While walking across 72nd Street, I came across a sparrow's nest built in a traffic light. (See pictures) Mom was flying back and forth bringing her two chicks dinner. She wasn't the least bit concerned about the light changing from red to green. The nest was built in the center covering the yellow light. Central heating, I guess. They are clever.

Regards,
Melody

Fledging flash!

2011-07-07T15:09:00.004-04:00

Just got a call from Rik Davis, faithful hawkwatcher [and hawk photographer] at the Hawk Bench.

The first fledge at the Fifth Avenue nest!!! Successful!!!!

The first nestling took its leave sometime before Rik got to the Model-boat pond--that is, before 11 a.m. this morning. Subsequently it was located in a tree near the top of the hill going from the MBP to 72nd Street and Fifth Ave. and photographed there by Lincoln Karim

The photo here is of Charles Kennedy, hawkwatcher extraordinaire, Central Park naturalist and our friend who died on October 20, 2004. At every landmark in the cycle of the Fifth Avenue redtails-- mating, nest building, incubation, hatching and today, the first fledge--we all think of Charles.

Blakeman's views on the spikes and a PS from Marie

2011-07-04T17:20:00.008-04:00

Soon-to-be-fledglings look down at the "spikes"

photo courtesy of PaleMale.com-- taken on July 4, 2011

In regard to the spikes on the Fifth Avenue nest [see post of 7/3/11], Mai Stewart posed the question to John Blakeman on July 3:

John --

It occurs to me that some people may be concerned that the eyasses, now in their pre-fledge, hop-flapping stage, might lose their footing and inadvertently fall with disastrous results onto the pigeon spikes on the 12th floor balcony below -- or even when they fledge. The letter posted recently on Marie's site voiced the fear that they could be harmed by the spikes -- do you think this is a possibility and cause for concern?
Many thanks,

On Jul 4, 2011, John Blakeman responded unequivocally:

Mai,

Just why this pigeon spike issue has such urgency is beyond me.

No red-tail is ever going to get injured landing on such a spike. The bird will simply stay off the spikes, just as they stay off the equally sharp spines of honeylocust trees.

This is an issue with only imagined harms to the hawks. They aren't dumb. They simply will not get themselves injured on the pigeon spikes. They will simply fly off to some ledge or perch without them, probably on another building.

No big deal. This is an imaginary problem of no significance whatsoever. A pursuit of a "solution" will only create other problems, mostly social ones among humans.

The entire topic should be simply dropped. The hawks are smart enough to figure it all out, which might require them to land on other surfaces without the spikes.

Again, no big deal.

--John Blakeman

PS from Marie I'm glad to hear this is a non-issue!

After a long hiatus... hello again!

2011-06-26T09:32:00.007-04:00

The Fifth Avenue babies:

They'll be fledging any day now!

The Fifth Avenue nestlings

photo courtesy of Palemale.com

About the spikes:

The following letter was sent to the NYC Audubon [with a copy to me] a few weeks ago. It was written by Penelope Bianchi, a birdwatcher who has long been following the Fifth Avenue nest. It is still relevant now. Better late than never...

Hello.

I live in SantaBarbara, Ca. I joined the NYC Audubon Society and rallied loudly and long following the removal of his nest. I donated; I wrote every single politician, and everyone having to with Central Park to try to mitigate the damage.

You people teamed up with various groups to help build the support for the nest Pale Male rebuilt. (with the help of his mates)!

This is the first year (after 7) they have hatched any babies.

The new (as recently as a year) "spikes" are of steel. The old ones were bad enough, but they were plastic. That is a huge difference; ...

Please do something about the removal of these potentially lethal spikes from the twelfth floor balcony of that building. Already both parents have almost become stuck and injured.....The baby hawks could get stuck in them and die. They are easily removed by snipping the plastic cable from the window of the apartment.

Thank you for your recommendations about rodenticides. ALL of Central Park is the hunting territory for many hawks. We have already seen many hawks die of secondary poisoning. Please lobby in every way to stop the use of it in Central Park. anywhere in Central Park. The cost of wildlife is just way too high! and the hawks and owls are wonderful rodent control. Just not if those rodents are poisoned!

Oh Please take action on both of these frontiers. The birds are counting on you.

Penelope Bianchi

A letter from Murray

2011-06-15T17:46:00.006-04:00

Hi Marie,

Seems like The Park is currently one big nursery...

with an afternoon nap part of a duckling's day.

Turtle Pond, 6-14-11

Photos by MURRAY HEAD

Murray's Birds, Bees and Flowers

2011-06-05T12:02:00.017-04:00

Photos and photo order by MURRAY HEAD

The Conservatory Garden -- June 4, 2011.

Jeannette discovers ducklings

2011-06-03T09:43:00.005-04:00

JEANNETTE HOLMES found these brand-new ducklings at the Oven [near the Boathouse] on May 31, 2011.

On the same day she photographed a Great Egret showing off at the Lake outside the Boathouse

And a flock of Cedar Waxwings passing berries one to another near The Pond.

You can find all this and more on Jeannette's blog: [She posted the link on eBirds today]

http://jeanettesanimals.blogspot.com/2011/05/waxwings-ducklings-and-performance.html

PS That green stuff the ducklings are swimming in is not slime or scum. It is Duckweed, a very nutritious plant made up of hundreds of individual plantlets all floating together.

Tom Fiore's Memorial Day bird report

2011-05-31T15:32:00.007-04:00

Memorial Day Mon., 30 May, 2011 -

Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City

Warbling Vireo in nest

from nenature.com

"Ain't over 'til it's over" - but getting there... for local land-bird migration that is. In going out extra-early before rains arrived, a few migrants were vocal, including at least 4 Warbler species and then much later, with warm sun & a look around the well-watered Loch, a few additional warblers and not many other non-summer visitors, except for a smattering of Empidonax, with only one making much noise, a calling Acadian. The warblers were of a similar mix as Sunday except that some (all those singing, of course) were males, including a Wilson's. At least 8 Blackpoll Warblers, half of them females were seen, usually a fairly good indicator of the migration's near-end, yet there will be as much as a week or more of stragglers and perhaps odd birds moving through in one direction or another, if not lingering a while in a city park.

Sunday -

A female Mourning Warbler was among the very few migrants to be found in the park's north end Sunday a.m., almost all of what was seen was well after a fog lifted, and sun emerged. Also seen - found by Tom Perlman - was a Red-breasted Nuthatch, which continues a string of sightings in the park, notably in late spring at the north end, of this species. Some other warblers also found, in our separate findings in the n. end, included Wilson's, N. Parula, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Ovenbird (with a 'gimpy' wing), American Redstart, & Blackpoll - most of these, other than a few of the latter, were females. There was a brief altercation between an E. Wood-Pewee (one of a fair number in the park) and what sounded to be an Acadian Flycatcher, which gave some odd, slightly fast calls in response to a "pewee chase". Also seen were a few other (non-vocal) Empidonax-genus flycatchers, as well as resident E. Kingbirds, and not-very-active Great Crested Flycatchers. Modest numbers of Chimney Swifts persist. The most numerous migrant (of which relatively few will stay and attempt to nest) was Red-eyed Vireo, which were singing well once fog lifted. Warbling Vireos include some pairs that have been on nests.

Manhattanhenge again and a PS

2011-05-30T11:16:00.008-04:00

Website reader and old friend Mary Birchard wrote this morning to remind me of Mannhattanhenge. The sun will be right on target at 8:17 pm. Best viewing time tonight will be about 7:45. : Below, the annual clip from astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson's blog.

Manhattanhenge

Sunset on the Manhattan Grid

Sunset looking down 34th Street. One of two days when the sunset is exactly aligned with the grid of streets in Manhattan. Photo ©Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2001.

What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues? Surely the grid would be presumed to have astronomical significance, just as we have found for the pre-historic circle of large vertical rocks known as Stonehenge, in the Salisbury Plain of England. For Stonehenge, the special day is the summer solstice, when the Sun rises in perfect alignment with several of the stones, signaling the change of season.

For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes twice a year. For 2011 they fall on May 30th, and July 12th, when the setting Sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan's brick and steel canyons, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough's grid. A rare and beautiful sight. These two days happen to correspond with Memorial Day and Baseball's All Star break. Future anthropologists might conclude that, via the Sun, the people who called themselves Americans worshiped War and Baseball.

For these two days, as the Sun sets on the grid, half the disk sits above and half below the horizon. My personal preference for photographs. But the day after May 30th (May 31), and the day before July 12 (July 11) also offer Manhattanhenge moments, but at sunset, you instead will find the entire ball of the Sun on the horizon.

Mock-up of the half sun on the grid during Manhattanhenge.

PS Murray Head reminded me that there was a great Op-Ed piece in the NY Times on 5/28 of special interest to birdwatchers. Here's a link to it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/opinion/29franzen.html