A rank beginner in New York, New York (1 Viewer)

Pinewood · Jun 11, 2004

I live between Riverside and Central Parks in Gotham [I never liked Big Apple as a nickname] When I "said hello," I was encouraged to go to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Am I too "laid back" to consider the ninety minute trip, by public transport, too much? After all, I have been birding for only seven months and I have not identified a signifigant portion of birdlife near my front door.

My first bird, at the very start of pursuing this intersest was a long eared owl, near Central Park's lake. In the same vicinity, I have seen other waterfowl, gulls waders, grackles, and a raptor. Now that I more aware I noticed and identified a house finch, which visited my sill. While a neighbour had a wild turkey visit the terrace of his 25th floor flat. I seem to have trouble finding and identifying those little perching birds, but before I started this pursuit I thought that the city only had pigeons and sparrows.

A correspondent of mine, in Houston, Texas is alway amazed at the birdlife to be seen in New York.

KC Foggin · Jun 11, 2004

Hi there Pinewood and on behalf of the staff here at BirdForum.net, a very warm welcome to you. I'm glad you decided to say hello.

I am quite familiar with the area you speak of. My son owns a co-op not far from Riverside park and St. John's Church is one of my favorite buildings to visit when I am in the city. Hoping to get up there for the fall migration as my son has promised me a tour of out of the way spots with one of the guys that heads up the Park's Dept.

Screech · Jun 12, 2004

Hi Pinewood, Nice bird to start with, Long Eared Owl! CP is a great birding area to add new species to your list. Check out the Lake area, usually birders there to help with Id.
Hope you enjoy the many Forums here, enjoy!

Beverlybaynes · Jun 12, 2004

Pinewoods: Many folks would consider that having only 90 min trip on public transportation to Jamaica Bay to be a wonderful gift! Me, among them!

But no matter. That's one of the beauties of birding: you can do as little or as much birding as you want and you're not breaking any rules! If going to Jamaica Bay seems too much a trip to you, that's just fine. With Central Park, you have a real jewel of a place right on your doorstep; why go any further? It's got a huge species count, and I'd think that hooking up some morning with the local birders there would be a thrill!

Which raptor have you seen? Any chance it's the famous Pale Male of recent PBS fame? He lives right there near CP, you know.

marcus · Jun 13, 2004

Oh boy, Beverly is right. I was born in New York City, and lived in and around it for more than 30 years before I moved to Maryland, but I never once went to Jamaica Bay. And I sure would have loved to.
But I know that when I lived up there, I never once saw another person birding, but now on BirdForum I seem to here a lot from NYC birders.
By the way, do you know what raptor you saw? Was it an Osprey? I saw my first one up there. It wasn't in New York City actually, but in Long Island.
marcus

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

Red Tail

I definitely see red tail hawks, on the west side of the Park. Around 1600 hours, on weekdays, I exit the station at 7oth Street. Several times each week, for the last few weeks, I see a pair circling from the Park west and then back. The silhouettes are clearly those of a raptor, while the tails have a red hue. I saw one, talons extended, dropping to the Park. Perhaps he was having a nice pigeon or rodent dinner.

I have never been introduced to Pale Male but his abode is on the east side of the Park. Lucky fellow, I cannot afford a place on Fifth Avenue.

I was in the Park, during the spring migration, but I could not locate and identify the birds which were singing around me.

Many thanks for the kind wishes and advice, which I reciprocate,

Arthur Pinewood

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

Birders aplenty

marcus said:
Oh boy, Beverly is right. I was born in New York City, and lived in and around it for more than 30 years before I moved to Maryland, but I never once went to Jamaica Bay. And I sure would have loved to.
But I know that when I lived up there, I never once saw another person birding, but now on BirdForum I seem to here a lot from NYC birders.
By the way, do you know what raptor you saw? Was it an Osprey? I saw my first one up there. It wasn't in New York City actually, but in Long Island.
marcus

My dear Marcus,

It was a red tail. Please see my post to the "thread."

My coworker tells me that there are kestrels near the north end of the Park and near the East River, downtown, that is the southern end of Manhattan.

With warm wishes,
Arthur

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

well dressed cormorants

Screech said:
Hi Pinewood, Nice bird to start with, Long Eared Owl! CP is a great birding area to add new species to your list. Check out the Lake area, usually birders there to help with Id.
Hope you enjoy the many Forums here, enjoy!

My dear Screech,

At or near the Lake, I have seen Canada geese, mallards, an American black duck, a swan, a ring necked duck, northern shovelers, ringed bill gulls, herring gulls, a black crowned night heron, a great egret and double crested coromorants.

At the Park's Turtle Pond, below Belvedere, I spotted many double crested cormorants. After examining them up close, a mother with children asked me what kind of birds they were. She then told her children that they were "double breasted cormorants." Such a bird might make an interesteing character for a children's book.

With warm wishes
Arthur Pinewood

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

Taking the A train

Beverlybaynes said:
Pinewoods: Many folks would consider that having only 90 min trip on public transportation to Jamaica Bay to be a wonderful gift! Me, among them!

Which raptor have you seen? Any chance it's the famous Pale Male of recent PBS fame? He lives right there near CP, you know.

My dear Beverly,

The ride from my abode to the Jamaica Bay wildlife refuge is tedious, and probably involves a bus trip, as well as the "A" train. Should my coworker, or the local birders do a trip, I shall certainly reconsider my parochial ways.

Please see my other posts to the thread about the raptor.

With warm regards,
Arthur Pinewood

gthang · Jun 13, 2004

Welcome to the forum, Pinewood from a Dutchess county resident!

Here in Stormville (where the Edmund Safra bodyguard lived while off duty, before he murdered the poor billionaire...), there are tons of birds, I've logged over 50 species in my neighborhood alone!

Check out my gallery, and also a Bird Location in the USA directory. Hope you enjoy this site!

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

Photos as well!

gthang said:
Welcome to the forum, Pinewood from a Dutchess county resident!

Here in Stormville (where the Edmund Safra bodyguard lived while off duty, before he murdered the poor billionaire...), there are tons of birds, I've logged over 50 species in my neighborhood alone!

Check out my gallery, and also a Bird Location in the USA directory. Hope you enjoy this site!

How do you get opportunites to photograph as well as spot birds? That must take a lot of patience as well as skill.

You are good to share your birding through your photos.
Arthur Pinewood

Beverlybaynes · Jun 13, 2004

Double-breasted cormorant! You've planted a hilarious picture in my brain, Arthur, of a most dapper cormorant with a double row of bright shiny buttons on his coat . . . now if I could only draw!

gthang · Jun 13, 2004

Pinewood said:
How do you get opportunites to photograph as well as spot birds? That must take a lot of patience as well as skill.

You are good to share your birding through your photos.
Arthur Pinewood

Well, being a bird photographer (as a hobby) is all about knowing where to look. In fact, once you know where a particular bird hangs out (i.e. to feed, or nest), you're bound to find other birds near there. One time, I was wondering why a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker was always on the same exact tree when I saw it. Then upon downloading my digital pictures, I noticed that this particular tree was frequented as a favorite feeding site by this pair of sappys. So the next day, i visited the same tree, and sure enough, there the sappy was! I was dissapointed when he flew away, but imagine my surprise when a ruby-throat took his place! In all of this forest, i found a ruby-throat... pretty hard to find (when it's flying around) especially with all the dragonflies around. But a sap-drinking hummer was a surprise mainly because i never expected to see one of these tiny birds in a forest surrounding a pond...

Also at this tree, heard a mewwing sound, and started walking toward the source, and found a Grey Catbird in a tree overlooking the pond. I've never actually seen these birds on my yard, that is, until last week!

There are plenty of birds here. If you want, PM me to inquire about specific birds you want to see.

marcus · Jun 13, 2004

Hello Pinewood
Red-tailed Hawks where the almost the only raptor that I would ever see when I lived up there. Like I said before I did see that one Osprey, and I've also seen a few American Kestrels too. But the red-tails where the definate, 'allways' ones.
Have you ever seen a Turkey Vulture in New York City? Down here in Maryland they are very, very common, especially it seems in the cooler and cold times of the year.
But I only saw one once in Long Island. It was soaring above Stony Brook University. You've must of heard of that school, right?
marcus

Pinewood · Jun 13, 2004

Stony Brook

marcus said:
Hello Pinewood
Red-tailed Hawks where the almost the only raptor that I would ever see when I lived up there. Like I said before I did see that one Osprey, and I've also seen a few American Kestrels too. But the red-tails where the definate, 'allways' ones.
Have you ever seen a Turkey Vulture in New York City? Down here in Maryland they are very, very common, especially it seems in the cooler and cold times of the year.
But I only saw one once in Long Island. It was soaring above Stony Brook University. You've must of heard of that school, right?
marcus

My dear Marcus,

Yes, I have heard of Stony BrooK, it is part of New York's State University, and it is farther from my home than the Jamacia Bay Wildlife Refuge.

There have been many unusal bird sightings in New York City. If a wild turkey visited my building, a turkey vulture may have been spotted in New York, especially since we are in the bird's range. Look at Anne Matthews WILD NIGHTS, Farrar, Straus, 2001, to see how wildlife is returning to the city.
However, parts of New York City, like the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve, are practically wild, if not extensive.

Happy birding,
Arthur "Pinewood"

Bill2468 · Jul 16, 2004

Yes, Jamaica Bay is a long trek from your home.

Hello from Brooklyn, NY :clap:
Yes it is a long hul via public transportation (plus a bit of a walk from the public transportation to the main building) and don't forget it's just as long going back home too!

As a NY'er you should look into the nyc chapter of the Audubon Society. They still have weekend walks in Central Park that start from the boat house (too early for me to get to the city with girl friend whos has acar , park and meet the group). We went to one of the walks and it was great for looking as well as photographing. Battery City Park also is a nice place for watching birds, and they have a news letter that may also have birding walks led by a pro.
Living in NYC and not knowing where to go birding is like " can't see the foresat with all these trees in my way"

Good luck and enjoy the city

BiLL
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Allen · Jul 16, 2004

Pinewood said:
While a neighbour had a wild turkey visit the terrace of his 25th floor flat. .

Maybe I am missing something but how does a Wild Turkey get to a 25th Floor Flat??? (apart from using the elevator!!!)

Andrew · Jul 16, 2004

Pinewood said:
I live between Riverside and Central Parks in Gotham [I never liked Big Apple as a nickname] When I "said hello," I was encouraged to go to the Jamaic Bay Wildlife Refuge. Am I too "laid back" to consider the ninety minute trip, by public transport, too much? After all, I have been birding for only seven months and I have not identified a signifigant portion of birdlife near my front door.

Pinewood,

I reguarly go birding on the buses and it is a good feeling to have done a great day's birding or seen a rarity/lifer without even using the car. It is wonderful to be able to board a bus and curl up on the top at the front with a book until the bus comes to where you want. So, yes, take the bus and you won't regret it plus your list will grow too. :t:

Larry Lade · Jul 16, 2004

Pinewood, welcome to BirdForum from a fellow in Missouri. My wife and I have been back east quite a few times to visit our youngest son. He lived in several cities on the other side of the Hudson before moving out west to the Chicago area. There are quite a few places to go birding across the river on the New Jersey side. But, I do not know if public transport would be available to get you near to these good birding areas. Perhaps if you were to go to some of the group outings you could get acquainted with someone who owns their own vehicle. Birders tend to be very friendly and accommadating. Perhaps two or three of you could venture out to some of the nearby birding venues sharing cost for fuel for the automobile. Just a thought!

I was wondering about the Wild Turkey getting up to the 25th floor. I would not think they would venture that high, being a "ground dwelling" bird. If it was indeed a Wild Turkey I would think that it got "some help" reaching that location. Could it possibly have been a Turkey Vulture?

Pinewood · Jul 16, 2004

All I know is what I read in The New York Times

Allen said:
Maybe I am missing something but how does a Wild Turkey get to a 25th Floor Flat??? (apart from using the elevator!!!)

Dear Allen and Larry,

One floor at a time?

Last year, I saw the photographs on the first page of the Metro section of the TIMES. The turkey was strutting on the rail of the terrace. My neighbour is a reliable person, so this was no hoax. The bird has a range of more than six kilometers on New York's West Side. The wild turkey occasionally ties up traffic on the highway, as drivers slow and stare.
Of course, where there are turkeys there may be tukey vultures!

Happy birding,
Arthur

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