Recently my colleague Sara Ogger and I have been conducting monthly, early morning, bird and animal surveys in City Hall Park as part of a volunteer project organized by the Local Nature Lab – in coordination with the Friends of City Hall Park and the City Hall Park Conservancy.
localnaturelab.org, cityhallparknyc.org, chpc-nyc.org
After the morning patrols, we report the numbers and types of species in different sectors of the park, and that information gets compiled by Local Nature Lab members, together with sightings from other downtown parks. The goal is to use this information to make recommendations for improvements on long-term park management and sustainability.
The monthly surveys don’t include all the different birds passing through, or living in, the park. They are just snapshots, but over time they can provide useful conservation data.
We also record sightings of squirrels, rodents, and damaging off-leash dogs. (Another aspect of the survey activity involves observations of particular trees throughout the year to document changes and stressors over time, including from shifting climate conditions. Rella Stuart-Hunt Wurmfeld (Pip) is working on that part of the survey in City Hall Park.)
 |
| Winter Wren |
The most interesting bird for me in the park this fall was a tiny Winter Wren. It was the first time I had seen one. Sara spotted it on the edge of some low plantings near the north side of City Hall. They nest further north in the US and Canada, and some come to spend the winter in NYC, finding insects and berries on the ground.
There were also a few migratory warblers moving south, including a female American Redstart. These birds will flit around flashing their tails to scare up insects.
 |
| American Redstart |
A female or immature Black-throated Blue Warbler was well-camouflaged on the ground.
 |
 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler |
Yellow-rumped Warblers are among the last ones to pass through in the fall on their way south. Some of them linger into November.
 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
An Ovenbird is a larger type of warbler (4-6 inches long) that usually travels further north for breeding, though some have been reported nesting in some city parks that are more densely wooded and less populated. They like to forage on a forest floor, which we are missing downtown. These birds will move south to spend the winter in Mexico or the Caribbean.
 |
| Ovenbird |
A Hermit Thrush is somewhat similar to the Ovenbird in size and style, and foraging habits.
In City Hall Park, they are common fall and spring migrants that only stop by for short stays.
 |
| Hermit Thrush |
An American Robin is also a type of thrush, but larger and redder and more common in the city.
Some migrate short distances in the winter but others stay and find berries and bugs to eat in the parks.
 |
| American Robin |
House Sparrows are common year-round residents.
 |
| House Sparrow |
But we also saw several other types of sparrows.
 | ||||
Chipping Sparrow
|
 |
| Junco European Starlings frequently occupy and/or nest in tree holes, especially in London Planes. |
 |
| European Starling |
And pigeons (Rock Doves) are all over in the park, in the trees, on the statues, feeding on berries, or seeds on the ground, or being fed by people.
Mourning Doves are related to the pigeons, but less common in the park. They mostly eat seeds so aren’t very interested in people’s food.
 |
| Mourning Dove |
One day there was a brief appearance by a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
They are common nesting residents in New York City, but unusual in City Hall Park.
 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
Early in the summer, we saw a pair of American Crows attempting to make a nest in a building next to City Hall Park. It didn’t seem to work out for them, but there are often a few hanging around the park.
City Hall Park is not usually a hot spot for birding, but I live across the street and am very happy to be able to see so many birds in a park so close to home.
I have even made small banners from my bird photos and they are now hanging along the fence north of City Hall as a NY Parks art exhibit.
You can check them out as you pass by, and maybe be inspired to look for real birds in the park.
No comments:
Post a Comment