The City Birder

Upcoming Nature Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 25, 2013 - May 27, 2013:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturdays, April 6 – June 29, 12 p.m.
Introduction to Birdwatching
Free
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

**********

Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Where: 164 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues
http://www.gowanuscanal.org

**********

Littoral Society
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 05:00pm - 08:00pm
Jamaica Bay Sunset Ecology Cruise
Enjoy a three-hour narrated cruise aboard the 100-foot boat “Golden Sunshine.” Visit backwater marshes near JFK Airport, and learn about the 13,000-acre Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. See nesting peregrine falcons, ospreys, egrets, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Includes refreshments. Meet at Pier 4 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
With American Littoral Society and NYC Audubon
To reserve tickets by credit card, go to:
http://springcruise-eorg.eventbrite.com/#
Contact : To register, contact Don Riepe at 917-371-8577 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com.
Limited to 140. Price: $55

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 09:00am - 12:00pm
Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs
Meet at the the Jamaica Bay NWR Visitor Center to see the annual mating ritual of the prehistoric horseshoe crab, along with red knots, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones. Hike along the beach and marshland edges to see fiddler crabs, egrets, and other wildlife.
Guide: Don Riepe
With Gateway National Recreation Area.
Contact : To register, contact Don Riepe at 917-371-8577 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com.
Bring lunch and binoculars. Limited to 25. Free

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, May 25, 2013, 8am – 9:30pm
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers (first Saturday of the month) With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank learned their craft on Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds, and these walks celebrate the tradition set by them. Participants will look for resident and migrant species and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 25, 2013, 5pm – 8pm
Jamaica Bay Sunset Cruise
Guides: Don Riepe, Mickey Cohen With American Littoral Society Meet at Pier 2 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Enjoy a three-hour narrated cruise aboard the 100-foot boat “Golden Sunshine.” Visit backwater marshes near JFK Airport, and learn about the 13,000-acre Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. See nesting peregrine falcons, ospreys, egrets, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Includes refreshments.
To register, contact Don Riepe at 917-371-8577 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 140. $55

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 9am – 12pm
Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs at Jamaica Bay
Guide: Don Riepe With Gateway National Recreation Area Meet at the the Jamaica Bay NWR Visitor Center to see the annual mating ritual of the prehistoric horseshoe crab, along with red knots, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones. Hike along the beach and marshland edges to see fiddler crabs, egrets, and other wildlife. Bring lunch and binoculars.
To register, contact Don Riepe at 917-371-8577 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 25. Free

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and register

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 5pm – 8pm
Jamaica Bay Sunset Cruise
Guides: Don Riepe, Mickey Cohen With American Littoral Society Meet at Pier 2 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Enjoy a three-hour narrated cruise aboard the 100-foot boat “Golden Sunshine.” Visit backwater marshes near JFK Airport, and learn about the 13,000-acre Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. See nesting peregrine falcons, ospreys, egrets, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Includes refreshments.
To register, contact Don Riepe at 917-371-8577 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 140. $55

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Bird Walks at The New York Botanical Garden at Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Sunset Ecology Cruise at Pier 4 (in Sheepshead Bay Piers), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Join us aboard the "Golden Sunshine" for our annual cruise along the backwaters of Jamaica Bay.

Sunday, May 26, 2013
Birding at High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
9:00 a.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons.
Free!

Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Freshkills Park May Birding Tour at Eltingville Transit Center (in Freshkills Park), Staten Island
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join us as we search for the birds of Freshkills Park along the site's wetlands, creeks and meadows.
Free!

New York City Rare Bird Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:34:00 +0000

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, May, 17, 2013:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* May 17, 2013
* NYNY1305.17

- Birds Mentioned:

EURASIAN WIGEON
American Bittern
Bald Eagle
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Black Tern
Roseate Tern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Marsh Wren
Cape May Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Worm-eating Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
Grasshopper Sparrow
BLUE GROSBEAK
White-winged Crossbill (not reported this week)
Pine Siskin

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc1@nybirds.org .

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
486 High Street
Victor, NY 14564

~ Transcript ~

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070

To report sightings call:
Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (weekdays)
Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 (Long Island)

Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Karen Fung

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, May 17th, at 6:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, EURASIAN WIGEON, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and Spring Migrants.

This past week was not really up to mid-May expectations, with perhaps an average species diversity overall, but certainly not the hoped-for volume of birds we've enjoyed, even in recent years. It did, nonetheless, have some high points.

In Central Park, a nice find on Thursday was a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW that perched at Tupelo Field for the day. Other highlights in Central featured a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER through Wednesday, an AMERICAN BITTERN at the north end last Friday, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW on Monday, and the first MOURNING WARBLER on Wednesday. Friday's reports included another MOURNING WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, though there was a decrease in numbers from the day before. Among the roughly 28 species of warblers in Central have been several CAPE MAY WARBLERS and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, both species also noted in fairly decent numbers in other local parks, along with less common species such as TENNESEE WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and WILSON'S WARBLER.

[Transcriber's Note: Additional sightings in Central this week include both YELLOW-BILLED and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, the latter most recently seen today; MARSH WREN on Monday and Tuesday, and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK that perched in the Ramble on Thursday morning.]

Prospect Park also a had a good day Thursday, with an immature BALD EAGLE and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK both perched, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and a nice assortment of warblers, including a female CERULEAN WARBLER, with a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER there the day before.

With the recent rains providing some water for the waterhole in Forest Park, Queens, that area has picked up in activity, though seemingly not to the consistency or extent of prior years. A SUMMER TANAGER in Forest Park last Sunday visited the waterhole Thursday, as did such warblers as MOURNING WARBLER and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. Several CAPE MAY WARBLERS have also been in Forest, and two or three GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES there last weekend seemed early. An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE had also arrived Sunday.

On Wednesday a SUMMER TANAGER visited Hempstead Lake State Park, with an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER near the entrance booth to parking lot #3 on Thursday. Another RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen again out at Jones Beach State Park on Tuesday.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was a surprising find at Floyd Bennett Field last Saturday, and a CERULEAN WARBLER was spotted at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island Thursday.

A female BLUE GROSBEAK visited Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, Westchester County, today.

A BLACK TERN was reported Saturday from Big Egg Marsh, south of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, where a good number of RED KNOT have also been present recently.

A drake EURASIAN WIGEON, continuing on the pond north of Clark Avenue at Massapequa Preserve, is staying much later than expected, perhaps raising issues as to its provenance.

Although there have been no reports of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS since very early May, a few PINE SISKINS and some PURPLE FINCHES have been among the recent city park visitors, with siskins lingering in both Central and Prospect Parks.

Among recent arrivals have been COMMON MOORHEN, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area Saturday, ROSEATE TERNS on eastern Long Island, and WILLOW FLYCATCHER back at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last Sunday. The remaining Empidonax flycatchers should show up shortly.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, or weekdays call Tom Burke at (212) 372-1483.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

[~END TAPE~]

~ End Transcript ~

Cicada Sing-Along

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:12:00 +0000

The latest edition of National Public Radio's "RadioLab" program was about composer David Rothenberg musically collaborating with insects, birds and whales. Listen to the podcast below and check out the complete story here.

Friday's Foto

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Neither common nor a hawk, the Common Nighthawk is a member of a family of birds called nightjars. Listed as a species of "Special Concern" in New York State, it has experienced declines in much of its breeding range. Look for them hawking for insects in the sky over Prospect Park during Spring migration usually while making a nasal "peent" call. This individual was spotted roosting high up in a Yellow Buckeye near the North end of Prospect Park's "Vale of Cashmere".

Some mid-May Blooms (and a fungi)

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:00 +0000

Friday Prospect Park Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

Don't forget, tomorrow I have a tour of Prospect Park beginning at 7:30am. More info here.

Migration Update and Lots of Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:39:00 +0000

The lingering high pressure system finally lifted and the Spring South winds accelerated the seasonal conveyor belt for North-bound birds. Bird activity throughout the area increased dramatically and birders were finally happy...or, at least, happier.

To put the change in perspective, my personal weekly birding summary beginning on May 4th totaled 96 species of birds. The next period from May 11th jumped to 130 species! The biggest change occurred on Saturday. Heydi and I had planned on doing a biking "Big Day" in Brooklyn, but thunderstorms and bicycles are a really bad combination. We opted, instead, to just cover Prospect Park, then take mass transit down to Floyd Bennett Field.

Prospect Park was the birdiest we'd experienced all season. By the time we left at 8am, our total species was 72, 17 of which were warblers. We probably could have stayed there all day, but high-tide and the possibility of shorebirds at Floyd Bennett Field was good motivation to head South. The precipitation had varied all morning from a light misting to a more steady rain, but we had managed to dodge any thunderstorms. Exiting the bus near Aviator Sports, we walked along the bike path towards the cricket field and Return-a-Gift Pond. Passing the cricket field, we looked up into the sky just in time to see a Little Blue Heron flying out of the park and across Flatbush Avenue. This is a very good wading bird to see in Brooklyn. We high-fived, of course. On the other hand, the view of the pond from the North blind was disappointing. There wasn't much there other than 11 Black-crowned Night-Herons.

When high-tide floods the mudflats and island edges in Jamaica Bay, some shorebirds seek refuge along the runways of Floyd Bennett Field. After a good soaking, large puddles form that tend to attract these birds. We were hoping to find something good there on Saturday.

As we were walking towards the main runways the thunderstorms finally moved in. I didn't feel too good about walking around open grassland with a metal tripod over my shoulder. We sought refuge under a temporary wooden "guard tower" that had been constructed near the North 40 runway when the city was burning refuse there after Hurricane Sandy. Until the downpour subsided, from that vantage point we scoped a large flock of shorebirds and gulls in the middle of the runway. The flock was dominated by Black-bellied Plovers, but there were also several Short-billed Dowitchers and a single Red Knot. The knot was an excellent find. A walk along the runway also revealed Semipalmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs and Willets. There was a steady stream of gulls in the mix, as well as, a few passing terns.

Unlike past Big Spring Days, I decided to end the day early, but Heydi continued her bird hunt until late in the day.

My weekly Wednesday tour of Green-Wood Cemetery was equally fruitful. The oak trees along Fern Avenue and near Warrior Path were loaded with warblers. During the first half hour of the tour we spotted Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wilson's Warbler and Scarlet Tanager! At the narrow valley between Central Ridge and Chestnut Hill we marveled as bird after bird flew into a single Dawn Redwood, gleaning insects from its red, peeling bark and pale-green, feathery leaves. We added Blackpoll and Cape May Warblers to our quickly growing list of birds. We ended our morning tour with 64 species of birds, of which 16 were warblers.

Now that nearly everyone seems to have a smartphone and Twitter account, instant notifications of good birds have been flying back and forth across avian-cyberspace like crazy this past week. Sometimes I wish we could go back to a time when finding amazing birds was more about personal discoveries and less about chasing after what another person located. Spring songbird migration is sometimes like the Lottery. You put in your time, you study the field guides, watch the weather forecasts, then wait for the numbers to align. Only, in this case, when the winning number comes up, everybody wins.

**********

Dates: 05/11/13 - 05/16/13
Locations: Floyd Bennett Field; Green-Wood Cemetery; Prospect Park Species: 130

1) Brant
2) Canada Goose
3) Mute Swan
4) Wood Duck
5) Mallard

6) Ring-necked Pheasant

7) Common Loon

8) Double-crested Cormorant

9) Great Blue Heron
10) Great Egret
11) Snowy Egret
12) Little Blue Heron
13) Green Heron
14) Black-crowned Night-Heron
15) Glossy Ibis

16) Turkey Vulture

17) Osprey
18) Red-tailed Hawk

19) Black-bellied Plover
20) Semipalmated Plover
21) Killdeer
22) American Oystercatcher

23) Spotted Sandpiper
24) Solitary Sandpiper
25) Greater Yellowlegs
26) Willet
27) Red Knot
28) Semipalmated Sandpiper
29) Least Sandpiper
30) Short-billed Dowitcher

31) Laughing Gull
32) Ring-billed Gull
33) Herring Gull
34) Great Black-backed Gull
35) Least Tern
36) Common Tern

37) Rock Pigeon
38) Mourning Dove

39) Yellow-billed Cuckoo

40) Common Nighthawk

41) Chimney Swift

42) Ruby-throated Hummingbird

43) Belted Kingfisher

44) Red-bellied Woodpecker
45) Downy Woodpecker
46) Hairy Woodpecker
47) Northern Flicker

48) American Kestrel
49) Peregrine Falcon

50) Monk Parakeet

51) Eastern Wood-Pewee
52) Least Flycatcher
53) Eastern Phoebe
54) Great Crested Flycatcher
55) Eastern Kingbird

56) White-eyed Vireo
57) Yellow-throated Vireo
58) Blue-headed Vireo
59) Warbling Vireo
60) Red-eyed Vireo

61) Blue Jay
62) American Crow
63) Fish Crow
64) Common Raven

65) Northern Rough-winged Swallow
66) Tree Swallow
67) Barn Swallow

68) Black-capped Chickadee
69) Tufted Titmouse

70) Red-breasted Nuthatch
71) White-breasted Nuthatch

72) House Wren
73) Carolina Wren

74) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
75) Ruby-crowned Kinglet

76) Veery
77) Gray-cheeked Thrush
78) Swainson's Thrush
79) Wood Thrush
80) American Robin

81) Gray Catbird
82) Northern Mockingbird
83) Brown Thrasher

84) European Starling

85) Cedar Waxwing

86) Ovenbird
87) Northern Waterthrush
88) Black-and-white Warbler
89) Tennessee Warbler
90) Nashville Warbler
91) Common Yellowthroat
92) Hooded Warbler
93) American Redstart
94) Cape May Warbler
95) Northern Parula
96) Magnolia Warbler
97) Bay-breasted Warbler
98) Blackburnian Warbler
99) Yellow Warbler
100) Chestnut-sided Warbler
101) Blackpoll Warbler
102) Black-throated Blue Warbler
103) Palm Warbler
104) Yellow-rumped Warbler
105) Yellow-throated Warbler
106) Prairie Warbler
107) Black-throated Green Warbler
108) Canada Warbler
109) Wilson's Warbler

110) Eastern Towhee
111) Chipping Sparrow
112) Field Sparrow
113) Savannah Sparrow
114) Song Sparrow
115) Lincoln's Sparrow
116) White-throated Sparrow
117) White-crowned Sparrow

118) Scarlet Tanager

119) Northern Cardinal
120) Rose-breasted Grosbeak
121) Indigo Bunting

122) Red-winged Blackbird
123) Common Grackle
124) Brown-headed Cowbird
125) Orchard Oriole
126) Baltimore Oriole

127) Purple Finch
128) House Finch
129) American Goldfinch

130) House Sparrow

Treehugger Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Pack Up Your Winter Wear

In case you missed it, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography just reported that carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere have reached 400.03 parts per million for the first time in three million years.

Reporter Justin Gillis covered the news for the New York Times:

May 10, 2013
Heat-Trapping Gas Passes Milestone, Raising Fears

By JUSTIN GILLIS

The level of the most important heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, has passed a long-feared milestone, scientists reported Friday, reaching a concentration not seen on the earth for millions of years.

Scientific instruments showed that the gas had reached an average daily level above 400 parts per million — just an odometer moment in one sense, but also a sobering reminder that decades of efforts to bring human-produced emissions under control are faltering.

The best available evidence suggests the amount of the gas in the air has not been this high for at least three million years, before humans evolved, and scientists believe the rise portends large changes in the climate and the level of the sea.

“It symbolizes that so far we have failed miserably in tackling this problem,” said Pieter P. Tans, who runs the monitoring program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that reported the new reading.

Ralph Keeling, who runs another monitoring program at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, said a continuing rise could be catastrophic. “It means we are quickly losing the possibility of keeping the climate below what people thought were possibly tolerable thresholds,” he said.

Virtually every automobile ride, every plane trip and, in most places, every flip of a light switch adds carbon dioxide to the air, and relatively little money is being spent to find and deploy alternative technologies.

China is now the largest emitter, but Americans have been consuming fossil fuels extensively for far longer, and experts say the United States is more responsible than any other nation for the high level.

The new measurement came from analyzers atop Mauna Loa, the volcano on the big island of Hawaii that has long been ground zero for monitoring the worldwide trend on carbon dioxide, or CO2. Devices there sample clean, crisp air that has blown thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, producing a record of rising carbon dioxide levels that has been closely tracked for half a century.

Carbon dioxide above 400 parts per million was first seen in the Arctic last year, and had also spiked above that level in hourly readings at Mauna Loa.

But the average reading for an entire day surpassed that level at Mauna Loa for the first time in the 24 hours that ended at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday. The two monitoring programs use slightly different protocols; NOAA reported an average for the period of 400.03 parts per million, while Scripps reported 400.08.

Carbon dioxide rises and falls on a seasonal cycle, and the level will dip below 400 this summer as leaf growth in the Northern Hemisphere pulls about 10 billion tons of carbon out of the air. But experts say that will be a brief reprieve — the moment is approaching when no measurement of the ambient air anywhere on earth, in any season, will produce a reading below 400.

“It feels like the inevitable march toward disaster,” said Maureen E. Raymo, a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, a unit of Columbia University.

From studying air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice, scientists know that going back 800,000 years, the carbon dioxide level oscillated in a tight band, from about 180 parts per million in the depths of ice ages to about 280 during the warm periods between. The evidence shows that global temperatures and CO2 levels are tightly linked.

For the entire period of human civilization, roughly 8,000 years, the carbon dioxide level was relatively stable near that upper bound. But the burning of fossil fuels has caused a 41 percent increase in the heat-trapping gas since the Industrial Revolution, a mere geological instant, and scientists say the climate is beginning to react, though they expect far larger changes in the future.

Indirect measurements suggest that the last time the carbon dioxide level was this high was at least three million years ago, during an epoch called the Pliocene. Geological research shows that the climate then was far warmer than today, the world’s ice caps were smaller, and the sea level might have been as much as 60 or 80 feet higher.

Experts fear that humanity may be precipitating a return to such conditions — except this time, billions of people are in harm’s way.

“It takes a long time to melt ice, but we’re doing it,” Dr. Keeling said. “It’s scary.”

Dr. Keeling’s father, Charles David Keeling, began carbon dioxide measurements on Mauna Loa and at other locations in the late 1950s. The elder Dr. Keeling found a level in the air then of about 315 parts per million — meaning that if a person had filled a million quart jars with air, about 315 quart jars of carbon dioxide would have been mixed in.

His analysis revealed a relentless, long-term increase superimposed on the seasonal cycle, a trend that was dubbed the Keeling Curve.

Countries have adopted an official target to limit the damage from global warming, with 450 parts per million seen as the maximum level compatible with that goal. “Unless things slow down, we’ll probably get there in well under 25 years,” Ralph Keeling said.

Yet many countries, including China and the United States, have refused to adopt binding national targets. Scientists say that unless far greater efforts are made soon, the goal of limiting the warming will become impossible without severe economic disruption.

“If you start turning the Titanic long before you hit the iceberg, you can go clear without even spilling a drink of a passenger on deck,” said Richard B. Alley, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University. “If you wait until you’re really close, spilling a lot of drinks is the best you can hope for.”

Climate-change contrarians, who have little scientific credibility but are politically influential in Washington, point out that carbon dioxide represents only a tiny fraction of the air — as of Thursday’s reading, exactly 0.04 percent. “The CO2 levels in the atmosphere are rather undramatic,” a Republican congressman from California, Dana Rohrabacher, said in a Congressional hearing several years ago.

But climate scientists reject that argument, saying it is like claiming that a tiny bit of arsenic or cobra venom cannot have much effect. Research shows that even at such low levels, carbon dioxide is potent at trapping heat near the surface of the earth.

“If you’re looking to stave off climate perturbations that I don’t believe our culture is ready to adapt to, then significant reductions in CO2 emissions have to occur right away,” said Mark Pagani, a Yale geochemist who studies climates of the past. “I feel like the time to do something was yesterday.”

Upcoming Nature Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:29:00 +0000

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 18, 2013 - May 19, 2013:

Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Where: 164 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues
http://www.gowanuscanal.org

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8am – 11am
Beginning Birding Field Trip: Central Park
Classes: Thursdays, May 9 and 16, 6:30-8:30pm Trips: Saturday, May 11, 9am-3pm (Jamaica Bay) and Saturday, May 18, 8-11am (Central Park)
Instructor: Tod Winston Learn to identify the spectacular variety of birds that migrate northwards through New York City from Central and South America. Includes two classes and two trips—one to Central Park to see warblers, tanagers, and vireos, and one to Jamaica Bay to see herons, egrets, and shorebirds. Limited to 13. $85 for package of 2 trips and 2 classes. Click here to register

Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8am – 9:30pm
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers (first Saturday of the month) With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank learned their craft on Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds, and these walks celebrate the tradition set by them. Participants will look for resident and migrant species and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 18, 2013, 9am – 12pm
Spring Migration on Randall's Island
Guides: Gabriel Willow, Victoria O'Neill With Randall's Island Park Alliance, Inc. Meet on the N.W. corner of 102nd Street and the FDR Drive. We'll walk across the foot bridge to Randall's Island, an under-explored location in the East River that hosts restored freshwater wetlands and salt marsh. We'll look for spring migrants (both waterbirds and land birds) as we explore the results of recent restoration efforts. Two miles of walking and some modest climbs. Limited to 20. $25
Click here to read about the restoration of Randall's Island's salt marsh and freshwater wetlands.
Click here to register.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 9am – 12pm
Nesting Peregrines and Red-Tails of the UPW
Guide: Gabriel Willow Meet in front of Riverside Church. Many New Yorkers are astonished to discover that their city of steel and glass is home to a large population of large birds of prey: The City boasts the world’s highest densities of the peregrine falcon, the world's fastest flyer, and a growing population of red-tailed hawks (several pairs of which have reached celebrity status). We’ll visit the nesting site of a pair of each of these fascinating species, and may glimpse parents feeding their chicks. Limited to 15. $30
Click here to register.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and register

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 1pm – 3pm
Explore the Bronx River by Rowboat
Guide: Chrissy Word With Rocking the Boat Meet at Rocking the Boat, at 812 Edgewater Road in the Bronx, and launch from the adjacent Hunts Point Riverside Park. Come explore the Bronx River aboard a hand-built wooden boat, led by experienced rowers. The Bronx River is the city’s only true river and hosts an abundance of wildlife, including herons and egrets, osprey, and belted kingfishers. Visit restoration sites and learn about the Bronx River eco-system, as well as its social and cultural history. Rowing optional! Limited to 20. $35 for adults, $25 for ages 18 and under.
Click here to register.

**********

NYC Wildflower Week
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Children's Events, MN: Interactive Nature Fair

Garden Tours, QU: Native Gardens of Queens Botanical Garden

Sunday, May 19, 2013
Botanical Walks, BK: Blooms and Bugs

Botanical Walks, MN: Spring Fungi Walk

Garden Tours, MN: Native Plant Habitat at LCBH Community Garden

**********

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10:00 to 12 Noon
Exploring Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
Join Gert Coleman to explore the trails and terrain of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods initial success story. The unique habitats of Clay Pit Pond Park host a varied collection of plants and animals not seen elsewhere on Staten Island. Wear sturdy shoes and a hat. Meet in the nature center parking lot along the service road.
For more information call Gert at 718-356-9235.

Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Forest Restoration Workshop in the Egbertville Ravine
Meet at the side of Meisner Road (toward the Eger Home) close to the intersection of Meisner and Rockland. We will follow the White Trail south to Nevada Avenue where we will uproot the Mutliflora Rose and Garlic Mustard that competes there with native plants. If you don’t have your own, Protectors has tools (& refreshments). After a two-hour work session (our 201st monthly workshop), we will take a short walk over nearby trails.
Call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036 or Chuck Perry at 718-667-1393 for more information.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Buck’s Hollow and surrounding Trails
Discover the woodlands and wetlands of this portion of the Greenbelt on an educational walk with Clay Wollney on the trails from Eger Nursing Home to Buck’s Hollow. Along the way enjoy the sounds of spring as nature comes alive beside Buttonbush Swamp and other specialized habitats of the Greenbelt.
For more information call Clay at 718-869-6327.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 9:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
Night Sounds of the Marsh
Spend an evening afield with Cliff Hagen as he shares the songs and calls of a spring night in the marshes of Saw Mill Creek Park. Rails and sparrows, owls, warblers and woodcock sing aloud through the night. Learn to identify the many species of birds by ear. Meet at the corner of Chelsea Road and River Road.
For more details call Cliff at 718-313-8591, or email chagen72 [AT] gmail.com.

**********

South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
Any questions please Call Steve at (516) 987-8103.
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.

**********

Staten Island Museum
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Family Bird Day at Clove Lakes Park
Location: Clove Lakes Park
Free
Join Museum science and education staff as we teach birding basics and look for migratory birds. Many of these birds have traveled from South America all the way to Staten Island to nest and raise their young. Others are just vacationing here on their way farther north. Join walks, crafts, and games by the Martling Avenue Bridge. Bring your family to learn about these colorful bird families and be part of Environment for the America's International Migratory Bird Day celebration!
For more information call Claire Arthurs at 718.483.7104.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Bird Walks at The New York Botanical Garden at Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Birding: Hawk Watch at Lafayette and Metcalf Avenues (in Soundview Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
Our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons.
Free!

On A Wing: Family Festival at Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Get up close and personal with birds of prey as they fly under your arms in the Tunnel of Talons.
Free!

Sunday, May 19, 2013
Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

New York City Rare Bird Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:10:00 +0000

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, May 10, 2013:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* May. 10, 2013
* NYNY1305.10

- Birds mentioned

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE+
RUFF+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

MANX SHEARWATER
Double-crested Cormorant
GOLDEN EAGLE
Willet
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Black Skimmer
PARASITIC JAEGER
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Least Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Veery
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Cape May Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
RED CROSSBILL

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc3 AT nybirds.org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
486 High Street
Victor, NY 14564

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

To report sightings call:
Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (weekdays, during the day)
Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 (Long Island)

Compiler: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, May 10th 2013 at 6pm. The highlights of today's tape are RUFF, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, GOLDEN EAGLE, MANX SHEARWATER, PARASITIC JAEGER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and fortunately many other arriving warblers, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and RED CROSSBILL.

It was an old lesson relearned. After a prolonged period of poor to non-existent migration, such as we've had recently, some calling it the worst in several decades. If you wake up in the morning to heavy fog and intermittent rain coming from the south get yourself outside.

Parks only hosting breeding warblers through Wednesday on Thursday morning found 15 to 20 species of warblers and a nice variety of other migrants present. Many of these stayed over to Friday and lots more came in overnight. Finally!

During these pushes real rarities are seldom seen but one was reported this morning. A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flying over Kissena Park in Queens though we have no details on this sighting.

In Central Park well over 20 species of warblers were present today including new arrivals TENNESSEE, BAY-BREASTED, CANADA and WILSON'S as well as CAPE MAY, HOODED and WORM-EATING and SUMMER TANAGER was also found among the good assortment of migrants that included a good number of SCARLET TANAGERS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS.

Other notable sightings in the city today included a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Owl's Head Park in Brooklyn and a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at Brooklyn's Green-wood Cemetery. In Prospect Park a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, presumably lingering, was seen irregularly Sunday to Thursday last near the Lullwater and a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was on the Peninsula last Sunday.

Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island last Saturday had a nice combination of PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.

In one of the most interesting reports from the week involved an immature GOLDEN EAGLE passing over Central Park Monday morning.

Interestingly, despite the continued north and east winds, just slightly north of the city such regional specialties as GOLDEN-WINGED, CERULEAN, WORM-EATING and HOODED WARBLERS were already on territory last weekend.

The 2 RUFFS at Timber Point Golf Course were still present Tuesday afternoon. To look for them enter the golf club from Great River Road and follow the signs to the East Marina. Search the marsh from the boat dock next to the parking lot.

Ocean watching for pelagics should be productive in the upcoming month of June. Last Friday afternoon 3 MANX SHEARWATERS along with a few LEAST and COMMON TERNS were spotted off Amagansett and 3 PARASITIC JAEGERS appeared off the Rockaways on Wednesday. Unfortunately, one of the best observation sites at Robert Moses State Park parking field 2 is not available due to Sandy damage but many sites are available from Jones Beach field 6 east to Cupsogue County Park, Shinnecock Inlet, East Hampton's Main Beach and Montauk Point.

A couple of interesting gulls lately featured an ICELAND GULL Saturday off Amagansett and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Floyd Bennett Field on Wednesday.

A watch off East Patchogue in Great South Bay Wednesday afternoon produced 2 CASPIAN TERNS as well as over 4,000 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 35 WILLETS, 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and other interesting migrants.

Very interesting has been the continuing presence of RED CROSSBILLS in Maple Swamp off Pleasure Drive and Flanders. Thirty-three were counted last Sunday could easily include some breeding birds.

Other recent arrivals have included BLACK SKIMMER at Jones Beach West End Wednesday, LEAST FLYCATCHER, VEERY and RED-EYED VIREO.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, or weekdays call Tom Burke at (212) 372-1483.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript

Prospect Park Birds (Finally)

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:23:00 +0000

A relatively brief lunchtime walk through Prospect Park revealed many overdue warblers and other songbirds. While last weekend's birding in Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park combined for a paltry seven species of warbler (and absurdly low abundance of everything), my mostly damp walk in Prospect today finally broke the warbler double-digit mark at 16. The North end of the Midwood forest was ringing with birdsong as I counted 9 species of wood-warbler in this spot alone. I normally wouldn't expect to hear much singing at midday, so I'm thinking that the cloud cover and drizzle lulled the birds into thinking that it was still early. Once the sun came out the symphony subsided quite a bit. I didn't see or hear anything really unusual, but was just really glad to have experienced some normal Spring songbird activity. Like a lot of folks, I was beginning to worry that it would be the year "Spring Migration Missed New York City".

**********

Location: Prospect Park
Date: May 9, 2013 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Species: 55

Double-crested Cormorant (2.)
Green Heron (1.)
Osprey (2.)
Chimney Swift
Hairy Woodpecker (1.)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1.)
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1.)
Veery (2.)
Wood Thrush (1.)
Gray Catbird

Ovenbird (5.)
Worm-eating Warbler (1.)
Northern Waterthrush (2.)
Blue-winged Warbler (2.)
Black-and-white Warbler
Nashville Warbler (1.)
Common Yellowthroat (3.)
American Redstart (4.)
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler (1.)
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler (1.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (6.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler (2.)
Black-throated Green Warbler (2.)

Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (2.)
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

Treehugger Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:06:00 +0000

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas - bird migration. Bird Day is celebrated in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. IMBD officially takes place on the second Saturday in May in the U.S. and Canada and in October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean each year. But we recognize that this date doesn't work well for all bird events and bird festival organizers, or for the migratory birds themselves. To the south, migratory birds have left, heading for breeding sites to the north. Farther north, the birds haven't arrived. We remedied this problem by removing the month and day from our bird education and festival materials, leaving only the year, and reminding groups "everyday is bird day." Now, IMBD is celebrated almost year-round. Most U.S. and Canada events take place in April and May, while fall events are the norm in the Caribbean and Latin America.

To see a map of events and locate events in your area, click here.

April Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:47:00 +0000

The first half of April started with many of the expected early migrant songbirds, wading birds and terns arriving in predicted numbers and locations. Other than the appearance of one rare vagrant, the second half of the month became a waiting game of great concern to local birders. I added 41 year birds during the month of April. During April of 2012 I added 48.

Blue-winged Teal are usually difficult to see around Brooklyn, but beginning with a pair in Prospect Park in April 1st, individuals and small flocks were seen through the month in various locations.

Small numbers of wood-warblers began to trickle into Brooklyn and by the end of the month I had added 13 species to my Brooklyn year. The bad news is that nearly all had been in extremely low numbers. For example, I've seen only one American Redstart and one Common Yellowthroat. By this time in the Spring they should be fairly common. I did manage to see two uncommon warbler species - Yellow-throated Warbler and Kentucky Warbler, both of which are birds who nest South of NYC but occasionally overshoot their breeding grounds.

The lack of a songbird fallout was somewhat made up for by the arrival of a Say's Phoebe in Prospect Park on the 27th.

Tom Burke, the voice of the New York City Rare Bird Alert described the past few weeks meteorological events as "continued abysmal winds for migration". In my 20-plus years of birding I've never experienced such a late songbird migration. I'm hoping that, in fact, it has just been the winds holding up the birds and that they will arrive on the next South winds. So far it looks like Thursday night into Friday will be the next wind shift. If you don't mind rain, Friday could be good.

**********

NYS total: 171
Kings total: 168

128) Blue-winged Teal (Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, 04/01/13)
129) Barn Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/09/13)
130) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Prospect Park, 04/09/13)
131) Palm Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/09/13)
132) Spotted Sandpiper (Prospect Park, 04/10/13)
133) Northern Parula (Prospect Park, 04/10/13)
134) Chimney Swift (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
135) Blue-headed Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
136) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
137) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
138) Louisiana Waterthrush (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
139) Black-and-white Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
140) Chipping Sparrow (Prospect Park, 04/13/13)
141) Snowy Egret (Dreier-Offerman Park, 04/14/13)
142) Glossy Ibis (Dreier-Offerman Park, 04/14/13)
143) Forster's Tern (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park--Southwest, 04/14/13)
144) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/17/13)
145) House Wren (Prospect Park, 04/19/13)
146) Yellow Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/19/13)
147) White-eyed Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/20/13)
148) Bank Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/20/13)
149) Brown Thrasher (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/20/13)
150) Black-throated Green Warbler (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/24/13)
151) Green Heron (Prospect Park, 04/26/13)
152) Gray Catbird (Prospect Park, 04/26/13)
153) Northern Waterthrush (Prospect Park, 04/26/13)
154) Ovenbird (Prospect Park, 04/27/13)
155) Yellow-throated Vireo (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/27/13)
156) Common Yellowthroat (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/27/13)
157) Prairie Warbler (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/27/13)
158) SAY'S PHOEBE (Prospect Park, 04/27/13)
159) Eastern Kingbird (Prospect Park, 04/27/13)
160) Warbling Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/27/13)
161) KENTUCKY WARBLER (Prospect Park, 04/28/13)
162) Hooded Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/28/13)
163) Baltimore Oriole (Prospect Park, 04/28/13)
164) Purple Finch (Prospect Park, 04/28/13)
165) Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Prospect Park, 04/29/13)
166) YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Prospect Park, 04/29/13)
167) Great Crested Flycatcher (Prospect Park, 04/30/13)
168) Red-eyed Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/30/13)

Upcoming Nature Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 11, 2013 - May 12, 2013:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday May 11, 2013
"The Birdathon", International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD)
A global event celebrating the beauty of birds and their habitats. This event encourages fundraising for conservation causes. For this year, a cause will be discussed and adopted by the club or independent Birdathon members, posted on the Prospect Sightings blog.
Meet 6:30 am at Grand Army Plaza Stranahan Statue for walk by Prospect Park Birdathon leader Paul Keim 718 -875-1151
If you are interested in forming a team with other members or friends, or need more information, please contact the Trips Organizer/BBC Birdathon coordinator Bobbi Manian at roberta.manian@yahoo.com.
This year's theme is "LIFE CYCLES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS: Conservation Across the Americas"
See www.birdday.org about the Birdathon, IMBD

Sunday May 12, 2013
Photographing songbirds and more in Prospect Park
Lead photographer: Rusty Harold
Meet at the Stranahan Statue at 7:00 AM.
Note: Open to all skill levels of photographers; all cameras types welcome.

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Green-Wood Cemetery
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Meet 7:45 am at the main gate 25th Street and 5th Ave.
Nearest train "R" line to 25th St. www.hopstop.com
Site profile: http://www.green-wood.com

**********

Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Where: 164 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues
http://www.gowanuscanal.org

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 6:00am – 5:30pm
Van Cortlandt Park Birdathon
Rain Date: Saturday, May 18 With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Meet at Van Cortlandt Park for a great day of birding and support the park at the same time, whether you’re a birding beginner or a pro! Come any time between 6am and 7pm to participate in Van Cortlandt Park’s first bird-a-thon. Count the number of bird species you spot and get your supporters to chip in for each species you find! Experts will be on hand to help with identification. For more information and to learn about pledge collection, visit www.vcpark.org or call 718-430-1890. (The event is not up on their website yet, but hopefully will be soon.)
Bring binoculars. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 8am – 9:30pm
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers (first Saturday of the month) With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank learned their craft on Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds, and these walks celebrate the tradition set by them. Participants will look for resident and migrant species and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 9am – 3pm
Beginning Birding Field Trip: Jamaica Bay
Classes: Thursdays, May 9 and 16, 6:30-8:30pm Trips: Saturday, May 11, 9am-3pm (Jamaica Bay) and Saturday, May 18, 8-11am (Central Park) Instructor: Tod Winston Learn to identify the spectacular variety of birds that migrate northwards through New York City from Central and South America. Includes two classes and two trips—one to Central Park to see warblers, tanagers, and vireos, and one to Jamaica Bay to see herons, egrets, and shorebirds.
Limited to 13. $85 for package of 2 trips and 2 classes.
Click here to register

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 9:30am – 11:30am
Birding at Wave Hill
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center and search for spring migrants in the beautiful gardens and woodlands of Wave Hill. Advanced registration is recommended, either online, at the Perkins Visitor Center, or by calling 718-549-3200 x305. (Walks run rain or shine; in case of severe weather call the number above at x245 for updates.) Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult.
Walks are free; please visit www.wavehill.org for Wave Hill admission pricing. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and register

**********

North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 6:30am
Big Day
Alley Pond Parking Lot, 76th Ave.
After lunch, continues at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
NSAS leader: Ian Resnick 917-626-9562

Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike.
Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 a.m. unless indicated otherwise.
If in doubt, call the trip leader.
Please note: all phone numbers are code 516 unless otherwise shown.
In most cases, your contacts are the trip leaders.
For directions, click sitefinder view.
We encourage carpooling where feasible.

**********

NYC Wildflower Week
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Botanical Walks, Brooklyn: Sunrise Listening Tour

Garden Tours, Bronx: Rediscovering NY's Native Plant Communities Workshop and Native Plant Share

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Garden Tours, Manhattan: Native Plant Habitat at LCBH Community Garden

**********

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 11, 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Spring Ten-Mile Walk of the SI Greenbelt
We’ll walk at a comfortable pace to see wonderful vistas, beautiful, spring woodlands. Meet at the beginning of the blue line trail at the end of Staten Island Boulevard (at the end of the road right above Petrides School which intersects Ocean Terrace). Bring lunch, a beverage and sturdy walking shoes.
For more details call Dominick Durso at (718) 967-0379 or Chuck Perry at (718) 667-1393.

**********

Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, May 11, 2013, Allday Event
Queens County Big Day
Big Day is the spring analogue of the CBC. We try to amass the biggest species list for every corner of Queens County. Compilation dinner to follow.

**********

Staten Island Museum
Saturday, May 11, All Day/Round-up at 8:00pm
Big Day Bird Count
Free
Grab your binoculars and bird watch! Teams of 2-4 bird watchers are invited to visit their favorite Island birding locations to count as many species as they can. Join other birders at the round-up to hear what they found.
For more information contact Seth Wollney at 718.483.7105.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Birdathon at Van Cortlandt Golf House (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Drop in any time this day to have fun birding or learning to bird and help out the park at the same time.

Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Birding at Bloomingdale Park Playground (in Bloomingdale Park), Staten Island
9:00 a.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and for all skill levels.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Bird Walks at The New York Botanical Garden at Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

On A Wing: International Migratory Bird Day at Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Did you know that Central Park is part of the Atlantic Flyway and a vital resting stop for migratory birds each year? Learn how the Conservancy manages the Park as a habitat for these birds.
Free!

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Birding: Piping Plover at Beach 59th Street (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
10:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding trip to spot and learn about the Piping Plover
Free!

New York City Rare Bird Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Sat, 04 May 2013 09:15:00 +0000

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, May 3, 2013

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* May. 3, 2013
* NYNY1305.03

- Birds mentioned

RUFF+
SAY'S PHOEBE+
SMITH'S LONGSPUR+ (Ulster County, New York)
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Black Vulture
Semipalmated Plover
Upland Sandpiper
WHIMBREL
Red Knot
Short-billed Dowitcher
GULL-BILLED TERN
PARASITIC JAEGER
Razorbill
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Red-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Prairie Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Hooded Warbler
SUMMER TANAGER
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Bobolink
Boat-tailed Grackle
Orchard Oriole
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc3@nybirds.org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
486 High Street
Victor, NY 14564

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

To report sightings call:
Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (weekdays, during the day)
Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126 (Long Island)

Compiler: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, May 3rd 2013 at 7pm. The highlights of today's tape are SAY'S PHOEBE, SMITH'S LONGSPUR, SUMMER TANAGER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, PARASITIC JAEGER, GULL-BILLED TERN, WHIMBREL and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

Two great Spring rarities showed up last weekend. On Saturday a SAY'S PHOEBE was identified in Prospect Park and for much of the day it stayed in a Sumac stand on the north side of the Peninsula Meadow to the enjoyment of many gathered birders. Apparently a first year bird the Say's was nicely documented photographically and was subsequently rumored to have been present the day before. It was not seen after Saturday.

Then on Sunday north of the city at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge north of Wallkill in Ulster County a male SMITH'S LONGSPUR in nice plumage was spotted in the afternoon. A rather elusive bird it was finally relocated Monday afternoon and then on Tuesday providing birders with much more accommodating views. Some excellent photos were taken Tuesday but the Longspur, New York's third record and first for the Spring, was not relocated after Tuesday. UPLAND SANDPIPER, BOBOLINK and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were among the other birds at the grasslands.

Despite the continued abysmal winds for migration that we've been having some interesting Spring migrants have been arriving. The season's first PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was found last Friday, April 26th, at Cranberry Bog County Park in Riverhead and this was followed by reports of PROTHONOTARY from Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn on Tuesday and then from Muttontown Preserve yesterday but not today.

Meanwhile the good run of YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS continues one was seen in Prospect Park in Brooklyn Sunday along with such other warblers as KENTUCKY WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER and the Prospect YELLOW-THROATED was noted again on Tuesday. Another YELLOW-THROATED was spotted last Saturday at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan with a third at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island on Tuesday. Another welcome Spring arrival was a SUMMER TANAGER at Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn last Sunday.

The 2 RUFFS at Timberpoint Golf Course East Marina Marsh were reported as recently as Tuesday but we have no subsequent information. Enter the golf course from Great River Road and follow the signs to the East Marina to view the marsh.

A WHIMBREL was seen in Big Egg Marsh south of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Thursday.

Out at Jones Beach the adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER along Bay Parkway was still near the field 10 entrance on Tuesday and 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS have been appearing with some regularity on the bar off the West End Coast Guard Station. Shorebirds off field 10 Saturday included RED KNOT and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were at Jamaica Bay on Sunday.

Out east sea watches off Amagansett produced a PARASITIC JAEGER last Sunday and a RAZORBILL Monday along with lots of NORTHERN GANNETS, scoters and loons. Five BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES at Napeague on Sunday were very unusual that far east.

Among the other recent arrivals have been WOOD THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, RED-EYED VIREO, a CAPE MAY WARBLER at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island Saturday, NASHVILLE WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER at Doodletown Road Monday, BOBOLINK, ORCHARD ORIOLE and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Lingering WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS include 2 still at the Bronx Zoo Tuesday, 1 in Prospect Park along with 5 PINE SISKINS Wednesday and at least 6 WHITE-WINGEDS at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye to Thursday including a couple of interesting fairly heavily streaked individuals.

Also still noteworthy are the increasing numbers of local COMMON RAVENS and BLACK VULTURES. The Ravens settling into various nesting areas and the Vultures still moving through.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, and weekdays call Tom Burke at (212) 372-1483.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript

Green-Wood Trip Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow morning, May 4th, I'll be leading a trip in Green-Wood Cemetery for the Linnaean Society of New York. There is no registration necessary and the trip starts at 8am from the cemetery's main gate at 5th Avenue and 25th Street.

NYU Hawkcam

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:09:00 +0000

The New York University Red-tailed Hawk nest has three fast-growing nestlings. Check it out:

Watch live streaming video from nyu_hawkcam at livestream.com

Friday's Foto

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Tulips were once worth more than gold. Tulip mania is regarded as the first economic bubble with the price of tulips reaching their peak in the Netherlands in 1637. At its peak one would have to exchange "four fat oxen" for a single bulb of the tulip Viceroy. Thankfully, we can now enjoy the wide ranging colors, size and shapes of this botanical for free in most of our parks. This bed is in front of historic Litchfield Villa at "Carmen's Garden", named for my late neighbor Carmen Farina.

Bird Migration Update

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:56:00 +0000

Since my last migration update there has definitely been an uptick in the number of species seen around Brooklyn. The bad news is that strong East winds midweek seems to have put a sudden stop to any new movement and blown many birds out of the city.

Before meeting my group at Green-Wood Cemetery on Saturday morning I rode my bike into Prospect Park at around 5:30am. The nearly full moon and clear sky illuminated the dark paths in the Ravine. White cherry petals scattered on the pathways looked like constellations on the asphalt pavement. Robins and cardinals dominated the soundscape, but an Ovenbird blasted a resounding "TEAcher, TEAcher, TEAcher" from somewhere within the colorless, wooded hillside near the Ambergill. I met Heydi and Bob at the North end of the park at 6am and we spent the next 90 minutes together working our way South. We repeated this basic routine on Sunday, unfortunately Bob decided to sleep in. I say, "unfortunately", because on Sunday morning we had a couple of uncommon warblers drop into the park. They were Kentucky Warbler and Hooded Warbler. The hooded is not as uncommon as the kentucky as they breed North of New York City and are usually seen on migration. Kentucky Warblers, however, breed South of NYC and individuals seen here during migration are overshoots. I assume that, at some point, they turn back around and aren't usually seen during the Fall migration. Another overshoot seen this week was a Yellow-throated Warbler, which was spotted on Sunday and was seen around the edges of Breeze Hill until, at least, Tuesday.

Over the past week our species total for Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park was 92. The previous week it was 73. By early-May that total should be a bit higher and each specie's abundance should definitely be greater. Before getting too depressed, though, let's see what the weekend holds.

**********

Date Range: April 26, 2013 - April 30, 2013
Locations: Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park
Species: 92

Wood Duck
Ruddy Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
SAY'S PHOEBE
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher

Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Common Yellowthroat
HOODED WARBLER
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler

Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow

Saturday's Green-Wood Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:20:00 +0000

The trip that I lead to Green-Wood Cemetery this past Saturday yield few surprises, but we did manage to see a few new migrants and one very cooperative vireo.

We had great weather and I was optimistic that favorable winds would reveal a few new birds for the Spring. Predictably, the most common warbler seen through the morning was Yellow-rumped Warbler. I followed some of my favorite routes hitting stands of oaks, which are now adorned with the yellow, dangling flowers which many insects monopolize at this time of year. I heard a few Northern Parula's buzzy songs through the morning, but only actually saw one. I didn't locate much bird activity until we got to the Sylvan Water.

We did find one very nice species early on as I led the large group up Central Ridge. I like this spot because there are several mature oak tree along the narrow ridge that always seems to attract migrating songbirds. The group was enjoying a couple of Pine Warblers near the base of the hill then we continued up towards Pierrepont family monument. The ridge ascends like three giant steps and on the third step is a large oak with lower branches that hang down to eye level. A brilliant Yellow-throated Vireo was feeding in this tree, occasionally gleaning insects from the lowest branches. Like many of the vireo species (and warblers, for that matter) they are generally found much higher up, so it was a treat to get such great views of this beautiful bird.

Here's a nice photo of a Yellow-throated Vireo taken by my friend Steve during a past Spring outing in the cemetery:

Standing at the edge of the pond we scanned a small flock of Barn Swallows looking for something different. Maybe one of the "brown" swallows. A pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows weaved in and out of the field of more common deep blue and rufous swallows. A Spotted Sandpiper teetered along the opposite shore, foraging at the edge of the water. I heard a Yellow Warbler singing along Lake Ridge on the West side of this small body of water. I decided to pick up the pace to check the weedy understory in that area.

Facing the ridge, with the sun at our backs, any birds in the trees or understory stood out like beacons in the night. The first bird we spotted was a Yellow Warbler, singing loudly from within a Sycamore Maple. To its left, and lower down, was an equally brilliant Prairie Warbler. This male graced us with his warbling, rising chromatic scale. To his left, and on the ground, was my first Common Yellowthroat of the season. We probably spent 30 minutes at this small stretch of habitat along the Sylvan Water, but left having tallied around 15 species of birds.

The final leg of the morning walk wasn't nearly as productive, but I did bring the group to see Big Mama sitting on her nest in the "Flats" section of the cemetery. As one point, the large Red-tailed Hawk stood up and appeared to be fiddling with something in the base of the nest. She was either turning eggs or attending to tiny chicks. At this point it would be impossible to tell for sure. The morning's birding was pretty decent and I would have been fine ending it here, but the Spring migration had a big surprise in store for Brooklyn birders...

**********

Location: Green-Wood Cemetery
Date: Saturday, 04/27/13, 8:00am - 11:00am
Species: 55
Comments: Leading Brooklyn Bird Club trip. 20 participants.

Double-crested Cormorant (1.)
Osprey (1.)
Cooper's Hawk (1.)
Red-tailed Hawk (2.)
Spotted Sandpiper (1.)
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift (5.)
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe (1.)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (1.)
Blue-headed Vireo
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2.)
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1.)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper (1.)
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet (1.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush (2.)
Gray Catbird (2.)

Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (1.)
Northern Parula (1.)
Yellow Warbler (1.)
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler (2.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler (1.)

Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow

Brooklyn's Latest Rare Bird

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:50:00 +0000

Over the weekend Brooklyn's Prospect Park hosted another very rare bird with a bad sense of direction.

I was just finishing up my tour in Green-Wood Cemetery when I received a tweet from Mike Yuan, who was birding in Prospect Park. He was with a group that was watching an unidentified flycatcher. At this time of year there are only a few flycatchers migrating through Brooklyn that one would expect to see. They are Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird. All four of these birds are very distinctive, plus Mike is a very experienced birder who could easily figure out the most likely candidates. I was intrigued and called Heydi, who was also birding in Prospect Park.

A careful and skilled birder, Heydi quietly described to me a medium-sized flycatcher with a salmony-colored belly and undertail coverts. She was fairly confident that it was a Say's Phoebe. I don't think I've ever heard Heydi raise her voice, but in my head the words sounded more like SAY'S PHOEBE! This is a species normally found West of the Mississippi River, although I did see one back in 2006 that showed up during Fall migration on Long Island at Robert Moses State Park. Below is the normal range map for this bird:

I told the people on my trip about the bird, explained the significance (it had never been recorded in Brooklyn before) and gave them directions to the Peninsula Meadow in Prospect Park. The bird was hawking for insects from a small weedy section of sumacs at the Western edge of the meadow. Folks were able to exit Green-Wood Cemetery from 20th Street, which is a short walk to the park. I had to walk the nearly 3/4 mile back to the main entrance, where my bike was locked up, then pedal back to Prospect Park (all uphill, mind you). Fortunately, when I arrived, the Say's Phoebe was still present, as were about 15 lucky birders. I watched the bird making short sallies, snatching insects out of the air and returning to perches in the leafless sumacs. After about 5 minutes it flew high up into a gingko tree and disappeared somewhere to the East. The word had been sent out over Twitter, text messages and emails, so lots of excited birders were on their way to Brooklyn hoping to set their bins on this rare bird. A group of us decided to try and relocate it before they arrived. We were ultimately unsuccessful, but nearly 3 hours later the flycatcher had returned to the sumacs.

Like most of the previous wayward Say's Phoebes that had ended up in New York State, Saturday's bird was a one-day-wonder. I'm really glad I was in the neighborhood and able to briefly enjoy it.

I searched Cornell's eBird website for previous New York State records and this is what I found:

11/27/81 (Baltimore Woods, Onondaga Ct.)
12/23/88 (Montgomery, Orange Ct.)
12/23/95 (Albany Co., NY WWTP at Menands, Albany Ct.)
02/24/02 (Camp Dudley Road, Essex Ct.)
09/24/06 (Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Ct.)
09/25/06 (Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Ct.)
10/22/08 (Batavia Wastewater Plant--West, Genesee Ct.)
10/04/11 (Caumsett SP, Suffolk Ct.)
10/05/11 (Caumsett SP, Suffolk Ct.)
10/07/11 (Robert Moses SP, Suffolk Ct.)
11/19/11 (Greene Co. IDA Grasslands, Greene Ct.)
10/26/12 (PI--Route 6, Suffolk Ct.)
04/27/13 (Prospect Park, Kings Ct.)

In addition to this individual being the first New York City record for Say's Phoebe, it appears to be the first Spring record.

Here's a photo of Saturday's pioneer. Notice the fly in the air next to the phoebe. I'm guessing that it was devoured moments later.

Photo courtesy of Heydi Lopes

Green-Wood Cemetery Trip Change

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:50:00 +0000

Next Wednesday, May 8, 2013, I have an early morning appointment, so have changed my weekly Green-Wood Cemetery tour to Tuesday, May 7th.

Treehugger Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:19:00 +0000

Photographer Brett Essler documented the damage done to the trees in New York City by Hurricane Sandy. The result is a video entitled "Their Songs Never Cease":

"The devastating human suffering and economic costs of Hurricane Sandy will be felt for years. While the loss of a tree is not comparable to the loss of a life, home, or livelihood, the plants and trees that line our parks, yards, and streets are an important part of our city’s history and ecosystem.

The city’s trees are home to endangered migratory birds, shelter from the summer sun, and the backdrop for a cherished family photos. After the storm, trees are chipped and piled in parking lots or, ironically, in what were once green spaces. Floyd Bennett Field in the Rockaways will be home to an expected 200 cubic yards of tree debris.

The New York City Parks Department fielded 26,000 tree service requests in the wake of the storm and they estimate that the cost of removing downed trees and branches will be $15 million to $20 million. It will be some time before the full extent of tree loss is tallied, but to date the parks department has counted approximately 10,000 downed trees on city streets and thousands more in the parks.

They continue to clear the debris, but the piles of tree logs, branches, and debris have become part of a revised urban landscape, sometimes chillingly so.

On November 15, a park worker found a body hidden beside a pile of dead trees in a parking lot of Queens’ Forest Park. Police say the man had been murdered, his body dumped in the park.

At the New York Botanical Garden – a 250-acre oasis in the Bronx – Vice President for Horticulture Todd Forrest says that nearly 300 trees were uprooted or otherwise destroyed and more than 300 were damaged. Garden crews work sunrise to sunset removing dead trees – some more than 100 years old – and repair those that can be salvaged. Mature native trees may be made in into boats, others crude benches lining garden paths. Most will make their way to a massive chip pile where they continue to do their work, breaking down and creating wisps of methane gas. Throughout the usually silent park, the ambient hum of earthmovers, wood chippers, and chain saws provide a new soundtrack.

The photos in this essay are from parts of New York City that saw little human or property damage. Here, Sandy made her mark in other subtle, but equally long-lasting, ways."

Their Songs Never Cease from Brett Essler on Vimeo.

Upcoming Nature Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 4, 2013 - May 5, 2013:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 8am
Morning Bird Walk: Marvelous Migrants
Free
Meet the amazing birds who use the Park as a migratory layover on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday May 4, 2013
A Brooklyn Bird Club salute to Starr Saphir: Central Park
Meet 7:50 am at 81st St and Central Park West Ave park entrance, New York City
Leader: Peter Dorosh
http://birdsofcentralpark.com/
Nearest train Stop: 81st St-American Museum of Natural History "C" line www.hopstop.com

Sunday May 5, 2013
Prospect Park
Meet 7:00 am at Bartel Pritchard Square park entrance
Leader: Ed Crowne

**********

Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Where: 164 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues
http://www.gowanuscanal.org

**********

Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Green-Wood Cemetery
Leader: Rob Jett a.k.a. "The City Birder"
No registration.
Meet at Main Gate (25th Street and 5th Avenue, Brooklyn) at 8 AM.
Public transportation (R train to 25th Street).

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 8am – 9:30pm
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers (first Saturday of the month) With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank learned their craft on Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds, and these walks celebrate the tradition set by them. Participants will look for resident and migrant species and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 4, 2013, 9am – 5pm
Sterling Forest Warblers
Guides: Don Riepe, Tod Winston Explore the woodland and pond habitat of the 20,000-acre Sterling Forest preserve during peak spring migration. Look for nesting warblers (including golden-winged, cerulean, hooded, prairie, and blue-winged) as well as spring wildflowers, reptiles, and amphibians. Visit the rustic visitor center. Trip involves a 4-mile hike and some rocky terrain.
Bring lunch, water, and binoculars.
Transport by passenger van. Limited to 11.
$70 Click here to register.

Saturday, May 4, 2013, 9am – 12pm
Biking and Birding: Clove Lakes and Silver Lakes Parks
Guide: Gabriel Willow Meet at the Staten Island Ferry, Manhattan side (4 South St. and Whitehall St.), New York City. Journey to the borough of Staten Island to discover some of its best birding spots. Look for ducks and seabirds in New York Harbor on our way across and then ride to Staten Island's premier "migrant traps," Clove Lakes and Silver Lake parks.
Bring binoculars, water, lunch, and your bicycle.
Limited to 15. $30. Click here to register.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 8am – 3pm
Spring Hot Spots of Staten Island
Guides: Cliff Hagen, Tod Winston Come visit some of the beautiful, bird-rich spots on Staten Island--which can be hard for car-less New Yorkers to get to. We'll start looking for migrating warblers, flycatchers and more along the lovely wooded and streamside trail of Clove Lakes Park... then move on to the pristine marsh habitat of Great Kills Park, looking for shorebirds and wading birds. Depending on time, we may make a third stop at the spectacular North Mount Loretto Unique Area.
Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Transport by passenger van included.
Limited to 12. $75 Click here to register.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 8am – 11am
Spring Warblers (field trip)
SPRING WARBLERS (CLASS and FIELD TRIP) Class: Thursday, May 2, 6:30-8:30pm Trip: Sunday, May 5, 8-11am
Instructor: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC First learn to identify the 30-plus species of warblers that migrate through our area each spring, using field marks and other techniques. Then go out in the field and reinforce what you've learned! Field trip to Central Park.
Limited to 12. $50 Click here to register.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and register

**********

North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Alley Pond Park
Leader: Stephane Perreaults (423-0947)

Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike.
Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 a.m. unless indicated otherwise.
If in doubt, call the trip leader.
Please note: all phone numbers are code 516 unless otherwise shown.
In most cases, your contacts are the trip leaders.
For directions, click sitefinder view.
We encourage carpooling where feasable.

**********

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 7:30 A.M.
The Great Saunter
Participants for the 27th Annual, 32 mile saunter around the Manhattan shoreline will gather at Fraunces Tavern, 54 Pearl Street, off Broad.
Please click here for additional information.

Saturday, May 4, 2013, 12 Noon to 2:00 P.M.
Old Mill Road
Enjoy a stroll along the multi-use trail overlooking Fresh Kills with Clay Wollney. Meet in the parking lot at the start of Old Mill Road, alongside St. Andrew’s Church.
For more information phone Clay at 718-869-6327.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Arden Heights Woods
Join naturalist and former New York State archaeologist Mike Shanley for a spring walk through Arden Heights Woods. Most of Arden Heights Woods is a forested hardwood swamp. This park is considered the largest wetlands that the Department of Environmental Conservation has classified anywhere in the New York metropolitan area. It contains several kettle ponds and streams making it an important bluebelt area. Meet at the corner of Carlton Boulevard and Legate Avenue.
For more information call Mike at 917-753-7155, or email Falecore [AT] yahoo.com.

**********

Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, May 5, 2013 (all day trip)
Forest Park
Leader: Jean Loscalzo (917-575-6824)
Forest Park is THE best place to be for spring migrants, and no one knows their way around better than Jean.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Bird Walks at The New York Botanical Garden at Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Urban Wildlife Appreciation Day with the Urban Park Rangers at Pats Lawn (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Wildlife viewing opportunities exist year-round in all of our parks and beaches.
Free!

Sunday, May 5, 2013
Early Morning Bird Walk: Marvelous Migrants at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
8:00 a.m.
See some of the dazzling birds that visit the Park before flying to northern breeding grounds. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.
Free!

Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

New York City Rare Bird Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Jett) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:26:00 +0000

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, April 26, 2013:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* April 26, 2013
* NYNY1304.26

- Birds Mentioned:

WHITE-FACED IBIS+
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE+
RUFF+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

BRANT (subspecies "Black Brant")
Harlequin Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Glossy Ibis
Sora
SANDHILL CRANE
Solitary Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Razorbill
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue-winged Warbler
"Lawrence's" Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Prairie Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
BLUE GROSBEAK
Indigo Bunting
Boat-tailed Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
White-winged Crossbill
Evening Grosbeak

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc1 AT nybirds.org .

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
486 High Street
Victor, NY 14564

~ Transcript ~

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Weekly Recording: (212) 979-3070

To report sightings call:
Tom Burke (212) 372-1483 (weekdays)
Tony Lauro (631) 734-4126 (Long Island)

Compilers: Tom Burke, Tony Lauro
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
Transcriber: Karen Fung

[~BEGIN RBA TAPE~]

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 26th, at 8:00pm. The highlights of today's tape are SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, SANDHILL CRANE, RUFF, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK BRANT, BLUE GROSBEAK, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and Spring Migrants.

This year's winner of the "Who will spot the SWALLOW-TAILED KITE?" contest was standing in Van Cortlandt Park Thursday morning when one flew over the Parade Grounds, heading west. This species seems very reluctant to hang out in New York for very long. The award may need to be shared, though, as a SWALLOW-TAILED was also reported flying over Hartsdale, Westchester County, on Thursday evening.

Last Sunday morning an adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was found roosting with 20+ Glossy Ibis in the cove just north of the southwest corner of the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. A SORA also came out of the phragmites briefly in the same area. After the ibis departed, it could not be relocated. With the West Pond corrupted by a bad tidal breach, it is not likely the White-faced will visit the north end there as regularly as in past years, so determining its new habits will be challenging. Large trenches at the south end of the East Pond will also make traversing that area impossible, so please address these concerns with Jamaica Bay personnel.

The two RUFFS at the East Marina at the Timber Point Golf Club have been quite reliable through today, in the marsh, though patience may be necessary until they come into view. Enter the Timber Point Golf Club from Great River Road and follow the sign to the East Marina, which has a parking lot and a dock from which the marsh can be scanned. Also watch for the Black Brant among the few hundred Atlantic Brant, these sometimes in the cove off the boat dock, but more likely on the golf course, where birders should not go.

A female RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was spotted last Sunday off Dune Road, west of Shinnecock Inlet, initially staying just off Road J, west of the Ponquogue Bridge. By Wednesday it had moved east of the bridge, near the boat docks, but we have no word since.

We also have a belated report of a SANDHILL CRANE at Croton Point Park in Westchester County on Thursday the 18th.

Among the nice variety of passerines now trickling in (and is anyone tired of these northwest winds yet??), a couple of BLUE GROSBEAKS have shown up: one at Fort Hero in Montauk last Sunday, and one on Shelter Island Monday.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, somewhat elusive, was seen at Hempstead Lake State Park last Saturday and again today, this near McDonald Pond.

Today two GULL-BILLED TERNS showed up on the bar off the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach West End, and along Bay Parkway an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found near the entrance to Jones Beach field
10.

Unusual birds in Prospect Park have featured a WORM-EATING WARBLER last weekend, a female EVENING GROSBEAK and a hybrid "LAWRENCE'S" WARBLER yesterday and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER today. HOODED WARBLER has visited Central Park, Alley Pond Park, and Oakland Lake in Queens, and a growing list of other warbler arrivals has included BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, and AMERICAN REDSTART.

Other passerines have featured EASTERN KINGBIRD, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING, SALTMARSH SPARROW and SEASIDE SPARROW. Both LITTLE BLUE HERON and TRICOLORED HERON are back at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. New shorebirds include SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and LEAST SANDPIPER, and three CASPIAN TERNS were at Sagg Pond today, with two more at Mecox. Also noted have been a few RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS.

Otherwise, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK was at Point Lookout last Sunday, when a RED-NECKED GREBE was still at Captree State Park, and 48 RAZORBILLS were counted off Main Beach in East Hampton last Saturday.

Some WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS still around include nine today at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, where there was also a BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE in the marsh.

To phone in reports on Long Island, call Tony Lauro at (631) 734-4126, or weekdays call Tom Burke at (212) 372-1483.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

[~END TAPE~]

~ End Transcript ~