Mary Ann
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Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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Activity 3- We have noticed a significant increase in eagles in our area over the years. In the winter, they are abundant on the Hudson! I can’t comment on any declining bird populations since I just really starting watching the birds! Activity 4- I can’t wait to be able go on official bird walks with these knowledgeable people from the local Audubon group. This class was so enlightening and I had plenty of quarantined time to put into it. I also want learn how to take great pictures of the birds I see- like some of my fellow birders have been posting! Thank you!
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Activity 1 My story is that I retired in December as a Science teacher, snowbirded for 2 months south, and returned to NY at the height of Covid. Birding has been such a welcome escape from the doom and gloom around me! I have been doing Zoomed Bird Chats with the local Audubon chapter and getting out for birding walks. I am a newbie to everything but learning about birds and their lives has a been a real joy! The course was great- organized, planned-out well, great visuals! Activity 2 1. No pesticides on our lawn! 2. Native plants in front of my house 3. Definitely need to work on the coffee issue 4. My front window has vertical blinds that seem to help the window crashes. 5. Plastics are tough. My town recycles and we participate, but I want to try buying less and using less plastics. There is a pilot program that is called “Loop”, but I am not sure if we can use it in our area. The idea is to refill containers, like detergents, rather than buying a new one each time. 6. Citizen Science- Great to have these apps on my phone when I walk! They are so helpful!
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I use the Merlin ID app and started keeping a simple journal to record names and place. I don’t want to make it too difficult and take the fun out of birding. I joined the local Audubon group and was looking forward to getting out with them this spring, but Covid shut down a lot of things. The big problem around here are the crowds of people that are coming on the weekends. The local police have to shut down a lot of the parks by mid-morning and limit parking. I am so appreciative to be living in this area and getting to learn more about the birds around me!
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Activity 2 As others have said, Roger Road must be near some kind of body of water, with over 250 sightings. The list included ducks, so maybe it was a pond. Mt. Lemmon had only 120 species listed and included many hawks and owls, indicating fields and meadows.
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Activity 1-My favorite place to walk is Croton Point Park in Westchester, NY. It is located on the Hudson but also it has a capped landfill. The meadows of the landfill attracts red-tailed hawks, Northern Harriers, owls, and all kinds of sparrows. Croton Bay attracts waterfowl such as Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Great Blue Herons. It is famous for the Bald Eagles and their is an annual Eaglefest every winter.
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Sorry, I had trouble posting these pictures-Pileated Woodpecker and I thought this was a Yellow Warbler at my bird feeder.
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1. I was walking thru a state park in NY and came upon a Pileated Woodpecker on a huge dead tree log. I just read that these woodpecker make rectangular holes to find carpenter ants. He (she?) was so busy feeding that I was able to watch for awhile. 2. The Mouring Doves at the bird feeder always remain on the ground. I just read that they peck and push ground cover around, never scratch at it. I thought I had a yellow warbler at bird feeder but I just read they don’t come to feeders because they eat mostly insects. 3. On a walk in my neighborhood, I heard an unusual call and looked up and saw a Baltimore Oriole. On a another walk, I heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak before I found it. The Gray Catbird is very distinctive and they seem to give long, complex songs.
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Activity 2 - Westchester, NY Year-round: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee Visitors: Yellow-rumpled Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole Activity 3 Male Goldfinch: Winter- drab brown colors, Summer- bright yellow Common Loons: Winter- partial collar, brownish, Summer- bright collar and checkered-board back Activity 4 - Croton Point Park, Westchester, NY A birding hotspot Using ebird.org, today(May 15th), some of the species seen are: Purple Martin Canada Greece Least Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Northern Rough-winged Swallow European Starling Gray Catbird Swainson ‘s Thrush Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Indigo Bunting and much more! A lot of these will not be here in the winter- purple martins, warblers, Indigo Bunting!!!
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Hi - Activity One Northern Cardinal with Blackburnian Warble- Really interesting to use the animated abundance maps. Cardinals are around here (NY) all year while the Blackburnian Warbler leaves to go back home to South America. Scarlet Tanager with Western Tanager- the Scarlet only migrates on the east coast while the Western Tanager stays on the west coast. Ruby-throated Hummingbird with Rufous Hummingbird - another surprise- east vs west coast migrations Sandhill Crane with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher- both birds migrate much further north than the others mentioned. The Sandhill Crane mostly moves thru the middle of the country, while the Yellow-bellied Flycatchers seem to the be more eastern. The Sandhill Cranes go all the way up to Alaska.
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Using Merlin’s most likely birds in my area of Westchester County, NY, I have seen the following birds: Grackles, European Starlings, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Baltimore Oriole, Double-Crested Cormorants, Mourning Doves, and one Goldfinch. I used Merlin to see that the Baltimore Oriole migrates from the south and breeds in the north. The double-crested cormorants live year-round in Florida, migrate from the south, and breed mostly in the northern mid-west. The goldfinch is found year- round here in New York, but breeds in Canada- interesting!
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I am in Yorktown, Westchester County. Activity 1: This morning on my walk, a red-tailed hawk swooped down and landed on a tree branch in front of me. It just sat there as I stood still with no camera! Right after that, a downy woodpecker came by. Definitely, two different shapes! Activity 2: Yesterday, at Croton Riverwalk, I used to Merlin to identify a pair of red-winged blackbirds and a grackle, obviously blackbirds. Activity 3: At my birdfeeder, the chipping sparrow with land on the feeder to feed. The mourning doves will feed underneath the feeder, while the robins are hopping all over my yard. Activity 4: So there is an famous eagle’s nest at FDR State Park, that can be seen off the Taconic Parkway. It has become a pandemic escape to go over to the park in the evening and watch at least one eagle perched in the trees. The nest has eaglets in it and it is a joy to watch.
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Purple Martin- Croton Point Park, Westchester, NY
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I am a newbie to bird watching and even listen in awe of the serious bird watchers! I am in the suburbs of NYC and I have seen the following at my bird feeder: Common Grackle, Pileated Woodpecker, Black-capped chickadee, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, and Chipping Sparrows. My yard is filled with robins and crows! Yesterday at Croton Point Park I saw my first Purple Martin! So exciting!
Sorry, I had trouble posting these pictures-Pileated Woodpecker and I thought this was a Yellow Warbler at my bird feeder.
Purple Martin- Croton Point Park, Westchester, NY Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)