Mamma Kestrel after a recent rain.
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This work by Matthew Wills is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Backyard and Beyond 
Dear Matthew, I have a question. I live next to Riverside Park. Usually I hear only sparrows but, although I am not a birdwatcher, I am hearing new sounds from different kinds of birds and yesterday I think I saw a finch in a tree in our garden. Our new birds appearing in New York City. I love to hear their wonderful songs. Could you let me know what’s happening? Thanks
Hey, Susan:
I would argue that the birds have been here all along but the pandemic lockdown has given us the time to pay more attention. More time observing, less traffic noise, etc. has sharpened out senses. Less people (and loose dogs) in the parks may also play a role in making birds bolder and more noticeable.
Robins, Catbirds, Cardinal, Mourning Doves, and Mockingbirds join House Sparrows, Starlings, and Rock Doves (pigeons) in nesting locally, in big parks and small and sometimes in the inner blocks of the blocks are mostly row-houses with backyards. House Finchs also nest in NYC and visit bird feeders etc. These are just the nesting birds I can think of off the top of my head. I don’t know Riverside Park very well. Enjoy the spectacle (both visual and aural)!
Matthew good day and thank you! As always you offer beautiful photography and spot on perspective(political and otherwise…). I am in Miami Beach (South Beach) now and the a kind of small macaw has invaded since last I lived here over 20 years ago. It looks like a smaller cousin of the Scarlet Macaw I see in Costa Rica. I’ll be turning in my voter’s reg tomorrow…. one less vote for the horror currently in the WH. All the best to you and yours.
Thank you, Jose!
Florida’s parrots get a lot of attention: up to 30 species have escaped from the pet trade and now live and breed there. Here in NYC, we have Monk Parakeets in the wild, and I’ve seen some budgies and lovebirds on the loose, too. Only the Monks — native to the lower Andes — seem to be able to handle winter.
https://www.audubon.org/news/exotic-parrot-colonies-are-flourishing-across-country
Click to access uw21300.pdf
https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/00000164-28d5-d1b0-a7fd-7df5399e0000