birds
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Common Tern
“Comintern”? It’s a wonder these things weren’t exterminated during the Cold War. Sterna hirundo. This one was fishing from the pier, leaning over and examining the water for several moments before dropping down to capture a small fry. A couple of days later, I saw another, or perhaps the same bird, perching on the pier,…
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Fledgling
Northern Mockingbird in Brooklyn Bridge Park about an hour ago. This may be the very bird noted by a fellow BBP scout.
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Pelham Bay Park
“Only the dead know Brooklyn…” but you can say the same thing for the rest of NYC. Five massive boroughs: it’s a full-time job to explore them all. Last Saturday, we journeyed up to the eastern Bronx to visit Pelham Bay Park. Pharaoh — or should I say “Tyrant,” based on the Greco-design of the…
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The day in birds
My day in birds began just after 5 a.m. when I woke to the pre-dawn chorus of the local House Sparrows. Argh! I grumbled something and rolled over. Between rain clouds, I went out to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in the middle of the day. Some thirty-seven species of birds and three mosquito bites. Many…
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Below the bridge
This view is like a dream sometimes. Also spotted in Brooklyn Bridge Park:
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Cardinal Chicks
Looking somewhat like Muppets, two Northern Cardinal chicks realize there is no food forthcoming from the camera. Normally at this stage in their careers, they are all about open mouths — wide, wide mouths, like so:These birds will quickly get bigger, feather out, and fledge, or fly out from the nest. (This site gives details…
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Woodpecker Sign
This pine is dead, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide a home for fungi, many an invertebrate, and an active red-tailed hawk nest. These holes attest to the various boring insects that have been pecked out by woodpeckers up and down the trunk. Wing of a woodpecker that met an untimely end. Looks too…
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Cardinal Nest
Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) on her eggs. Cardinals are year-around residents of the city, and one of our very vocal species, so we will definitely be hearing them on this morning’s Listening Tour. This female, however, will not be making much noise because she’s trying to be inconspicuous. Good luck! The nest is much…
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Boldness
Or you could make your nest right out in the open, just a few feet from the path around the West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. This Canada Goose’s partner sits on the path hissing up a storm at anybody with the temerity to walk by. Branta canadensis goslings are precocial like ducklings; exposed…
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The Elusive Baby Pigeon
Question: how come you never see a baby pigeon? Answer: you’re not looking hard enough. Actually, the answer might best be approached with another question: how many baby birds does anybody ever see? Ducklings, sure, but ducks are precocial, meaning they are ready to roll (and swim and follow their parents) pretty much as soon…
Backyard and Beyond 