Situated along the Bronx River, the Bronx Zoo-the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States-and its surrounding land are a surprisingly fruitful area for birds and the humans who peer at them.
BRONX ZOO S:3 E:5 WEIRD BIRDS THAT ARE BLACK FULL
The Birdathon is part of May's Bird Migration Month at the Bronx Zoo, a full month celebrating the myriad species that stop in New York on their migration routes. A finished list could have checkmarks next to birds as common as the red-winged blackbird and as exotic as an ostrich, on display within the zoo. What makes it unusual from other birdwatching competitions is that the species within the zoo's exhibits are also fair game. The event, called the Birdathon, serves as both an educational opportunity-"to get kids interested in the life around them," Oehler says-and a competition to see who can spot the most birds over the course of three hours. Dozens of experienced birders, novices and families had been in the park since early morning, often accompanied by guides like Dremeaux and Honda, toting binoculars and a list of viewable birds they checked off as they made sightings. Oehler, along with birders Myra Dremeaux and Kimio Honda, led me around Bronx Park on Saturday morning, in the stretches of forested land that abut the zoo. "I know they're common, but they're one of my favorites," he adds. "I always say that's the sound of spring, when they start calling," says David Oehler, curator of ornithology at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, in New York City. Its piercing, vibrant call shook the bright morning. Like many natural things, they're undervalued. Only in flight have I ever thought they were special, showing their red-and-yellow underwings. Striking, coal-black plumage with dazzling red epaulettes: I had never seen one so closely before, and I come from Illinois, where they are not rare. HARRY, FRANK and ROY LATHAM.A red-winged blackbird appeared suddenly, alighting on an oak limb at eye level less than six feet away. Large bones were wedged firmly in the throat, these were released and the bird offered stale fish which it ate greedily but evidently the stomach was weak from fasting and the food was immediately disgorged. The Turkey Vulture was captured on the ground in a choking condition. Country visited: Shores of Long Island Sound, Orient and Gardiner's Bay, hills, orchards, hardwood forests, cedar groves, swamp, salt marshes, ploughed fields and pastures. Horned Grebe, 34 Holboell's Grebe, 1 Loon, 28 Red-throated Loon, 4 Kittiwake Gull, 300 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 538 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Bonaparte's Gull, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Black Duck, 3 Redhead, 1 American Scaup Duck, 55 Lesser Scaup Duck, 2 American Golden-eye, 3 Bufflehead, 11 Old Squaw, 595 American Scoter, 7 White-winged Scoter, 51 Surf Scoter, 108 Bob-white, 10 Turkey Vulture, 1 Marsh Hawk, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 1 Screech Owl, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 6 Flicker, 26 Horned Lark, 500 Prairie Horned Lark, 5 Blue Jay, 3 American Crow, 362 Fish Crow, 2 Starling, 31 Meadowlark, 154, (two singing) Cross bill, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Pine Siskin, 5 Snowflake, 55 Lapland Longspur, 1 Tree Sparrow, 82 Junco, 2 Song Sparrow, 33 Fox Sparrow, 1 Northern Shrike, 1 Myrtle Warbler, 155 Chickadee, 126 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 39 Robin, 8. Clear fresh, southwest wind ground bare, slightly frozen in morning temp., 30f to 40f. If still confused and as a last resort, call us at home - if no one answers it means we left for the bird walk! Email is above (= If in doubt about whether a walk will take place or not, check the web site the morning of the walk: info will be posted on the main landing page as well as the "Schedule" page by 6am the day of the walk, and usually by 7:30pm the night before. Our home phone is 71.and Deborah's cell is: 34. The Friday walks (only 15 December at 9am) meet at Conservatory Garden - enter at 105th street and 5th Avenue and walk down the stairs - we meet straight ahead at the end of long (75 meter) grassy area, and adjacent to the men's bathroom (women's bathroom on opposite side about 50 yards away).
On Saturdays we sometimes meet at the Boathouse (74th street and the East Drive) at 9:30am - but check schedule on web site and here because we often go further afield such as NYBG in the Bronx.
Bathrooms are nearby and ok they open at about 7:30am. The fine print: In December, our walks every Sunday meet at 9:30am at the Boathouse Restaurant (approximately 74th street and the East Drive on the lake it is NOT one of the buildings on the nearby Model Boat Pond).