Spring is in the air in NYC and the birding community is atwitter — keeping up to date on recent migration arrivals in Central Park via Twitter, that is!
Text and Photographs by Boysenberry45
The most photographed bird these past few weeks has unquestionably been a Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), named for the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks, known as prothonotaries, in the Roman Catholic Church. A male of this species delighted birders for about a week in the north woods of Central Park, belting out its beautiful song and bopping around like a flying lemon, often perching quite close to its adoring fans.
On Earth Day, April 22, 2022, the first clutch of Canada Geese hatchlings was welcomed at the Harlem Meer. These adorable, down-covered fuzz balls can leave the nest when 1-2 days old, depending on weather, and can walk, swim, feed, and even dive, but remain under the protective, watchful eyes of both parents, so humans should keep a respectful distance.
Great photos! I am no birder but often scan the incredible photo contributions to the Manhattan Bird Alert on Twitter (you don’t have to be a tweeter either to do this!). And though I don’t own binoculars, I can attest it is still a joy to see and hear the astonishing Spring array of bird life in our parks these days – even if one doesn’t have names for most of the flashing red, yellow, blue, black and white and brown feathers. (If you get curious about the cute bright yellow fluttering you saw, you can always jump online and learn from more knowledgeable New Yorkers just how many kinds of yellow (or mostly yellow) Warblers are flitting about. )
Happy to see the gosling but Central Park in conjuction with the DEC does destroy goose eggs, last Spring many eggs were oiled and destroyed by Conservancy, not sure why this isn’t reported by birders?
Canadian Geese have overrun the Northeast. Any humane way of cutting their numbers should be welcomed.
Wonder if the birders care that the EPA kills the eggs of the geese that make nests in Central Park? Mated for life, geese couples loving build their nests, sit on them and then along come the dreadful men to kill their babies.
The plural name is Canada Geese – as the bird is named after a man, not the country.
Boysenberry45, great photos! Love to see a regular column in the Rag with migrating, interesting, or just common birds in our parks.
Central Park has lots of nooks and crannies nobody knows about – here is a map that details it all – https://www.ebay.com/itm/255018507146?hash=item3b60499b8a:g:XnEAAOSwxuJenhkA