New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

birds

Fall Bird Migration is Underway

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red-tailed hawk courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe fall bird migration is an exciting time for birding. With migrants on the move your favorite birding site can change within a few days, with different species traveling in and out. Every spring and fall, thousands of raptors migrate, and birders may see or hear eagles, kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Ospreys, Broad-winged Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons among others.

The NYS Birding Trail highlights several hawk watches including Bear Mountain Hawk Watch at Bear Mountain State Park, Hook Mountain Hawk Watch, and Mount Peter Hawkwatch Trailway, all within the Hudson Valley segment. [Read more…] about Fall Bird Migration is Underway

Brown Thrashers Skulk Through Thickets

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brown thrasher courtesy Wikimedia user Rhododendrites The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) lives out its days in relative seclusion. Like the gray catbird, which has a similar fondness for thickets and shrubby areas, brown thrashers haunt areas of dense cover, although discerning eyes may be able to spot these birds within that habitat.

Even when they’re out of sight, brown thrashers may be heard singing loudly in late spring and early summer, often incorporating bits of other birds’ songs into their own. [Read more…] about Brown Thrashers Skulk Through Thickets

Last Three Segments of NYS Birding Trail Complete

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Downy Brook Nature Preserve courtesy DECNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the grand opening of the final three regions of the New York State Birding Trail, highlighting the state’s world-class and wide-ranging birding opportunities.

The Adirondacks-North Country, Catskills, and Southern Tier segments bring the total number of birding trail locations across the state to more than 300, providing a variety of quality birding experiences for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy. [Read more…] about Last Three Segments of NYS Birding Trail Complete

Man Faces Charges For Killing Protected Osprey

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deceased osprey courtesy DECAccording to a press release issued by DEC, on August 3rd, Environmental Conservation Officer CO Small responded to a call from Suffolk County Police about a resident in Port Jefferson who had heard gunshots just prior to seeing a large bird fall out of a tree. [Read more…] about Man Faces Charges For Killing Protected Osprey

Loon Calls & Other Vocalizations

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On the New Hampshire lake where I spend much of the summer, loon calls are so common that I sometimes take them for granted.

The sounds of the common loon (Gavia immer) are iconic of wilderness and have been described as haunting, plaintive, maniacal, other-worldly, even wolf-like. [Read more…] about Loon Calls & Other Vocalizations

Study Explores Forces Limiting Ranges of Mountain Birds

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Ornate Hawk-Eagle by Sergio Andrés Cuéllar Ramirez A new study helps reveal why tropical mountain birds occupy such narrow elevation ranges, a mystery that has puzzled scientists for centuries. While many assumed temperature was responsible for these limited distributions, the latest research suggests competition from other species plays a bigger role in shaping bird ranges. [Read more…] about Study Explores Forces Limiting Ranges of Mountain Birds

Wild Blueberries: A Primer

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lowbush blueberry courtesy Wikimedia user Fungus GUy Among summer’s many sweet offerings are wild berries. And among these, blueberries are my favorite. Years ago, I took to carrying large, empty yogurt containers in my car – and smaller vessels in my backpack – so I would have something to fill should I pass a good berry patch. My children became used to my meandering travels along back roads and woods trails as I foraged opportunistically. [Read more…] about Wild Blueberries: A Primer

The Gray Catbird: A Loud and Curious Bird

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Gray Catbird courtesy Wikimedia user Hari Krishnan Several years ago, I was awakened nearly every day of late spring by a recurring – and very loud – bird sound. I say “sound,” rather than “song” because this particular noise was not so melodious as the cheery whistling of the robin or the musical trilling of the hermit thrush. It was more of a short squawk, repeated over and over again.

This, I discovered, was the call of a gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). Over the years, catbirds have returned each spring to our yard, and I have come to enjoy their sounds – and the antics of these curious and loud birds. [Read more…] about The Gray Catbird: A Loud and Curious Bird

Birding Spotlight: Bicknell’s Thrush

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Bicknell’s thrush by Kent McFarlandOn the cold, coniferous mountaintops of the Catskills and Adirondacks lives a native bird that is a High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need: the Bicknell’s Thrush.

Nesting in the low branches of stunted conifers, Bicknell’s Thrush exclusively relies on high altitude spruce-fir forests in the northeast to nest and raise chicks. Bicknell’s Thrush is considered one of the most at-risk songbirds in eastern North America and highly vulnerable to habitat loss. [Read more…] about Birding Spotlight: Bicknell’s Thrush

Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Binoculars to Give New Birders a Start

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backpacks stocked with binoculars and field guidesStarting this summer, the Keene Valley Public Library and Saranac Lake Free Library, both located in the Adirondacks, are loaning backpacks stocked with binoculars and field guides to give people an opportunity to try out birding.

The backpacks are part of the Adirondack Land Trust’s “Adirondack Birding for All” program, which is working with the libraries to increase awareness and appreciation of Adirondack birds and their habitats. [Read more…] about Beyond Books: Libraries Lend Binoculars to Give New Birders a Start