The excitement of peak spring migration is one of the most anticipated holidays in the birding calendar year. In contrast with the prolonged, more casual pace of fall, which provides multiple intense pulses of activity over the course of many months, spring heats up in a hurry and wraps up all too quickly. If one happens to be busy with work or out of town on a handful of key arrival days, one might be left feeling as if they “missed out” on migration altogether. In the hopes of combatting this ever-present risk of FOMO, I make an effort to recognize the suspense that builds ahead of the madcap mania of May as a major component of the fun in its own right.
Read More
You can never keep me away from the Adirondacks for long. Though I don’t get to go birding in New York’s own boreal forest oasis nearly as often as I might like to, I make a conscious effort to take the journey to the far upstate on a regular basis. Some years are regrettably missed, while others provide opportunities for multiple visits, but I’ll always be grateful that this remarkable habitat exists within relatively close striking distance of home. With spring break 2023 rapidly approaching, I realized that I had a perfect chance to explore this beloved corner of my state during a new season. My family used to vacation in the region every summer during my childhood, and I’ve made a number of winter trips in recent years, but I had never before been to the Adirondack Park during early spring.
Read More
Ask any birder about which birds they like best, and you’re bound to receive a wide array of responses. Some species are admired for being majestic or awe-inspiring, while others are beloved for their familiarity and classically cute appearances. In contrast, still others endear themselves to human observers by being downright bizarre in aspect. Behavior is also an important factor, with many naturalists citing impressive migrations, striking displays, or unique adaptations as the most appealing features of their favorites. While matters of taste are wildly variable in such an expansive community, there are some birds that bring us all together in nigh universal appreciation. One perennially popular species for birders and, increasingly, non-birders alike is a creature that perfectly marries fascinating ecology with unusual looks to create its own special brand of irresistible awkward charm: the American Woodcock.
Read More
Late winter is often a challenging time for birds and birders alike. Resources begin to wear thin as the season progresses, and volatile weather may force facultative movements ahead of the first proper migratory push of spring. The excitement of working on a new year list may fade somewhat as decreased diversity leads to diminishing returns on exploratory outings. In coastal New York, this period consistently proves to be one of the quietest chapters of the birding year. While some may quarrel over whether February or March marks the true low point, there’s no denying that the pre-spring period can occasionally feel oppressively dreary. One way to stave off the doldrums is to create goals and games that provide excuses to bird more intentionally. The end of Christmas Bird Count season doesn’t have to mean the end of thorough survey efforts.
Read More
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, a full twelve months of untold potential lie ahead. eBird resets the year list totals to zero, and the annual cycle of the seasons begins anew. For birders, each new year presents new opportunities for exciting encounters and unexpected discoveries. 2022 was undeniably one for the record books, and I am looking forward to seeing what 2023 has in store. In keeping with tradition, Jacqi and I celebrated the changing of the calendar in the company of friends, this year in Providence, Rhode Island. The highly anticipated honors for First Bird of 2023 went to a Northern Cardinal that I heard chipping outside our window at daybreak: a delightfully welcome surprise considering our temporary residence’s location in the heart of the city.
Read More
With the beginning of 2023 fast approaching, it is time once again to reflect on the most memorable birding experiences of the past year. These annual highlight reels have been a tradition since I first started chronicling my adventures on this site, and there are plenty of amazing experiences to choose from this time around. 2022 has been a wild success on the birding front, easily ranking among the best years of my career to date. I added 17 new species to my state list, encountered 8 life birds, and boosted my county totals for each of the 5 boroughs of NYC as well as Suffolk County.
Read More
This fall has been one for the record books. All across the continent, a diverse array of incredible records has left the birding community dazzled. From continental firsts like an Icterine Warbler in Alaska to unprecedented events like the invasion of Red-legged Honeycreepers along the Gulf Coast, it seemed that there was no end to the avian excitement this season! My personal autumn experience was enjoyable and lively from the beginning, but it got off to a bit of a rocky start in terms of adding new species to my New York State list. I struck out with a trio of consecutive would-be state birds between early September and mid October, dipping on a Crested Caracara at Montauk, a Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Dutchess County, and New York’s first Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in the Bronx.
Read More
Pelagic birding is one of my absolute favorite forms of birding. There’s no thrill quite like an expedition at sea to seek out wildlife that spend most of their lives far beyond the realm of land-dwellers. I’ve been a diehard boat birder ever since I worked for Project Puffin back in 2014, and my fondness for seabirds has only grown over the intervening years. Starting in 2017, I had the good fortune to partake in multiple trips per year with the esteemed See Life Paulagics team. Regrettably, the onset of the pandemic had a dramatic impact on the pelagic scene, completely shutting down voyages for the entirety of 2020. By summer 2021, people were starting to feel a bit more comfortable about group trips aboard crowded vessels, but there were still some obstacles preventing a swift return to form.
Read More
At the end last year, I bid a fond farewell to the lovely neighborhood of Astoria, where I had lived since December 2019. I spent the first 6 months of 2022 living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but I knew when I first moved in that this would be a temporary arrangement. Jacqi and I started seriously looking for new apartments when spring rolled around, hoping to find a building that would provide comfortable and affordable amenities while also shortening my daily commute. To my great delight, it didn’t take us long to find exactly what we were looking for, and the new place was only a few blocks south of my old home.
Read More
Whether you’re a world traveler intent on seeing as many species as possible or a casual window watcher cataloging the visitors to your feeder, birding and listing go hand in hand. While my overall life list is undoubtedly my personal top priority, my New York State list comes in at a close second place. Traveling around the Empire State in search of rare vagrants and localized breeders has brought me a great deal of pride, joy, and occasional frustration over the years. While far from the largest territory, New York is expansive enough that seriously birding it requires a lot of dedication. The boundaries of the state encompass a wide range range of habitats, from the boreal forests of the Adirondacks to the productive seas off the coast of Long Island.
Read More