There are few animals on Earth as universally recognizable as a flamingo. Beloved the world over for their vibrant pink plumage, these leggy, long-necked waterbirds are delightfully contradictory creatures. They somehow occupy the precise intersection of elegance and oddity, equal parts gangly and graceful, with their dramatically attenuated proportions and bizarrely bent bills. Despite their association in popular culture with idyllic tropical lagoons, many species of flamingos are most at home in extreme environments like high elevation salt pans or caustic soda lakes. The iconic likeness of these wacky waders is frequently utilized for cartoons, beach apparel, and suburban lawn ornaments, but the birds themselves have always been a rare and highly sought-after prize for birders in the ABA Area. In recent weeks, however, flamingo fans across the nation have been presented with a unique opportunity to learn more about the fascinating ecology of these famous fowl through firsthand observation.
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There are few forms of birding that I find as captivating as pelagic trips. The ocean and its myriad inhabitants have long held sway over my imagination, and the potential for new discoveries that each outing promises appeals to my sense of adventure. The amount of time I spend offshore is only limited by how infrequently these excursions are offered. I would gladly greet the sunrise in the deep multiple times a month if scheduling, funding, and weather conditions allowed for it. As it stands, I count myself lucky if I find my way to the continental shelf at least once a year, especially after the forced hiatus that pandemic protocols imposed on our voyages asea.
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Birding is a crucial, inextricable component of my life. It is the lens through which I engage with the splendor and complexity of the world around me. It fills my days with wonderment and frustration and heartbreak and joy in equal measure. It is more than just a hobby, more than a simple pastime. It is the only way I know how to be. Birding is so many things. Birding is an excuse to get out and explore one’s surroundings. It keeps me busy on even the hottest, laziest days of the year. It inspires me to rise before dawn on the first morning of summer break after a hectic semester, motivating me to seek out species I have not yet connected with since the start of 2023 as if they were old friends.
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With the halfway point of 2023 fast approaching, it’s safe to say that this has been a remarkable year so far! The transition from the end of spring into the start of summer is always an exciting time, and this month was a particularly busy one. In the worlds of birding and education alike, June represents a dramatic shift. As the school year winds down, students prepare to move on to the next chapter of their academic careers and teachers breathe a sigh of relief before turning their attention to preparations for next fall. Wildlife across the Northern Hemisphere are caught up in the peak of breeding activity, and evidence of the new lives born in this baby boom can be seen even in the heart of New York City.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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