Photo by Bryan Stevens • A pair of Northern shovelers made a stop at the pond at Erwin Fishery Park in a previous winter season.

To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, please email me at ahoodewabler@aol.com.

Photo by Jean Potter • A common nighthawk rests on a metal railing.

The skies are busy thoroughfares in autumn as the birds that raced like mad to reach spring nesting grounds are now reversing their journey to return to their usual winter range.

The common nighthawk has one of the longest migration routes of any North American bird. Twice a year, these birds migrate for distances ranging from 1,600 to 4,200 miles. Nighthawks that spend the spring and summer in Canada travel to southern South America for the winter months.

We’ve already reached mid-August, so nighthawks should soon provide their own contribution to the spectacle of fall migration. Keep looking skyward in the coming weeks to avoid missing the autumn passage of such varied migrants as chimney swifts, broad-winged hawks and common nighthawks.

So, what is a common nighthawk? First, this bird, despite what is implied by its name, is not a hawk. It’s also not strictly nocturnal. Particularly in the fall, nighthawks are active during daylight hours when engaged in catching winged insects. Outside of fall migration, these birds can often be observed over large parking lots or well-lit streets, snatching up insects swarming around the light poles.

The common nighthawk is one of three members of the nightjar family found in the region during the summer months. The other two nightjars are the whip-poor-will and chuck-will’s-widow, birds that produce their namesake vocalizations in the nocturnal hours. Both of these species migrate, but they don’t take the dramatic approach employed by nighthawks. Each fall, common nighthawks form large flocks, ranging in size from dozens to hundreds or even thousands of individuals, as they migrate south for the winter.

Unlike whips and chucks, the common nighthawk isn’t active only after dark, which makes it much easier to observe these birds. They look somewhat like swifts and swallows but are much larger. They are brownish-gray birds with pointed wings and forked tails. They are easily identified by distinctive white patches on the underside of their wings.

The nightjar, or Caprimulgidae, family of birds is also sometimes known as “goatsuckers.” Apparently, in trying to explain the nocturnal tendencies of these birds, the Greeks came up with the imaginative but erroneous idea that birds like nighthawks liked to sneak into barns and have a meal of fresh goat’s milk. In reality, nighthawks feed almost exclusively on insects, including ants, wasps, beetles, caddisflies, moths, mayflies, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and other insects. They capture much of their insect prey on the wing.

There are almost 80 species of nightjars in the world. Less than 10 occur in North America. Many of the common nighthawk’s relatives have been given descriptive names, such as long-trained nightjar, collared nightjar, spot-tailed nightjar, red-necked nightjar, golden nightjar, fiery-necked nightjar, swamp nightjar, pennant-winged nightjar, lyre-tailed nightjar, little nightjar, sickle-winged nightjar, rufous-bellied nighthawk, short-tailed nighthawk, sand-coloured nighthawk and least nighthawk.

Nighthawks can also appear almost magically, as if out of thin air. First, observers may see one of two birds, then several, followed quickly by dozens or sometimes hundreds as they wheel and cavort in the skies overhead with impressive grace and agility. I’ve seen flocks that would easily number more than 500 birds in locations throughout the region, although flocks often number only a couple of dozen birds.

So, keep your eyes gazing skyward. The next flock of migrating common nighthawks may fly over your home.

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To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email Bryan Stevens at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay • The Kingsport Greenbelt offers one of the few locations in Northeast Tennessee to observe nesting yellow-crowned night herons. Rarities found in Kingsport have included harlequin duck and Virginia’s warbler.

Birding Kingsport is an organization dedicated to fostering an enthusiasm for birds and birding. It’s also one of three birding organizations located in Northeast Tennessee. Previous columns have highlighted birding groups based in Elizabethton and Bristol.

Betty Bailey is part of the leadership team that helms Birding Kingsport, also known as the Fred J. Alsop III Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The organization was founded in 2015.

“Bill Grigsby was instrumental in the establishment of our club,” Bailey noted. “We strive to promote the public awareness of birds, nature and conservation issues through the study of birds primarily in the greater Kingsport area and through projects aimed to conserve bird populations.”

Bailey noted that one such project is the ongoing building and monitoring of nest boxes for Eastern bluebirds on the Kingsport Greenbelt.

She also pointed out that the Kingsport Birding Trail (KBT) was the first recognized birding trail in the state of Tennessee.

“Our linear park, the Kingsport Greenbelt, hosts six KBT locations,” she added.

“We make a concerted effort to participate in community events, like Warriors’ Path Spring Nature Festival and events at the Exchange Place,” she said.

“In addition to local bird walks to birding hot spots, we offer field trips to Roan Mountain, Seven Islands State Birding Park, Burke’s Garden, Phipps Bend, Laurel Run and other areas in our region,” Bailey said. “We count birds in Sullivan County in the spring for the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter in Elizabethton.”

Instead of chapter officers, Birding Kingsport has chosen a leadership group to helm the organization.

“We felt this would be a better way to share the responsibilities of running the chapter and get more people involved with helping out with the tasks required,” Bailey said. “We have six members on the team.”

Bailey noted that Helen Sirrett served as club president for many years prior.

The chapter is also featured on the website tnbirds.org.

The public can like the group on Facebook at Birding Kingsport, a chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The chapter’s name — the Fred J. Alsop III Chapter of TOS — honors well-known local birder and retired East Tennessee State University biology professor Fred J. Alsop.

Bailey noted that Kingsport is also fortunate to have many different and varied habitats.

“This rich source of habitats allows many species to thrive,” she explained. “For example, over 130 species have been recorded on the Kingsport Greenbelt. A couple of our members and expert birders — Bambi Fincher and Sherrie Quillen — located a Virginia’s warbler near the Holston River on a very cold winter’s day.”

Although the chapter is the newest birding group in Northeast Tennessee, it is not lacking for distinctive accomplishments.

“We have conducted an Audubon Christmas Bird Count each year,” Bailey said.

Chapter members also conduct bird walks during Kingsport’s Fun Fest event each year to introduce people to birding and the importance of maintaining local habitats.

She also noted that the group has worked with the city of Kingsport to establish birding-related signage on the Kingsport Greenbelt with photographs by club member Belinda Bridwell.

Bailey also said that the chapter has hosted two state meetings for the Tennessee Ornithological Society with birders flocking to the Kingsport area from all parts of Tennessee.

Bailey sees many benefits that a birding group can provide to a novice birder or an experienced birder new to the area, including the sharing of information about local habitats, migration patterns that bring in different species to the area and how to better observe and identify birds in their natural habitats.

She also issued an invitation. “New and experienced birders can help with citizen science projects such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count,” she said. “Experienced birders have the opportunity to share knowledge with other interested people and to increase public awareness of birding and conservation.”

For more information, email birdingkingsport@gmail.com.

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Bryan Stevens has written about birds and birding since 1995. Contact him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by PublicDomainImages from Pixabay • A loggerhead shrike perches on a branch to survey its territory. These songbirds can be difficult to locate in the region, so it helps to know more experienced birders when seeking out the more uncommon species.

With three birding organizations in Northeast Tennessee, newcomers to the pastime have plenty of options when looking for affiliation with like-minded individuals.

Last week, I spotlighted the Elizabethton Bird Club. This week, I am putting the focus on the Bristol Bird Club. Next week, the column will feature Birding Kingsport.

Larry McDaniel, a former president of the Bristol Bird Club, endorses the importance of birding organizations for the beginning birder.

“Becoming a part of a local bird club such as the Bristol Bird Club is a great way for new and beginning birders to be able to be around experienced birders who love to help you learn about birding,” McDaniel said.

Membership in a local birding group can help newcomers to birding quickly learn where to find birds in the area, according to McDaniel.

Experienced birders are also accessible for such tasks as learning how to know the birds that people see in their own yards. A more experienced birder, McDaniel noted, can also share information on the many ways of learning how to identify different species.

“It is also a great way to meet new friends who share a common interest,” McDaniel added. “We offer many outings where you will get to be in the field with other birders. All of our outings are suitable for all levels, including kids.”

McDaniel noted that the lure of birds is a powerful draw for many people.

“Birding and bird watching have been a fascination for many people for a very long time,” he said. “It gets more and more popular as time goes on.”

McDaniel added that there’s something about birds that captivates human attention.

“Many are spectacular in appearance while others are quite cryptic, blending in with the habitat they are in,” he said. “Either way brings excitement to the watcher. Just seeing a gorgeous scarlet tanager can fill you with awe. Finding a singing red-eyed vireo that’s hiding in the thick foliage of a tall tree creates a satisfying sense of achievement.”

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
A male scarlet tanager brightens shadowy woodlands with a flash of tropical colors yet remains mostly inconspicuous in the forest canopy.

Bird behavior is also one reason for people to devote their time to observing birds.

“Hawks in flight, songbirds bringing food to their young or a heron hunting for a fish in shallow water are just a few examples of behaviors that draw our attention,” McDaniel said.

“It seems there is always something new to see and learn,” he added. “There is an old saying, ‘birding is a lifetime guarantee against boredom.’”

Michele Sparks, first vice president for the Bristol Bird Club, joined McDaniel in promoting the importance of membership in a birding group for people looking to expand their birding skills.

“By joining the Bristol Bird Club, a beginner birder would have many opportunities to meet experienced, friendly birders who not only have monthly meetings with guest speakers but take to the field to study birds on a regular basis,” Sparks said.

“We have scheduled field trips, and then there are individuals who meet weekly for the pleasure of birding,” she added. “New members are always welcome, but the connections you make are most important for new birders.” Sparks said many members want extra help finding birds in the area (commonly called hot spots), identifying birds and getting bird tips.

In addition, Sparks said, “The pleasure of being outdoors to study birds can connect with those members who routinely bird in the local areas.”

Sparks noted that the Bristol Bird Club maintains a Facebook page highlighting upcoming events such as the recent trip to Panhandle Road and a “Whips and Chucks Outing” held in early June to look and listen for nocturnal whip-poor-wills and chuck-will’s-widows.

Sparks noted that the Bristol Bird Club holds regularly scheduled monthly bird walks at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, Tennessee, usually the second Thursday of the month, as well as bird walks at Jacob’s Nature Center in Johnson City.

The Bristol Bird Club belongs to both the Tennessee Ornithological Society and Virginia Ornithological Society. The chapter’s name — the J. Wallace Coffey Chapter — honors the memory of the late J. Wallace Coffey, a longtime leader in the group.

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Bryan Stevens has been writing about birds and birding since 1995. To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by Dominik Rheinheimer/Pixabay * Members of a birding club are always willing to help newcomers learn to identify some great birds, such as this great blue heron.

To support and nurture new birders as they test their wings and take flight into the pastime, three different birding organizations exist in the region.

An article written by Gustave Axelson and published Sept. 19, 2018, on the website, All About Birds, provides some recent information about the American enthusiasm for birding.

Forty-eight million Americans 16 and older are bird watchers. It’s a staggering figure that also includes the more than 16 million birders who travel beyond their home to watch birds and 10 million more who specifically travel to seek out songbirds.
Birders spend, benefitting the economy. For instance, $1.7 billion is spent on equipment and another $4 billion is spent on food for birds.

Regional birding organizations headquartered in Bristol, Elizabethton and Kingsport are always ready to welcome new members into the ever-growing flock of birders.
Beginning this week with the Elizabethton Bird Club, I will spotlight each of these birding organization in my weekly column.

Photo by Pixabay.com • A good pair of binoculars will bring birds much closer.

The Elizabethton Bird Club, also known as the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2024.
Dave Gardner took office as the club’s newest president in June.

“As a still relatively new birder, I think the biggest advantage to being in a birding organization is just the opportunity to learn from other birders,” Gardner said. “It’s somewhat embarrassing to admit now, but when I began birding I didn’t know that ravens and crows were different birds. I was a complete novice.”

His interest in the pastime grew with repeated exposure to birding activities and events.

“Furthermore, I didn’t realize that birding was something I was interested in,” he said. “It took going out on field trips and bird counts to awaken that interest.”
A friendship with Kim Stroud, who recently finished up her tenure as president of the Elizabethton Bird Club, as well as some other members of the group, helped foster Gardner’s growing interest in birds and birding.

Photo by Bryan Stevens • Birders will come from near and far to look for rarities that make an unexpected appearance in the region.

“Without the guidance of more experienced birders, I would have quickly become frustrated by how much I didn’t know,” he said. “For a new birder, there’s no better way to learn than by going birding with more experienced people.”

Even with a few years of birding experience under his belt, he said he is still amazed by the vast wealth of knowledge in the club. He also noted that the knowledge is not limited to birds but also covers history, nature and many other topics.

“The other great benefit from being in the club is the simple camaraderie,” Gardner said. “I’ve met people through the bird club that I now consider friends, and I’ve traveled to places I never would have even thought to go, like the Okefenokee Swamp and Hiwasee National Wildlife Refuge. Two of our members recently got married, after meeting on a club trip to Charleston, South Carolina.”
Gardner also believes the long history of the Elizabethton Bird Club in the region is not to be overlooked.

“I think the advantage of having such a long history is the institutional knowledge that comes with it,” he said. “We have records that go back to the 1940s, which helps with tracking trends in populations and migration patterns.”

The chapter publishes a yearly calendar with photos taken by members.

Gardner noted that being a long-standing organization also helps the club and its leaders to develop good working relationships with local governments, parks and landowners.

Kim Stroud said that she believes there are two main benefits to joining a birding organization.

“The first is that it is a great educational opportunity,” she explained. “For beginning birders, being surrounded by experienced birders is a great way to learn more about birds — not just their field marks and calls, but also what habitats they occur in and what seasons certain species are here.”

These organizations also offer many benefits to experienced birders who are new to the region.

“Clubs like ours can show newcomers where the great local birding sites are.” Stroud said.

She noted that some birders from outside the region are not accustomed to birding in the mountains.

“For example, one transplant from the flat part of Ohio was amazed to learn that some birds, like black-throated blue warbler and black-throated green warbler, occur at different elevations.

“The idea that some birds only occur at specific elevations was not something she ever had to consider before, because everything was about the same elevation,” Stroud said. “Information like this can be crucial when trying to target specific bird species.”

According to Stroud, the second benefit of joining an active birding organization is social.

“Joining a club offers the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, who have similar interests,” she said. “Our chapter is very active and provides many different types of events, including interesting programs at our meetings and banquets, social gatherings like picnics and Christmas parties, field trips to local birding hotspots and opportunities for travel, like trips to the Outer Banks, coastal South Carolina and Georgia and even a planned trip to Texas.”
“The Lee & Lois Herndon Chapter dates all the way back to 1944,” Stroud said.
The Herndons were a couple that helped found the group and provided leadership to the group for many years.

“Because members of our chapter have been birding this area for almost 80 years, we have an extensive knowledge about the birds in the local area.”
She noted that members know what species of birds to expect, where to go to find these species, and even when migrant species should return each year.
Much of the localized information is highlighted in a book by chapter member Rick Knight titled “The Birds of Northeast Tennessee.”

Stroud noted that the chapter also has a long history of performing seasonal bird counts.

“We just completed our 80th Spring Bird Count,” Stroud said. “Count data that covers such a great span of time is invaluable to scientists who are studying long-term population trends in bird species, which is crucial work given the effect of climate change and the recent studies indicating a massive decline in American birds.”

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To ask a question, make a comment or report a sighting, email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by Hans Toom/Pixabay * A single bay-breasted warbler was likely a late migrant traveling through Unicoi County to reach nesting territory in Canada.

The 10th Unicoi County Summer Bird Count was held Saturday, June 3, with 19 observers in five parties. Participants tallied 110 species, which was slightly above the average of 108 species.

The weather was good: clear to partly cloudy with a temperature range from 48 to 84 degrees and little wind.

I counted close to home in Limestone Cove and along Highway 107 to the North Carolina state line. I was accompanied by Brookie and Jean Potter.

As always, the count had some unexpected misses, including chuck-will’s-widow, Cooper’s hawk, great horned owl, yellow- throated vireo, Baltimore oriole, common yellow-throat and prairie warbler.

Three Northern bobwhites represented only the second record for the species in the history of this count.

Osprey also made its debut on this year’s count.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Youtube+bay-breasted+warbbler#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:72fa665c,vid:Zj3T5O5SlqU

The list
Canada goose, 40; wood duck, 2; mallard, 13; Northern bobwhite, 3; ruffed grouse, 1; and wild turkey, 10.

Rock pigeon, 37; mourning dove, 81; yellow-billed cuckoo, 2; Eastern whip-poor-will, 11; chimney swift, 27; and ruby-throated hummingbird, 8.

Killdeer, 6; great blue heron, 4; green heron, 2; black vulture, 4; and turkey vulture, 43.

Osprey, 1; bald eagle, 1; red-shouldered hawk, 1; broad-winged hawk, 5; and red-tailed hawk, 1.

Eastern screech-owl, 6; barred owl, 1; belted kingfisher, 9; red-bellied woodpecker, 20; yellow-bellied sapsucker, 2; downy woodpecker, 12; hairy woodpecker, 1; Northern flicker, 11; and pileated woodpecker, 18.

American kestrel, 1; great crested flycatcher, 1; Eastern kingbird, 1;

Eastern wood-pewee, 9; Acadian flycatcher, 33; least flycatcher, 5; and Eastern phoebe, 56.

White-eyed vireo, 5; blue-headed vireo, 48; warbling vireo, 1; and red-eyed vireo, 165.

Blue jay, 82; American crow, 111; fish crow, 3; and common raven, 4.

Tree swallow, 73; Northern rough-winged swallow 41; purple martin, 41; barn swallow, 39; and cliff swallow, 47.

Carolina chickadee, 56; tufted titmouse, 75; red-breasted nuthatch, 4; white-breasted nuthatch, 9; and brown creeper, 2.

House wren, 22; winter wren, 8; Carolina wren, 98; blue-gray gnatcatcher, 16; and golden-crowned kinglet, 8.

Eastern bluebird, 55; veery, 14; hermit thrush, 2; wood thrush, 16; American robin, 239; gray catbird, 16; brown thrasher, 9; and Northern mockingbird, 23.

European starling, 264; cedar waxwing, 22; house sparrow, 20; house finch, 30; red crossbill, 1; and American goldfinch, 41.

Chipping sparrow, 52; field sparrow, 5; dark-eyed junco, 19; song sparrow, 141; Eastern towhee, 53; and yellow-breasted chat, 3.

Eastern meadowlark, 10; orchard oriole, 2; red-winged blackbird, 74; brown-headed cowbird 19; and common grackle, 119.

Ovenbird 44; worm-eating warbler, 11; Louisiana waterthrush, 11; black-and-white warbler, 23; Swainson’s warbler, 13; Kentucky warbler, 2; hooded warbler, 91; American redstart, 4; Northern parula, 21; magnolia warbler, 1; bay-breasted warbler, 1; Blackburnian warbler, 6; yellow warbler, 6; chestnut-sided warbler, 9; black-throated blue warbler, 30; pine warbler; 1; yellow-throated warbler, 20; black-throated green warbler, 23; and Canada warbler, 15.

Scarlet tanager, 24; Northern cardinal, 87; rose-breasted grosbeak, 1; blue grosbeak, 1; and indigo bunting,106.

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Bryan Stevens has birded in Northeast Tennessee since the early 1990s. He has written about birds and birding since 1995. To ask a question, make a comment or share a sighting, email him at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Photo by stephmcblack/Pixabay • A double-crested cormorant stands at attention on a submerged perch.

I originally wrote this week’s column about my birding experiences in the “Big Apple” for the Herald & Tribune of Jonesborough, Tennessee, in July of 2002. The column won a second-place Tennessee Press Association award for “Best Personal Column” the following year.

Has it really been 21 years? Wow! Time flies.

While the column is about birds I saw during my brief New York stay in July of 2002, the trip didn’t allow for the time to dedicate to serious birding. The birds I saw were all incidental to the other activities I crowded into the narrow window of time I had for experiencing New York City.

Here’s the original column:

During a recent trip to New York City, mainly for the purpose of visiting friends and seeing the sights, I also availed myself of the opportunity of trying to see a few birds in the Big Apple.

At first glance, New York City doesn’t seem a haven for birds or any other sort of wildlife. Without any serious effort on my part, however, I managed to see 15 different species of birds. My tour guide and friend, David, remained courteous enough to indulge my occasional lapses into birding. David, perhaps like many New Yorkers, is familiar on a daily basis with the Big Apple’s three most prominent members of the bird family — the house sparrow, the European starling and the rock dove, or pigeon.

Everyone who has visited a city park, whether in Jonesborough or New York City, is probably familiar with the rock dove. Commonly called pigeon, the rock dove is not a native American bird. But their introduction to this continent paralleled the arrival of European colonists. Pigeons came to this country along with other farmyard animals, such as cattle and sheep. But, once here, the rock dove, which is a wild bird in Africa and in the Mediterranean, also managed to establish itself outside the farmyard. Nevertheless, more than most other birds, the rock dove still only thrives in the company of humans. In New York City, pigeons are a part of the landscape. They are everywhere! As a result, these birds can cause some problems. Their droppings can damage buildings and statues. They can also spread various diseases to humans. Efforts have been made to curb their numbers, but the pigeon looks to be a permanent part of the New York City landscape.

It’s no longer a paradise for pigeons in the Big Apple, however. The peregrine falcon, once endangered, has rebounded with protection from the government. The skyscrapers of New York City have replaced cliff faces as nesting sites for these sleek, aerodynamic predators. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to see a peregrine falcon while in New York City, they are there. Their presence has put some balance back into the food chain. The pigeons now have a natural predator.

Earlier this summer, David called me looking for advice about a problem with birds. Seems that a pair of house sparrows had built a nest beneath his air conditioning unit at his apartment. The problem involved timing. David recently moved to a new apartment and he needed to take the air conditioner with him. In the end, David’s need for the air conditioner outpaced the nesting progress of the sparrows. Now, he’s convinced that the sparrows, like the gulls, are out to get him. More about the gulls later.

The house sparrow is a non-native species introduced to the United States. The house sparrow was released intentionally in the United States in the 1850s at different points between New York and New England. Other introductions of this species occurred at other points in the United States. The introductions were huge mistakes. By 1910, the house sparrow had invaded the entire continent. The house sparrow is also an aggressive bird. Soon, the house sparrow came into conflict with a beloved American favorite, the Eastern bluebird. The major competition between Eastern bluebirds and house sparrows is for nesting cavities. House sparrows have the tenacity to evict even the larger Easter bluebirds from occupied nests. Occasionally, the sparrows even kill nestlings or adult bluebirds. I found the house sparrow almost as numerous as rock doves in most areas of New York City.

Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The European Starling is prevalent in New York City and the surrounding area.

But, there was still a third common bird — the European starling. I encountered the first starlings of my trip in New York City’s famous Central Park. Ironically, Central Park is where the European starling, now considered the most numerous bird in North America, got its start. The rock dove and house sparrow got here first, but the European starling didn’t waste any time once the first starlings were released in 1890. The first European starlings were released at that time in Central Park because some fans of William Shakespeare wanted to release all the birds mentioned in The Bard’s plays. Apparently, only the release of the European starling from that list of birds had any lasting consequence. Even today, starlings and Shakespeare are very much associated with Central Park. During the summer there is a popular Shakespeare festival held in Central Park. And, on any summer day, there will always be plenty of starlings in the park.

Those were three of the 15 birds I managed to observe on my trip. The remaining 12 species comprised a diverse and at times surprising list. I found American robin, American crow, blue jay, chimney swift, Carolina wren and downy woodpecker within Central Park. In addition, at a large pond within the park I also observed a green heron and mallards. The robins, in particular, appeared as they would in any park setting. They hopped about on grassy lawns while foraging for food. David told me he recently saw a roadrunner in the park. I told him that would be an extraordinary discovery since that bird is native to the western United States.

There’s a lot of water in and around New York City. Perhaps it isn’t a surprise to discover birds such as double-crested cormorants swimming in the East River. I also saw plenty of gulls. In fact, I saw three different species of gulls — herring gulls, ring-billed gulls and laughing gulls.

The cover of the book Wild New York: A Guide to the Wildlife, Wild Places and Natural Phenomena of New York City by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdon

Surprisingly, gulls haven’t always been common in the vicinity of New York City. According to the book “Wild New York: A Guide to the Wildlife, Wild Places and Natural Phenomena of New York City” by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdon, gulls did not frequent New York City 100 years ago. Now, there are as many as one million gulls in New York City. The book also mentions one of the attractions: Staten Island’s Fresh Kills Landfill, the largest garbage dump in the world.

My friend David considers gulls evil omens. I tried to do some research into the role of gulls in folklore. I turned to the book by Laura C. Martin titled “The Folklore of Birds.” Her entry on gulls proved sketchy. Here’s some of what I learned. The word “gull” comes from a Welsh word, “gwylan,” which can be translated as “wailing.” The term “gull” apparently derived from the bird’s wailing or plaintive call. The Latin genus name, Larus, for gull is translated as “ravenous seabird.” So, that leaves us with a ravenous, wailing seabird. Apt descriptions, but not exactly a rich folklore. Birds such as crows and the various species of owls have much more ominous superstitions surrounding them.
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New York City has a “New York Rare Bird Alert.” If you would like to know what rare birds are being seen in New York City, dial (212) 979-3070. I dialed the number during my visit and received information about excitement regarding large flocks of migrating shorebirds, a common raven and nesting blue grosbeaks.
(Note: The number is still in use. So, if you’re planning any New York visits and would like to bird, the phone number is still valid.)
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My friend David now lives in Baltimore. I haven’t visited him there, but he has visited me in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. I’d like to thank him again for my taste of the Big Apple.
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I love to hear from readers. Email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com with comments, questions or sightings to share.