Category: General News

The Linnaean Society of New York has a long history of helping young people who have found a passion for birds. In the linked article from American Birds, John Farrand tells the story of a group of 1920’s teenagers from across the Bronx who created the Bronx County Bird Club and describes how they received encouragement, advice, and fellowship from the Linnaean Society. They even let one young non-Bronx resident into the Club – Roger Tory Peterson, who was developing his artistic talent at the Art Students League.

Reprinted with permission is a letter originally sent to the NYSbirds-L Listserv, asking birders to exercise caution when posting information about waterfowl during the NY DEC 2021-2022 Hunting Season.

Date: 1/14 8:13 AM
From: Patricia Lindsay <gelochelidon…>
Subject: [nysbirds-l] Long Island’s rare geese

With the hunting season now upon us, and the Waterfowl Count starting on Saturday, we would like to make a serious plea that birders and photographers not post reports of rare geese from Riverhead and the East End of Long Island on eBird, Facebook, this listserv, or any other social media platform until the end of the season.

It has become very clear here on LI that hunters have caught on to eBird, the listservs, and social media, and are targeting the rare geese (and ducks also) using information obtained from birders. One of the only Pink-footed Geese in the Riverhead area last winter was shot this way, and we personally know of other cases involving Ross’s and Barnacle Geese (and King Eiders, etc.). A Greylag Goose, very likely of wild origins and if so, extremely rare, was also shot in this area a few years ago. 

The problem is most acute in the Riverhead area and on the South Fork, from November to the end of hunting season (9 Feb for Canada Goose, 6 Mar for Snow Goose). We understand that the birding community does not want war with the hunters, but the situation here is very sensitive–everybody knows the very limited number of specific fields used by the geese, and it seems a shame that the rarer species are being exposed to this level of danger. 

We would suggest Cackling, Ross’s, Barnacle, Pink-footed, and Greater White-fronted Geese, and of course any mega rare species, seen in these areas not be reported until hunting season ends or at least until the geese seem to have moved on. 

Cackling and Greater White-fronted Goose may be taken legally as part of the Canada Goose bag limits. Snow and Ross’s Geese may be taken as part of the Snow Goose bag limits. The others are not listed as game species on the DEC website so apparently were taken illegally. 

By making this one small sacrifice, we might just be able to save a few birds and get to enjoy them longer. 

Thanks for your consideration.

Best,

Shai Mitra and Pat Lindsay
Bay Shore

Each Tuesday morning, from March 30 to June 1, at 7:30 sharp, enthusiastic birders gathered (in COVID-19-safe, masked, groups of ten) to celebrate spring migration together. 

We had a spectacular “season”!  

Not only did we enjoy 136 bird species, including 29 warbler species, but we were able to learn from one another, to connect with new and old friends, and to see the dormancy of winter give way to the verdant, new life of spring!

Made possible only by the hard work and willingness of our volunteer field trip committee, webmaster, registrars, and leaders — we had a record number of participants (99 on our peak walk).

“Newbies” and seasoned birders, members and non-members, New Yorkers and visitors – we became a community. 

Thank you to all those who contributed to making the spring of 2021 so memorable! 

If you missed out, join us for an upcoming field trip this summer and earmark your Tuesday mornings this Fall with, “LSNY bird walks in Central Park!”

Combined Species Lists for the 2021 Central Park Spring Bird Walks

Birds
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Mallard
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
American Coot
American Woodcock
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Bonaparte’s Gull
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
Evening Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting

Butterflies
Cabbage White
Mourning Cloak
Red Admiral
Question Mark

Herps
Red-eared Slider

Mammals
Eastern Coyote

Many Linnaean Society of New York members were able to enjoy the very rare appearance of a Snowy Owl in Central Park’s North Meadow on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.  In the Linnaean Society of New York archives, the Proceedings of the Society note an early sighting of a Snowy Owl in the park.  Mr. L. S. Foster, who was the Treasurer, noted that a Snowy Owl was seen in December of 1890.

1890

2021

As the fall season of the Tuesday morning walks has recently come to an end, I would like to thank the members of The Linnaean Society of New York’s outstanding Field Trip Committee, Anne Lazarus, Deborra Mullins, Mary Beth Kooper, Miriam Rakowski, Marie-Claire Cunningham, and Vicki Seabrook, for all their hard work; the extraordinary Central Park trip leaders, Alice Deutsch, Janet Wooten, Kevin Sisco, Will Papp, and Andrew Rubenfeld, for their excellent guidance; the additional trip leaders who guided throughout New York and New Jersey, Alan Drogin, Paul Sweet, Rob Jett, Tom Stephenson, Seth Wollney, Rick Wright, Anne Swaim, Lenore Swenson, Gordon Lam, Roberta Manian, Dennis Hrehowsik, Joe Giunta, Peter Dorosh, and Tom Burke; and, finally, all of the trip registrars, Barbara Saunders, Judi Rabi, Pearl Broder, Gabe Cunningham, Linda LaBella, Kathleen Howley, Louise Fraza, Vicki Seabrook, Deborra Mullins, Mary Beth Kooper, and Miriam Rakowski, for their outstanding organization and preparation this past season. Their combined effort gave me (and many others) the opportunity to enjoy many beautiful birds and to share many excited smiles—hidden by masks, but unmistakably expressed in the eyes of my companions. I’d also like to say hello and send warm regards to Richard Lieberman, our long-time Tuesday morning walk leader. Richard, I missed your traditional Halloween candy this year, and we all look forward to seeing you again in the park soon. (Peppermint Patties, next year, please!) I am also grateful to Bruce Yolton, for his tireless support in posting our trip reports with photos on the LSNY website, and to Mary Jane Kaplan, for the wonderful job she does as our field trip report editor. And finally, a shout out to all of the photographers who contribute their beautiful images to our field trip reports. Great work, one and all!

The many highlights of the Central Park Tuesday walks this fall included Nelson’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Marsh Wren, Tennessee Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Bluebird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pine Siskin, Barred Owl, and American Woodcock. Quite an impressive list for a single urban park, I’d say. Even more significantly, everyone benefited from the opportunity to share these magical birding moments in the spirit of friendship, fellowship, and harmony with one another. These are valuable and necessary human qualities which, I’m sad to say, seem to be lacking at times in our complex world. So once again, I thank the committee members, the trip leaders, the registrars, my Tuesday morning birding companions, and, yes, the birds as well, for helping us to remember who we are, and to look for the best part in each of us. Let those eyes shine!
 
To see trip reports and photographs of past LSNY field trips, visit our Field Trip Reports page.

– Ken Chaya, President, The Linnaean Society of New York

As the cooler weather arrives, NYC has had the pleasure of hosting a number of migrant owls in its local parks. Some of these sightings have been well documented in articles and news reports. It seems that everyone in NYC wants to see an owl! And while everyone should have the opportunity do so, it is important to remember that these are nocturnal birds who need undisturbed rest during the day. Please treat them with care and respect by following these simple guidelines:

• Do not play tapes to attract them, or shine flashlights on them at night. They can be seen perfectly well during the daytime.
• Allow them their rest by keeping a respectful distance away and by remaining quiet.
• Leave your pets at home, and help to educate young children about the importance of being quiet and not disturbing the owl. 
• Limit your time at a roost site. 
• Do not share sensitive owl locations with unknown people in large public forums like X.
• Help to educate others and promote responsible birding behavior—especially to beginner birders.
• In this critical time of the coronavirus pandemic, be sure to maintain a safe social distance from others in the crowds that owls may attract, and always wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the virus.

The Linnaean Society of New York is very pleased to announce that their nominee, Ryan Zucker, has been awarded the 2019 Lillian C. Stoner Award by The New York State Ornithological Association. This is in recognition for his active role in the New York City birding community and for his potential future contributions to birds. As a result, he was able to attend, and participate in, the NYSOA 72nd Annual Meeting and Conference which was held September 13-15 in Kingston, NY. 

Congratulations, Ryan!