The Commissioner might want to read Audubon's latest report showing bird totals are down significantly over the last 25-30 years...Geez...!
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The big city is going to the birds.
Nearly 8,000 were spotted yesterday during the annual Christmas Bird Count in Central Park, the highest number in four years.. That's a good sign for our feathered friends, according to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe.
"It means conditions are stable," he said. "Birds are doing better in the city than they did 25 or 30 years ago."
He also noted that increase development in the suburbs has lead to greater bird populations in the five boroughs.
The annual bird count in Central Park dates to 1900, when a group of birders organized an alternative to the traditional Christmas Day "side hunt," in which teams of hunters would go out and compete over who could bring in the most hunt.
The bird count, which drew dozens of people yesterday, has long been popular in New York City, according to Benepe, which typically has more bird watchers than bird shooters.
"Birders are some of the most dedicated park users," he said. "And people here are far less likely to be interested in killing birds."
Glenn Phillips, the executive director of NYC Audubon, said birders experience a "real sense of excitement" with every bird they add to the list.
"When you really stop and look at some of these creatures they are magnificent. Going out birding is full of extraordinary moments."
The count has morphed into nationwide event as 58,000 bird enthusiasts fan out across the country to count wings.
Locally, it was the Common Grackle, a tiny, glossy bird similar to a blackbird which most frequently calls Manhattan home, as more than 1,500 were found. More than 1,400 white-throated sparrows were also spotted. A peregrine falcon, rust blackbird, and long-eared owl were also found flitting about the park.
Scott Weidensaul, naturalist and author of "Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding" said Central Park is considered a legendary place among dedicated birders. "It's an oasis of natural vegetation in the middle of an otherwise concrete jungle," he said. "For any bird passing through that needs to stop, there aren't that many options."
