BS: birding New York's Central Park

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: JJ
Date: 20 Oct 15 - 08:16 AM

You are very welcome, and I'm glad you were able to see some birds!

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 08:49 PM

I am glad you were able to observe birds and that the white-crowned sparrow made an appearance.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: maeve
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 10:41 AM

I'm glad you had a good trip, leeneia.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 10:08 AM

We went, we saw.

Visited the historical society at 77th St to see Thomas Cole's Rise and Fall of Empire, only the paintings were in Milwaukee. So we crossed Central Park West (which is a street) and strolled to the nearby lake.

Admired some nice boudinage and kink-banding in the gneiss. Got to the water and saw Canada geese, mallards and English sparrows. Then came the bonus - we saw a white-crowned sparrow among the other sparrows, a brave loner probably on its way south and wanting some company.

Birders are dismissive of Canadas and mallards, because they are as common as dirt. It occurs to me that we are being like Groucho Marx, who didn't want to belong to a club that would have a member like him. We are unimpressed with birds which are content to hang around with a species like us.   

I had stood and walked all I could, so we hopped a cab to the Cooper Hewitt.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 10:10 AM

Well, we're off. The Central Park Conservancy never did answer my question. They did send an e-mail saying they would make every effort to respond within 5 business days if a response was required.

I told them I was somewhat handicapped and asked if there was anyplace in the park where a person could be seated and watch birds - such as a bench by a pond or a terrace on a park building. This is a yes or no question, right?   

So a response was required, and 10 days have passed, and apparently they didn't make any effort, much less "every effort." But somehow, ya know, I expected that.

So extra-special thanks are due to JJ for helpful information.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 10:58 AM

I've discovered the web page of the Central Park Conservancy, and I've asked them for advice. We shall see.

Apparently Central Park has different governance from the other parks.
=================
We have birdwatched from coast to coast, in Costa Rica and in Europe. In general, we find that we see the most birds from a car.
(Costa Rica was different.) Birds are not afraid of slow-moving cars, but they ARE afraid of the bipedal human predator.

A few years ago I had occasion to count the number of species we have seen - it was over 400.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Oct 15 - 10:43 AM

Thanks very much JJ. For one thing, the bridge over the Rowboat Lake would provide a place to lean against and get better balance.

Subject: RE: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: JJ
Date: 05 Oct 15 - 08:29 AM

Please look here for info on getting to the Ramble in Central Park:
http://www.nycaudubon.org/manhattan-birding/central-park

This would seem to be the best place for you. A taxi can get you right to it, but only during certain hours:
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/general-info/park-drive-regulations.html

Otherwise, you will have to walk from Central Park West and West 72nd Street, which is almost exactly a quarter-mile.

Enjoy your birding!

Subject: BS: birding New York's Central Park
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Oct 15 - 11:59 PM

On Oct 16th, my Dear Husband and I will have a morning and afternoon free in New York City (Manhattan). We could go to a museum, but we have done that so often, in so many cities of the world...

I know that Central Park is a great birdwatching location, but I have trouble walking and standing. We won't have a car. Does anybody know of any places to sit and birdwatch? We would probably have to have a cab drop us off.

I can probably walk a quarter mile to a site.   

I have looked at web sites, but none of them get down to brass tacks.