News

Vol. IIX No. 4

April 2008

Michael Farina-Editor

 

New Birds of the Year

Species

1st Date Observed

Snowy Egret

4/3/08

Glossy Ibis

4/5/08
Boat-tailed Grackle

4/9/08
Dunlin

4/9/08
Laughing Gulls

4/10/08
Brown-headed Cowbird

4/11/08
Golden-crowned Kinglet

4/12/08
Eastern Towhee

4/12/08
Savannah Sparrow

4/12/08
Fox Sparrow

4/12/08
Brown Thrasher

4/16/08
Forster’s Tern

4/17/08
Tricolor Heron

4/17/08
Yellow-crowned Night Heron

4/19/08
Black-bellied Plover

4/20/08
Common Tern

4/20/08
Willet

4/24/08
Least Sandpiper

4/30/08
Seaside Sparrow

4/30/08
Chimney Swift

4/30/08
Year Total

101

*New to MNSA Life List 

Notable Sightings for the Month

Species seen 3x or less

Gadwall

Killdeer

Lesser Scaup

Least Sandpiper

Bufflehead

Dunlin

Red-throated Loon

Laughing Gull

Horned Grebe

Chimney Swift

American Bittern

Belted Kingfisher

Tricolor Heron

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Northern Harrier

American Tree Sparrow

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Seaside Sparrow
American Kestrel

Fox Sparrow
Black-belled Plover

 
Month Total

81

Wild Flower Plantings

Overton Pond was seeded with a variety of wildflower mixes.  Perennials, hummingbird/ butterfly mixes and a few other humming bird friendly specimens.  Also an area in the dunes was planted with a variety of drought tolerant wildflowers mix.

Canada Goose Nests

During this month the nests had several different methods of disturbances.  Flooding, Herring Gulls, and Raccoons affecting success rates.   On 4/19, a raccoon was raiding nests in the morning, eventually captured and removed from the area.  The male from G8 got into a vehicular collision on 4/29, he past away on the morning of 4/30.   

YCNH Rookeries

On a visit to the Oceanside Rookery on 4/4, one bird was sitting up in the trees next to a nest.  On the second visit on 4/10, 13 individuals, 6 pairs with nests and one lone.  Other nesting sites were also identified as well through complaints and interested visitors:  Sachem St., East Rockaway and East Lexington, Oceanside and Carol St., Lynbrook.  The first YCNH to the MNSA was on 4/19.

MNSA Osprey Update

The osprey family is well on its way.  Close to 2 weeks earlier than last year they laid their first egg on 4/15, 2nd 4/17, 3rd 4/20 and in an unprecedented achievement for the first confirmed 4th egg on 4/23.  Condition of the online status of the cam has hit a few road blocks, just when we think we have it, we hit another obstacle.  The new cam website is currently hosting an image from the camera ( http://www.mnsa.webhop.org/cam/Cam.htm) We hope to have the cam sending real-time images every minute or less in the coming months, in hopes to watch the new family grow.

“Zoe” Update

A new update on the status of or neighbor across the bay.  Latest observations of Zoe’s platform have a 2nd peregrine on the box with Zoe.  On 4/9 I received a communication from the Senior Field Biologist, John Z., that he has seen a second peregrine on the box with Zoe in the platform.  Speculation on the identity of this new peregrine in light of a peregrine body found dead under the platform last month are circulating.  Possibilities floating around are: A weak intruder killed by Zoe’s mate?,  a past offspring returning to the nest in a weakened state?, a new male or past offspring returning to the platform to claim a new territory or assist Zoe and her new brood; if in fact she was successful.

Boardwalk Repairs

While promises on repairing the boardwalks in April were false.  No word and no visits on the conditions of the boardwalks.  The MNSA Staff took it upon themselves to bring the boardwalks back to walkable status with available tools and supplies.  Low, broken and uneven areas that caused the walks to be closed in the beginning were jacked up and patched with new supports and planks to make it passable.  The boardwalks are by no means repaired but conditions have been returned prior to closure.