September 25, 2010 - National Public Lands Day
10:30-12:30
Hazy overcast to sunny, humid, 70-85 degrees
The Governors Island unit of the National Park Service marked National Public Lands Day with several events, including a bike tour from Grants Tomb to Governors Island. I chipped in by conducting a bird census program. Ryan, Lori, Dan, Gloria and Gloria's partner (sorry I never got your name!), and I counted birds in all areas of the Historic District except Ft. Jay. We missed the fort only because we ran out of time. It was not a very good day for birding. Not only were there very few migrants, but year-round residents seemed in short supply as well. Despite that, we had a wonderful time touring the island. Ryan gets credit for spotting the belted kingfisher, which I've never seen on the island before.
9:30-10:30 am & 1:15-4:00 pm
Before and after the census program I counted birds in the remaining areas of the island (Ft. Jay & the entire perimeter), on my own in the morning and with Lori in the afternoon.
The following table shows the total numbers for the day by combining the tallies from the morning census program and the tallies from Lori's and my outtings before and after the official census program.
| Double-crested cormorant |
20 |
| Black-crowned night heron |
7 (6 adult, 1 immature) |
| Canada goose |
21 |
| American black duck |
8 |
| American kestrel |
2 |
| Great black-backed gull |
3 |
| Mourning dove |
15 |
| Belted kingfisher |
1 |
| Downy woodpecker |
1 (female) |
| Northern flicker |
3 |
| Blue jay |
4 |
| Barn swallow |
1 |
| Robin |
14 |
| Mockingbird |
1 |
| Brown thrasher |
1 |
| Starling |
1 |
| Palm warbler |
4 |
| Pine warbler |
5 (4 female, 1 male) |
| Northern cardinal |
3 |
| Dark-eyed junco (slate colored) |
1 |
| House sparrow |
7 |
