Birds of New York: Part One

If you are a fan of bird watching, then you should definitely pay a visit to the state of New York, which is home to numerous species of birds, ranging from songbirds to birds of prey. With its stretches of wilderness, its beautiful mountains, and its plentiful bodies of water, you are sure to find a wide variety of birds to observe and enjoy during your next visit to the Empire State. This article, the first in a series, will detail some of the most common birds to be found in New York.

Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is certainly one of the most recognizable birds, due in no small part to the fact that it has become the symbol of the United States as a nation. Although this magnificent bird once faced extinction in the wild due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, as well as competition from humans, since the 1970s it has made a remarkable comeback (although there still remains much to be done). The New York bird's range typically stretches throughout the northern and western parts of the state, although it does migrate to the southern part of the state during the winter. They typically prefer to be close to bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and marshes.

Mute Swan

According the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the mute swan is an invasive species that originally came from Europe during the 1800s. However, they were released into the wild and have now established populations on both Long Island and the Lower Hudson River Valley. Due to the fact that they are an invasive species, the NYSDEC has undertaken an attempt to study the mute swan, in order to ascertain possible negative impacts on the environment. As of this writing this research is still underway.

Osprey

Currently listed as a special concern in New York State, the osprey is a large bird of prey that feeds mainly on various types of fish. Like the bald eagle, this species suffered a great deal to the use of DDT, which rendered their egg shells insufficiently thin to support nesting. Since the 1970s, however, this bird has made a comeback, and there are currently several breeding populations throughout the state, mostly centered in the Adirondacks and on Long Island, although reintroduction programs have built up populations elsewhere in New York as well. They are currently extensively studied by the NYSDEC.

Truly, the state of New York is home to numerous species of birds. A trip here will almost certainly result in your spying at least a few of these magnificent creatures.

Sources
New York State Department of Conservation.