May 27, 2024
I remember this day like it was yesterday. May 27, 2021. I was working in New York and, in a most strategic and organized spreadsheet, kept lists of recent bird sightings via eBird to inform where I should birdwatch on my next day off. Large numbers of warblers were reported at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens the days prior, so my decision was straightforward. I set an alarm for 5 am.
It was the epitome of spring—warm air, mud on the ground, birdsong alive. Relentless male songbirds displayed their colorful plumage from every surrounding tree, and birds zipped by catching insects mid-air. The scene exuded life.
I watched warblers from the comfort of a shade-filled grove for the better half of four hours. Remembering there was more ground to cover, I made my way to a trail circling the bay. In the middle of an intense internal debate about whether the crow I was seeing was a Fish Crow or American Crow, activity from a group of goslings caught my eye. A few photos from this special moment are included here.
Cheers, all, and happy birding.
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Gone Birdin' 