Here is the third update for this migration season. This update will include numbers from the field, information regarding our Science Program, and pictures from our Lights Out New York press event from Tuesday, September 20^th.

This week’s numbers

This past week was busy, yet again, with an amazing variety of species – 16 species in total and only three of them resident species. This week saw two injured birds, and 23 dead birds; dead birds representing 92% of our findings.

As you can see, no sparrows have been found so far. This is because sparrows migrate later in the season; currently, we are at the peak of the warbler migration. Therefore, it’s not surprising that half of the 16 species identified were warblers.  

Our usual bird-kill zones are responsible for almost all the bird collisions. The bird-kill zones we monitored witnessed 24 of the 25 collisions this week (96%), which shows once again the importance of identifying the most problematic buildings in NYC. Thank you for all your hard work. Morgan Mail was responsible for over 60% of this past week’s findings (16 birds) and the MET and WFC “took” four birds each.

Science Program Weekend

This October, NYC Audubon's Project Safe Flight is looking for volunteers to help with a research program to help answer many questions related to “bird kill zones” in our city. This program is unique in that it focuses on bird collisions in an urban environment.

From Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9
we will be monitoring four specific sites:

·    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

·    Morgan Mail USPS Processing Facility

·    World Financial Center

·    The Winter Garden Atrium of the World Financial Center

We are looking for volunteers who can do a 10-20 minute monitoring of these buildings during certain times of the day and night. Volunteers will record when and where birds are colliding with windows, and collect the dead and injured.

Please, note that the orientation will take place

Wednesday, October 4^th, 2005

From 6-8 p.m.  

Basement level of the NYC Audubon building

71^st West 23^rd St. (close to 6^th Av.)

Please RSVP to Volunteer@nycaudubon.org if you intend on joining us at the orientation.

As you all know, Lights Out New York encourages owners of tall buildings to save night-migrating birds by turning off the lights at midnight during fall and spring migration. The press conference was held on Tuesday, September 20^th, on the roof of the Arsenal Building at Central Park. The event was a real success; the setting was amazing and a dozen press people showed up. Steven Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York City, affirmed that “95%, if not 100% of members are expected to participate”.

"New York City is this nexus of ancient migratory flyways, and the parks have become these havens for these birds, but ... the buildings with their light draw birds to them, sort of like moths to a flame,"
NYC Audubon Director E.J. McAdams said at a news conference.
Reuters, Sept 21, 2005

As you all know, Lights Out New York encourages owners of tall buildings to save night-migrating birds by turning off the lights at midnight during fall and spring migration. The press conference was held on Tuesday, September 20^th, on the roof of the Arsenal Building at Central Park. The event was a real success; the setting was amazing and a dozen press people showed up. Steven Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York City, affirmed that “95%, if not 100% of members are expected to participate”.

Below, a picture of some speakers with (from left to right):

The second picture represents Commissioner Adrian Benepe; Roberta McGowan, Executive Director of BOMA; Commissioner Patricia Lancaster; EJ McAdams, Executive Director of NYCAS:  Eileen Hagermn and Suzanne Tatem from Volunteer for Wildlife with a Saw-Whet Owl, a Red-tailed Hawk and an American Kestrel (on the box)

Eileen and Suzanne from Volunteers for Wildlife came to the event with three educational birds. The press truly enjoyed it and so did I. J

After the press had gone, Eileen and Suzanne released two American Kestrels who had been in rehabilitation. They had been picked up as babies in Manhattan and were set free to fly in the wild for the first time. It was truly memorable.