American Robin

by D. Speiser

NYC Audubon's Central Park Census 2008 and 1998 
Central Park is an extremely important habitat for migrating birds and also for birds that choose the park as a place to breed. In recognition of Central Park's importance to birds, the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy designated Central Park an Important Bird Area in New York State in 1998, recognizing the significance of its manmade avian habitats, which include meadows, grassy hillocks, rocky crags, woodlands, ravines, streams, ponds, lakes, and a reservoir. To assess the breeding species and their success, NYC Audubon has conducted three evaluations: a partial census of the western side of the park in 1994, and a complete census in 1998 and again in 2008.

How the Census was Conducted
To conduct a complete census the park was divided into 20 blocks; volunteers visited each block eight times between May 24 and July 18, in order to cover early and late breeding species as well as the main June breeding period, and followed the nesting bird census protocol developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Volunteers identified and counted nests, as well as individuals they saw carrying nesting material or feeding young birds.

Central Park 2008 Breeding Bird Census Observations
The "Observed Nest" column is just that: if a nest was seen. "Observed Feeding Young" is if an adult was observed feeding a young bird away from the nest. "Observed Carrying Food" could be a bird with a nest in that zone or just passing through that zone (but most likely breeding in the park).

Some interesting changes occurred in the ten years between the complete censuses. Although there were changes in the composition of species breeding in the park between the two years, the overall number of species and pairs observed remained quite stable.

Common Grackle

by D. Speiser

Twenty-eight native bird species were observed breeding in Central Park in both 1998 and 2008. Six species were confirmed as breeding in Central Park in 1998 that were not seen in 2008: common yellowthroat, fish crow, great crested flycatcher, mute swan, rough-winged swallow and song sparrow. However, six species were confirmed breeders in Central Park in 2008 that were not recorded in 1998: barn swallow, black-capped chickadee, Carolina wren, chipping sparrow, eastern wood-pewee and green heron.

Blue Jay

by D. Speiser

The most common breeding bird in both years was the American robin, with 205 pairs in 1998 and 193 pairs in 2008. Common grackles were the second most common in 1998, as were blue jays in 2008. The total confirmed number of breeding pairs was very similar in 1998 and 2008: there were 358 pairs in 1998 and 349 pairs in 2008 (excluding robins, the number was even closer: 153 pairs in 1998 and 156 pairs in 2008).
We are in the process of reexamining the IBAs in New York City in conjunction with Audubon New York and this data will help inform the process.

Click here for 2008 Observations
Click here for the full 1998 Central Park Census Report

NYC Audubon's Van Cortlandt Park Census
Just as in Central Park, the American robin was the most numerous and widespread of native species with 49 breeding territories confirmed. The species was recorded in all five sections of the park. Unlike Central Park, the gray catbird was second most numerous with 27 confirmed territories. The red-winged blackbird, although only present in two sections, consisted of 19 breeding territories. The Baltimore oriole, present in all five sections, had 18 breeding territories recorded.

To read more about the 2006 breeding birds of Van Cortlandt, click here