Flycatchers, thrushes, warblers, tanagers, and other land birds; shorebirds and waders; waterfowl

 

Double-crested Cormorants, gulls, occasional foraging egrets; Chimney Swifts, Tree and Barn Swallows

 

Warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds; waterfowl

 

Wintering waterfowl including dabbling and diving ducks; songbird feeding flocks

 

Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, common dabbling waterfowl, Double-crested Cormorant, gulls

View a Google map of Astoria Park.

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Astoria Park, located in an intensely picturesque and urban junction of New York City,  is a good spot to see nearby nesting raptors such as Red-tailed Hawk and Peregrine Falcon, wintering waterbirds on the East River, and stop-over songbirds during migration. Created in the early 1900s to provide local residents needed green space and access to the East River, the park includes many recreational facilities and is crossed by not just one but two bridges: the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and the Hellgate Bridge, named for the infamous rough waters of the channel here.

Over 160 species have been documented by eBirders in Astoria Park, including not only waterbirds and raptors, but also an impresssive array of migrating land birds, including over two dozen warbler species and less common species such as Common Goldeneye, Caspian Tern, and Philadelphia Vireo. Astoria Park faces the meadows and gardens of the southern Governors Island across the East River, and migrating birds may fly back and forth between these two patches of habitat, as they travel through the City.

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Circular paths provide access to several meadows lined with trees and shrubs in Astoria Park, which may attract migrating songbirds, while a bike and walking path along Shore Boulevard provides a vantage point on the East River. The narrow, waterside Ralph Demarco Park, just north of Astoria Park, is a connected green spot with trees that provides river access; it is normally included in eBirds reports on Astoria Park. Red-tailed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons have nested on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in recent years, and the species are often seen hunting in the area. 

In the wintertime, the most common dabbling waterfowl are joined by diving species such as Bufflehead and Red-breasted Merganser, and sharp-eyed birders have picked out occasional loons and scoters as well. Great Cormorant is seen here in the winter, joining a year-round contingent of Double-crested Cormorants as well as Herring and Laughing Gulls, which nest on Mill Rock Island, a small, wild Harbor Heron island visible from the park, across the East River.

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To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101  page. 

For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.

 

View eBird hotspot records for Astoria Park to explore recent bird sightings, species bar charts, and more. (Click on “Hotspot Map” at left to see other nearby locations.)

 

Astoria Park is a popular, well-frequented neighborhood park and is generally safe to bird. 

View a Google map of Astoria Park.

Visit the NYC Parks page for Astoria Park for operating hours, directions, and additional background information. cunningham-park

Flycatchers, thrushes warblers, tanagers, and other land birds; freshwater waterbirds

 

Nesting woodpeckers including possible Hairy, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, possible Scarlet Tanager

 

Warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds

 

Songbird feeding flocks, possible Great Horned Owl

 

Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch

View a Google map of Cunningham Park.

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Cunningham Park, though not the best known of the City's parks due to its location in far eastern Queens, is among its largest and wildest. The park includes extensive woodland that attracts unusual nesting species and a good variety of land birds during migration. Over 150 species have been documented by eBirders in the entire park (divided in pratice into a northern section and a southern section, "Cunningham Park Southeast Perserve"), including 31 warbler species.

During nesting season, the park's forest hosts several woodpecker species including Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, and possibly Scarlet Tanager (which has recently been documented in nearby Alley Pond Park). Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch are year-round residents. 

The park's glacier-created knob and kettle terrain also includes several vernal pools that attract wetland wildlife including Spring Peepers. Freshwater waterfowl such as Mallards (which nest) and Wood Duck also visit, along with unusual visitors such as American Bittern. The park's woods are also a good spot to look and listen for Great Horned Owl. 

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To see birding highlights by the season at Cunningham Park, see the top of this section. 

To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101  page. 

For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.

 

View eBird hotspot records for Cunningham Park and Cunningham Park Southeast Preserve to explore recent bird sightings, species bar charts, and more. (Click on “Hotspot Map” at left to see other nearby locations.)

 

The woodlands of Cunningham Park are somewhat remote; birding with a companion is recommended.

View a Google map of Cunningham Park.

Visit the NYC Parks page for Cunningham Park for operating hours, directions, and additional background information. 

Read about Cunningham Park's freshwater wetlands.baisley-pond-park

(no star = birding is not very productive, ✸ = somewhat productive, ✸✸ = productive, ✸✸✸ = very productive)
 
Spring Migration ✸
Lingering winter waterfowl; some warblers and other land birds

Summer ✸
Occasional foraging wading birds, swallows, common songbirds including Red-winged Blackbird

Fall Migration ✸
Warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds

Winter ✸✸✸
Wintering waterfowl including Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, and American Coot; songbird feeding flocks

Year-Round Highlights
Gulls and common dabbling waterfowl, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, common woodpeckers, Fish Crow

View a Google map of Baisley Pond Park.

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Baisley Pond Park is a lovely neighborhood park with that attracts a curious diversity of wintering waterfowl. The 30-acre pond is actually man-made--it was created in the 1700s by damming several streams in order to power a grain mill. (The park is named after a farmer that later owned the property.) The area's interesting ecological history was plumbed during pond's excavation: workers came upon the remains of an American Mastodon, which likely loved here 10,000 years ago. A mastodon sculpture graces Sutphin Playground, west of the southern end of the pond. 

Baisley Pond was used in the late 1800s as a water source for New York City, and since that time the park has evolved into a busy park full of recreational facilities for the neighborhood. The pond itself however is rich in wildlife, particularly in winter. For reasons that perhaps only the ducks know, the pond attracts a variety of waterfowl not found in many other locations, in a small area where the birds are easily viewed. Good numbers of Mallards, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Norther Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, and American Coots are joined by a reliable presence of Ring-necked Duck and Redhead--this may be the City's most reliable spot for this species. Check for less common species such as Canvasback. Red-necked Grebe has even been recorded here. Common Gulls also abound. 

Migrant songbirds do stop through Baisley Pond Park but are somewhat more sparsely documented here than in similar parks, perhaps because of the relatively small and manicure upland habitat. The warmer months see some variety of breeding songbirds such as Song Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird, and the pond is visited by Great Egret and Great Blue Heron (year-round), as well as Double-crested Cormorant. 

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To see birding highlights by the season at Big Egg Marsh, see the top of this section. 

To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101  page. 

For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.

 

View eBird hotspot records for Baisley Pond Park to explore recent bird sightings, species bar charts, and more. (Click on “Hotspot Map” at left to see other nearby locations.)

 

Baisley Pond Park is a well-frequented neighborhood park and is generally safe to bird alone. 

NYC Audubon leads several winter trips that include Baisley Pond Park. Visit NYC Audubon's Local Trips page for information on upcoming walks led by NYC Audubon.

The Queens County Bird Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 1932, offers frequent bird and nature walks and trips in Queens parks and beyond, along with lectures and presentations focused on birds, natural history, and conservation topics. 

On-street parking is generally available on the relatively quiet streets bordering Baisley Pond Park. Good vantage points to view birds on the pond include the northwest corner of the pond, at about 119th Avenue, and the end of 122nd Avenue on the southeastern side, where restrooms are available.

View a Google map of Baisley Pond Park.

Visit the NYC Parks page for Baisley Pond Park for operating hours, directions, and additional background information.

Visit the New York State DEC page for Baisley Pond Park for additonal information.