Anachronisms, Maybe

Last week we did some touring, one the stops being a charming museum of medieval art in New York City, the Cloisters.  As is my habit I keep an eye out for bird life.  Regrettably, I found only one species on the grounds which is a semiofficial king of urban birds---the non-native English Sparrow.  These pesky creatures abound in the Cloisters and were drawn to the outdoor cafe in a first-level cloister (the Trie)  A question came up in my mind that I can't yet resolve.  Did these European birds pester the monks in monasteries as much as they do the Cloisters today?  I have to think it's plausible.  ES's are definitely drawn to human habitations and monasteries, a relatively dense concentration of humans in their time, must have been irresistable.  I'd pity the monks, but the ES are natives there.  It might have been a pleasant partnership!

Beneficial Beaver Ponds

We live in an area rich with natural water features -- ponds, creeks, branches, and especially beaver ponds.  We even have one in the metro park.  These can spark annoyance in neighboring homes but ours here is an experiment in wildlife management.  After fighting the beavers for years, the city decided to install some special equipment that permits the pond to rise only to a certain level.  The beavers can dam up as much as they want but cannot ultimately stop the drain off.  This seems to be working, and as a result we have the benefits of beaver ponds without flood problems nearby.  This pond attracts water fowl, waders, woodpeckers, and many songbirds.  It's high on the list of places to check for birds in the area.  It will be on mine whenever I'm in the area.

Note to readers:  I will be going off line for the next week.  Posts will resume, I hope, March 15th.  And maybe I'll have some interesting bird stories to tell!  Thanks for reading and see you then...

Back from English Sparrow Seaport

Hello dear readers!  We are back from a full weekend mostly spent in the state of Connecticut.  And amidst the turmoil of family events and some sightseeing, I kept my eye open for birds.  Unfortunately, I didn't score extremely well.  Opportunities were few, and I didn't have my binocs to help.  Let's start with the ubiquitous English Sparrow, and old world finch -- and every bit a finch, if I might say so.  These pesky rascals have nearly overrun one of our tourist stops at Mystic Seaport on the southeast coast of Connecticut.  One would expect them to be practically living at the food concessions.  But I found them in all sorts of other places, too.  The seaport is the right mix of urban habitat, sloppy eaters, and whatever else to make a finchy paradise.  The mariners of old would not likely have heard these birds.  Now one hears almost nothing else!  Did I see any others?  Yes I did, and they'll get mention in my next post.