I lived and worked in the Bronx for a just over a year, I lived on 206th Street which was about fifteen minutes walk from one of the most beautiful garnes in the world. Right in the middle of the Bronx is this oasis. It helped keep me sane anyway. I spent at least one morning (if not a whole day) a week in the Gardens, usually in the company of John Habel (pictured at bottom of page).
The gardens are not well watched at all, John and I were the only active birders during 1991/92. We saw lots of good birds and other wildlife too, including racoons, skunks, muskrat, turtles, tame squirrels.
When I lived there there were people who regularly fed the birds and Tufted Titmose and Black-capped Chickadee were hand tame. They would happily sit on your hand and take seed. I even had one fly into my pocket to take seed out when I wasn't forthcoming! Blue Jays are also fairly tame and will take peanuts from the ground or misair. Red-bellied Woodpecker can also feed closely.
The birds I saw at the Garden are listed in my New York trips page.
If you are in New York visit the Gardens, I cannot reccomend them enough. They are quieter than Central Park and probably safer as there is only one entrance and police patrols all day. The admission price is small, a few dollars and well worth it. If you have been to the gardens, let me know how you got on and what you saw!
(Copied from the New York Botanucal Gardens website at: http://www.nybg.org/gardens/birds.html)
The New York Botanical Garden is rich in avian life. The grounds provide food and shelter for many birds because of the diverse plantcollections, numerous gardens and extensive wild areas.
Over 200 species of birds have been seen at NYBG - this is a very high number for 250 acres (100 hectares) and reflects the great diversity of plants and habitats available for birds. Most birds are migrants which come to nest or to stop over on their way farther north or south. Some come to the the Garden only in winter and nest farther north in spring. A few reside year-round while many are found only during certain seasons. Spring and summer are the best times to see the majority of birds. Some birds will be easy to spot while others are much more difficult and may take many visits before they are observed; owls, for example, are very secretive yet may be seen at any time of year.
Spring
During spring and summer, the greatest number of species can be seen. Most are passing through but many stay for a day or two or even a week or more. Of the 40 species of wood warblers that have been observed, these are the most common: Black & White, Yellow, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Palm, Canada, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart. Two very rare hybrid warblers, the Lawrence's and Brewster's, have been spotted occasionally. Trees and shrubs along the Bronx River north and south of the Snuff Mill are good places to see these small birds as well as the Forest, wetlands and field edges. Several species of Empidonax flycatchers pass through, with the Least Flycatcher the most common.
Several different herons and egrets can be see along the Bronx River, Twin Lakes and wetlands throughout spring and summer. Mallards and Canada Geese are ever-present as are a resident pair of Belted Kingfishers.
Summer
Throughout the summer, several different sandpipers are seen near wet areas and fields: Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers are most common. After dark you might see a Common Nighthawk or Chimney Swift. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be seen darting to brightly-colored tubular flowers in the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden and the Demonstration Garden Complex.
Eight different woodpeckers have been seen with the Northern Flicker, Downy and Red-bellied (a recent arrival from the south) the most predominant around the wooded areas.
Three species of large flycatcher may be seen at the Garden during spring and summer: the Great Crested in deep woods, the Eastern Phoebe at woodland edges and Eastern Kingbird in both these habitats but favoring woodland edges. House and Winter Wrens are also seen on occasion in many habitats. Of the three mimic-thrushes, the Gray Catbirdis the only one which nests here and migrates before winter. Of the seven thrushes that are seen, the Wood and Veery are the only two which nest here.
Three vireos are also common: the White-eyed, Red- eyed and Solitary. All are found within the Forest canopy and underbrush.
Blackbirds of several species nest around the wetlands with Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole and Common Grackle most common. Of the 26 species of finches and sparrows only the Swamp and Savannah Sparrow and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are seen often during the summer.
Autumn
With autumn and the beginning of winter, most summer birds head south and the winter residents arrive from the north. Several duck species come from their northern breeding grounds and can be seen here in the winter on Twin Lakes and near the bridge south of the Snuff Mill: Black, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead and Hooded Merganser are most common.
Many raptors (birds of prey) appear at this time, attracted by plentiful food in the form of small mammals; the Northern Goshawk, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Kestrel are most often seen.
The coming of very cold weather brings other far northern species: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Golden and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings, Dark-eyed Juncos, Eastern Towhees and five sparrow species all converge on the Garden's many habitats. Some winter rarities are occasionally seen: Northern Shrike, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak and the Long-eared Owl.
Year-Round Resident Birds
Many birds are hardy enough to remain here all year. Mallard and Wood Ducks and Canada Geese stay as long as there is open water. Two or three Red-tailed Hawks can be spotted soaring high over the trees or surveying the ground from a high perch. The Ring-necked Pheasant is the only gallinaceous (ground-nesting poultry-like land bird)species found here regularly. The males with their beautiful plumage can be seen near Daffodil Hill and the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden.
Herring and Ring-billed Gulls can always be seen with an occasional Great Black-backed or Laughing Gull flying overhead or visiting Twin Lakes or the Bronx River.
The Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, American Crow, European Starling and House Sparrow are the most common year-round birds as they are everywhere. But owls are much less commonly encountered; here Barn, Eastern Screech and Great Horned Owls can be seen almost every year, primarily in the Forest and in dense evergreen groves in other parts of the Garden. Northern Mockingbirds, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Song and White-throated Sparrows all live at the Garden throughout the year.
Exotic and Uncommon Species
Many exotic or unusual species have bred or appeared on the grounds since sharp-eyed birdwatchers began keeping records. At least six species of parrots including White and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Budgerigars, Ring-necked Parakeets, Mitred Conure, Monk Parakeets and Cockatiels have been seen. Monk Parakeets nested here in the 1970's.
Other occasional sightings have been: Wild Turkey, Jungle Fowl, Turkey Vulture, Double-crested Cormorant, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Barred Owl, American Bittern and Ringed Turtle- Dove.
The Garden's many habitats and diverse plant collections are a rich resource for the birds and people who visit. Take the time to observe at all seasons; a return visit will always reveal something new.
