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DVOC Field Trip Report
by Bob Horton

Audubon's Original Artwork and Central Park, NY
April 29,2007

Seventeen members and guests, including 4 youths and three adults from the Rancocas Nature Center met Bob Krinsky at the Tavern on the Green Restaurant to begin our birding in Central Park. It is amazing the variety of birds you can find in the middle of New York City. Bob lead us through the southern half of the park, which he knows very well. Birds of interest included Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Veery, as well as Orange-crowned Warbler and Northern Waterthrush. On the reservoir we saw a Common Loon in breeding plumage, Shovelers and Buffleheads. When we saw a Turkey Vulture, Bob was excited. He said they are quite rare in Central Park. Other birds include Baltimore and Orchard Oriole.

After lunch, we all went to the New York Historical Society to view 40 of John James Audubon’s original watercolors. These were used as the artwork for “Birds of America”. The paintings are magnificent. Using the magnifying glasses provided by the museum, you could see all of the details and fine lines in each drawing. Jeff Holt gave us a short explanation of Audubon's work and his Double Elephant Folio.

After the museum, some of us went home, some went on to the Natural History Museum, and some went to McSorley’s Pub for refreshments.

Birds seen or heard in Central Park, NY

Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
Turkey Vulture
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
House Wren
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Tufted Tirmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
House Sparrow
Northern Waterthrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole

Pictures by Bert Filemyr