The reservoir's historic structures & ecosystems are an opportunity to create a unique environmental education center for our children & their future.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Ridgewood and Cornell

From: Elliotte Harold
Date: June 30, 2007 7:38:20 PM EDT

Ridgewood is now a Cornell [Lab of Ornithology] hot spot. Please enter into eBird all observations made there. I have entered this mornings from Peter and me:

Check out this page.

This shows all observations submitted for the site. It's pretty scarce, just our trips this year I think and possibly just those I've been on.

We should make a entering any other observations we have, including historical ones.

FYI, according to this list we have 70 species for the site this year. counting only since April. If I'm the only one whose been entering so far, there may be more from trips I wasn't on or that I missed myself.

P.S. Don't worry about duplicate submissions. Cornell has designed the system such that 10 people can submit the same 20 birds from 1 trip.

You must register (for free) to add your observations to the website's database.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Wild bird poaching incident

The following was sent out to the birding community this week:

"On Sat 6/23 there was a series of special events at the reservoir, sponsored by iLAND, the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Art, Nature and Dance. They have undertaken Ridgewood Reservoir/iMAP, a yearlong performance project that investigates the unique landscape of the reservoir. This 50-acre site comprises wetlands, native swamp forest and urban wilderness, and as part of this project, some birders from Brooklyn (Heidi & Steve Nanz & others) have been documenting breeding and migrating birds, as well as other flora & fauna.

I arrived at 8:00am and started around the reservoir, looking for the group from Brooklyn. A young family was walking behind me, as they later told me, following in the same direction because I looked like I knew where I was going. I did have an idea where I was going, but I didn't know where any of the dances were to take place. As we approached the pump house, I saw a man standing there. It did seem odd he was just standing there watching us approach, since most people were running or biking around the loop, but he didn't look menacing in any way.

All of a sudden the young child from the family gleefully pointed to a beautiful bird in a cage on the fence near the man. At the same time, I realized that the beautiful bird was a male American Goldfinch, that there were at least 6 different cages, and all had wild birds in them. I didn't confront the man directly because I didn't want to jeopardize my own or the young family's safety, but I did immediately start the long process of trying to report the incident. Through a series of calls back and forth to several agencies by both myself and Al Ott (who was home at the time and trying to get me help) it finally got reported to the Urban Park Rangers, who seemed to be the most concerned.

Unfortunately, by then the man was long since gone, but Rangers Kreft and Billak came to the sight and got the details and specific location so they can include it in some random checks of the area. For future reference, 718-846-2731 is the direct line to the Park Ranger Office in Forest Park, and you can call that number for any incident in Queens parks. You can leave a message if there is no answer, and the machine is checked from the field for messages. Officer McCullough from the Parks Enforcement Patrol also came by, and although I brought her over to the spot where the man had been, since that area can't really be accessed by car, I don't know if she would go back.

Needless to say, most of my morning was consumed with this incident, and I didn't pay as much attention to the beautiful dancing taking place throughout the morning as I would have liked. On the positive side, we documented several breeding species including Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warbler (Steve was esp. pleased that the parent was feeding a baby Yellow Warbler and not a baby Cowbird), and after I left, a male American Redstart bringing food to a fledgling Redstart.

Jean"

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Welcome to our blog

This is a collaborative blog dedicated to preserving the incredible wild habitats that have evolved around and within the decommissioned Ridgewood Reservoir in Queens, New York. The Department of Parks and Recreation want to level the forest and bog to create a sports complex in an area that already has dozens of tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, etc. We feel that the millions of dollars allocated to the project could better serve the community by creating an urban conservation and research school overlooking a nature preserve. Help the Big Apple become a leader in green education and environmental field work. Support urban nature and education.

Check back often as new articles and links will be added regularly.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Brooklyn Eagle article



RIDGEWOOD'S NEW PARK
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The Eastern Section Breathing Grounds.
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The Architect and His Men at Work on the Lay Out - A Place of Rare Beauty - Its Natural Advantages - Its Center for Variety of land, Bay and Ocean Scenery.
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Work has been resumed on Ridgewood, or, as the residents of the neighborhood prefer to call it, Highland park, and this most desirable and, in some respects, the most naturally beautiful of all the breathing places of the people in Brooklyn promises to be at no distant day In proper condition for the enjoyment of the pleasureseekers of the eastern section of the city. While this park is the second in extent of territory owned by the city of Brooklyn, It to an open question whether one-tenth of our citizens would be able to locate ft It asked to do so. To be sure this may be accounted for principally because It Is new and little work, aside from that on the reservoirs, has been done.

Ridgewood Park is the park of the eastern section of the city and lies along the northern boundary of the Twenty-sixth ward, extending into Queens county, Including within its limits the Ridgewood reservoirs, and will also include the reservoir at the Long Island Water Supply company, if that litigated body or water ultimately becomes the property of the city. The official name of the park is Ridgewood, because the original tract purchased was for the purposes of the reservoir of that name, but the land owners and residents of be neighborhood, owing to the fact that out on Myrtle avenue. In the northeastern section of the city, there is a well known private park called Ridgewood, which is confusing, have named It Highland, which is quite appropriate, for seven-eighths of it flog on the ridge, the old time Green mountains, known In modern times as the backbone of Long Island.

The boundaries of the park may be described In a general way as extending from the Long Island Water Supply company's reservoir, and northwest of that from the boundary line of the cemetery of the Ever greens, northeastward to the United States military cemetery and Bonzer's park; and from the pipe line southeastward to Crosby street, and from the Cypress Hills road south ward to Sunnyside avenue, northeast of Warwick street. These lines include what is now actually park property, about one hundred and twenty-eight acres, which may be divided into natural forest, 28 acres; lakes, 55 acres; 13 at meadow and 32 in level plateau, hillsides not wooded, driveways and roads.

In addition to what is already owned, there are about forty acres which are under consideration and will probably be Included within the park limits when a reasonable and satisfactory price is agreed upon. This comprises the Long Island Water Supply company's reservoir and adjoining woodland, the twenty-three acres of James Lyon and others, at the northwest end of the present park boundaries, arid the three blocks between Sunnyside and Jamaica avenues, northeast of Warwick street, owned by Schenck, Montfort and Colyer.

The three blocks have each a dwelling, the Schenck house being a relic of last century, an old Dutch farm house. one of the few left within the precincts of Brooklyn by our modern iconoclastic civilization which runs so much to flats, and would be an excellent addition to the park as a fair type of the old Long Island home, to preserve for the benefit of the Brooklynltes of the century ahead of us.

Typographically Ridgewood park Is unusually beautiful and susceptible of great improvement with comparatively little work. The section between Crosby street and the pipe line from the Long Island Water Supply company's reservoir to the Ridgewood reservoir, a third of a mile, is wooded, with a picturesque ravine running through a portion of It. The northwestern section Is also broken into hill and vale with quite an extensive natural pond having trees on the margin, and there Is very pretty hill land and a grove at the north, along the Cypress Hills road, where the water works buildings are located. The immense reservoirs furnish the principal part of the water scenery in the park.

To understand fully the Idea of the residents in the locality bestowing upon this park the name of Highland the location must be explained. From Jamaica avenue the perspective southeastern line from Sunnyside avenue (one block), the present actual boundary, there is a scarcely noticeable rise, which is continued In the intervening space to what would be the line of Laurel street. Here there is an abrupt rise of about forty-five degrees to the hlghland, where Highland boulevard and the reservoirs are located. This abrupt elevation is 100 feet above Jamaica avenue and 170 feet above tide water and Is a peculiarity that attaches to this range of hills along its line, both to the northeast and southwest of Ridgewood park, notably at the Cemetery of the Evergreens, Greenwood and Prospect Park.

Highland boulevard commences at the Pipe line road, or Vermont avenue, east of the grounds of the Cemetery of the Evergreens, and runs northeast to the park lands, where it Is now being continued, following the brow of the ridge all the way, a distance of nearly a mile, and, for the most part, having an unobstructed view of the Twenty-sixth ward of the city and the village beyond. There is an appropriation of from $10,000 to $15,000 available for this park at present and it is with these funds that the park board is at work. Roads are being laid out by the engineers, and workmen are engaged extending Highland boulevard within the park limits, in the way of a driveway 40 feet wide and a walk for pedestrians 15 feet wide. The driveway will extend northeast to near the corner of the reservoir, when it will divide into three branches, one turning northwest toward the Cypress hills road, the center branch going nearly north to the front of the main reservoir, where a circular concourse is being made for those who ride to stop and have the benefit of the magnificent view. The third or main branch of the drive turns down the slope in an easterly direction until near the line of the United States cemetery on the force tube line at Jamaica avenue.

Between the hill at the reservoirs and Jamaica avenue there is a strip of meadow half a mile long, which will be from three to five hundred feet wide, according to the result of the negotiations for the two-fifths of a mile frontage on Jamaica avenue. This will make a beautiful play ground for the children, and the lovers of tennis and croquet.

Over at the northeast end of the park Is Bonzer's park, where those who care for ruins may see the crumbling walls of the old peat works, the small lake being been formed by excavations made to obtain peat, the diggers going down about one hundred feet to reach the bottom of the bed and searchers after something eerie can wander further and on the old Long Island City road find the spot here a farmer was murdered by highwayman some thirty-five years ago.

The view from the Highland boulevard and, for pedestrians, from the broad esplanade along the eastern embankment of the reservoir is one of rare beauty and is an especial feature of RIdgewood park. Beyond the park grounds one looks out over the Twenty-sixth ward of Brooklyn and where ten years ago was little more than farm lands with a few scattered houses, save the small ettle ment known as East Now York, off to the southward, can be seen the numerous fine residences of a population of 50,000 people, the tree lined streets, the busy moving surface and elevated roads, with here and there chimneys of factories arising in the distance giving an air of busy thrift to the scene. Beyond the almost level plateau on which the city is built may be seen the blue waters of Jamaica bay and further out beyond Rockaway the waters of the Atlantic sparkle in the sunlight which flashes on the white sails of all sorts of seagoing craft. Coney Island may be distinguished and the Jersey shore beyond, while to the eastward the view become hazy in the multiplication of suburban towns, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill and other Queens county bidders for future annexation to the City of Churches.

It Is the dream and hope of those interested in the Twenty-sixth ward that the scheme of uniting Prospect and Ridgewood, or, as they all call It, Highland park, will at be consummated by the eastern parkway extension. As is well known, this idea has been considered for some time by the park commissioners, but the unfavorable condition of the country at present precludes any probability of speedy action, although they realize that delays are dangerous to their project, as the uncondemned route Is increasing in value by being rapidly built upon. The Eastern parkway, at the present time, may be said to go nowhere at the eastern end. The scheme is to have the parkway make a curve from its present terminus at Howard and East New York avenues and follow a line east of north to Bushwick avenue, east of the main en trance to the cemetery of the Evergreens; thence following the line of the cemetery northward to where it meets Highland boulevard, and after following the latter on through Ridgewood park, to continue on down through the city land of the force tube line, which is 300 feet wide, to the pump well at Atlantic avenue and Richmond street, and thence on to the Cypress Hills road. This plan, if carried out, would make one of the most magnificent drives--about fifteen miles--in the country, being continuous, though not direct, from Coney Island on the extreme south to the city limits in the extreme east, taking In the two principal parks of the city [dan] giving the advantage of the magnificent views from both.

As before stated, this latter scheme may be characterized more as a hope or a dream than a probability at the present time, but Ridgewood park, with the beauties and attractions that nature has bestowed upon it; its splendid bodies of water and its rare view of the almost magic city and the waters beyond; is an existing, living reality, which the skiillful hand of the park architect Is toning down and adorning and will speedily turn into a public pleasure ground that for its size will have few equals.

Publication: Brooklyn Eagle; Date: Jul 22, 1894; Section: None; Page: 7

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Plan NYC 2030 website

Here is a link to the city agency website that is responsible for trying to actually remove greenspace, not provide more:

plaNYC

Monday, June 25, 2007

Ridgewood Reservoir Listening Session



Last night I attended what was billed as "Community Listening Sessions Regarding Future Plans for the Ridgewood Reservoirs". It was hosted by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Heidi and I signed up for the meeting assuming that it would be a group of people listening to the parks department describe what they had in store for the reservoir and its surroundings. What transpired was, well, different. The response by the public to the meeting was a pleasant surprise.

Upon our arrival we were asked to sign in and were assigned a color-coded name tag. It was explained that, like the name tags at a wedding reception, the colors were associated with a table where we would sit. Each table was set-up with:

- a large topographic map of the property
- a satellite image centered on the reservoir with labels of recreational facilities within a 1/2 mile radius
- questionnaires for participants
- a printout of a Powerpoint presentation (the projector was broken)
- a large easel pad
- several legal pads and pens
- an 11" x 17" satellite image of the reservoir
- cardboard cut-outs of baseball fields, running tracks, tennis courts, parking lot, basketball courts, cricket field, etc., scaled to the large topographic map

It should be pointed out that the image with the 1/2 mile radius of current recreational areas was inaccurate. It showed far less than actually exists. To see a map of any type of recreational areas near the reservoir Oasis NYC has a great mapping system.

Each table had an assigned "facilitator". Park administrator, Debbie Kuha, was the person organizing the process at my table, the "Red Team". People who signed up for the event were randomly assigned a color. Heidi and I ended up at separate tables, but Al Ott and I were at a table together. Also present at our table was Tom Dowd, president of the Ridgewood Homeowner's Association and District Director Tony Forman (representing the office of Congressman Ed Towns). There was one other gentleman at our table, but I can't remember his name (some of the name badges were difficult to read). I thought someone said that he represented the office of New York State Senator Serphin R. Maltese. If I am incorrect, I apologize. Mark Morrison, the president of the company who "won the design competition" looked over our shoulders and participated in the discussion for about 10 minutes. It struck me as a little odd that the department of parks would have already chosen a company to design a facility for a project that was still taking input from the community. The city, allegedly, hadn't even made any decision on the reservoir's future.

A brief introduction about the project was given by Queens Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. She described an elaborate project that was "on the fast track" to breaking ground. Unfortunately, she had to leave for another event and turned over the podium to Kim Fallon of capital projects. To make a long story as short as possible, we were advised that $50 million had been allocated for the development of an active sports facility at the reservoir. The people who signed up for the meeting were divided into 5 teams and were being asked to design, what we thought, would be an appropriate facility. Kim encouraged us to "think outside the box".

From the onset of our team's "brainstorming" session, it seemed like Ms. Kua was more interested in placing the activities cut-outs into the basin areas on the map, than listening to our concerns. Tom Dowd began by expressing his opinion that the nature of the area should be protected. Both Al and I agreed, but I thought that a school for Urban Conservation and Research should be built at the edge of the reservoir. I think that it is a unique opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind learning institution. My gut feeling was that our facilitator wanted us to feel obligated to use the carefully constructed cardboard cut-outs to fill up the space within the basins.

Here is a brief summary of each team's presentation at the end of the brainstorming session.

Green Team:
They decided not to use any of the active facility icons as there are "already plenty in the surrounding area". Their focus was on passive recreation, a nature center and highlighting some of the areas rich history. The existing running path around the perimeter should be widened and small exercise areas added along the route.

Yellow Team:
This team began by stating that whatever activities occur in one basin will affect the nature in the others. They continued with the notion that sports and nature are competing concepts. It was the second team to propose the construction of a nature center. For sports activities they suggested a skateboard area as there aren't any in the surrounding neighborhoods. Half of Basin 3 would be left untouched and Basins 1 & 2 completely untouched. Given the history of the area they also suggested that a waterworks museum be created.

White Team:
For the third time a group began their presentation by agreeing that it should be left as unspoiled as possible. There should be a nature center, possibly elevated walkways above the basins so people can observe the wildlife from above the canopy. Nothing should be filled in. The old pumps should be restored and a small cafe added in one of the old buildings. If there is any development it should be in Basin 1. They made it very clear that they wanted the nature preserved.

Blue Team:
No longer a surprise, this team began their presentation by stating that the nature of the area was very important. Three out of their six members thought it should not be developed at all. They didn't think that extra parking should be created. If anything, they should expand the existing lot. Because of their concern for the existing natural habitat they recommended that nothing be done without a comprehensive study of each basin. There should be an expansion of the existing green-way into the area and a visitors center built. The old pump house should be restored as an environmental center. Invasive plant species should be removed and monitored with a nursery created to grow plants that would replace the invasives.

The final team was ours, the Red Team. Our presenter, who was chosen by the facilitator, was Tom Dowd. At the start of the discussions Tom surprised Al and myself by talking about the importance of the area's nature and history, although he did have a desire to see an indoor swimming installed in part of Basin 3 ("there are only 11 throughout the city"). He seemed a bit nervous during his presentation and who wouldn't have been, I couldn't have stood up in front of that audience. Through no fault of his own, he basically just read down a list of items that were suggested, primarily, by the facilitator. Towards the end of his speech he remembered all of the conservation points and quickly read through a few.

As the last presenters, the Red Team didn't have the rousing conclusion that would have had a big impact. But, ultimately, it wasn't a problem, because Al decided to address the room from his chair at our table. He spoke about the special qualities of the existing habitat and the common misconception that preserving green spaces is an "us versus the birds" argument. To paraphrase his much more eloquent discourse, "Nature isn't just here for the birds, it's also here for people."

Al is a big man with a commanding voice. While he was talking I looked around the room at the expressions on people's faces. He projected a powerful tone of conviction and honesty that held the room's attention. His opinion was so well received that the room spontaneously broke out in applause.

I was very pessimistic going into the meeting. In politics, despite appearances, sometimes the outcome is preordained. In fact, I found out after the meeting, that there were two parks department employees on one of the teams who were pushing for development. My feeling was that the city would destroy the reservoir's habitats, no matter what happened at any public meetings. Tonight I realized there were more voices speaking for about the intrinsic value of natural habitats than I ever expected. The Department of Parks and Recreation wants to create a world class destination in Ridgewood, what they don't realize is that it already exists. Exploiting its developing habitats as a sanctuary, for both man and animal, and as a teaching facility would bring far more to the entire city than a few sports fields.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Saturday, June 9th at the Ridgewood Reservoir

Part of the original iron fence


Saturday, June 9th, was my 7th visit to the Ridgewood Reservoir, 6 of which were breeding bird survey days. It hard for me to grasp the concept that the habitats only encompass 50 acres. With every visit I see, hear or smell something different. Regardless of my primary objective of reviewing bird life, I’ve also been informally noting plants, insects and, in Saturday’s case, this guy (or gal):



During one of my first visits to the reservoir I met a man named Angel. He had come by bicycle and was just soaking in his surroundings and a little bit of sun. We began talking and it sounded like he used the reservoir as his sanctuary away from the surrounding city. I asked him about some of his observations over the years and he mentioned some of the expected urban creatures, such as, raccoon and opossum. Then he said, “In the summer there are lizards all over the place.” I thought that maybe he was exaggerating, that maybe once somebody’s pet iguanas escaped into the area. However, iguanas would never survive a typical New York City winter. Angel went on to explain that, once the warm weather arrives, the small reptiles emerge from the openings in the ends of certain pipes. Steve and I looked at each other and thought that maybe this guy was “on the pipe.” At home that night I researched northeastern reptiles but didn’t find anything that I thought would be flourishing in Queens or, for that matter, anywhere in the 5 boroughs.

On Saturday Al Ott and his wife, Karen, joined us for our morning inspection at the reservoir. Al has been very active in the NYC conservation community for many years. He was the driving force that prevented a bike path from being paved through the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. As we walked along the outer edge of the three impoundments I mentioned to Al the story about the lizards. He said that there was a small population of a european species of reptile on Long Island. They appear to be an innocuous presence in the limited pockets that they inhabit in New York, so ecologists have left them alone. It was shortly after that conversation that Steve caught a small lizard in a discarded plastic bottle and brought it over to show us. It was the same species as the one on Long Island, the Italian Wall Lizard. I was able to take some photos through the neck of the bottle, but when I put it on the ground for Steve to photograph, that 4 inch green lizard moved faster than a cheetah on steroids. It vanished into the underbrush before Steve was able to press down on his shutter release.

Newsday published an interesting article about the lizards on Long Island several years back. In the article they posit that:

"The most likely story involves a 1967 shipment destined for a now-defunct pet supply store that was waylaid by a minor accident, a broken crate and some very swift escapees."

I found this explanation to be the type of myth that could never be proven one way or the other. I find it amusing that nearly the exact same folklore has been adapted for the flocks of Monk Parakeets that have colonies in various corners of Brooklyn. It sounds like 1967 was a year of animal conspiracies.

They also have an interactive map that illustrates the expanding range through the borough of Queens. So, Brooklyn has their Monk Parakeets and now Queens has their Italian Wall Lizards.

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)


Another species of honeysuckle


Sometimes I feel like as I’ve aged, time has become more compressed. Everything seems to occur much faster; seasons change, children grow, hawks fledge and weeks feel like days. This spring it seems like I’ve missed out on some of the annual changes. When I saw ripe mulberries in Green-Wood Cemetery last week, I thought to myself, “How can the trees already be fruiting when it’s only; oh yeah, it’s nearly July”. Maybe I'm just trying to experience too much at one time.

At the Ridgewood Reservoir, plants that were flowering on my previous visit, were now either covered with young, green berries or already giving up their ripened fruit to the birds. Like most of urban America, there are several species of honeysuckle proliferating around the reservoir habitats. One species that I’ve never noticed before was the Tartan Honeysuckle, which are new covered with vivid orange berries. Flowering Sweetbrier was providing nectar for bees as was the large blooms of the Red Clover. In grassy sections on the outer edges of the running path wild garlic has dropped its petals and were ready for harvesting.

Red Clover


Unidentified damselfly


In addition to hundreds of dragonflies and damselflies (most of which I cannot identify yet), we noticed an abundance of ladybug pupae and larvae. They will be emerging just in time to feed on the aphids that feed off of the plants.

Cottonwood seed snow drift


I’ve learned that the stretch of green space that runs through Queens from Forest Park to the reservoir is a part of the terminal moraine that also includes Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. The following computer animation of a fly-by from above Long Island and up the Hudson River is on Nasa’s “Visible Earth” website. If you watch closely on the right side of the movie, you’ll see how the elevated terrain of the Ridgewood Reservoir, Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park all align with the ridge on the north shore of Long Island and continues down, through Staten Island. I’ve noted in the past that the hilltop above the reservoir is ringed with mature Eastern Cottonwoods and on Saturday the wind was scattering a snow flurry of their fuzzy seeds. Drifts of goose down-like fluff was piling up along the edges of the running path.



Terminal Moraine


In addition to the Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats that we had noted earlier in the spring, there were still American Redstarts present around the borders of the reservoir. I’m not certain if that means that they are breeding, but it is a positive sign.

Island of moss


Moss closeup


Inside the bog-like basin mosses are proliferating. I’ve been told that it is a good indication of the habitat’s health. I noticed that some of the species of moss were in a stage that could be compared to flowering. With my face against the cool, green carpet of moss I shot some photos of the tendril-like filaments preparing to release their spores. In the same impoundment I found a cluster of wild irises in bloom. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen native irises in New York State, just the engineered varieties that people plant around their lawns or florists deliver in cut flower arrangements.

Moss filaments


More moss


Wild iris (Iris versicolor)


I won’t be able to participate in the next scheduled survey as I will be out of town, but I will be going back on July 14th.

The Ridgewood Reservoir and it’s surrounding habitats are an incredible piece of nature in the most densely populated and developed city in the United States. In fact, I’m amazed that it has managed to escape bulldozers and backhoes for so long. Unfortunately, that may be changing. The mayor has proposed that at least on basin be turned into a recreational facility (i.e.. soccer stadium, baseball fields) while the others "turned into" a nature preserve. I never feel good about it when words like “turn it into a nature preserve” are used to describe a habitat that has already evolved into one, without the help of designers. I’ll be attending the first meeting tomorrow. I'll post some links later tonight that are relevant to the Ridgewood Reservoir.

Below is our species list from June 9th, followed by the cumulative list of species. In 30 hours of surveying the reservoir habitats we have tallied 101 species of birds.

- - - - -

Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens, 6/9/2007
-
Ring-necked Pheasant
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
House Wren
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, House Sparrow

Complete survey list as of June 9th (4/27/07, 5/5/07, 5/12/07, 5/19/07, 5/28/07, 6/9/07):

Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Canada Geese
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Rink-necked Pheasant
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red shouldered
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
House Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird
European Starlings
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown Headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrows