New York City – The Jersey Birder

What is New York’s state bird?

My 4-year-old grandson was visiting us from New York City recently, and we got to talking about birds. I have cocktail napkins illustrated with an American goldfinch. As I showed one to my grandson, I noted that it is the state bird of New Jersey. “What is the state bird of New York?” I asked.Continue reading “What is New York’s state bird?”

Sparrows a-go-go at the Pole Farm

Two Savannah sparrows face one another in the tall grasses.

We’ve had a beautiful fall weekend here in central New Jersey, with warmer-than-we-really-should-have temperatures poking into the upper 70s. I was able to get two good outings in at the Mercer Meadow Pole Farm, where sparrows took center stage. I’m leading the post with two of the Savannah sparrows I saw while walking up theContinue reading “Sparrows a-go-go at the Pole Farm”

Big Year? I’m going for a Big Month

This is how an obsession starts. A few weeks back I watched “The Big Year,” a comedy about the crazed antics of hyper-competitive birders. Then I bought the book of the same title on which the movie is based, and I’m halfway through reading it. I’m neither wealthy nor a man of leisure, so aContinue reading “Big Year? I’m going for a Big Month”