🌿 Field Notes #005
On the weird and wonderful American woodcock and spring blooms
The daffodils are blooming and the woodcocks have made their triumphant return to Bryant Park, which I think makes it officially spring. There have been quite a few changes over the past week; some trees are in full bloom or at least budding, and the weather seems to be on a permanent upward trend. I’ve been getting outside to bird every weekend over the past few weeks and plan to continue that well through spring migration, and I am glad to see that the woodcock has inspired many others to do the same.
You might have seen this New York Time’s article about the woodcock in Bryant Park but they have really been getting some well-deserved attention lately. I am all for anything that sparks public interest in urban nature, as long as the birds don’t seem to mind. There was only a small crowd gathered when I saw one in Bryant Park the other weekend but the numbers have grown significantly since then:
I think the fascination with the woodcock speaks to a generational tiredness with seeing our entire world through screens, and the chance to see a weird and wonderful migrating bird up close became too good to pass up. I do worry about the occasional misbehaving park visitor who might ruin a good thing for everyone (the Times article comments about someone who tried to walk into the ivy bed) but overall I think public fixation on fellow dwellers of the natural world is a good thing, especially for birds like woodcocks which can often be victims of window collisions this time of year. They migrate at night, fly low, and because their eyes are set so far back on their heads, can strike office buildings without bird safety glass or with their lights still on. If an internet obsession with a quirky bird can bring some attention to a cause that affects billions of migrating birds every year, I think it’s a net positive.
Some other seasonal sights from Bryant Park:
