[CT Birds] Scott's Oriole-NYC

[Sailcarm at aol.com]

1/30 --  Scott's Oriole, Union Sq., NYC -- While taking care of my grandson 
this week in NYC, I was able to escape for a couple of hours this afternoon to 
Union Square.  I found the Scott's Oriole quite quickly, as it was feasting in 
the open on an overly ripe banana and what looked like some grapefruit 
sections.  I encourage all of you who can to try to see this bird, as it certainly 
is not shy.  It stays for long periods either on the ground gorging on the 
fruit or right nearby in the vibernum bushes.  At times I didn't even need 
binoculars to watch him.  I was the lone birder there for a while and then all these 
people started asking me what I was looking at.  I helped them locate the bird 
and mumbled a few things about it being a couple thousand miles off course, 
etc.  Fortunately I was soon rescued by this wonderful birder who has a blog 
called "city birder" and he offered up lots of anecdotes about this bird who has 
been around for several weeks now and most likely will continue to be there. 
By this time it was after 3PM and many other birders came along and this 
oriole really performed for us, feeding on the ground, chasing off a squirrel and 
numerous house sparrows, and  fiercely clutching  a vibernum branch in gusty 
20mph winds with his gorgeous yellows feathers all plumped up.  It is an 
immature male but ever so much brighter than the one pictured in the Sibley Guide.  
"City birder" said that if he keeps on getting a fresh supply of fruit, he  
will probably continue to hang out there, so, before I left, I dutifully went 
across the street to Whole Foods and bought an organic Pink Lady apple ($2.99 a 
lb :) of which I hastily took a few bites to leave a well rounded core for 
the bird.   Well, I arrived back at the fence and threw the core into the garden 
only to watch a squirrel come running by a few seconds later and run off with 
the whole thing in his mouth .  So much for the Big Apple!

Location: the northwest corner of the park (E. 14th street and University 
Pl), just across from  Whole Foods, in a triangular garden with two huge holly 
bushes, a spruce and several vibernum bushes. Just look for the fruit on the 
ground!  If you are fretting about justification for the trip, the wonderful 
Whole Foods Market is rationalization enough!
In summation -- one of the most enjoyable birding experiences I have ever 
had, with wonderful long looks at a beautiful, feisty bird.

Final thoughts and a question -- don't miss the prominent white at the base 
of the bill -- it is totally missing in the Sibley Guide.   And question -- 
what will ultimately be the fate of this bird?  Will it fly  back to Arizona 
eventually?  Will it ever mate?  What is the fate of most of these rogue birds 
that we love to see?

Carolyn Cimino
Waterford


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