Winter Bird Walk Records Over 22 Species

By Mel Julien, Community Engagement Director at NYC Plover Project

On a mild winter morning in January, thirty local residents gathered to explore the scenic shorelines of Arverne, Edgemere, and the Arverne East Nature Preserve. Led by wildlife specialist and nature photographer Benjamin Forbes, the group kicked off the year’s first Community Bird Walk. This seasonal program, a collaborative effort sponsored by RISE and the NYC Plover Project, offers attendees a unique opportunity to connect with the peninsula’s diverse winter ecosystem.

The two-hour excursion proved incredibly fruitful, with the group identifying more than 22 distinct species. While many associate birdwatching with the spring, the Rockaway winter serves as a vital sanctuary for various waterfowl and raptors. Participants observed sanderlings, buffleheads, horned grebes, goldeneyes, black eiders, and a vast number of black scoters bobbing among the waves, while northern gannets could be seen patrolling the distant horizon.

As the group moved inland toward the nature preserve’s brush and trees, they were treated to sightings of a peregrine falcon, northern flicker, northern cardinal, yellow-rumped warbler, and a yellow-bellied sapsucker. The morning reached a peak with a possible sighting of an orange-crowned warbler—a rare treat, as the species is seldom spotted during New York’s colder months. It was a poignant reminder for the local community that even in the quiet of winter, the Rockaway shoreline is teeming with life.

The Community Bird Walk series is a free, seasonal public program, led in partnership by RISE and NYC Plover Project. Our next bird walk will be on Saturday, April 4 for spring migration. Follow NYC Plover Project and RISE via their websites, nycploverproject.org and riserockaway.org, newsletters, and social media for more information on upcoming events and other community programming.

Photo credit: Mel Julien