Category: Downy Woodpecker
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An Early Spring Preview of the Birds of Inwood
A burst of spring weather and unseasonably warm days brought a variety of birds to Inwood Hill Park in Northern Manhattan this week. The three days in early March— March 9 through March 11— felt like a gift, especially after a long winter of cold temperatures and abundant snow. Many New Yorkers talked about how…
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The Slow, Cold Start of Birdwatching in 2026
The dawn of the first day of January brought cold, piercing winds and a surprising early morning snow squall. It was the kind of day to stay indoors and drink tea. The first bird I saw that day was the Cooper’s Hawk of Cooper Street, a sighting from my kitchen window. The Cooper’s Hawk is…
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Observing Warblers in Migration Through Moments of Chaos and Clarity
Small migratory birds such as warblers move through the landscape so swiftly and unpredictably that observing them can feel at times chaotic and overwhelming. Since the beginning of September, a few nights of high nocturnal migration have brought a flurry of new or returning birds to Inwood Hill Park. Experienced birdwatchers have gathered in the…
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How the Birds of Inwood Stay Warm in the Cold Northern Manhattan Winter
During the recent cold and snowy nights, I was awakened by the sounds of snapping tree limbs falling in the forest down the street. Some of the trees are old and brittle there. I imagined the birds waking up, too, jolted from their feathery dreams to find a new limb in the cold night air. …
Birds of Inwood 