Pelham Bay Park, located in the Bronx, New York City, is a prime birdwatching destination with diverse habitats, including forests, marshes, and shorelines. Some of the bird species found there include:
Year-Round Residents:
- Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
- Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
- Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
- American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
- Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
- Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
- White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Waterbirds & Shorebirds:
- Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
- Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – seasonal
- Brant (Branta bernicla) – winter
- Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Warblers & Migrants (Spring/Fall):
- Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
- Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
- American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
- Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
- Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Raptors:
- Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – occasional sightings
Winter Visitors:
- Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
- American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
- Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Pelham Bay Park is part of the Atlantic Flyway, making it an excellent spot for migratory birds. The Kazimiroff Nature Trail and Hunter Island are particularly good for birding. For the latest sightings, check platforms like eBird or local birding groups like NYC Audubon.
Here are some options to generate images of birds if you cannot physically visit.
1. Free & Public Domain Image Sources:
- Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org) – Many bird species have high-res photos available under public domain or Creative Commons licenses.
- Macaulay Library (https://search.macaulaylibrary.org) – Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s database with bird photos and sounds.
- Flickr (Creative Commons) (https://www.flickr.com) – Filter for CC-licensed images.
- US Fish & Wildlife Service (https://fws.gov) – Public domain wildlife images.
2. Paid Stock Photos (High Quality):
- Shutterstock (https://www.shutterstock.com)
- Adobe Stock (https://stock.adobe.com)
- iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org) – Some photographers allow use with credit.
3. AI-Generated Bird Images (If You Want Illustrations):
- DALL·E 3 (via ChatGPT Plus or Bing Image Creator) – Can generate bird illustrations.
- MidJourney – Good for artistic bird depictions.
4. Book Design Tips:
- Ensure images are high-resolution (300 DPI+) for print.
- Check licensing (CC0, CC-BY, or purchase rights).
- Cite sources if required by the license.
Dear friends:
Sometimes, the city speaks not through its noise…
But through its silence.
Today, we invite you to step to the edge of the East River,
trailing softly through the dense woodlandsof Pelham Bay Park.
Here, the water doesn’t crash—it ripples,
lapping gently against stone,
Sending murmuring notes into the wind—
as if strummed from the reeds of a guitar.
As you walk these scenic trails,
feel the rhythm beneath your feet.
Let nature guide you—through forests, to the shore—
to rest, to reconnect, to simply be.
Founded in 1888, Pelham Bay Park is more than a park.
At 2,772 acres, it’s the largest in all of New York City—
larger even than Central Park in Manhattan,
which rests at 843 acres.
But here—here, nature hums a different song.
One that rises from the heart,
like a timeless poem, carried on the wings of doves.
And today, we’re sharing a little of that song with you—
because some sounds aren’t meant to be kept…
they’re meant to be felt.
Welcome, and enjoy the natural sounds in Pelham Bay Park, located by the East River.