[Last update June 2014]
While exploring the parks of Grand Island I saw many different kinds of birds. Having photographed many birds around my homes in other cities, I wondered how many different species there are here. Thus began the quest to document as many as possible. So far, I have managed to get pictures of about 120 different species, almost taken on Grand Island (considering Buckhorn and Beaver Island State Parks as part of Grand Island), with the green heron picture taken on nearby Strawberry Island.
Many of these birds can be seen just driving around the Island, or just by looking up at Vetrans' Park during the ball games. For as many birds as I've seen here, there are still more to find -- if I believe the ranges shown in The Sibley Guide to Birds. There are a few I have seen but have yet to get an identifible picture -- the northern mockingbird specifically.
Winter birdirding is excellent here on the migration routes, but can be challenging due to cold-weather digital photography and general lack of going outside as much.
The order that I've chosen to arrange the pictures reflects the order in which they appear in Sibley's. This reference is also is my main source to identify species. The best part of this book is that pictures of the different life stages are shown, and comparisons to similar birds are made.
Many of these photos are of a rather low quality. My primary goal is identification and secondary is getting a really nice shot. This certainly keeps me out there in the woods and on the shores, always looking for the next fantastic shot. Some birds simply do not like being photographed.
Many thanks to all the birders I have met who have given me stories and tips!
Western New York links:
New York Rare Bird Alert
Bird observations by month
