Bird Survey of Phillips Park, Newark, DE Records 97 Species in One Year

Jan. 20, 2011 - PRLog -- A year-long bird survey of Phillips Park in Newark, Delaware, has concluded this week.  The survey was led and organized by Alex Zorach, and conducted with the help of other volunteer birders in Newark.  The survey recorded a total of 97 bird species.

All of the data from the survey have been entered into eBird, an online database of bird observations, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.  The data from the survey are available, together with all other data from Phillips Park, on eBird's website.

The data show clear patterns of occurrence throughout the year, enough to identify which birds are year-round residents, summer breeders, wintering birds, or only migrants.  The survey turned up a few out-of-range and out-of-season birds, including a slightly late Ruby-throated hummingbird, in the first week of october, a very late American redstart, in the third week of November, and several observations of black-capped chickadees, south of their usual range limits.  Also, one of the now threatened or vulnerable species, the rusty blackbird, was seen in the park.

The survey also uncovered a number of environmental issues and concerns in Phillips park.  On some days, sewage or oil was found in a stream running through the park.  The park also has a problem with littering, both from trash dropped by people in the park and litter blowing in from surrounding areas.  The city of Newark also uses roundup, an herbicide known to be highly toxic to amphibians, in the park.

Full Article: http://zorach.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/completion-of-my-1...

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