Spring Migration Brings Birds Flocking To NYC: Where To Watch

NEW YORK – The birds of summer are flocking back to New York City in their millions.

Spring migration is nearing its peak. Within the next couple of weeks, waves of birds will be winging in from the south, returning to their breeding grounds in city parks, stopping off on their way further north or - most tantalizing for the hordes of city birdwatchers – blown off course.

The city, surprisingly for some, is an ornithology hotspot at this time of year. The Atlantic Flyway – a kind of bird highway in the sky – carries hundreds of thousands of migrants over NYC.

And the city's greenspaces are tempting places for them to take a break.

April and May is the height for new arrivals and stopovers, actively feeding and beginning their mating rituals. The usually slow, unvaried birdwatching of the winter months – with some exceptions such as this year's Central Park Snowy Owl sightings or the Western Tanager that was seen in Manhattan – suddenly bursts with life.

Twitter feeds and special websites alert birdwatchers to what's being seen and where. Others actually map the migration.

Central Park is known as a bird trap, with more than 280 species being seen there since its creation.

But there are other havens for birds and their watchers in all five boroughs.

Here are some of New York City's best birding spots to head to this spring, identified by the NYC Audubon:

• Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park
• Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center
• Manhattan: Central Park, Inwood Hill Park
• Queens: Forest Park, Jamaica Bay
• Staten Island: Clove Lakes Park, Great Kills Park (and the Staten Island Greenbelt)

NYC Audubon offers guided walks, trips and classes aimed at introducing people to birdwatching. Many are free. Find the list here. It also has a Birding by Subway brochure that gives information of how to get to the city's best birdwatching spots using public transport.