©Christopher J. McKenzie
January 22, 2016
Pay Attention, Look Up!
- as seen by -
Christopher J. McKenzie
New York City’s Central Park is teeming with birds, particularly during the spring and fall migrations. It is an essential destination for birdwatchers in the U.S. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1850’s, the 843-acre park is an urban oasis, with ponds and streams, meadows, dense vegetation, trees, and other features that make it attractive to birds.
Among the park’s many visitors, there is a small group of people who come because they know the birds are there. Birdwatchers walk quietly, carry binoculars, and have their heads turned intently to the trees. Their attentiveness often is rewarded.
One afternoon, heading home after a morning of birding in the park, I stopped to scan the branches of some tall trees, and discovered this majestic Cooper’s hawk perched on a limb. Hundreds of people had walked beneath this bird that day, unaware of his presence.
Pay attention, look up! Even in a large city, there are opportunities to observe wild nature.
Lumix LX-3, Leica Televid Spotting Scope
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