New York Pelagics

From a notes sent to NYSBIRDS-L listserv on Sun, 27 Jun 1999 by Angus Wilson (wilsoa02@endeavor.med.nyu.edu)

Pelagic Birds in New York

Although New York (i.e. Long Island) has an extensive coastline, we are buffered by an extensive continental shelf of relatively shallow water which limits the number of pelagic species regularly found within sight of shore. Prior to the near-complete destruction of the fish stocks, seabirds seem to have been more abundant on the shelf, especially during the winter when exciting birds such as Great Skua scavanged around the processing ships.

That being said, four species of shearwater and Wilson's Storm-petrel are regularly seen by Long Island birders during the summer particularly during weather disturbances. Good watch points are off the Fire Island Inlet, Shinnecock Inlet, Mecox/Sagapponnack shore and Montauk Point. Two weeks ago (Jun 1999), onshore winds and dense fog conditions, at least 2 Arctic Terns, several Manx Shearwaters, more than 10 Parastic Jaegers and 50-60 Wilson's Storm-petrels were logged by shore-based observers. Later during Hurricane Season, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Long-tailed Jaeger and Audubon's Shearwater are sometimes recorded from these locations.

At present there are few ideal opportunities for pelagic birding in New York waters. In recent years, John Askildsen (Bedford Audubon) organized a number of trips to the deep water canyons (Hudson or Block Canyons), but I understand that he found it hard work to drum up enough enthusiasm to cover the significant cost of the boat. Thus the Viking Fleet whale watch (Tel: 516-668-5700) or hitching a ride on a fishing trip remain the only options for getting out to sea. Armas Hill (Focus on Nature Tours) runs trips from Bielle NJ to the Hudson Canyon. Unfortunately, it is a long slog over shallow water to the canyon wall, indeed so far that he cannot guarantee making it into New York waters!

Details of the world's very best pelagic birding (North Carolina, California, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand etc), including many web links, can be found on Ocean Wanderers.

This page was last updated on 10 November 1999.