FLANDERS, NY – A bird rare in the Northeast that found its unlikely way to Flanders continued to spark a stir Monday – as dozens of impressed birders lined up near a woman's bird feeder to catch a glimpse of the blue beauty.
Meigan Madden Rocco said on Monday, about 150 more people came from Buffalo. they started lining up at about 7am
“These are the most patient people I have ever met!” he said. “Some people wait over an hour to see him. Luckily, he always shows up! It's so stressful hoping he'll show up for everyone!”
The bird had come to her house for a few days, Rocco said. “I knew he was special, so I contacted a friend who worked as a wildlife coordinator for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and sent her the photo. He told me it looked like a Lazuli Bunting — but the location didn't make sense, since it's a species native to the West Coast and Mexico.”
According to the Audubon Society, blue-rumped birds are commonly found in California, the Northwest, the Plains, the Rockies, the Southeast, Southwest, Texas, and Western Canada. The Cornell Lab said they migrate at night to southeastern Arizona and Mexico.
“After checking with her former colleagues, they confirmed it was Lazuli Bunting,” he said.
The sighting was reported to the North American Rare Bird Alert database, Rocco said. “Everybody found out like that and started texting me, asking permission to come and see the bird,” Rocco said. “Apparently, he's only been seen one other time in New York, in 1998. So our little bird is a big deal.”
Of the experience, he said, “It's really cool. We've had visitors from Connecticut and upstate New York.”
She laughed. “It's crazy! Our bird has paparazzi! It's so beautiful.”
So far, about 550 people have traveled to see and photograph the bird. “This will be only the second known appearance of one in New York — and it chose our feeder,” Rocco said. “Visitors have literally cried, prayed and sent thanks. They are very kind people.”
Many, Rocco said, are asking where they can send donations in exchange for a “once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience. We have donations going to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, and we hope it's a good day for them, too.”
Rocco added: “These birds are native to the West Coast and Mexico — but this guy found his way to Flanders and is very happy.”
He added: “It was like TV yesterday – we were watching people watching the bird all day.”
Rocco created a new email, lazulibuntingpics@gmail.com, and asked visitors to share photos.
On Monday, Rocco said the feathered celebrity wasn't ready to give up his 15 minutes of fame — or his buffet at her feeder. “He was here, back and forth all day, every hour or so. More often in the morning,” he said.
