FLANDERS, NY – A bird rare in the Northeast has found its way to Flanders – and ruffled quite a few feathers, as dozens of amazed birders have embarked on a pilgrimage to the East End to catch a glimpse of the blue beauty.
Meigan Madden Rocco said the bird had been coming to her house for a few days. “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 400 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 burst into tears, 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.
