Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Birdwatchers gathered once again for the annual spring walk in Central Park Saturday, May 17 — a tradition dating back to 1999 — to observe migratory birds during their seasonal stopover. Leading the event was Chris Cooper, a Uniondale native, avid birder, author, and television host, who has guided the walk since 2005.
“I was with South Shore since I was a kid, and I like to give back — I call it the Elliot Kuttler - Michael Sperling Memorial Walk,” Cooper said. “It’s nice to honor both of these guys with this annual walk.”
The walk honors the memory of two late members of the South Shore Audubon Society. Elliot Kuttler, a World War II veteran and one of the group’s founding members, remained active until his death in 2012 at age 88, according to The New York Times. Michael Sperling, who served as vice president and later president of the society, died unexpectedly in his sleep in 2020 at age 61. Their legacy lives on through this yearly event.
Hosted by the South Shore Audubon Society — a group dedicated to protecting wildlife and promoting environmental education — the walk embodies its mission: to advocate for conservation through responsible activism and research of local bird populations.
The group convened at Belvedere Castle near Shakespeare Garden and trekked through Central Park’s prime breeding grounds for roughly three hours. The best time for birdwatching, Cooper explained, is before noon.
The most common bird species saw during the walk was the cedar waxwing this year. There are over 400 bird species that migrate through New York City in the spring.
Throughout the walk, Cooper pointed out birds darting from branch to branch, offering insights into their behaviors and unique traits. At times, he guided attendees to a specific tree and branch to help them locate the birds through their binoculars.
But birdwatching takes patience. Birds don’t always cooperate, flitting from one perch to another. Cooper shared a moment when a group member thought they had spotted a Kentucky Warbler. He waited nearly 45 minutes, hoping for the bird to reappear. It never did — but the possibility kept the group engaged.
There are more than 11,000 bird species across the globe, and Cooper seems to know just about all of them. He pointed out that many birds have distinct calls, including the Tennessee Warbler.
According to Cornell Lab’s All About Birds, a public database on North American species, the Tennessee Warbler sings a three-part tune, “a rapid succession of high chips that accelerates toward the end: ticka ticka ticka ticka swit swit swit swit sisisisisisisi.” Cooper noted that one of its chirps can even sound like a machine gun.
He also explained how closely related species can be identified by their behavior. For example, the Black-and-white Warbler and the Blackpoll Warbler may look alike, but they behave differently. The black-and-white resembles a woodpecker in its movement and has zebra-like striping. The Blackpoll, on the other hand, moves more sluggishly.
“I think everyone in South Shore looks forward to this,” said Todd Green assistant professor in the Anatomy department at New York Tech, a director of South Shore. “I also think we picked up a couple of remoras — fish that attach itself to another fish — in the group.”
More than a dozen people attended the walk, many equipped with binoculars, cameras, and apps like eBird — a global database where users can log their bird sightings and track species by region.
“If you go on the map, you can look and say, ‘Oh, there’s a Canada Warbler that was seen here today, I’m going to go over there and try to see it,’” Todd said.
He recalled a report from 2024 of a wild flamingo spotted near East Hampton — believed to be the first flamingo sighting in New York State. “There would be swaths of birds that would show up and people will be like — are you on it? Are you on it?”
Spring migration along the Atlantic Flyway brings thousands of birds through New York City. Cooper explained that as the birds soar overhead, they search for greenery — and Central Park, that “Emerald rectangle” between 79th and 85th Street, stands out.
“They’ve got no place to go,” Cooper said. “They’re like — Ah! Here!” he added, referencing the park’s welcoming habitat.
Migration patterns change with the seasons. In spring, birds head north toward breeding grounds, often coming from as far as Costa Rica. It’s why birding peaks this time of year — sightings can include species rarely seen in the U.S.
Still, nothing is guaranteed. Timing and location are everything. For the best chances, Cooper suggests arriving at dawn.
“There are more appropriate breeding grounds because there is more access to food — the rainforest is kind of tapped out,” Cooper said. “There are so many animals there that they get the first resources.”
Due to wind patterns, some rare birds skip Long Island entirely, bypassing the area on their journey north.
But for those lucky enough to catch a glimpse — or just spend a quiet morning in nature — the spring migration walk remains a cherished ritual.
