Rare Bird Sighting Has Crowd Flocking To LI For A Glimpse

FLANDERS, NY – A bird rare to the Northeast has found its way to Flanders — and ruffled quite a few feathers, as scores of amazed ornithophiles have begun a pilgrimage to the East End for 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 reached out to a friend who worked as a wildlife coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and sent her the photo. She said it looked like a Lazuli Bunting — but the location didn't make sense, since they are a species native to the West Coast and Mexico."

According to the Audubon Society, the birds, which have a sky blue bunting, are usually found in California, the Northwest, the Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, and Western Canada. The Cornell Lab said that they migrate at night to southeastern Arizona and Mexico.

"After checking with her former colleagues, they confirmed it was a Lazuli Bunting," she said.

The sighting was reported to the North American Rare Bird Alert database, Rocco said. "Everyone found out that way and started sending me messages, asking permission to come view the bird," Rocco said. "Apparently, it has only been seen in New York one other time, in 1998. So our little bird is a big deal."

Of the experience, she said: "It's pretty cool. We had visitors from Connecticut and upstate New York."

She laughed. "It's crazy! Our bird has paparazzi! He is so beautiful."

So far, around 400 people have traveled to view and photograph the bird. "This will be only the second known sighting of one in New York — and he chose our feeder," Rocco said. "Visitors have quite literally broken down in tears, prayed, and sent thanks up. They're very kind people."

Many, Rocco said, are asking where they can send donations in exchange for a "once in a lifetime viewing experience. We are having donations directed to 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 quite happy."

She added: "It was like TV yesterday — we were watching people watching the bird all day."

Rocco established a new email, [email protected], and asked visitors to share photos.