*** 2012 version available online only! ***

The authoritative source on local birdlife, The Birds of Dutchess County, New York documents Current Status and History since 1870 for all 312 bird species which have occurred in the county. Each species account includes historical distribution, migration dates, nesting dates, flock sizes, and much more. Local birders will recognize many old friends (both feathered and human) and will learn about the role of the county's history in the ever-changing tapestry of birdlife and birding in the area.

The authors, long-standing members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, have spent the last five years meticulously researching the extensive records maintained by the club as well as many older documents not readily available.  The result of their work is a comprehensive reference that every serious birder in the region will turn to often.

Financial support was provided through a grant from the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute.

Published September 2006 (now out of print)
284 pages, hard cover
ISBN 978-0-9635190-2-3                     
Price:  $25.00 

The online version is essentially the same as the published book but will be updated on an ongoing basis to maintain its value as a reference. In the initial online edition now posted, a few errors in spelling and formatting have been corrected and some minor updates have been made. However the Bibliography has been updated with a number of new finds - some published works, more old photographs from Horton, and notes on local skin and egg specimens found in various museums. Three images were added in Part 2.

The online version is in three parts:

• Part 1 – Foreword, Preface, People and Places Named, and Bibliography (1.7MB)
• Part 2 – History, Nature of the Land, and Bird Changes, each for Dutchess County (1.2MB)
• Part 3 – Annotated List of the Birds of Dutchess County (1.4MB) 2012 version - posted 9/9/12

The above files are in pdf format and require Adobe Reader.....Download Adobe Reader

SEARCHING THE DIGITAL FILES: Since they are pdf files, it is very easy to search the text for specific words: Click on Part 1, 2, or 3 above to open one of the files. Once the file is displayed, enter the word(s) you want to search for in the "Find" field near the top of the window. You can also press Ctrl-F and then enter the word(s).

During 2011 we expect to incorporate six years of AOU name and sequence changes, add the Tufted Duck seen in 2009; remove Barnacle Goose, Nelson’s Sparrow, and Chestnut-collared Longspur from exotic / hypothetical status; and probably add new sightings of birds which are of casual or accidental occurrence.

Beginning in 2012 we will update the text for earlier and later sightings and other similar text changes.

None of these changes constitute a second edition which, if ever undertaken, would be more extensive.

The Changing Status of Dutchess County Birds (updated 9/9/12)
Since the Birds of Dutchess County was published in 2006, many new sightings have been reported resulting in status changes for a number of species. Changes since that time are incorporated in our updated online version of the book (as of August 2012). These changes are generally first county sightings, confirmed sightings from Hypothetical, or sufficient sightings to be termed “regular.” Regular generally means more than ten accepted records since 1950 thus expected to be seen again. Species only recorded once or twice are usually termed Accidental. Species not reported for many years, generally last recorded well before 1950, are moved to a category of Historical.

Species names and taxonomic order have been updated in the online version to conform to the 53rd (2012) supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) Check-list of North American Birds.

Rare Sightings Reported to NYSARC

For the text of NYSARC (New York State Avian Records Committee) reports see the NYSOA (New York State Ornithological Association) website's NYSARC section.