General Lab Information

Birds

A total of well over 200 species of birds have been identified at Brookhaven Lab since 1948; at least 85 species are known to nest on site. Some of these nesting birds have shown declines in their populations nationwide over the past 30 years. The Laboratory conducts routine monitoring of songbirds along seven permanent bird survey routes in various habitats on site.

A total of 139 bird species have been identified in surveys since the year 2000. Variations in the number and species identified during each survey may reflect the time of observation, variations in weather patterns between years, and possible changes in the environment.

The eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) has been identified as a declining species of migratory birds in North America. This is due to loss of habitat and nest site competition from European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Brookhaven’s Natural Resource Management program includes habitat enhancement for the eastern bluebird. Since 2000, the Laboratory has installed and maintained nest boxes around open grassland areas and the Long Island Solar Farm to enhance their population.

Migratory birds occasionally cause safety and health concerns, particularly Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and several species of migratory birds that occasionally nest on buildings or in construction areas on site. Over the past several years, the resident Canada goose population at BNL began increasing, with the potential to reach large enough numbers that could result in health and safety issues. In 2007, under a permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Laboratory began managing the resident goose population by oiling their eggs which prevents them from hatching. We have had some success limiting the growth of the goose population using this method, however, the population increased significantly in 2020-2021 and calls for management increased. In response, a cull was conducted in 2021, removing 80 geese from the site, and 40 pounds of meat was donated to a local food pantry.

Other methods to reduce on-site goose populations include the use of dogs as deterrents. In 2025 a local company was contracting to have their specially-trained dogs chase the geese out of the area and condition them to think that the site is not safe. The resident population has clearly been reduced as a result of these efforts, however, over time the geese will return so this must be done regularly.

Birds NY State Threatened, Endangered, of Special Concern, or of Greatest Conservation Need (nesting, transient, or potentially present)

Common Name Scientific Name Status
American kestrel Falco sparverius SGCN
American woodcock Scolopax minor SGCN
Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus SGCN
Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax SGCN
Blue-winged warbler Vermivora cyanoptera SGCN
Brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum SGCN
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor SGCN
Cooper's hawk Accipiter cooperii SC
Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus SGCN
Great egret Ardea alba SGCN
Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca SGCN
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus SGCN
Osprey Circus cyaneus T
Northern harrier Pandion haliaetus SC
Prairie warbler Dendroica discolor SGCN
Red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus SC
Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea SGCN
Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus SC
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus SC
Wood thrush Hylocichla mustelina SGCN
Worm-eating warbler Helmitheros vermivorum SGCN

Natural Resource Management Plan

Brookhaven National Laboratory manages the local ecosystems using the Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) as a basis. The NRMP establishes "adaptive management" as the method for continual improvement within the Natural Resources program. Key features of the plan focus on the use of prescribed fire with an associated Fire Management Plan; protection and management of endangered species, most notably the eastern tiger salamander (a New York endangered species); and gaining a better understanding of the local ecosystems through research and monitoring

View the NRMP

Bluebird boxes are also used by other birds like this Tree Swallow.

Sitewide bird observations conducted in May, June, August, and September of 1994 at BNL were used to calculate habitat-specific diversity and to compare diversity and species richness between habitats. The results of each 1000-ft and 5000-ft upland transect were pooled, the results of the six 1000-ft wetland transacts were pooled; and the results from upland transacts were discarded as no spring (May) observations were made because this habitat was added after the May survey.

Nest Box Use by Other Species

Bluebird boxes are used by several other species of birds including tree swallows (see photo), house wren, black-capped chickadee, and house sparrows. The size of the entry hole limits the use to birds that are of similar size compared to bluebirds.

Nest Box Nesting Success

As mentioned above BNL has 46 boxes established around suitable habitat located on Lab property. Individual box use may be variable from year to year, but nesting success has been consistent over the past two years with 19 successful bluebird nests. The table below presents the nesting success for 2001 through 2004.

Box # 2001 # of nests 2002 # of nests 2003 # of nests 2004 # of nests
1 Empty   Empty   House Wren 1 Few Grasses  
2 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1
3 Bluebird 2 Empty   House Wren   Few Grasses  
4 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 House Wren   House Wren 1
4         Bluebird 1    
5 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird  
6 House Wren   House Wren 1 House Wren   House Wren  
7 Empty 1 House Wren   House Wren   House Wren  
8 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 2 Empty   Bluebird 1
9 Few Grasses   House Wren   Empty   House Wren 1
10 House Wren   Bluebird 1 Empty   Bluebird 1
10             House Wren 1
11 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Empty   House Wren  
12 Moss   Chickadee 1 Mushroom   Empty  
12A             Mushrooms  
13 Empty   Empty   Empty   Empty  
14 House Wren 1 Chickadee 1 Empty   House Wren  
14 Bluebird 1            
15 House Wren 1 House Wren 1 House Wren   Few Grasses  
16 House Wren 1 House Wren   Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1
16 Bluebird 1         House Wren 1
17 Empty   Bluebird 1 House Wren   House Wren  
18 Empty   Wasps   Empty   Bluebird 1
19 Empty   Tree Swallow 1 Bluebird 1 Empty  
20 Empty   Bluebird 1 House Wren   Twigs  
21 House Wren 1 Tree Swallow 1 House Wren   Bluebird 2
21         Bluebird 1    
22 House Wren   House Wren   House Wren 2 New Box  
22         Bluebird 1    
23 Bluebird 2 Bluebird 1 Missing Box   Bluebird 1
24 House Wren 1 Bluebird 2 Tree Swallow 1 Tree Swallow 1
24 Bluebird 1     Bluebird 1 Tree Swallow 1
25 House Wren 1 Tree Swallow 1 Tree Swallow 1 Tree Swallow 1
25 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 2    
26 House Wren   Empty   Bluebird 1 Tree Swallow 1
27 Few Grasses   House Wren 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 House Wren 1
28 Empty   Wasps   Wasps   Yellow Jackets  
29 Empty   House Wren 1 Bluebird 1 Tree Swallow 1
30 Bluebird 1 Tree Swallow 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 2
31 Bluebird 1 Empty   Empty   House Wren 1
32 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 2 Bluebird 2 Bluebird 2
32     Tree Swallow 1 Empty      
33 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Tree Swallow 1 House Wren  
33         Bluebird 1    
33A     Bluebird 1        
34 Tree Swallow 1 House Wren 1 House Wren   Empty  
34         Tree Swallow 1    
35 Bluebird 2 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird 2
36 House Wren   Bluebird 1 House Wren 1 Bluebird 2
36     Tree Swallow 1        
37     Wasps   Empty   Bluebird 1
38     Empty   Bluebird 1 Empty  
39     Empty   House Wren   Bluebird 2
40     House Wren   House Wren   Bluebird 2
40         Bluebird 1    
41     House Wren   Empty   Bluebird  
42     Empty   Bluebird 1 Few Grasses  
43     Few Grasses   Tree Swallow 1 Chickadee  
44     Empty   Tufted Titmouse 1 Bluebird 1
45     House Wren 1 Bluebird 1 Bluebird  
46             Tree Swallow 1

This species was introduced in areas adjacent to the Laboratory in 1996. Since then, significant migration of wild turkeys on to the BNL site has occurred. Monitoring this population on-site helps assess the success of this introduction. The wild turkey live in oak woodlands and pine-oak forests at BNL.

Description

The male is 48"(122cm); and the female 36"(91cm). They have brown feathers with iridescent bronze sheen and feathers barred with black; head and neck naked, with bluish and reddish wattles; trail fan-shaped, with chestnut or buff tail tips. The male has spurs and a long "beard" on its breast. The female is smaller, lacks spurs, and usually lacks a "beard". Females lay 8-15 buff-colored eggs, spotted with brown, in a shallow depression lined with grass and leaves.

References

1. 1994; National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Eastern Region)

The wild turkey begins displaying as seen in the above photos in the early spring. Mating occurs in April and May.

Turkeys are ground nesters and place nests in areas with good vegetative cover, at the base of trees, or where camouflage is good. The hens lay between one and two dozen eggs, which hatch between mid-June to early-July.

The hens stay with the polts through the fall when they begin to group up into flocks for the winter months. At BNL the largest winter flock seen has been over 100 birds. In most cases flocks are between 10 and 30 birds but larger flocks can be occur.