Discover Riverdale: A birdwatcher's paradise by the Hudson River

I’ve just been really fortunate to see this family of hawks growing and be able to capture it on film.”

Michael Rubinstein

As Billie Holiday once sang, “The bird with feathers of blue/is waiting for you/ back in your own backyard.” With any luck, if you look in yours, you may see one of more than 300 bird species native to the Bronx. 

According to urban naturalist and environmental educator Gabriel Willow, Riverdale is an ideal location for bird watching, thanks to its proximity to the Hudson River. This unique position allows for sightings of both freshwater birds on the lake and saltwater seabirds flying up the river.

Bald eagles, in particular, seem to favor Riverdale and Inwood, often seen near Spuyten Duyvil train station hunting fish from the river. The area’s lush patchwork of natural landscapes — parks, forests and the Hudson — draws in a diverse range of bird species, making it a prime spot for bird enthusiasts. 

Willow leads a monthly birding walk through Riverdale’s Wave Hill gardens along the Hudson River, where it is common to spot birds like warblers, sparrows, red-tailed hawks, eagles and various waterfowl.

On one such tour, though, he spotted a rare fly catcher on a bush, far out of its normal range — a species native to the southern United States and never before seen in New York. While that tour may have witnessed history, Willow said he finds it just as thrilling to see a rare bird as it is to see a common bird behaving in a new way.

Unlike observing domesticated pets, Willow pointed out, which have adapted over centuries to human environments, watching birds allows you to witness living things in their full freedom and natural behavior.

For some, this can be a meditative experience: “It takes you out of yourself,” Willow said, “It kind of captivates multiple senses because they’re beautiful to look at but also beautiful to listen to.”

Bird watching is one of the most popular activities among Americans, with 60 to 100 million participants. As an accessible hobby that requires minimal equipment, it appeals to people of all income levels. A good pair of binoculars, which usually cost around $25, is all you need to fully enjoy the pastime, Willow suggested. If you own a smartphone, you can download a field guide app as well as the Merlin app, which can identify bird calls. 

Since last summer, Michael Rubinstein, a retired veterinarian and clinical director of the Humane Society of New York, has been photographing a family of hawks from his apartment terrace near the Harlem River Canal. Over this period, he has witnessed the hawks building their nest, laying eggs, the eggs hatching, the father hawk disappearing, the mother returning with a new mate, the mother feeding the chicks, the chicks growing and eventually leaving the nest.

“That’s all been fascinating for me.” Rubinstein said. 

He has regularly posted updates on a Riverdale Facebook page, where the hawk family has captured the community’s imagination. Many have reached out to Rubinstein with positive messages, expressing interest in the latest developments or saying they show the photos to their children.

Rubinstein had not been particularly involved with birdwatching or photography before he noticed the mother hawk in flight while sitting on the terrace with his wife. When the hawks returned to their nest this spring, Rubinstein decided it was time for a better camera. Since then, he has branched out to photographing other local birds like herons and egrets, as well as puffins on a recent trip to Iceland.

As for why hawks are his main photographic muse, Rubinstein credits their majestic presence, striking colors and the elegance of their flight.

Rubinstein said everyone who lives in the greater Spuyten Duyvil area is well-acquainted with the hawks’ presence — they fly over kids playing soccer, they perch on the lights of the baseball field. However, he encourages
people to pay closer attention and take pictures when they can. 

“It’s one thing to just admire, and it’s another thing to be able to document.” he said. “I’ve just been really fortunate to see this family of hawks growing and be able to capture it on film. ”