NEW YORK (AP) -- Bird enthusiasts flocked to the park on Sunday for the annual Christmas Bird Count organized by the New York chapter of the Audubon Society.
City Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benape said birdwatchers counted 55 species, for a total of just over 6,000 birds. Among the more frequently seen birds were sparrows and pigeons. Some of the more unusual sightings included a wild turkey and a peregrine falcon.
There was no sighting of a partridge in a pear tree.
Last year, at least 7,771 birds were counted living there. The year before, there were about 6,400.
Teams of citizen bird watchers and park rangers are assigned to zones within the park's 843 acres. They identify and count every bird they can find. They then gather to share, analyze and tally their findings.
The Christmas Bird Count has been held annually since 1900.
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