Rare Bird Sighting Continues To Draw Crowds To LI Woman's Bird Feeder

FLANDERS, NY – A bird rare to the Northeast that found its unlikely way to Flanders continued to spark a flurry Monday — as scores of awestruck ornithophiles lined up near one woman's bird feeder for a glimpse of the blue beauty.

Meigan Madden Rocco said on Monday, about 150 more people came from as far as Buffalo; they began lining up at about 7 a.m.

"These are the most patient people I have ever met!" she said. "Some wait for over an hour to see him. Thankfully, he always makes an appearance! It's quite stressful hoping he shows up for everyone!"

The bird had been coming to her house for a few days, Rocco said. "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 550 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, lazulibuntingpics@gmail.com, and asked visitors to share photos.

On Monday, Rocco said the feathered celebrity was not ready to give up his 15 minutes of fame — or his buffet at her feeder. "He was here, back and forth all day, every hour or so. More frequent in the morning," she said.