late January, however, the bird
was finally identified. It was
a Scott’s oriole—a bird of the
southwest, never before recorded
in New York, not usually found
any closer than western Texas.
Birders from surrounding states
poured in by car and by cab,
New Yorkers rode there on
the subway, and thousands of
observers got to enjoy this distinguished visitor.
Between its initial sighting
and its rise to fame, the Scott’s
oriole had been surviving on
its own. Once its identity was
revealed, visiting birders started
bringing it orange halves, melon
slices, and other delicacies. But
by then the oriole had complete-
ly adapted to its surroundings. It
became fearless of humans, just
like the pigeons in the park. It
stared down starlings and chased
away sparrows that tried to move
in on its choice morsels. The
oriole stayed in Union Square
Park into April before leaving
