Birdwatchers across the country are going absolutely cuckoo over a once-in-a-lifetime discovery on Long Island. According to the clip posted below, a golfer named Roy William Gardner stumbled upon an extremely rare bird that’s only been documented four times in U.S. history, a species native to Europe that likely got blown off course during migration. A Common Cuckoo.
Gardner told CBS News he was riding between holes in a golf cart when he noticed “an unusual bird going post to post.” Curious, he snapped a few photos and texted them to his nephew — who just happens to be an ornithologist from Cornell and now a bird biologist at UCLA. Within hours, the images spread through birding groups like wildfire, sparking what enthusiasts are calling “one of the biggest bird sightings in recent years.”
@cbsnewyorkThe common cuckoo bird has been spotted only four times in U.S. history in the lower 48 states, experts say. Now, it’s in Riverhead. Hundreds of people have traveled from dozens of states, hoping for a glimpse of the bird that is native to Europe and was blown off course. Reporter Jennifer McLogan spoke to the man who made its discovery.
The clip was shared to the TikTok account for CBS New York, and people in the comments are um, going cuckoo over this sighting. It’s pretty safe to say this rare bird has become an accidental celebrity. As one commenter joked, “He doesn’t even know he’s famous.” Another wrote, “I’m a non-birder and would love to see this bird.” And my personal favorite: “Let’s make birdwatching cool again.”
The rare visitor, believed to be a Common Cuckoo normally inhabits parts of Europe and Asia and almost never makes its way across the Atlantic. Experts think strong winds or weather systems may have carried the bird off course, but whatever the reason, it’s thrilling bird lovers everywhere.
CBS News reports, “Farms and golf courses have been allowing the visitors onto their properties to spot the cuckoo. The local Riverhead Times reported 225 sightings in two days. “
If you’re a lister, time to start looking into flights or driving times!
If you’re a bird fan, check this out
@papa_g_tiktokWatch the whole movie on YT #birdwatching #birder #birding #movie #fyp
As someone who’s been known to stare out the window for way too long watching backyard birds, I totally get it. If you’re interested in birdwatching, one of my favorite movies this year is a documentary called Listers—you can find it for free on YouTube. It follows two brothers who spend an entire year traveling and birdwatching, and it’s amazing. It’ll make you want to grab a pair of binoculars and have your own big year. I haven’t stopped talking about this movie since I saw it!
