Staten Island’s Bird Fair Spots in Greenbelt

Greenbelt chirped last night with Staten Island’s Bird Fair, scoping NYC’s spring trails at dusk. Birder Jay Patel showed scopes as 200 gawked, a $10 ticket fest of wings. It’s borough feathers—pure SI vibe, bins hot. A kid spied a sparrow; a pro logged a hawk. ‘Staten flies—this is it,’ Patel says, pointing nests. The woods turned aviary.

The fair’s fresh—March 31’s start, it tripled since RSVPs, packing paths by 3 p.m. Patel’s a St. George watcher; last night’s crowd hit max—twigs snapped. A latecomer nabbed a scope; dusk glowed—NYC grit shone. Counts hit 25—birds ruled. #SIBirdFair trended; Bronx wants a wing.

Some griped—’Too buggy,’ sniped a newbie, dodging bites. Mud slipped—boots held; peace held. A rival’s pitching a Tottenville watch, splitting bins. Still, 300 stayed—flocks reigned. Greenbelt’s never spotted so bold.

Patel’s teasing a monthly run, maybe a dawn if spring bites. ‘NYC’s sky—this tracks it,’ he says, packing logs. The fair’s a Staten win—grit meets flight. It’s a bird rush; catch the next. Bring bins—feathers call.