I have been to several landfills over the years to see rare birds. Most
recently, in May 2020 (I believe) a beautiful male Blue Grosbeak showed up
at Seneca Meadows Landfill in Waterloo. At the time, I was working at
Montezuma Audubon Center, and someone sent us a message reporting they
thought their husband, who worked there, saw a Blue Grosbeak at the
landfill. They reported this bird was repeatedly flying at its reflection
in the chrome stacks of the heavy equipment and side mirrors on vehicles. I
was skeptical, but reached out to Seneca Meadows to see if I could come
take a peek. They were thrilled (this was "good" press for the landfill)
and invited me to come check it out. Once I verified it was in fact a Blue
Grosbeak and not an Indigo Bunting or an Eastern Bluebird, I shared the
sighting far and wide and I know many people got to go and see it too. It
was a beautiful male who was singing and hung out for a few weeks if I
remember correctly.
Hantavirus has never been a concern of mine as a birdwatcher, but perhaps
it should be something I'm aware of as well as other epizootic illnesses
that could come from being in close proximity to birds and their habitats
(natural or otherwise).
