Yes this is a bird blog and this query is somewhat parochial but sometime this summer a bunch of big palm trees showed up at one of Long Island, New York’s premiere birding destinations, the west end of Jones Beach, and an explanation is seriously lacking. Jones Beach is way too far north and they appeared far too rapidly for the palm trees to have come up on their own. Obviously, this is too quick a shift in flora to be because of global warming and the palm trees clearly did not walk themselves north. Rumor has it that a film, perhaps a Men in Black sequel, was being filmed at Jones Beach and the palm trees were needed for that. The film theory makes sense, though it seems like an awful lot of effort to give the illusion of being further south when you consider how many palm trees are in California, where the film industry is based. A final possibility is that they have been planted to make Jimmy Buffet, who played a show at Jones Beach this summer, comfortable.
palm trees at Jones Beach
Perhaps the trees have been planted with the hope of attracting Palm Warblers? Or partridges? Either would be an effort that the birding community could get behind. Whatever the reason it will be interesting to see if the trees are left to die or if they are removed (or if Hurricane Irene removed them).
Why do you think there are palm trees at Jones Beach?
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They plant palms at out-of-range beaches here for the tourists. Apparently people want to see palms if they go to the beach for a holiday.
Not because of partridges, they prefer pear and not palm trees as a perch.
If the palms have walked up North all by themselves, Jackson has included a different kind of Ents into his version of the Hobbit.
The latter is my take on the story.
Those five palm trees were not there a couple of weeks ago and were an utterly bizarre sight this past Saturday, to say the least. My wife thought they were there for filming Boardwalk Empire, the HBO show that does have locations further east on the south shore. This sparked a discussion of whether there ever were palm trees in Atlantic City. Frankly, I don’t know, but I doubt it. If this is indeed for Boardwalk Empire, maybe they’re shooting a scene based in Florida.
I don’t expect those palm trees to be there into the winter, duh. Who put them there? Who cares for them?
What’s up with those palm trees?
These palms were planted for the filming of the movie Men in Black 3. The Long Island Invasive Species Management Area was concerned that the root balls were supporting invasive plants that might invade Long Island. The plants were destroyed just prior to Hurricane Irene by the parks staff.
The five large palms and a couple of small ones were there yesterday, Sunday 11/13. They were most certainly not destroyed. What else are you telling us that is false? I’m sure the LIIASMA is (or should be) involved, but they don’t tell us anything. Why were these palm trees there to begin with, why are they still there, and when will they be removed for the winter for their own benefit? Just asking — it’s ridiculous to see them there in the first place. Now they are just going to die there — who is responsible?
I saw them this last Sunday and they still seem to be hanging in there. I sure would like to own one before they croak. I had a the idea of allowing them to survive a Jones Beach winter by simply putting a glass greenhouse around them so they get some protection from the cold. It would shield them from the harsh winter winds and maybe they would survive. The green house would need to be custom fit for them and it would cost some money to make one let alone 6. Just a thought.
Well, they’re gone. We were at Jones Beach last weekend and the places they were in are filled in with new dirt. If they didn’t migrate south on their own, someone must know what’s up!
They were trucked south for there own safety. Now look at the light.
There are cold hardy palms that will live and thrive in new york,ie the Chinese windmill palm, google it. It is a cold hardy palm. Also the needle palm which is more cold hardy but smaller. I believe theres a Windmill palm growing at a Mcdonalds in Queens and also some palms that are growing in Canada. I bought a few and planted here in Upstate ny in spring of 2012, along with some cold hardy banana, Musa basjoo, curious to see if they will survive these harsh winter.
there are windmill palms growing at the foot of Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. could not believe it, but as one who has lived in the South (Chattanooga) where there are a number of subtrop and even trops growing, I was pleased. anymoe palms growing on Jones Beach, besides the ones I have cited will cause all good folks to wear fruit on their head snd dance a samba up and down the Jones Beach Causeway
Hi John, can you please tell me exactly where those Windmill Palms on Wellwood Avenue are. I’d love to see them and take pictures. Thanks.
Steve,
head south on Wellwood past Montauk HWY to the Bay. there is a restaraunt that has four of them. however, my brother tells me that they talk them in for the winter. as big as they are, that has to be a royal pain. who knows, maybe they will let them overwinter outside. be advised, don’t know where on the Island you are, so I am trying to save you gas money and time, plus aggravation