Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of March 5th - 6th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Sunday, March 6, 2011
Morning Bird Walk: Gulls Galore
Sunday, March 6, 10 a.m.
Meet the amazing birds of Prospect Park on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!


New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center


Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Prospect Park
Meet 8 am at Grand Army Plaza entrance (Stranahan Statue)
Focus: late winter species, sparrows, raptors, ducks, returning migrants
Trip Leader: Eddie Davis


Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Brooklyn/Queens Gull Workshop [New]
Leader: Shane Blodgett
Registrar: Lenore Swenson (212-533-9567)
Registration opens Monday 2/21. Ride: $15.


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Park
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, March 5, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Page Avenue Beach and Woods
After an examination of the beach geology and the flotsam and jetsam accumulated at the high tide line we will move inland to explore the woodlands above the beach. Besides the wildlife we’ll be looking for old foundations and evidence of human occupation from the past few centuries. Dress sturdily including water-proof footwear and warm clothes.
For more information call Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, March 5, 2011

Van Cortlandt Birding Walks: Eagle Eyes
8:00 a.m.
Human eyesight pales in comparison to that of birds. Before we go for our walk, we'll...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Early Birding at Marine Park
8:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for early morning birding at Marine Park.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Geology of Manhattan
12:00 p.m.
Inwood Hill Park is a fantastic location to study the geology and natural history of...
Location: Inwood Hill Nature Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Orienteering at Forest Park
12:00 p.m.
Learn navigation with a map and compass. You'll never get lost in the woods!...
Location: Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Animal Tracking
10:00 a.m.
Animals leave behind different signs of their whereabouts, from scats to tracks. ...
Location: Albert H. Mauro Playground (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Marine Mammal Watch
11:00 a.m.
The beach may be empty of all its human swimmers, but don't forget about the seals, whales,...
Location: Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk, Brooklyn
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

Unlike most birds, Great Horned Owls begin nesting during the winter. Our Brooklyn pair are now incubating eggs. This is their third try in as many years. The last two attempts ended in failure. Hopefully, three times a charm.

Rare Brooklyn Bird

Last Saturday the city was buffeted by brutal north-west winds. Meteorologists reported 50mph gusts. I foolishly decided to bird along the coast. At times I felt like if I jumped up in the air the wind would carry me away. On Sunday I stayed away from the coast and looked for birds in Prospect Park. The decision paid off as Heydi and I found a rare winter visitor.

On Friday afternoon there had been a pair of male Ring-necked Ducks at the tiny opening in the ice on Prospect Lake, so Heydi and I met there at around 9am. A scan of the rush hour-like crush of waterfowl revealed only the expected species; Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck and American Coot. No Ring-necked Duck. Disappointed, we stood at the edge of the lake contemplating the next location. Then we heard an uncommon flight call of a bird passing overhead. My first thought was that it sounded like an American Pipit, but more trilly and chattery. After a moment, it dawned on me - it was the chittering flight call of a Common Redpoll. Heydi played the sounds off of her iPhone to confirm and it clearly was a redpoll. We really would have liked to have seen the bird, so decided to walk around the park checking likely locations to see if there were any more of these tiny finches with the red cap. Perhaps the previous day's powerful north-west winds had carried some flocks into the five boroughs.

The Common Redpoll is an irruptive species usually only found in the far northern parts of the state. The last time I saw one in Prospect Park was on December 6, 2007. That was the same winter that a juvenile Northern Goshawk was hanging around the park.

Sweetgums and River Birches are good spots to look for these birds. An acrobatic species, they can be found hanging upside down extracting seeds from sweetgum balls or the small cones on the birches. We scanned these trees as we walked along Wellhouse Drive towards the bird feeders on Breeze Hill.

The bird feeders were busy, but only with the expected winter visitors and resident birds; Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow. After about 30 minutes I suggested that we continue our search along the Lullwater. There is a path on the opposite side of the road from the feeders that descends the ridge towards the skating rink then meanders along the edge of the slow moving Lullwater. This winter someone has been putting mixed bird seed along this pathway, which has attracted a nice mix of species.

There were several small flocks of birds feeding along the walkway and we had only gone a few yards when Heydi exclaimed, "There's a redpoll on the ground in front of us!" Sure enough, feeding at one of the little piles of seeds along with Black-capped Chickadee, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow was a single Common Redpoll. I texted Peter, to get the word out, then called Doug, Shane and Rob. Rob lives close to that end of the park and arrived with his wife, Tracy, very quickly. Doug texted me a little bit later to let me know that there was also a redpoll on the bird feeder at his parent's house. They live about 1 mile directly south of the lake in Prospect Park. I wondered out loud if that could have been the bird we heard flying out of the park at 9am.

Throughout the week others began reporting Common Redpoll sightings at Montgomery, New Rochelle, Westchester; on Long Island at Jones Beach, Teddy Roosevelt Nature Center, Hither Hills SP and Montauk; in Brooklyn at Floyd Bennett Field and Plum Beach and at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens. So I guess it has become an irruptive year.

After we looped through the Lullwater, we ran into photographer Peter Boc at the feeders. I told him about the redpoll and he captured some great photos of this tiny bird.

I'm assuming that Merlins are particularly fond of redpolls because we had another interesting sighting in Prospect Park on Sunday. As we were walking across the Nethermead Meadow towards Center Drive I mentioned the "Merlin" perch near the end of the Fallkill Falls path to Heydi. As I've pointed out in past postings, a maple tree at this location is a favorite perch for overwintering Merlins. On Sunday there were actually three of these small falcons perched at that spot, and surprisingly close to each other. I suppose when there is a glut of prey available that these normally aggressive raptors are more tolerant of each other. ...Read more

Brooklyn Winter Blooms

A modest thaw late last week gave me the opportunity to search for some early blooming plants around Brooklyn over the weekend.

I spent a couple of hours at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where I found a couple of the expected species flowering.

Much of the snow cover has melted and I found several hellebore emerging from the now soft ground at the Rock Garden. These early blooming flowers are members of the family ranunculaceae (buttercups).

Nearby was a border of brilliant yellow blooming Witch-hazel. They are one of my favorite cold weather flowering shrubs.

The Midwood forest of Prospect Park is usually the best place to look for Snowdrops, but I found a nice section of these white flowers on the hillside above Nelly's Lawn. I was actually looking for some Siberian Squill, another early bloomer, which can usually be found in that area in late-February.

I was surprised to find these early crocuses emerging among the Snowdrops. It seems a little premature for these Spring wildflowers and I wonder if they will survive the next snowfall.

Another member of the buttercup family, these Winter Aconites are pushing up on a steep, wooded hillside in the Ravine. I've never seen them in other parts of Prospect Park.

...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

International World Water Day 2011 is March 22nd. The event "is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." One small act we in the developed world can do to help combat dwindling resources and mounting waste is to skip our bottled water habit for a day, week or forever:



Check out The Water Project's website for more information.

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of February 26th - 27th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Discover Tour
Every Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m.
Discover the Prospect Park you never knew! Meet birds and other wildlife on this walk, guided by a naturalist.


New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center


Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
Winter Pines of our Local Area
A tour of Prospect Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Greenwood Cemetery and Floyd Bennett Field (if time permits.)
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Winter species usually seen near or within pine habitats.
Car Fee: $10.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh, Email Prosbird [AT] aol.com or TEXT Message 347-622-3559
Registration period: Feb 15th- Feb 24th


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, February 26, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, February 26, 2011, 11am-1pm
Winter Seals and Waterbirds of NY Harbor
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet at South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 and come aboard NY Water Taxi’s eco-friendly vessel for a winter adventure in New York Harbor! Look for harbor seals on the rocky shores of Governor’s Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers, many of which migrate south from the Arctic. See the Statue of Liberty and pass under the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars. Limited to 90. $35 for adults; $25 for children under 12 (no member discount).
To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or click here to register online.


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 26, 2011, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Reed’s Basket Willow
Discover this hidden natural park in Dongan Hills. We’ll visit the three bodies of water in the park and hike through the woodlands. Although none of the willows grown by the Reed family still exist, the woodlands and stream are still home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Meet at the Spring Street entrance in Dongan Hills.
For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Sunday, February 27, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Winter Birding at Mount Loretto
Search the Raritan Bay from atop the bluffs and along the beach for wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Grebes, loons, ducks and geese call the icy waters off Staten Island their southern home for the winter. The birds from northern fields also fly south to Staten Island to spend a chilly winter in the fields of Mount Loretto. Search the grassland for sparrows and hawks. Meet in the parking lot on Hylan Blvd. across from the CYO facility on the grounds of Mount Loretto.
For more information call Howie Fischer at (718) 981-4002.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Van Cortlandt Birding Walks: Bugs Under Bark
8:00 a.m.
As the winter days set in, the search for protein gets harder for birds. If you would like...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Early Birding at Marine Park
8:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for early morning birding at Marine Park.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Evolution of the Field Guide
12:00 p.m.
Take a tour through time as we take a look at how field guides have changed over the...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

The Four Elements of Survival: Part IV
1:00 p.m.
In this four part series, you'll learn about the four basic elements of wilderness...
Location: Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Tree-mendous Trees
2:00 p.m.
Some trees are small; some are tall. Learn how to identify them and see the largest tulip...
Location: Martling Pond (in Clove Lakes Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free

Owl Watch
4:00 p.m.
Winter is a great time of year to observe and enjoy raptors in NYC. Bring your own...
Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

What's in the Park After Dark?
6:00 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what wildlife comes out to play when the people are away? Take a...
Location: Fort Totten Front Gate (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Duck, Duck, Goose
11:00 a.m.
As the weather gets cold, the birding gets hot. Let's see which birds think NYC in...
Location: Parking lot on Baisley Boulevard and 155 Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

The year round range of the Red-shouldered Hawk is primarily south of New York State. Their breeding range includes New York and these birds are being seen overwintering around NYC with increasing frequency. This juvenile bird is one of at least 3 individuals that has been spotted around Brooklyn this winter.

New Shirt Designs

I've just added three new designs to my CafePress store. You can see them in "My Products" tab here or go directly to my CafePress store here. They are simple "brooklyn" logos with a Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon or American Kestrel illustration. Let me know if you'd like to see them added to specific products.

Click image to view detail:

Brooklyn Hawk Release

Late yesterday afternoon Marge and I met wildlife rehabilitators Bobby and Cathy Horvath at Green-Wood Cemetery. They had just come from Manhattan where they released two mended Red-tailed Hawks. In the back of their car they had two more patients who were ready to be discharged. In fact, the two raptors seemed more than ready. They were restless to the point of hostility towards their temporary keepers.

With winds gusting to 40mph yesterday, I decided that the natural windbreak behind the "Hill of Graves" would be a good release site. Bobby had a small male juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, as well as, a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk for release. For reasons that are unclear, the vast majority of the raptors he and Cathy receive over the winter are young males. Cathy theorizes that "boys" tend to get into more trouble without the oversight of their mothers. It sounds feasible (and funny), but there could also be a simpler explanation - there is a higher percentage of male hawks being hatched.

Marge has never had the honor of releasing a rehabbed hawk. When Bobby removed the young red-tailed from the carrier and asked who wanted to take it, I suggested Marge. Some people get a little nervous once they see the raptor's talons closeup. Not Marge. Maybe it is her tough Brooklyn upbringing, but she acted more like someone was handing her a puppy, not an agitated predator with razor-sharp claws. Here is the video of her releasing her first Red-tailed Hawk:



The hawk headed towards a cedar tree and perched near the top. Within minutes Big Mama appeared and flew to a branch at the opposite side of the tree. The young bird took off with the huge, resident Red-tailed Hawk in hot pursuit. We spotted her mate, Junior, a short distance to the north. Their aggression towards the juvenile interloper in their territory seemed strictly symbolic as they never actually engaged in any physical attacks. After a few minutes they left the young red-tailed alone and flew off to the west.

The juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk seemed surprisingly small and delicate. Its bill and feet were noticeably smaller than that of a comparably sized Red-tailed Hawk. In fact, Bobby wasn't able to band this hawk because he didn't have a small enough ring. Injured somewhere in Coney Island, the hawk was picked up by a Russian gentleman. He had kept it locked in his bathroom for two days before a friend convinced him that keeping a wild hawk was not a smart decision. When Bobby received him, he was undernourished and showed signs of head trauma.

Bobby's friend, Peter, would be releasing the red-shouldered and was warned that the angry hawk was a "biter". By the looks of all the fresh wounds on Bobby's hands, he had found out the hard way. Despite his words of caution, Peter decided to hold onto the hawk sans gloves. To make Bobby even more nervous, he feigned kissing the hawk on the bill. Notice at around the 15 second mark in the following video how the hawk jerks forward as if he were trying to bite Peter's hand:



The Red-shouldered Hawk flew up over Ocean Hill where Peter watched him soaring in wide circles as he headed south, towards Coney Island. I just hope he stays safe and far away from Russians with dubious motives. ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

Beginning this week, I will be posting a single, weekly conservation/environmental news story. This week's posting concerns New York City's increased use of solar generated energy.

The following story was posted on CBS Interactive's "SmartPlanet" website:

New York City’s solar power generation doubled in 2010
By David Worthington, Feb 11, 2011

Solar power is beginning to take a bite out of the Big Apple’s energy demands. Installations of photovoltaics have more than doubled over the past year, says New York utility Con Edison.

ConEd customers in New York City and Westchester County, an affluent northern suburb of Manhattan, added 4.5 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid in 2010. 203 solar projects were added to the grid in 2010, up from 134 the previous year.

There is now a total of 8.5 megawatts of photovoltaic-generated electricity on ConEd’s system. The utility is partnering with the City University of New York (CUNY) on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America City program, which was initiated in 2007 to advance the adoption of solar technologies.

Read the entire article here.
...Read more

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of February 19th - 20th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Discover Tour
Every Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m.
Discover the Prospect Park you never knew! Meet birds and other wildlife on this walk, guided by a naturalist.

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, February 19, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 19, 2011, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Hourglass Pond at High Rock
Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot at High Rock. If you come late, follow the Yellow Trail north (past Loosestrife Swamp away from the Nevada Entrance) to Hourglass Pond where we will be removing invasive trees and vines. If you don't have your own, Protectors will supply gloves and pruners (& refreshments). After a two hour work session (our 176th consecutive monthly workshop), we will take a short walk over nearby trails.
For more information call Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036 or Chuck Perry at (718) 667-1393.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Van Cortlandt Birding Walks: "Peter-Peter"
8:00 a.m.
If you imitate this call of the tufted titmouse, he may think you're a rival in his...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Early Birding at Marine Park
8:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for early morning birding at Marine Park.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Winter Waterfowl
10:00 a.m.
Observe the hardy birds that spend their winter in Brooklyn.
Location: Wollman Rink and Flower Garden (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Winter Wildlife Walk
11:00 a.m.
Search for the diverse creatures that winter in the park on a brisk walk through the forest.
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Astronomy Club
6:00 p.m.
Gaze at the heavens through our high-powered telescope as we identify constellations,...
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Eagle Watch
8:00 a.m.
Majestic eagles soar above the tree tops and search for fish in the Hudson River. Bring...
Location: Inwood Hill Nature Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Early Birding at Forest Park
8:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for early morning birding at Forest Park.
Location: Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Making Tracks
11:00 a.m.
Learn how to identify and locate animal tracks found in and around woodland areas....
Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
Cost: Free ...Read more

Local Red-tailed Hawk Updates

The last week has seen an increase in pair-bonding activities between our local Red-tailed Hawks.

In Green-Wood Cemetery there were fresh pine boughs placed in the annual hawk nest. Marge also reporting seeing Big Mama inside the nest, tidying up. In addition, unlike their more solitary winter behavior, Big Mama and Junior have been spending more time soaring together. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk observed near them and hanging around the cemetery is presumably their surviving offspring from last year. I spotted her near Samuel B. Morse's monument stalking, then attacking a piece of wood. She flew with it into a tree where she gnawed it for a moment, then dropped it to the snow covered ground. Odd behavior for a red-tailed that is 6 - 7 months old. They usually only engage in this type of practice play-hunting for the first month or two after fledging.



I spotted Nelly and Max at Grand Army Plaza as I was leaving the public library. They were flying together and perched on top of the triangular building at the corner of Plaza Street West. They seemed to have added more sticks recently to their nest at Nelly's Lawn.

Over the winter, much of Alice and Ralph's 8 year nest in the Ravine pine tree had succumb to the brutal weather. Just two weeks ago I noted that there was virtually nothing left of it. This week they were busy rebuilding it. I watched them soaring and talon-grappling in the air above Quaker Ridge. A single juvenile red-tail was following them, but Ralph eventually chased him off.

For several weeks a young Red-tailed Hawk has been hanging around Breeze Hill, near the bird feeders. I'm not sure if he is attempting to catch some of the small songbirds (not much of a chance) or surprising one of the squirrels gorging itself below the feeders. In either case, he needs to work on his stealth techniques. I've witnessed his bombing runs through the wooded area surrounding the bird feeders and he looks like the proverbial "bull in a china shop", giving the animals plenty of time to seek cover. The other day he was actually perched directly above the feeders. Despite these comical attempts he must be relatively good at hunting, otherwise he never would have survived this harsh winter.

...Read more

Friday's Foto

This winter I've seen more Harbor Seals around Brooklyn than ever before. Usually, it is just a distant glimpse of one poking its head up out of the water, but last Sunday I had the rare treat of seeing one hauled out on the ice. This adult was resting near the Marine Park Saltmarsh Nature Center, only a few blocks from the Kings Plaza Mall on Flatbush Avenue.

Is it Spring Yet?

I'm not complaining, but ... I'm beginning to feel like this bicycle near the end of my block. It has been buried since the first snowstorm hit on December 26, 2010. The only biking that I've done since December has been on a trainer in my living room. We had a brief thaw on Sunday, but we'll need a week of warm weather to melt the glaciers that have accumulated along the edges of the city's sidewalks and curbs.

Bronx Birding

I know, it seems hard to believe, but sometimes I actually do go birdwatching outside of Brooklyn. The date for my Linnaean Society Pelham Bay Park trip was postponed due to weather, but a couple of weeks ago 7 hardy souls traveled up to the Bronx with me for some frigid adventure. It was, at times, exhausting although it paid off in the end.

In some ways, the conditions that Sunday were worse than on the original date scheduled for the trip. The New York City area was blessed with another round of snow, adding to the Big Apple's ever growing mountains of "snirt" and "snudge". The recipe for those two grayish brews is snow plus generous amounts of crystallized urban filth. They should not be confused with the lovely white stuff in Vermont or on greeting cards.

My winter-fatigue cynicism aside, it was actually starkly beautiful at Pelham Bay. The parking lot at Orchard Beach was nearly completely covered in fresh snow and plows had only cleared a narrow lane to the boardwalk where there was only room for a handful of cars. The main trail onto Hunter Island was buried under a foot of snow. In some places there were drifts that came up to my thigh. Only a narrow band of foot prints delineated a route into the forest. There weren't many birds along the path, but a lone Carolina Wren did come out to great us near the start of our hike. Pelham Bay Park is known by birdwatchers as a good spot for wintering owls - our target species that morning. As we trudged deeper into the woods, however, I knew it was going to be difficult to find songbirds, let alone owls.

Unlike most birds, owls are found through indirect observations. That is, by looking for white-wash or regurgitated pellets beneath their roost. The ground was covered with a fresh blanket of snow, so finding white-wash was not possible. Pellets might remain on the surface of the snow. Scanning branches in the conifers was equally frustrating as the dense snow had collected in clumps among the needles. I waded through deep drifts of the white stuff off of the trail hoping to fine any signs of owls. Most of the group remained in the single track of packed snow.

We took a break from owling when I blazed a trail to the edge of the bay between Hunter and Twin Islands. From there we scanned flocks of waterfowl. I also looked for seals on a cluster of rocky outcroppings in the sound north of Twin Island. There were lots of ducks and geese, but nothing unusual and no seals. I had a sinking feeling that it was going to be a short day.

During one of our final stops, however, we managed to locate a single owl. Having dragged ourselves through another stretch of unbroken (or barely broken) deep snow, Dan spotted a Long-eared Owl sleeping high in a pine tree. I tried to keep the group quiet as not to disturb the bird, but I'm sure his sensitive ears picked up the sound of our boots squeaking in the snow long before we got close. As I ushered the group away from the base of the tree and a safer distance, the owl opened his eyes and glared down at me as if to say, "What are you doing in my woods?!" Sorry, don't mind us, we're just leaving...

In all, it was a fun way to spend the morning, despite the sore muscles.

Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, NY
January 20, 2011

Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregine Falcon
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Long-eared Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
House Sparrow ...Read more

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of February 12th - 13th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, February 12

Great Backyard Bird Count
Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13, 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.


Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Floyd Bennett Field and Dead Horse Bay
Leader: Rob Jett a.k.a The City Birder
Registrar: Ellen Hoffman (ehof33 AT gmail.com)
Registration opens Monday 1/31.
Ride: $15.


Littoral Society of New York
February 12, 2011. (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon)
Explore the Mysterious Back Woods at Fort Tilden
Accompany naturalist Mickey Maxwell Cohen of the American Littoral Society as he enters Fort Tilden's long-hidden back woods to search for winter birds and botany and long hidden military fortifications of World War II.
Reservations required: (718) 318 - 4300.


New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, February 12, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, February 12, 2011, 10am-1pm
Winter Wildlife Walk at Jamaica Bay
Guide: Don Riepe
With Gateway National Recreation Area
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center for a hike along the trails to look for signs of wildlife. Look for owls, ducks, geese, and other overwintering birds and learn how plants and animals adapt to winter. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or donriepe AT gmail.com. Free

Sunday, February 13, 2011, 9:30am – 11:30am
Nature in the Garden Discovery Walk
Explore Wave Hill’s woodlands and gardens and discover the world of insects, flowers, trees, birds and their fascinating habitats on this naturalist-led walk, offered jointly by Wave Hill and NYC Audubon. Ideal for ages 5 and up and their curious adult companions. Rain or shine, so dress for the weather! Space is limited; advanced registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, at the Perkins Visitor Center when you next visit or by calling 718.549.3200 x305. Fee: Free for Wave Hill Members/Non-members $5. Free for NYC Audubon Members with 2-for-1 admission to the grounds.


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 12, 2011, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Conference House Park Beach and Woods
Past and present blend in Conference House Park where history stretches back thousands of years with the seasonal occupation of the Lenape and hundreds of years with the habitation of the Dutch and English. We’ll observe evidence of the human occupation of the area, observe local geology and discover what the natural and unnatural debris at the high tide line has to reveal.
Meet at the parking lot at the end of Hylan Blvd. on the left.
For more information call Clay Wollney at (718)869-6327.


Staten Island Museum
February 13, 2011 (9:00am - 11:00am)
Wolfe's Pond Park
Free. What wildlife remains active and how do they survive during the cold of winter?
Meet at the field station in the main parking lot at the end of Cornelia Street and find out.
For more information call Seth Wollney at (718) 483-7105.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 12, 2011

Early Birding at Marine Park
8:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for early morning birding at Marine Park.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Van Cortlandt Birding Walks: Cardinal Couples
8:00 a.m.
Mated pairs of cardinals often winter together.  Find some happy couples on our walk...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

The Four Elements of Survival: Part III
1:00 p.m.
In this four part series, you'll learn about the four basic elements of wilderness...
Location: Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Fort Greene Park Winter Tree Identification
1:00 p.m.
On this leisurely stroll around the park we'll identify many of the more than 40 species of...
Location: Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Winter Tree I.D.
2:00 p.m.
Test your identification skills and study the trees in their dormant state on a hike...
Location: Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Sunday, February 13, 2011

History of Blue Heron Park
11:00 a.m.
Blue Heron Park is a Forever Wildlife site and home to many fascinating animals, from...
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Wildlife Valentines
11:00 a.m.
Wind, waves, colors, and calls...come with your sweetheart to learn about the...
Location: Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Whooo Said That?
1:00 p.m.
Winter is the best time to see wild owls in New York City so don't miss this...
Location: Pelham Bay Ranger Station (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

Purple Sandpipers, an arctic breeding shorebird species, calls Brooklyn its winter home. They can be found along jetties and rocky shorelines from early-Winter until Spring.

Brooklyn Hawkfest

Continuing our quest for winter seabirds, last Saturday Heydi Lopes and I birded some of Brooklyn's coast. We had intended on focusing our efforts on gulls and waterfowl, but by the end of the day it had turned into more of a raptor-fest.

The bird that began our string of raptor sightings was spotted while we were walking east along Coney Island Creek. It was flying across Coney Island Creek from Dreier-Offerman Park towards Kaiser Park where it perched in a tree near the Northwest corner of the soccer fields. My initial impression when it flew in front of us was of a large buteo. A few crows made a halfhearted attempt to scare it off then quickly left. The hawk seemed larger than the crows and almost the size of a red-tail. It appeared to be checking out a previously killed and partially eaten Brant in the snow below the tree. I wasn't sure what type of hawk it was, but my first thought was that it was just an extremely large juvenile Cooper's Hawk. The bird had some characteristics, however, that didn't jive with a coops. Compared to its very robust body, it appeared to have a very small head. In addition, the face appeared to have almost facial disks, like a harrier. The ground color of the underside was not white, but an off white turning tawny on the breast and upper-breast. It had considerable spotting on its back in an almost checkerboard pattern. Most of the spots were tinged with tawny, especially up around the shoulders. The tail was odd in that it seemed to be missing a feather or two. The tail banding was very wavy. From the top side they actually seemed to be arc shaped. I ended up posting a question to the New York State birding list for help identifying it. The general consensus by more knowledgeable folks was that the hawk was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk.

While watching the young hawk, we spotted a male Peregrine Falcon as it buzzed the field adjacent. Less than 5 minutes later, we heard a flock of crows making a racket on the other side of the field. They were harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. We continued walking east to check out the birds on Coney Island Creek when we spotted another raptor flying west at the opposite side of the field. It perched. We looked. It was an adult Cooper's Hawk. Kaiser Park is mainly just a small, open field next to Coney Island Creek and surrounded by apartment buildings, two story homes and a public high school. It seemed a bit incongruous to spot 4 different raptors in less than 5 minutes at that spot, but it is Brooklyn, afterall.

The Marine Park Saltmarsh was our next stop. Heydi suggested that we take the B31 bus to the last stop, at the end of Gerritsen Avenue, then walk back towards Avenue U along the west side of Gerritsen Creek. The alternative three mile round trip walk in deep snow would have been a little too much work. Ultimately, the timing worked out really well.

Near the trailhead, just off Gerritsen Avenue, I spotted a Northern Harrier flying across the water from the south, heading up the creek. A few minutes later an adult Red-shouldered Hawk emerged from the phragmites to our left and flew across the creek towards the golf course. A Killdeer was walking up the beach in front of us. It was the first one I'd seen this year. They are much more common in warm weather and I always wondered how some managed to survive NYC winters, especially this year's extreme weather.

The creek is split in the center by White Island. The Army Corp of Engineers has been working on a habitat restoration project on the island, which is inaccessible to the public. I'm hoping that it will eventually become a good winter spot for Short-eared Owls or even Snowy Owls. On Saturday, there were plenty of other raptors on or around the island. From the west side of the creek we watched Northern Harrier soaring back and forth along its newly created dunes. A Red-tailed Hawk perched on a small tree at its edge. A Merlin and kestrel had a brief aerial dogfight in the airspace above the island. Heydi and I joked with each other about which raptor we wanted to see next. We decided that our next "wish" raptor should be a Rough-legged Hawk, then continued trudging through the creek-side ice and snow. A small flock of American Tree Sparrows foraged for insects within the feathery heads of the dried phragmite stalks. The bird's high-pitched tinkling calls sounded like a musicbox. A few chickadees were following the sparrows. As we approached the northern end of the island I spotted another buteo kiting high above. I thought it was probably just another Red-tailed Hawk, but raised my bins to take a closer look. The hawk was nearly all black with white patches on the trailing edge of the wings. The bird stopped and hovered in place over the island - unmistakable behavior for a Rough-legged Hawk! Weird. We really didn't wish the bird into existence, did we?

Our raptors list for the day:

Northern Harrier (Marine Park Saltmarsh)
Cooper's Hawk (Kaiser Park)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Kaiser Park, Marine Park Saltmarsh)
Red-tailed Hawk (Kaiser Park, Marine Park Saltmarsh)
Rough-legged Hawk (Marine Park Saltmarsh)
American Kestrel (Marine Park Saltmarsh)
Merlin (Marine Park Saltmarsh)
Peregrine Falcon (Kaiser Park) ...Read more

January Birds

It's hard to believe that a new year of birdwatching around New York City has begun. I feel like it was just a short while ago that I was looking at a Thick-billed Murre along the shore of Coney Island. In reality, it was over a year ago. This past January didn't see anything quite as unusual in Brooklyn, but I did manage to finish the month having observed 90 species of birds. For the entire state I tallied 93 species.

Many of the species seen last month are birds that I would expect to find easily during the course of the year. One, the Tufted Duck, was a life bird which is not likely to be seen over the course of 10 years! A small percentage of my January Brooklyn birds are considered uncommon. They were Redhead, Black Vulture, Rough-legged Hawk, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Raven and Lapland Longspur.

I can't really complain about the number of species that I was able to locate last month, but January of 2010 was much more impressive. I finished that month with 100 species. In addition to last year's Thick-billed Murre, two other rarities found last January were Red-necked Grebe and Mew Gull. I suspect that this winter's heavy snowfall has played a role in some of the 10 missing species from my January 2011 list. Hopefully, February will hold a few surprises.

January birds:

1) Brant (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)
2) Canada Goose (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
3) Mute Swan (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
4) Gadwall (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)
5) American Wigeon (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
6) American Black Duck (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
7) Mallard (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
8) Northern Shoveler (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
9) Northern Pintail (Mill Pond-Oyster Bay, 01/05/11)
10) Green-winged Teal (Hendrix Creek, 01/09/11)
11) Canvasback (Hendrix Creek, 01/09/11)
12) Redhead (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/06/11)
13) Ring-necked Duck (Mill Pond-Oyster Bay, 01/05/11)
14) Tufted Duck (Cold Spring Harbor - South, 01/05/11)
15) Greater Scaup (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)
16) Lesser Scaup (Cold Spring Harbor - South, 01/05/11)
16) Lesser Scaup (Hendrix Creek, 01/09/11)
17) Surf Scoter (Coney Island--West End, 01/06/11)
18) Black Scoter (Coney Island Pier, 01/17/11)
19) Long-tailed Duck (Cold Spring Harbor - South, 01/05/11)
19) Long-tailed Duck (Coney Island--West End, 01/06/11)
20) Bufflehead (Veterans Memorial Pier, 01/03/11)
21) Common Goldeneye (Gravesend Bay, 01/06/11)
22) Hooded Merganser (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
23) Red-breasted Merganser (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)
24) Ruddy Duck (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)

25) Red-throated Loon (Gravesend Bay, 01/06/11)
26) Common Loon (Gravesend Bay, 01/06/11)
27) Pied-billed Grebe (Marine Park--West, 01/29/11)
28) Horned Grebe (Floyd Bennett Field--Archery Road, 01/08/11)

29) Double-crested Cormorant (Veterans Memorial Pier, 01/03/11)
30) Great Cormorant (Floyd Bennett Field--Archery Road, 01/08/11)

31) Great Blue Heron (Hendrix Creek, 01/09/11)

32) Black Vulture (Mill Basin, 01/09/11)
33) Northern Harrier (Dead Horse Bay, 01/08/11)
34) Sharp-shinned Hawk (Prospect Park--Feeders, 01/26/11)
35) Cooper's Hawk (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
36) Red-shouldered Hawk (Floyd Bennett Field--Grassland, 01/19/11)
37) Red-tailed Hawk (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
38) Rough-legged Hawk (Marine Park--West, 01/29/11)
39) American Kestrel (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
40) Merlin (Prospect Park--Nethermead, 01/10/11)
41) Peregrine Falcon (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

42) American Coot (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

43) Black-bellied Plover (Dead Horse Bay, 01/15/11)
44) Killdeer (Marine Park--West, 01/29/11)
45) Purple Sandpiper (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)

46) Bonaparte's Gull (Shore Road Park, 01/03/11)
47) Black-headed Gull (Veterans Memorial Pier, 01/09/11)
48) Ring-billed Gull (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
49) Herring Gull (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
50) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Coney Island Creek Park, 01/17/11)
51) Great Black-backed Gull (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

52) Rock Pigeon (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
53) Mourning Dove (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

54) Monk Parakeet (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

55) Great Horned Owl (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

56) Belted Kingfisher (Hendrix Creek, 01/09/11)

57) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
58) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
59) Downy Woodpecker (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
60) Hairy Woodpecker (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
61) Northern Flicker (Floyd Bennett Field--Archery Road, 01/08/11)

62) Blue Jay (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
63) American Crow (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
64) Common Raven (Floyd Bennett Field--Grassland, 01/08/11)

65) Horned Lark (Floyd Bennett Field--Grassland, 01/08/11)

66) Black-capped Chickadee (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
67) Tufted Titmouse (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
68) Red-breasted Nuthatch (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
69) White-breasted Nuthatch (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

70) Carolina Wren (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

71) American Robin (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)

72) Gray Catbird (Prospect Park, 01/07/11)
73) Northern Mockingbird (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

74) European Starling (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

75) American Pipit (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
76) Lapland Longspur (Floyd Bennett Field, 01/22/11)
77) Snow Bunting (Floyd Bennett Field--Grassland, 01/08/11)

78) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Floyd Bennett Field--Grassland, 01/08/11)

79) American Tree Sparrow (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
80) Chipping Sparrow (Prospect Park, 01/07/11)
81) Fox Sparrow (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
82) Song Sparrow (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
83) Swamp Sparrow (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
84) White-throated Sparrow (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
85) White-crowned Sparrow (Dreier-Offerman Park, 01/03/11)
86) Dark-eyed Junco (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

87) Northern Cardinal (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
88) Red-winged Blackbird (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
89) Brown-headed Cowbird (Prospect Park--Feeders, 01/10/11)

90) House Finch (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)
91) Pine Siskin (Prospect Park, 01/02/11)
92) American Goldfinch (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11)

93) House Sparrow (Green-Wood Cemetery, 01/01/11) ...Read more