When I decided to document all the seasonal changes in historic Green-Wood Cemetery over the course of a year, I wasn't certain how things would unfold. One of my concerns was whether I had the stamina to commit to the 52 focused blog postings. Another was that I'd have to go into the cemetery a minimum of 3 times a week. Weather conditions sometimes made it difficult to stick to that schedule, but I managed to work around it a few times. The most difficult period was the final two weeks of the year due to holiday considerations. This final week I was only able to get into the cemetery twice, but made up for the missing day by spending several more hours each day.
In early January I'll post my 2024 Green-Wood Cemetery bird list, plus a short highlights video, which I do every year.
So what was cooking in Green-Wood during the final week of the year? We aren't quite there yet, but hellebore are preparing to push up through the snow and mud very soon. The current period of change is nearly imperceptible, but things are happening
I was not completely surprised, but certainly delighted, to find at least two Baltimore Orioles dispensing with their usual southbound migration. Instead, they appear to be thriving this winter by feeding primarily on a bumper crop of yew berries.
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Baltimore Oriole
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It has been a joy watching our overwintering immature Red-headed Woodpecker for the past 70 days. It continues a busy schedule of collecting acorns, caching them, excavating nighttime sleeping cavities, and chasing squirrels and birds from his territory. Its near constant, soft chattering makes me wonder if it misses talking to other Red-headed Woodpeckers. As we approach the new year, this young bird's brown head plumage is increasingly transitioning to the brilliant namesake red. Last week I noticed that it now has an almost complete red bib.
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Immature Red-headed Woodpecker
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Another winter-only woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, can also easily be located by its vocalization - a cat-like "mew". Yew trees are one of the preferred sources for sap, but I also watched one last week catching drips from a young Norway Maple.
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
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Water bird diversity and abundance on the Sylvan Water increased slightly with the addition of four Hooded Mergansers and a male and female Bufflehead. That brings the total number of species on the pond to a modest 6. If Sylvan doesn't freeze I expect to see several more species come and go over the rest of the winter.
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American Coot
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Hooded Merganser
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Bufflehead with mergansers
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The usual suspects were still being seen in expected abundance. A pair of Chipping Sparrows is considered rare for Brooklyn in the winter by the Cornell eBird website standards. However, I've found that several are always able to make a living in Green-Wood Cemetery, even during the most extreme conditions. Two or three are currently feeding around Dell Water with the more common sparrows.
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Chipping Sparrow
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Fox Sparrow
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Carolina Wren
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Tufted Titmouse
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Back in May I spotted an unusual flowering tree called the Dove Tree (also call Ghost tree or Hankerchief tree). Named for its two large white bracts which flutter in the wind, I'd never seen one before. Last week I noticed that it is now sporting fairly large ovate fruit. Apparently our wildlife isn't attracted to it as they look untouched. Most sources report that the fruit is toxic to humans. Perhaps the same is true for our native animals.
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Dove tree fruit
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My last note is about fungi. The first is a tiny, orange fungi call the Orange Hobnail Canker. I observed it along the base of a Red Oak. From the little I've read online, it prefers oaks and hickories. There seems to be some scientific discussions about its taxonomy...too much for me to wrap my brain around. Suffice to say, it's popping up around the cemetery now. The second is a very common fungi similar in looks to tree ears. It is the Amber jelly roll (Exidia crenata). Seen mostly in fall and winter, you'll often encounter it on broken branches lying on the ground. Non-toxic, some people put it in soups and noodles. The most frequent description I've found online regarding its taste and texture is "unremarkable". True tree ear (
wood ear) fungi are more sought after in this country.
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Orange Hobnail Canker
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Amber Jelly Roll
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Well, there you have it. Fifty-two weeks in the most incredible urban oasis in New York City. I'll continue to post about my observations at historic Green-Wood Cemetery in the future, just not as consistently. It's impossible to predict what the new year will bring but, hopefully, this closer look at the seasonal cycles will help create a picture of the regular changes and threads that connect everything in our local environment. My 2025 posting may include a wider look at the nature throughout the entire borough of Brooklyn. Have a safe New Year's and hope to see you in the field. Cheers!
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