Treehugger Tuesday

Trying to clean up the Jamaica Bay Watershed

It is difficult for me to believe that, up until this recent EPA announcement, boaters have been able to legally dump sewage from their boats into Jamaica Bay! The Jamaica Bay Watershed Task Force, a multi-agency advisory panel, has been formulating strategies for protecting this critical system of habitats for several years. I'm not sure why it has taken so long to take this obvious step.

EPA Announces Public Comment Period on Proposal to Ban Dumping Sewage from Boats Into Jamaica Bay

Release date: 08/03/2011

Contact Information: Kasia Broussalian, (212) 637-3581, broussalian.kasia@epa.gov and John Senn, (212) 637-3667, senn.john@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tentatively determined that there are adequate facilities near Jamaica Bay for boats to pump out their sewage, allowing the establishment of a “no discharge zone” for an approximately 20,000-acre area, as proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A no-discharge zone means that boats are completely banned from discharging sewage into the water. Boaters must instead dispose of their sewage at specially-designated pump-out stations. This action is part of a joint EPA/New York State strategy to eliminate the discharge of sewage from boats into the state’s waterways. Discharges of sewage from boats can contain harmful levels of pathogens and chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenols and chlorine, which have a negative impact on water quality, pose a risk to people’s health and impair marine life. EPA is encouraging public comment on its proposed approval until September 2, 2011.

EPA’s tentative determination is available in the Federal Register at: http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=TMNrhx/1/1/0&WAIS

New York State has proposed to ban the discharge of boat sewage in an area of Jamaica Bay that encompasses 17,177 acres of open water and 2,695 acres of upland islands and salt marshes in Brooklyn and Queens. The northeastern and southeastern parts of Jamaica Bay reach Nassau County, while the northern shore of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens forms the southern boundary of the bay. The bay is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Rockaway Inlet, and eight tributaries empty into Jamaica Bay: Sheepshead Bay, Paerdegat Basin, Fresh Creek, Hendrix Creek, Spring Creek, Shellbank Basin, Bergen Basin and Thurston Basin. Upon a final affirmative determination from EPA, New York State may proceed to ban the discharge of boat sewage into Jamaica Bay and its tributaries.

For more information about no discharge zones, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/water/ndz/index.html.

To comment on the proposed EPA approval, email, fax or mail comments to Moses Chang at chang.moses@epa.gov, Fax: (212) 637-3891. Mailing address: Moses Chang, U.S. EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2. ...Read more

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of August 13th - August 14th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, August 13, 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.

Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, August 14, 2011
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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, August 14th, 2011
Shorebirds at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Trip Leader: Tom Stephenson
Focus: Shorebirds peak
Car Fee: 12.00
Registrar: Bob Washburn email nyc_bob [AT] earthlink.net or call 212-737-4157
Registration period: August 2nd - August 11th
Note: High Tide is 9:37 am when the freshwater ponds are most productive

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Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club
Saturday, August 13, 2011, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe on Gowanus Canal
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues www.gowanuscanal.org
Unless otherwise noted, Gowanus canoeing events depart from 2nd St. near Bond St.
Directions to 2nd St. Canal Launch Site: Take the F Line or G Line to Carroll Street - exit to front of Bklyn-bound train and walk three blocks down 2nd Street to the Canal (away from Smith St). For a calender of walk-up canoeing events at each location Click Here

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, August 14, 2011
18th Annual Tom Davis Memorial Shorebird Walk at Jamaica Bay
Leader and Registrar: Sean Sime (sean [AT] seansime.com)
Registration opens Monday 8/1.
Public transportation.

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, August 13, 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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 13, 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.

Sunday, August 14, 2011, 9:30am – 11:30am
Wave Hill: Birding Along the Hudson
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Explore the Hudson River’s avian ecology starting at the tip of Manhattan and migrating north. Walks are every 2nd and 4th Sunday, and alternate between Wave Hill and other Hudson River sites. Wave Hill: Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center and Explore Wave Hill's woodlands and gardens on nature discovery walks. Ideal for ages 10 and up. Registration recommended: online, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Severe weather cancels (For weather-related updates, call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8am the day of the walk). $10 for Wave Hill or NYC Audubon members/$18 non-members.

Sunday, August 14, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, August 13, 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Conference House Beach
Past and present blend in the 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 phone Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, August 14, 2011
MiniTrip - Jamaica Bay East Pond
Leader: Eric Miller 917-279-7530
Fall migration of shorebirds on the East Pond! High Tide 8:53 AM
Remember to bring knee-high boots or waders, scope, and bug spray.
Meet 7:45am @ North End Lot walk starts 8am
See map - http://tinyurl.com/28orv9d
Birding Site Maps page https://sites.google.com/site/qcbirdclub/birding-site-maps

UPDATE:

We will be meeting in the Visitor's Center Lot per Eric.
Due to the instability of the weather, the trip may be canceled. Use common sense, your discretion, or call Eric if you have questions about the trip status.

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Staten Island Museum
Sunday, August 14, 2011 (3:00pm - 5:00pm)
Great Kills Park
The "Salt Flats" at Great Kills is Staten Islands hot spot for migrating shorebirds and waders. Come and enjoy and afternoon watching and learning how the group of birds feeds and flies on their way to southern realms for the winter months.
Meet in Lot "A" along Buffalo St.
FREE

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 13, 2011

Advanced Canoeing
11:00 a.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 3:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: The Harlem Meer, outside of Lasker Pool (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Comfort Station near Eton Place and Richmond Avenue (in Willowbrook Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Seining the Shores
2:00 p.m.
We connect children with nature to encourage active exploration of the natural world....
Location: South Beach, Staten Island
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

The very cooperative and photogenic Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) is still spending his afternoons at Coney Island. He can usually be found after 1:15pm along a stretch of beach next to the boardwalk between Stillwell Avenue and West 10th Street, across from Deno's Wonder Wheel. Information about this specie's range appears to still be evolving. Shai Mitra just posted the following on birdingonthe.net:

"In addition to records of vagrant Gray-hooded Gulls from Panama and Florida, P. A. Buckley alerted me to another recent North American record, from Barbados, on 30 May 2009. This record was published in North American Birds (63: 520) and in P. A. Buckley's (and co-authors') "Birds of Barbados."

A Rare Bird For Brooklyn

My friend Doug is the regional moderator for a website called eBird. Free registration at eBird.org allows birdwatchers to enter and track their bird sightings. Set up by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, the organizations are able to compile the growing database to study bird population trends. Anyway, about a week ago a local birder entered in her eBird account that she had observed a fairly rare gull at Coney Island. When Doug asked her for more information, she sent him a photograph of the bird. Doug took one look at the photo and calmly alerted people in the birding community that Coney Island was likely hosting one of the most rare species of gull seen in North America. The boardwalk at Coney Island was about to be invaded by birdwatchers from all over the east coast and, perhaps, the country.

The birdwatcher who photographed the bird initially thought that it was a Black-headed Gull, based on the bird's red bill and legs. Black-headeds are rare but regular winter visitor around NYC. Had she seen the bird in January, it might not have been flagged by eBird, but I don't believe that there are any records of it in late-July or August. So here is the photo that Doug received (the gull is in lower left of the image):

Doug suggested that the bird was a Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus). Several of us wrote back agreeing with him. Never having seen one, let alone heard of it, I had to refer to my copy of "Gulls of the Americas", by Steve N. G. Howell and Jon Dunn. Here is how they describe the specie's status and distribution:

"Local in S. America and Africa."

"Uncommon to fairly common but local breeding resident (mainly Apr.-Sept.) along Pacific Coast of S. America and locally up to 40 km inland, from s. Ecuador (2˚ south) to s. Peru (17˚ south), ranging north rarely to n. Ecuador (1˚ north) and south rarely (mainly May-Oct.) to n. Chile (18˚ south); also a report from Panama. Accidental in Galapagos Is. (Aug. 1978)."

"Uncommon to fairly common but local breeding resident (Sept.-Apr., less common in winter) in e. Argentina (s. Santiago del Estero south to Buenos Aires). Ranges north in winter (mainly May-Oct.; locally to 1,000 m in Andean foothills) to nw. Argentina, Uruguay, and s. Brazil (22˚S), casually to Paraguay. Accidental visitor to Falkland Is. (Mar. 1992) and (geographic origin uncertain) in Fla. (Dec. 1998)."

Here is a link to an interactive range map. Bottom line - this bird is a long way from home.

I was busy during the week and couldn't make a run down to the beach to look for it. On Saturday we had to bring my niece to the airport and I figured that I'd go look for the gull after. Unfortunately, her flight was delayed and, since she was flying as an unaccompanied minor, we had to stick around until the flight eventually took off. Arriving back in Brooklyn late in the afternoon, I quickly grabbed my gear and bolted out the door to the "F" train.

The location was very convenient for mass transit. I took the train to the Stillwell Avenue station and walked a block to the Coney Island boardwalk. The gull couldn't have picked a more crowded section of beach. Early on, there had been concerns that all the human activity would scare the bird away, but I guess, gulls being the aggressive opportunists no matter where they are from, he seemed to be thriving on all the free food scattered about by us humans. The gull had been frequenting a stretch of beach adjacent the boardwalk in front of several food establishments and next to a children's sprinkler designed to look like a Palm tree (he felt at home). I arrived at 4:50pm and quickly spotted about a dozen birders looking for the Gray-hooded Gull. While scanning the group of folks with scopes, bins and digital cameras, wearing an assortment of floppy hats, vests and other birding gear it occurred to me that the boardwalk at Coney Island was probably the only place in the world where birdwatchers don't stand out. I asked around and nobody present had seen the gull, but within only a couple of minutes it flew in from down the beach and perched on a light post above me:



The gull seemed right at home with the Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls. At one point I spotted it eating food offered by someone on the boardwalk. Here's a shot that I took of it resting on the roof of the bathrooms:

Gulls are not generally the most interesting looking birds. Many are just varying patterns of black, white and gray. I found the Gray-hooded Gull to be quite striking, however. The deep, red bill and legs are not unique in the gull family, but the pale yellow iris bordered by a crimson orbital ring and set off by smokey head plumes gave it an elegant appearance. In flight, extensive white windows on its wings and white leading edges make it look like it has bright headlights on,  easily differentiating it from the dozens of other gulls flying around the beach and boardwalk.

Word of the gull has spread like wildfire, not just through the birding world, but also the mainstream media. Over the last several days articles about this rare visitor have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine and The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Some of the blogs that have posted stories are 10,000 Birds, The Birding Dude, The Gothamist and the American Birding Association's "Peeps Online".

On Monday, my wife and I took the day off and decided to do a little swimming at Coney Island. I brought my bins along, of course. From the shoreline, looking back at the boardwalk towards the gull's usual hangout, I could see birdwatchers lining the edge of the sand. I counted 50 people. When a man with a pair of binoculars and a digital camera hanging off his neck walked down to the water I asked him if he'd seen the gull yet. He hadn't and, apparently, the bird hadn't been seen that day with some people waiting in the blistering sun since 5am. Some of the birders crammed into a small wooden gazebo in front of the "Wonder Wheel" seeking shaded relief. When I saw that I chuckled to myself and went for another swim. At around 1pm I noticed small numbers of Laughing Gulls flying in from the water or the eastern beaches. They were settling in the sand at or near the Palm tree sprinkler. At 1:20 I scanned the birders on the boardwalk and saw that everyone was suddenly focused at a single spot in the sand just to the west of the sprinkler. The Gray-hooded Gull had returned and was drinking from the puddles created by the sprinkler.

After we had spent a couple of hours swimming and relaxing by the water Robin and I decided to walk down the boardwalk and check out the gull. We ran into our friend Joe, who had just arrived and was rushing to find the bird. I assured him he could slow down, that it was right next to the boardwalk several yards ahead of us. As Joe was setting up his scope, I was approached by a reporter from News Channel 12, a local cable news station. She wanted to interview me about the gull. Here's the online version of the story, in which Robin and I are merely in the background. Marge wrote me to say that she saw the broadcast version of the story and that they featured my entire interview. In that longer edit I explained a little bit about the the bird's range and history. When I saw the reporter packing up her gear and seemingly planning on leaving I asked if she had seen the gull. She hadn't and was actually going to leave without seeing it! I persuaded her to stay, look through Joe's scope and wait for the bird to get closer to the boardwalk so she could shoot some footage of it.

Before leaving we ran into our friend Peter, the president of the Brooklyn Bird Club. He mentioned that he had spoken with a birder who just flew up from Orlando to see the gull. He told Peter that he hadn't been to Coney Island in a very long time and that he had been a lifeguard on the beach here in 1952. I'm thinking that things have probably changed a bit, but at least the Cyclone, Wonder Wheel and Ruby's were still around. Plus, one new bird species.

If you go looking for the gull, after 1pm is the best time. Here is a map with his hangout near the boardwalk marked in red (click to enlarge):

UPDATE:

The gull continues at Coney Island as of Wednesday, August 3rd. In addition, contrary to the range data I quoted from the Howell and Dunn publication, here is a link to a Brazilian map that shows Gray-headed Gulls in northern Brazil. ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

In recognition of "Shark Week" I've decided to post a piece about the importance of sharks in the marine environment.



From Sharksavers.org:

Sharks are more important to us alive

We have already discussed that sharks are being exterminated at an alarming rate, mostly for their fins. But, isn’t it good that sharks are being exterminated? Aren’t sharks dangerous to man?

No, sharks are generally not dangerous to man.

Many people believe sharks to be dangerous because they are often depicted that way in the media. The media magnifies the very rare incidents where a shark bites a human as if these are common and fearsome occurrences. The fact is only 5 people in the entire world will die from a shark wound in an average year, whereas many millions of people swim in the oceans where sharks live. Can you think of any way to die that is as rare than that? Death from bicycle accidents, dog bites, snake bites, or other accidents are many times more common.

The real story of sharks is how vital they are to the health of the oceans.

Sharks play a very important role in the oceans in a way that an average fish does not. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in virtually every part of every ocean. In that role, they keep populations of other fish healthy and in proper proportion for their ecosystem.

Sharks have evolved in a tight inter-dependency with their ecosystem. They tend to eat very efficiently, going after the old, sick, or slower fish in a population that they prey upon, keeping that population healthier. Sharks groom many populations of marine life to the right size so that those prey species don’t cause harm to the ecosystem by becoming too populous.

Where sharks are eliminated, the marine ecosystem loses its balance.

In the parts of the ocean where sharks have been fished out of existence, we can see the dangerous result of removing the top predator from an ecosystem.

In one scientific study1 of the mid-Atlantic part of the United States, 11 species of sharks were virtually eliminated. Of the 14 species of marine life that those sharks used to eat, 12 became more plentiful and caused great damage to the ecosystem.

For example, the cownose ray population was no longer kept limited by sharks and grew out of control. As a result, the rays destroyed the population of bay scallops, their favored food.

But, people like bay scallops, too! The scallop fishery, which had been thriving for over 100 years, was virtually gone, with scallop catch dropping to only 13% of its high point2. And, scallops were also no longer there to perform their function of filtering and cleaning the ocean water.

The lesson is important. Sharks are being killed for their fins for shark fin soup, a food that has cultural value but is not important for human survival or health. However, removing the sharks can result in the loss of important foods that we do depend upon for survival.

Sharks have survived for 450 million years, but may be gone within 10 years.

Life within the oceans, covering 2/3rds of our planet, has enjoyed a relationship with sharks for about 450 million years. Our growing demand for shark fin soup has increased the slaughter of sharks to such a great extent that many shark species are already nearing extinction. They may be all gone within only 10 or 20 years.

What will the health of oceans be like when such an important group of animals have been destroyed? Do we want the destruction of sharks and the oceans to be the legacy we leave for our children?

1. Ransom A. Myers, Julia K. Baum, Travis D. Shepherd, Sean P. Powers, Charles H. Peterson;
Cascading Effects of the Loss of Apex Predatory Sharks from a Coastal Ocean; SCIENCE, MARCH 2007

2. Clyde L. MacKenzie, Jr., The Bay Scallop, Argopecten irradians, Massachusetts Through North Carolina: Its Biology and the History of Its Habitats and Fisheries, Marine Fisheries Review, US National Marine Fisheries Service, June, 2008 ...Read more

Upcoming Nature trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of August 6th - August 7th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, August 7, 2011
Morning Bird Walk: Early Migrants
Meet the amazing birds of Prospect Park on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!

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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, August 6, 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

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Bedford Audubon Society (Westchester)
Saturday, August 6, 10:15 am to 4:00 pm.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge With Tait Johansson
Leave By 9:00 am.
This trip will coincide with high tide in the bay, which sends plovers, sandpipers and other shorebirds in impressive numbers to the refuge’s impoundments. We should also see herons, egrets, Glossy Ibis, and many other species. Bring binoculars, lunch, sunscreen, plenty of cold drinks, and boots you don’t mind getting muddy. (M)

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 6, 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.

Sunday, August 7, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, August 6, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Long Pond Park
From reptiles and amphibians to birds and mammals, we’ll look for signs of animal life during this one and a half mile hike to through the woodlands of Long Pond Park. In addition evidence of the geologic history and human influence on the park will also be observed.
Meet at PS 6, on Page Avenue and Academy Avenue about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

Sunday, August 7, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Clay Pit Pond Park
This ecological wonderland hosts a variety of habitats. And among the woodlands and native flowers we will search for dozens of butterflies utilizing the park’s flowers, trees and shrubs.
Meet in the Nature Center parking lot.
For more information call Cliff Hagen at (718) 313-8591.

Sunday, August 7, 2011, 1:00p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mount Loretto Unique Area Smokey Bear’s Birthday Bash

DEC CELEBRATES SMOKEY BEAR’s BIRTHDAY AT MOUNT LORETTO
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Regional Director Venetia Lannon invites all to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 67th birthday and the natural. The public is welcome to join the DEC at the 8th Annual Smokey Bear Birthday Bash at Mount Loretto Unique Area, located at 6450 Hylan Boulevard on Staten Island. The event will promote fire safety and environmental awareness.

The public will be able to engage in hands-on activities, nature walks, environmental games, and a raffle with free prizes. New York State Forest Rangers will have wild land firefighting equipment for the public to view. National Park Service, Greenbelt Education Center, and the New York City Urban Park Rangers will also have hands-on displays. The furry guest of honor, Smokey Bear, will make an appearance at the event.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) campaign starring Smokey Bear and the famous slogan “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” started on August 9, 1944. For more than six decades, Smokey Bear has educated school children and the public about careless actions that start forest fires. In June, 1950, a bear cub was rescued in a wildfire by a USFS Forest Ranger in New Mexico and nursed back to health. This bear became the living embodiment of Smokey Bear and was moved to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he became the living symbol of the educational effort to prevent forest fires.

Directions: Just east of the intersection of Page Avenue and Hylan Boulevard, across the street from the MIV/CYO building, along the road leading to the bluffs from the parking lot.

Press Contact: Thomas Panzone: 718-482-4958
Contact for DAY of Event: Betsy Ukeritis: 646-831-2529

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Birding
8:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
9:00 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Meadow Lake Se (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
12:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Van Cortlandt South and Major Deegan Expressway (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Butterfly Exploration
2:00 p.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, Staten Island
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

The Black Skimmer is one of three species of tern-like birds in the skimmer family. It can be seen around NYC's coastline in the summer. Characterized by a lower mandible which is longer than the upper mandible, they forage by flying low over the water with their lower bill skimming through the surface, snapping shut on any prey they encounter. A large breeding flock found annually at Breezy Point, in Queens, heads south in the late-fall. Over the years I've noticed many birds flying low over the Brooklyn Cyclone's stadium at night, presumably to feed in the adjacent Coney Island Creek or Gravesend Bay. I hope they can dodge fly balls.

Treehugger Tuesday

Using information compiled mainly from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Marine Conservation Society, FishWatch, and the Greenpeace Red List, "Which Fish" is a simple, easy to read website which helps one decides which fish are safe and responsible to consume.

Upcoming Nature trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of July 30th - July 31st, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 30, 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.

Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, July 31, 2011
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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 30, 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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Early Shorebirds at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: early Shorebirds and waterfowl; butterflies, wildflowers
Registrar: Peter Dorosh, Email Prosbird [AT] aol.com or TEXT Message 347-622-3559
Registration period: July 18th- July 28th
Note: High Tide is 9:36 am when the freshwater ponds are most productive

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, July 30, 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.

Sunday, July 31, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, July 30, 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Page Avenue Beach
We’ll begin with a look at the local geology then move to examining the flotsam and jetsam accumulated at the high tide lines to see what nature's debris has to tell us. As the water recedes with the tide we'll move into the intertidal zone to find out what sorts of living things survive in this challenging environment. A variety of crabs, snails, clams, oysters, shrimp, worms and small fish are likely to be discovered. It's going to be muddy so dress appropriately. Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of Page Avenue below Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: The Harlem Meer, outside of Lasker Pool (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Birding
8:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Advanced Canoeing
11:30 a.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

Sorry about the lack of postings lately. Between work, the recent heatwave and entertaining our 11 year old niece who is staying with us for 2 week, there hasn't been much time (or desire) for birds or butterflies. This photo says it all ... if you can get to the beach tomorrow, do it because it will be another scorcher in NYC. My favorite is Jacob Riis Park. Check out my endorsement in the summer issue of "New York Magazine". I'm on the third page of the article.

Treehugger Tuesday

The following story was recently broadcast on National Public Radio:

Mapping (Almost) Every Tree in Central Park
by Margot Adler

There are more than 20,000 trees in New York City's Central Park and an author and birdwatcher have mapped almost every one of them.

Edward Barnard and Ken Chaya's map, "Central Park Entire," took them two and a half years to finish. Chaya walked thousands of miles in the park, mapping every tree and dirt trail.

Click here to listen to the entire story.

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of July 23rd - July 24th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 23, 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.

Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, July 24, 2011
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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 23, 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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Friday EVENING June 24th, 2011
Prospect Park's Bats and evening denizens
Meet 7:30 PM at the 9th St (Lafayette) Prospect Park entrance
Trip Leader: Paul Keim
Focus: Bats galore and birds of the evening.
http://www.batcon.org/

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, July 23, 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, July 23, 2011, 9am – 2pm
Explore the Mysteries of the Meadowlands by Canoe, Secaucus, NJ
Guide: Mike Newhouse With NJ Meadowlands Commission Come explore the Meadowlands' Mill Creek Marsh, a 225-acre restored wetland off the Hackensack River. See this rich tidal ecosystem up close by canoe, and observe the first wave of shorebirds stopping by on their way south. We'll also find resident egrets, night-herons, and belted kingfishers--along with blue and fiddler crabs and diamondback terrapins. Then, we'll enjoy a picnic lunch in this expansive preserved space, with the NYC skyline as a backdrop. Bring sunscreen, lunch, water, and binoculars. Transport by passenger van provided. Limited to 12. $65 Click here to register!

Sunday, July 24, 2011, 9:30am – 11:30am
Inwood Hill Park: Birding Along the Hudson
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Explore the Hudson River’s avian ecology starting at the tip of Manhattan and migrating north. Ideal for ages 10 and up. Registration recommended: online, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. All necessary information, including meeting location details, will be included in your registration confirmation email from Wave Hill. Severe weather cancels (For weather-related updates, call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8am the day of the walk). $10 for Wave Hill or NYC Audubon members/$18 non-members. (Members of other host organizations also enjoy member prices when walks take place at their location.)

Sunday, July 24, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, July 23, 2011

Advanced Canoeing
11:00 a.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Fort Totten Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Van Cortlandt Park Bike Tour
11:00 a.m.
Are you staycationing in New York City this summer? A cycling tour of one of New York...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Martling Avenue and Brooks Pond Place (in Clove Lakes Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

Late-June through mid-July is generally a slow time for birds. Conversely, it is a very good time for spotting butterflies. I spotted this tiny hairstreak butterfly feeding on butterfly weed in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery. I'm still not 100% certain of its identity but am fairly confident it is an Edward's Hairstreak. If you know where to look, Green-Wood Cemetery is a good place for butterfly watching. I'll post a map with locations in the near future.

Treehugger Tuesday

The Summer is here and people like me spend lots of time at the shore. In recogition of that annual "migration" radio show host Leonard Lopate's dedicated an entire episode of "Please Explain" to our friends the jellyfish. Check it out:

June Birds

During the month of June the northbound migration of birds usually comes to an end, so it was no surprise that I only added one new species for the borough of Brooklyn for 2011. I took a day trip with Heydi to the breeding grounds of some of the Atlantic Flyway's migrants just a short drive north of NYC. There we found a few more new species for the state.

My final Brooklyn bird for June was unexpected and I didn't even have my bins with me. While enjoying the sunset and a glass of wine on Friday the 10th, I heard the unmistakable "peent" call of a Common Nighthawk nearby. Neither a hawk nor common, this relative of the Whip-poor-will used to nest in Brooklyn. With falcon-like wings they swoop and dive for insects usually at dusk. The individual I heard was hunting for insects in the sky over Prospect Park's Long Meadow.

Sterling Forest State Park is about 50 miles north of Prospect Park, Brooklyn (as the crow flies) and a great place to look for breeding songbirds. It is the newest  park in the state system. One of those birds that we were hoping to locate there is the Golden-winged Warbler. This neotropic songbird has been in decline throughout most of its range and, in fact, it has been many years since I've spotted one in NYC. I haven't birded in Sterling Forest in several years and had to dig through my notes to remember all the best birding hotspots.

Sterling Forest didn't disappoint and we quickly located Golden-winged Warblers on territory. Other breeding warblers seen or heard were Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat and Hooded Warbler. In all, we tallied 59 species of birds during our hikes around Sterling Forest. In addition to the Golden-winged Warbler, we spotted three other year birds - Wild Turkey, Pileated Woodpecker and Broad-winged Hawk.

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New York State total: 226
Kings County total: 214

222) Golden-winged Warbler (Sterling Forest--Ironwood Drive and environs, 06/05/11)
223) Wild Turkey (Sterling Forest--Ironwood Drive and environs, 06/05/11)
224) Pileated Woodpecker (Sterling Lake Loop Trail, 06/05/11)
225) Broad-winged Hawk (Sterling Lake Loop Trail, 06/05/11)
226) Common Nighthawk (Prospect Park--Long Meadow, 06/10/11)

Below is a short slideshow of some Sterling Forest images:

...Read more

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of July 16th - July 17th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 16, 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.

Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, July 17, 2011
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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 16, 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

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Linnaean Society of New York
Friday, July 15, 2011
Prospect Park Bat Walk
Leader: Paul Keim
No registration. Meet at 9th St. & Prospect Park West (near F Train station at 7th Avenue & 9th St.) at
7:45 p.m. NOTE EVENING START. Public transportation.

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, July 16, 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, July 16, 2011, 10:00am – 11:15am
City of Water Day eco-cruise
Guide: Don Riepe With Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Meet at Circle Line Cruises, at Pier 83 in Manhattan (12th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets). As part of City of Water Day, a celebration of the waterways and harbors of New York City, NYC Audubon is offering a special eco-cruise past Hoffman and Swinburne Islands exploring the natural history of the area. The tour leaves from Pier 83 in Manhattan and ends at Governor's Island. Limited to 150. Free; registration required. Click here to learn more.

Sunday, July 17, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, July 16, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Forest Restoration Workshop at Egbertville Ravine
Meet at the side of Meisner Ave. (toward the Eger Home) close to the intersection of Meisner and Rockland. We will follow the White Trail south to Nevada Avenue and uproot Multi-flora Rose, Oriental Bittersweet and; perhaps, Garlic-Mustard. If you don't have your own, Protectors will supply gloves, loppers and pruners (& refreshments). After a two hour work session (our 181st 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 for more information.

Sunday, July 17, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Clay Pit Pond Park
This ecological wonderland hosts a variety of habitats. And among the woodlands and native flowers we will search for dozens of butterflies utilizing the park’s flowers, trees and shrubs. Meet in the Nature Center parking lot.
For more information call Cliff Hagen at (718) 313-8591.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, July 16, 2011

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.; 3:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: The Harlem Meer, outside of Lasker Pool (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Basic Canoeing
12:00 p.m.
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The...
Location: Van Cortlandt South and Major Deegan Expressway (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Seining the Shores
2:00 p.m.
We connect children with nature to encourage active exploration of the natural world....
Location: South Beach, Staten Island
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

Throughout NYC's five boroughs, juvenile Red-tailed Hawks have left their nests and are exploring their territory. Some are starting to learn to hunt. This very young hawk in Green-Wood Cemetery is easily differentiated from the adults by his buffy breast and long, banded tail.

Green-Wood Red-tailed Hawks

Below are some photos that Marge took of the Green-Wood Cemetery juvenile Red-tailed Hawks.

...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

Global Climate Change Symptoms?

Dr. Jeff Masters, co-founded of the Weather Underground, takes a look back at the global weather for 2010-2011, in what was likely the most extreme weather since 1816.

"Every year extraordinary weather events rock the Earth. Records that have stood centuries are broken. Great floods, droughts, and storms affect millions of people, and truly exceptional weather events unprecedented in human history may occur. But the wild roller-coaster ride of incredible weather events during 2010, in my mind, makes that year the planet's most extraordinary year for extreme weather since reliable global upper-air data began in the late 1940s. Never in my 30 years as a meteorologist have I witnessed a year like 2010--the astonishing number of weather disasters and unprecedented wild swings in Earth's atmospheric circulation were like nothing I've seen. The pace of incredible extreme weather events in the U.S. over the past few months have kept me so busy that I've been unable to write-up a retrospective look at the weather events of 2010. But I've finally managed to finish, so fasten your seat belts for a tour through the top twenty most remarkable weather events of 2010. At the end, I'll reflect on what the wild weather events of 2010 and 2011 imply for our future."

Read this extraordinary article in its entirety here. ...Read more

Backyard and Beyond

Matthew Wills has a nice report on the endangered "Four Sparrow Marsh" on his blog here.

Brooklyn Red-tailed Hawk Updates

It has been two or three weeks since Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park's juvenile Red-tailed Hawks left their respective nests. Marge called me with an update from the cemetery and today I tried to track down the pair of young raptors from the Nelly's Lawn nest in Prospect Park.

After dropping off a book at the Brooklyn Public Library I walked into Prospect Park at the entrance adjacent to the statue of James Stranahan. From there I planned on walking south, passed the Vale of Cashmere, to Nelly's Lawn. Last year's fledglings from the meadow's nest spent much time in Elizabeth's Tuliptree or the stretch of trees immediately to its north.

Randomly scanning the trees isn't a very good strategy for locating the young hawks. I've found that relying on sound works much better. Songbirds make an assortment of alarm calls when a red-tail is perched nearby. Robins and starlings are the most abundant birds in the park at this time of year and their vocalizations always point the way to the hawk's perch. In addition, at this date the juvenile hawks are still receiving meals from their parents so they can sometimes be found when they start to whine for food.

I didn't find the two juveniles or their parents near Nelly's Lawn or the adjacent Vale of Cashmere, so I decided to cross East Drive to scan the huge linden trees that border the Long Meadow. As soon as I crossed the road I heard several starlings making what I like to call the "hawk warning". It is a short, scratchy sound that they make whenever a predator is in the vicinity. They were in a linden tree several yards west of the road. I walked around the tree three times until I finally spotted one of the juvenile red-tails. She was quietly preening while surrounded by three or four irate European Starlings. Her sibling didn't appear to be in the tree. After I had been watching for about 15 minutes I noticed a pair of robins making their version of the "hawk warning" call from somewhere to the south of me. I started to walk in that direction when I heard the familiar "keeerr" call of one of the adult Red-tailed Hawks. That sound motivated the young hawk to start crying for food. Listen for it in this video, as well as, the starling alarm calls (the hawk is in the lower center part of the frame):



The adult hawk soared over the Long Meadow in widening circles, heading to the northeast. Within a minute or two, the crying juvenile took off flying towards Nelly's Lawn. I could see the parent high in the sky over the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The young hawk is clearly still learning the details of flight and made no attempt to catch up with her parent. Instead, she just landed midway to the top of Elizabeth's tuliptree and continued her begging cries.

I had been standing at the base of the towering tuliptree for several minutes when I noticed that the young raptor's sibling was perched nearby. The smallish bird is likely a male and was preening in a dead tree in the northeast corner of Nelly's Lawn. The hawk's bright, white underside stood out like a beacon in the blazing summer sunshine. (Click image for close-up view)

Marge was leading an historic tour in Green-Wood Cemetery yesterday when she spotted that location's two fledgling red-tails. They were perched on tombstones in the soldiers lot adjacent to the nest tree. She had the driver stop the tour trolley so she could get a closer look of the two hawks. With tour participants all pressed up against the bus windows, Marge delighted the group as she belly-crawled up the hill towards the red-tails. As I would expect, the hawks were mildly perplexed by her presence and allowed close approach. She told me that they both seemed healthy and were finishing off a freshly killed squirrel. Marge promised to send me some pictures, which I'll post here. Hopefully, someone on the tour also got a few shots of her crawling up the hill. ...Read more

Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of July 2nd - July 3rd, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, July 2, 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.

Eagle as Icon
Saturday, July 2 - Sunday, July 4, 1 - 3 p.m.
Known as a symbol of strength, courage, and pride, the eagle is one of our country’s most recognizable icons.

Macy's Fishing Clinics
Saturdays in July and August, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Learn how to fish at Prospect Park!

Sunday, July 3, 2011
Morning Bird Walk: Taking Wing
Sunday, July 3, 8 a.m.
Meet the amazing local birds raising families in Prospect Park on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!

Eagle as Icon
Saturday, July 2 - Sunday, July 4, 1 - 3 p.m.
Known as a symbol of strength, courage, and pride, the eagle is one of our country’s most recognizable icons.

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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 2, 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

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New York City Audubon Society
Sunday, July 3, 2011, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset Eco-Cruises to Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on islands around the harbor. Register with New York Water Taxi online by clicking here, or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 100. $35 for adults, $25 for children under 12.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, July 2, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Mount Loretto
The morning’s focus will be on the breeding birds that may be present in the fields and hedgerow such as Willow Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole and any other surprises that may be present. Meet in the parking lot on Hylan Blvd. It may be early in the morning, but the birds will be singing before the heat of the day. We need to listen for their songs and call notes as we wander the trails.
For more information call Howie Fischer at (718) 981-4002.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, July 2, 2011

Birding
8:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Birding
8:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Family Camping
6:00 p.m.
We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our...
Location: Central Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Family Camping
6:00 p.m.
We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our...
Location: Fort Totten Park, Queens
Cost: Free ...Read more

Friday's Foto

This Hooded Crow has taken up residence in Staten Island's Great Kills Park. How it arrived in North America is a mystery. It may be a year or two before the experts rule on whether it arrived on its own and can be considered the first record for this species in North America, either way, it's a cool bird and worth going to check out.

Bank Swallow Colony

Staten Island is home to the only Bank Swallow colony within New York City. The main reason that breeding banks are so rare here is because they require sandy cliffs or banks to build their nests. There are very few places left in the five boroughs that meet that requirement. One is at Great Kills Park along a stretch of bluff overlooking New York's Lower Bay. Here's a video I shot recently of the very busy colony:

Rare Crow on Staten Island

A Hooded Crow has recently appeared on Staten Island. If it is determined to be a "legitimate" bird, that is, one that wasn't an escaped zoo bird, or had hitched a ride on a ship, it will be the first record of this Eurasian species in North America.

I've seen Hooded Crows while vacationing in Italy and posted a photo of one here spotted at the Villa Borghese. This bird has an interesting range that stretches from Scotland in the West and across Asia to the East. They are also rare in Greenland. It may be an exercise in futility, but I can't help speculating on how this bird might have arrived in New York City. The range map to the right shows that they do stray across open water and into Greenland periodically. In addition, some populations do actually migrate for fairly long distances. It's not inconceivable that this individual made its way down the coast of North America after tiring of the accommodations in Greenland. There are some people who will assume that this bird just hitched a ride on a ship, which is also believable, especially considering the amount of shipping traffic that goes in and out of New York and New Jersey ports. I think it has been ruled out that it is an escaped captive bird. It doesn't have any bands on its legs, plus, his feathers aren't worn in a pattern that would be consistent with a caged bird.

When Shane called me in the morning to see if I was interested in running over to Staten Island to look for the bird, I jumped at the opportunity.

It was only observed by a birder within the last few days, however, runners and other regulars to Great Kills Park claim to have noticed it a couple of weeks ago. Unlike our "boring" single colored crows, only the Hooded Crow's head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers are black, the rest of the bird is pale gray. On young birds the gray is more buff. It's a hard bird to overlook. The bird has been hanging around a gravel parking lot near the southern-most end of Great Kills Park. It seems an appropriate location for this bird as it is a stone's throw from the beach. According to the website globaltwitcher.com:

"The nominate subspecies breeds on Isle of Man, Ireland, Scottish Hebridean islands, Scotland mainland and disjunctively across northern Denmark and Scandinavia; for example, the subspecies is often seen along coastal areas of Islay where rocky and sandy coves alternate. Historically it is an autumnal visitor to the coast of eastern England, particularly Lincolnshire.(Beddard. 1906) where it feeds on shellfish in the mudflats."

Parking at the gravel parking lot requires a fishing permit, so Shane parked at the next closest lot and we walked south along the beach. Within about five minutes we spotted the crow standing near the shoreline. Two other birders were watching it from the edge of the dunes ahead of us. After a few minutes the bird returned to the area next to the parking lot where we got really good, close views. Here's a video of it perched in a dead pine tree being harassed by a mockingbird:



While we were present he returned to the beach a couple of times and foraged along the shore. He perched on a small rock jetty for quite a while, but also jumped down between the rocks occasionally, returning with some small bits of food.

We probably won't know for a year or more whether this bird is deemed a new species for North America, but it was still kind of neat getting to see one for only the second time in my life ... and on another continent. The American Birding Association has an interesting posting about it on their blog here. ...Read more

Governor's Island Terns

There is now free ferry service that runs to Governor's Island from Brooklyn. The ferry is at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is at the end of Atlantic Avenue near Columbia Street. Robin and I rode our bikes down to the ferry then spent a couple of hours pedaling around the island.

Once off the ferry, the first spot we headed to was the Yankee Pier. It is located on the south-east side of the island on Buttermilk Channel. Shaped like the letter "Y",  most of the pier is still in use and people can stroll out over the water for a view of the island and Brooklyn. Barn Swallows nest under the pier and are constantly flying back and forth across the water. The lower part of the "Y" is in disrepair and closed off to the public. It has become an unlikely refuge for nesting Common Terns. I usually associate terns with the city's ocean beaches, so it seems a bit incongruous in this setting. Here's a short video of the nesting terns:



Another interesting bird observation on the island was of Northern Rough-winged Swallows. I've seen these birds on Governor's Island in the past, however, while walking off of Yankee Pier I spotted one flying into a small hole in the seawall. It is the only place that I've ever seen them nesting within NYC. ...Read more