Friday's Foto
Celebrate your inner nerd with my new t-shirt design! Available on my Spreadshirt shop in multiple colors and products.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Rain Birds
I spent several hours birding Prospect Park today in the drizzle. While it was actually a bit cooler than previous days the humidity at time made it feel quite stifling. The birds didn't seem to mind, thankfully.
There appears to have been a small flight of songbirds into the park since my last visit. In my north to south walk I encountered several small pockets of warblers and vireos. I tallied 15 species of warbler by the end of my walk. The most active spot was a mature oak on Lookout Hill just at the top of the Maryland Monument stairway. In that single tree I counted Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo (5), Black-and-white Warbler (3), American Redstart (3), Northern Parula, Bay-breasted Warbler, Canada Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and many chattering goldfinches. One interesting note today was a "Browned-eyed" White-eyed Vireo near the bottom of the aforementioned stairway. It shouldn't be too surprising to find immature White-eyed Vireo in Prospect Park, though, as I've observed them nesting around Lookout Hill and the adjacent Peninsula for many years.
Here is my full day list:
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Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Date: 09/10/2015
Species: 55
Wood Duck (20. Upper Pool.)
Great Blue Heron (1.)
Green Heron (1.)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1.)
Red-tailed Hawk (1.)
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (2.)
Willow Flycatcher (1. Calling from edge of "Sumac Grove" on Peninsula.)
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo (1. Immature.)
Warbling Vireo (3.)
Red-eyed Vireo (6.)
White-breasted Nuthatch (2.)
House Wren (2.)
Veery (2.)
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird (1.)
Northern Waterthrush (7.)
Black-and-white Warbler (8.)
Common Yellowthroat (4.)
American Redstart (7.)
Northern Parula (2.)
Magnolia Warbler (1.)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1.)
Yellow Warbler (2.)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1.)
Blackpoll Warbler (1.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1.)
Pine Warbler (2.)
Canada Warbler (1.)
Wilson's Warbler (1.)
Song Sparrow (1.)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (2.)
American Goldfinch
Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker (1.), Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow
...Read more
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Monday, September 07, 2015
Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, September 12, 2015 to Monday, September 13, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, September 12, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, September 13, 2015, 10–1 pm
Nature Exploration
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free
Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Exploring obscure Staten Island
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Fall migrants in a new location and lesser known areas
Car fee: $22.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com (preferred) or 347-622-3559 text
Registration Period: Sept 1st - Sept 10th
Note: We will be exploring a new location, St. Francis Woods, a recent land acquisition by the NYS DEC. Other locations might include Goodhue Park, Silver Lake Park and a coastal park in this all-day trip. Exact itinerary to be determined.
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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
Saturday, September 12, 2015, 1:00pm
Nature Hike
Enjoy a guided hike through Freshkills Park and learn about habitats, wildlife, and research projects at the site.
This 1-2 mile trek includes moderate to steep elevations. Water, bug spray, and comfortable shoes recommended. Space is limited, ages 10+. Free.
Meet shuttle into the park at Schmul Park (Wild Ave and Melvin Ave)
Sign Up at EventBrite
Sunday, September 13, 2015, 10:00am
Kayak the Creeks
Join the Freshkills Park Team and Kayak Staten Island for a kayaking experience like no other! Kayak along the Fresh Kill and see the site from a different perspective. This three hour excursion will take you into the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge and up close to some of the varied wildlife that calls Freshkills Park home.
Kayaks, life vests, and brief safety training will be provided. Kayak events are currently limited to participants ages 16 and over, in good health and with basic swimming skills. Be prepared to get wet! Space is very limited. Email freshkillspark@parks.nyc.gov if you own a kayak and wish to participate in this program with your personal kayak.
Sign Up at EventBrite
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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Fort Tilden and Breezy Point
Leader: Richard ZainEldeen
Registrar: Pearl Broder — pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday August 31
Ride: $15
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, September 12, 2015
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, September 12, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Sunday, September 13, 2015, 8am – 11am
Fall Warblers (trip)
Instructor: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Identifying “confusing fall warblers” can be tricky, even for the experts. Come study some of the most puzzling species that stop through our area during fall migration with expert Joe Giunta, and then enjoy a second session in the “classroom” of Central Park. Limited to 12. $65 (45)
Click here to register
Sunday, September 13, 2015, 9:30am – 11:30am
Summer Birding at Wave Hill, the Bronx
Guide: Gabriel Willow with Wave Hill
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Observe the plants, insects and habitats at Wave Hill that make it an appealing destination for such a wide variety of birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission)
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM
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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Alley Pond Park
Guide: Eric Miller (917-279-7530)
Meet: 7:45am at 76th Ave parking lot.
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve
Notes:
All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Birding at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Fall Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks.
Free!
...Read more
Friday, September 04, 2015
Binocular Gallery
While searching the Internet for a cutaway view of my Leica Trinovid binoculars I stumbled on Gary Hawkings' photo gallery of his binocular collection. The geek in me really enjoyed seeing some of these cool optics, but this one design had me scratching my head:
Made in England, it's called the Kershaw Sportsman. I'm not really sure how practical it would be to try and walk around with your vision magnified even by a small amount. Might be why they never caught on, although they are looking quite steampunk. Could we see a run on these puppies? You can pick up a pair on eBay and Etsy. Just sayin'.
Check out Gary's collection here.
There is also the Museum of Optics here.
Friday's Foto
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Treehugger Tuesday
Some Scientists Propose Scrapping Mississippi Mouth to Protect New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans 10 years this past week. The following piece about one seemingly radical approach for restoring the Mississippi delta and protecting New Orleans from future storms was published in Scientific American:
Mississippi River Mouth Must Be Abandoned to Save New Orleans from Next Hurricane Katrina
Three nationwide design teams reveal realistic plans to massively rebuild the disintegrating delta
By Mark Fischetti | August 20, 2015
Hurricane Katrina demolished New Orleans 10 years ago, a grim anniversary to be marked next week. Huge earthen levees dissolved and concrete floodwalls toppled over. But the real culprit when the tropical cyclone made landfall was outside the city. Thousands of square miles of wetland marshes and swamps that had once provided a buffer between the city's coastline and the ocean had been badly tattered from decades of human damage. Thick, robust wetlands would have absorbed much of the surge of water that Katrina pushed up from the Gulf of Mexico. But levees had starved the wetlands of needed nutrients, making plants weak, and thousands of miles of manmade canals had torn the vegetation apart, allowing Katrina’s onrushing storm surge to flow right into New Orleans.
Extensive studies done after Katrina verified what lifelong residents of southeastern Louisiana already knew: Unless the rapidly disappearing wetlands are made healthy again, restoring the natural defense, New Orleans will soon lay naked against the sea (see satellite image, below).
So, how does one reengineer the entire Mississippi River delta—one of the largest in the world—on which New Orleans lies?
Three international engineering and design teams have reached a startling answer: leave the mouth of the Mississippi River to die. Let the badly failing wetlands there completely wither away, becoming open water, so that the upper parts of the delta closer to the city can be saved. The teams, winners of the Changing Course Design Competition, revealed their detailed plans on August 20. Graphics from each plan are below.
Scientists worldwide agree that the delta’s wetlands disintegrated because we humans built long levees—high, continuous ridges of earth covered by grass or rocks—along the entire length of the lower Mississippi River. The leveed river rims the southern boundary of New Orleans and continues another 40 serpentine miles until it reaches the gulf. The levees, erected almost exclusively by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, prevented regular floods from harming farms, industries and towns along the river’s course. However those floods also would have supplied the brackish marshes with massive quantities of silt and freshwater, which are necessary for their survival.
Silt carries nutrients that grasses and mangroves need to stay lush, and it provides new material to build up the soft substrate beneath those plants, which subsides naturally under its own weight. Incoming freshwater mixes with the delta's saltwater to create the reduced salinity required by the region's vegetation. This soup also prevents pure ocean water from intruding further inland, which kills grasses and trees from the roots up.
Instead, hundreds of miles of navigation channels, cut by the Corps for more than half a century through the wetlands have torn the wetlands apart from within. So have thousands more miles cut by industry during the same period to build and maintain oil and gas pipelines running in from the Gulf.
The studies done by university experts, engineering firms and the Corps itself since Katrina concur that the only realistic way to reconstitute healthy wetlands is to make cuts in the levees, install gates, and open those gates periodically to allow sediment and freshwater to once again flow into the marshes. The three winning design teams rely heavily on that strategy, yet they also differ in where and how to use the so-called diversion structures.
The river nowadays only carries perhaps half of the sediment it used to, because communities on its banks for hundreds of miles siphon off water for irrigation, industry and many other uses. There is simply not enough sediment to rebuild the entire delta, according to the winning teams, which operated independently. Rather than try that and fail, the teams found it is better to essentially end the river many miles north of the current mouth, where much sediment is sent like a shot out into the deep ocean and lost. Then engineers could redirect all the sediment to portions of the delta closer to New Orleans. “Capture every grain,” is one team’s slogan.
The need to let the end of the delta, known as the bird’s foot because of its shape, die is also assumed in the official Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, although not necessarily called out in detail. The plan took seven years to develop, after significant political wrangling among state, federal and local authorities.*
The master plan would tap about half the river’s sediment for diversions, and try to restore as much of the delta as possible. Founders of the Changing Course competition, led by the Van Alen Institute and the Environmental Defense Fund, and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, Kresge Foundation and other large institutions, saw that approach as a weakness, and announced the competition to seek alternative ideas.
The competition also encouraged a 100-year outlook for the delta, instead of the 50 years outlined in the master plan. In the end, the three winning blueprints, chosen from 21 entrants, complement the state plan well, says Steve Cochran, director for Mississippi River Delta Restoration at the Environmental Defense Fund, who oversaw the competition.
Cochran also hopes the winning designs will prove valuable to other delta regions around the world: “Every place is different, but the kinds of innovations needed are similar.”
Only one of the three groups, the Baird Team, included a cost estimate: between $4.3 billion and $5.7 billion. But it also cited savings of up to $2 billion in eliminating the need to replace certain aging flood control structures now on the river. The other two plans are larger in scope and would likely be more expensive. Cochran says his committee did not require cost estimates “because the state and the Corps would decide which aspects of the plans to implement, and do their own estimates.”
The winning teams received neither prize money nor other rewards. The teams got involved primarily to gain notoriety for potential large contracts in the future. “The coming work in southeastern Louisiana is huge, even on a global scale,” Cochran notes. The real goal for Changing Course was to educate the state, the Corps and other industries and authorities that will be involved in reengineering the region about how to best exploit the Mississippi River to save the region. “The teams have been explaining their ideas to all these people along the way,” Cochran says.
Additional details of the three plans are shown below. The full set of designs can be obtained online from Changing Course.
A satellite image of the lower Mississippi River (winding dark line) shows that south of New Orleans (white, at center) the wetlands (green) are severely tattered, allowing hurricanes and other storms to push surges of water from the surrounding Gulf of Mexico right into the city, largely unimpeded.
Credit: USGS and NASA
A map included in the revitalization plan by the Baird Team shows the hard truth: the Mississippi River (blue) no longer carries enough sediment to rebuild the entire delta. The river should be cut off (north of the number 5) to better save wetlands closer to the city (red “Sustainable” line), and the rest must be left to wither away, becoming open water (brown “Historic” line). New Orleans is indicated by the symbol near the center.
Image courtesy of Changing Course
In a plan from the Moffatt and Nichol team, a greatly expanded Port Sulphur (white area at lower right, #7) would mark the end of the enhanced wetlands region, and a larger, deeper navigation channel (green line) from there south into the Gulf of Mexico (bottom) would be used. The rest of the Mississippi River delta (off to the bottom right, not shown) would be abandoned. New Orleans is the white area at the top.
Image courtesy of Changing Course
The Studio Misi-Ziibi team plan, the most detailed and extensive, would attempt to save the entire delta (all green colors) with numerous cuts in the levees. It would also rebuild the barrier islands (outer ring at bottom and right) and add new bay islands (dots behind the barriers) to break down the surge of water driven in by hurricanes. But the potential cost, which the team did not estimate, could be extremely high.
Image courtesy of Changing Course
...Read more
Monday, August 31, 2015
Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, September 5, 2015 to Monday, September 7, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, September 5, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Monday, September 7, 2015, 12–4 pm
Nature Exploration
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free
Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, September 6, 2015
World Shorebird Day
Leader: Mike Yuan
Focus: Tour of shorebird rich locations in Brooklyn and Jamaica Bay Refuge
Car fee: $12.00
Registrar: Dennis Hrehowsik email deepseagangster@gmail.com
Registration Period: August 25th - Sept 3rd
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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
September 5, 2015, 10:00am
Freshkills Park Site Tour
Site tours are approximately an hour and a half long and tell the story of the past, present and future of Freshkills Park development via a guided bus ride through the site. Stops at the top of the park’s hills offer beautiful panoramic views of Staten Island. Space is limited, all ages welcome. Free. Meet at the St. George Ferry Terminal Information Booth (across from Au Bon Pain).
Sign Up at EventBrite
September 5, 2015, 1:00pm
Freshkills Park Site Tour
Site tours are approximately an hour and a half long and tell the story of the past, present and future of Freshkills Park development via a guided bus ride through the site. Stops at the top of the park’s hills offer beautiful panoramic views of Staten Island. Space is limited, all ages welcome. Free. Meet at the St. George Ferry Terminal Information Booth (across from Au Bon Pain).
Sign Up at EventBrite
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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, September 6, 2015 - 9:00 AM
Blydenburgh Park
Blydenburgh County Park, in Smithtown, occupies 627 acres of richly forested hills and valleys at the headwaters of the Nissequogue River. It is one of the least developed and most picturesque spots on Long Island. Our walk will focus on migrating songbirds.
Directions: Take the Northern Parkway east and merge onto Rte. 347/454 E (Veterans’ Memorial Highway). Make a U-turn at Ledgewood Dr. and enter the park.
Registration: 585-880-0915
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, September 5, 2015
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, September 5, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
September 5, 2015 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Great Kills Park
Hylan Boulevard and Buffalo Street
Join birder Anthony Ciancimino for a guided nature walk at Great Kills Park. Participants will first check the mudflats for migrating shorebirds, herons, and terns. We will then proceed to the nature center area and walk around the trail that leads into great habitat, particularly for species that favor open habitats. Possibilities include Ring necked Pheasant and various warbler and sparrow species. Participants will meet in the second parking lot on the left side in the park. This is the lot that stands at the foot of the short trail that leads to the mudflats. For more information email Anthony at sibirdwatcher@yahoo.com
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Massapequa Preserve
Notes:
All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Early Morning Bird Walk: Fall Migration at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Catch a glimpse of a variety of species as they pass through the park on their way south.
Free!
Ranger's Choice: Hawk Watch at Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit www.nyc.gov/parks/rangers/register on Thursday, August 27th.
Free!
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Young Birders Club (New York State)
Sunday September 6, 2015
Bashakill Wildlife Management Area
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Sullivan County Audubon Society
Here's how Jacob Drucker described the Bashakill in his NYSYBC trip report back in 2009: "a large scrape in a valley that has accumulated with runoff water and turned into an absolutely gorgeous body of water and swamp." Jacob went on: "Standing on Haven Road, a causeway running across “the Bash,” we were surrounded by water, vegetation, and of course birds. Ducks were everywhere, and we quickly found American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green Winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Common and Hooded Merganser, and Ring-Necked, and Wood (which practically covered some of the trees) Ducks. All of these were present in substantial numbers. There were also a few instances of a Pied-Billed Grebe or two around, and of course, Red-winged Blackbirds.
Wrap up your summer by coming with us to bird this magical place!
Permission form due by 8/27/15. If you have not yet submitted a 2015 medical form (page 2 of the permission form) please submit it with your permission form.
...Read more
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Treehugger Tuesday
New York City Rooftop Solar Energy Potential
According to Boston-based startup Mapdwell, by using an advanced solar mapping tool developed at MIT they have identified New York City rooftops as being able to generate 4.7 gigawatts of solar energy. From their website:
Mapdwell Solar System™ New York City is the first website for all New Yorkers to discover their solar potential, explore their options and connect with local installers, making solar exciting and straight-forward.
Solar System is the most advanced online rooftop-solar tool available, providing detailed and accurate information to over 8 million New Yorkers across the five boroughs, and helping businesses and home-owners visualize their solar opportunity and take action.
The New York City project covers over 1 million buildings and identifies 4.7 gigawatts of high-yield photovoltaic potential, capable of delivering over 5 million megawatt-hours per year. This is over $18 billion in local business that could provide enough clean, renewable energy to 475,000 American homes while offsetting carbon emissions equivalent to planting over 70 million trees. Mapdwell wants to help New Yorkers work with the sun!
Solar System provides the community with an effective model for crowdsourcing the clean energy economy and creating value through distributed generation. The platform allows for users to connect with local installers by sharing their solar reports, simplifying going solar and enabling customers and professionals to speak the same language.
Mapdwell – the leader in urban solar mapping – works to support communities across the United States and abroad in promoting education, spreading knowledge, and increasing adoption of renewable energy sources.
Learn more at mapdwell.com
Monday, August 24, 2015
Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, August 29, 2015 to Tuesday, September 1, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, August 29, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 10 am – 11 am
Family Bird Watching
Looking for a fun way to spend time with your family outdoors? Join the Prospect Park Alliance for its monthly family bird watching tours. After learning how to use binoculars, join our naturalists to identify some of the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home. Please note this tour leaves promptly at 10 am.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Prospect Park
Meet 7:00 am at Grand Army Plaza park entrance, "Stranahan "statue
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: early fall migrants, warblers, flycatchers, and songbirds
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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
Sunday, August 30, 2015, 6:00am
2015 Macaulay Honors College Freshkills Park BioBlitz!
In partnership with CUNY Macaulay Honors College, nature lovers and citizen scientists will canvas 300 acres of North Park to count all of the birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and plants that call this park home. Led by experts who have conducted similar research projects at Central Park and the New York Botanical Gardens, the 24-hour event will help us begin to document the resurgence of wildlife and the biodiversity at Freshkills Park.
BioBlitzAll CUNY Macaulay Honors College sophomores will be participating in the event, but we also have slots open for ecology enthusiast members of the public. Participants must be at least 14 years of age, and if under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (both will need to register). To participate, email cait.field@parks.nyc.gov. Check in will take place at the St. George Ferry terminal and coach bus transportation will be provided to the park (all participants must check in at St. George and travel to and from the park via the provided transportation).
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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, August 30, 2015, 8:00 AM
Makamah Preserve
Makamah Preserve is a 160 acre park in the village of Fort Salonga. It is made up of rolling hills and valleys, with upland forest, wooded wetland and saltmarsh habitats. We will search for migrating songbirds and waterbirds, especially warblers, flycatchers, & sandpipers.
Registration: 585-880-0915
Directions: Take Rte. 25A (Fort Salonga Rd.) east into the village of Fort Salonga and look for the sign and parking area for the park.
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
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
Trips return on September 5, 2015
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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 29, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Saturday, August 29, 2015, 7:30am – 5:00pm
10th Annual Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay
During the past 40 years, over 40 species of shorebirds (including rare and accidental vagrants) have been recorded at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East and West Ponds from mid-July through October, with the greatest diversity and abundance usually occurring in August. We invite you to attend our tenth annual celebration at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, August 29.
Free bus transportation from Manhattan to Jamaica Bay is available for NYC Audubon members at the Student/Senior level and up. Meet at 71 West 23rd Street at 6:30am. (We will return to 23rd Street by approximately 6pm.) Contact the office at 212-691-7483 x306 to reserve a seat.
For more information, contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483 x 306, the American Littoral Society at 718-474-0896, or Don Riepe at donriepe@gmail.com
http://www.nycaudubon.org/annual-shorebird-festival-jamaica-bay
Schedule TBD
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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, August 30, 2015 – Monday, August 31, 2015
CRESLI Whale and Bird watching trip at Montauk point Viking Fleet
Where: Montauk point Viking Fleet map
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Jones Beach West End #2
Notes:
All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
...Read more
Friday, August 21, 2015
Friday's Foto
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Treehugger Tuesday
New York City Still Using Banned Pesticides
The following article was just published in "CityLimits":
City Still Using Pesticides Despite 2005 Law Banning Them
By Elah Feder | August 10, 2015
Anvil 10+10, the insecticide used in the annual West Nile Virus spraying, contains piperonyl butoxide, is listed as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA. But West Nile carries its own risk. The city must balance the two.
Despite a local law that bans New York City from using pesticides linked to cancer, city agencies apply thousands of pounds of these substances each year.
When Local Law 37 passed in 2005, environmental groups like Beyond Pesticides praised the city for being at the forefront of national efforts to curb pesticides.
And in its annual pesticide reports, the city suggests the legislation has been successful, declaring that as of May 2006, "use of all pesticides classified by the EPA as possible, probable or known human carcinogens ended."
In November that year, the report continues, the city eliminated pesticides classified as developmental toxins by the State of California – also prohibited under Local Law 37. Finally, EPA Toxicity Category 1 pesticides were prohibited as of November 2005.
But the same reports show that eight years later, a swath of exemptions carved out in the law have freed city agencies and their contractors to continue applying thousands of pounds of these substances each year.
In 2013, the latest year for which data has been released, the city applied 25,000 pounds of solid pesticides that constituted Local Law 37 exemptions, accounting for almost a quarter of the total 111,000 pounds of solid pesticides reported in the latest report. In addition, 1,900 gallons of exempted liquid pesticides were applied, representing over a quarter of total liquids used. Reports dating back to 2007 reveal similar patterns. Despite a trend of decreasing pesticide use by city agencies since reporting began, these prohibited classes do not appear to be declining.
Golf courses a frequent target
Prohibited substances do not include Roundup, the subject of recent intensified scrutiny when earlier this year, the World Health Organization declared Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, to be "probably" carcinogenic to humans. However, the EPA has not designated glyphosate to be carcinogenic nor highly toxic, so its use does not currently require an exemption under Local Law 37. In 2013, the city applied 830 gallons of glyphosate-based products, the majority by the Department of Parks and Recreation
Exempted pesticides do include, however, products containing chlorothalonil, a fungicide listed as a "likely" human carcinogen by the EPA. Chlorothalonil has been found to increase the rate of adenomas and carcinomas in rats and mice.
In 2013, the latest year for which data has been released, the Parks Department reported using 6,150 pounds of chlorothalonil-based pesticides, in line with amounts reported in previous years.
The annual reports do not specify the purpose and location of each application, and the Parks Department did not respond to a request for comment. However, the most common target for fungicides were golf courses, according to the 2013 report.
Indeed, the bulk of the chlorothalonil-containing applications were of Andersons Turf Fungicide with 5.0% Daconil (a brand name for chlorothalonil), which is recommended for use on golf courses, athletic fields, cemeteries and parks. The manufacturer warns consumers, however, not to use the product on home lawns, or turf next to daycares or schools.
Despite being deemed a likely carcinogen, chlorothalonil can be applied on golf courses because under Local Law 37 courses are granted a blanket exemption.
That’s not unusual, says Laura Haight, a former a senior environmental associate at the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) who helped advance Local Law 37. She notes that golf courses are routinely exempt from pesticide laws. "They’re incredibly toxic," she adds.
Also exempt under the law are professional athletic fields, and swimming pools where pesticides are used to "maintain water quality."
As is often the case with pesticides, although nearly 4,000 pounds of Anderson’s Turf Fungicide were applied, the product’s active ingredient chlorothalonil accounts for only a small proportion—5 percent—of the formulation:. The rest consists of undisclosed "other" ingredients, also known as "inert" ingredients.
Despite being referred to as "inert," a term the EPA has acknowledged is misleading to consumers, these ingredients can themselves be toxic or possibly carcinogenic, and can enhance the toxicity of the active ingredient. Manufacturers are only legally required to reveal the active ingredients, however.
Health Dept. can grant exemptions
Where a blanket exemption has not been issued, an agency can be cleared to use a pesticide by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
For example, Anvil 10+10, the insecticide used in the annual West Nile Virus spraying, contains piperonyl butoxide, which is listed as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA. Every year since the law came into effect, the Health Department has granted its Office of Vector Surveillance and Control a waiver for "temporary relief from the prohibition on the use of pesticides that may otherwise be prohibited from use on New York City property."
In an August 8th press release, the No Spray Coalition criticized the Health Department for granting waivers to itself. "No other agency reviews its application. The checks and balances envisioned in Local Law 37 are thus thwarted," they wrote.
Other pesticides are exempted under city-wide waivers each year. For example, insecticide gels containing fipronil and hydramethylnon both classified as possible human carcinogens by the EPA, are under regular use by NYCHA, which laid down 150 pounds of fipronil-based products across 3,400 applications and 110 pounds of hydramethylnon products across 95 applications.
In the annual waiver letter, Daniel Kass, the Health Department’s deputy commissioner of environmental health, notes that these products are of minimal risk to human health because they can be "used in a targeted manner that limits the likelihood of human exposure." Likewise, Haight notes that these products are typically enclosed within bait containers.
Fears can be overblown
Possible carcinogens, or even likely carcinogens, might not be cause for concern where exposure is minimal. Anvil, for example, is applied at 0.0034 pounds per acre, Levi Fishman, deputy press secretary at the Health Department, explained in an email earlier this year.
"When properly used, this product poses no significant risks to human health. It degrades rapidly in sunlight, provides little or no residual activity, and does not accumulate in the environment," he wrote. Nonetheless, the city advises residents to bring children’s toys, outdoor equipment, and clothing indoors before spraying takes place, and to wash anything that has come in contact with Anvil.
Activists like Cathryn Swan of the No Spray coalition aren’t convinced that Anvil degrades as readily as the city assures. The pesticide can, for instance, linger longer in the soil or in areas shaded from sunlight. In soil, the half-life of sumithrin is 1-2 days, meaning it would degrade almost entirely in 5-10 days, but potentially linger much longer in bodies of water, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. No Spray has also expressed concern about potential ecological impacts on bees and aquatic organisms. Local Law 37, however, focuses exclusively on human health impacts..
Even where rates of exposure are greater than anticipated, a possible human carcinogen is not necessarily carcinogenic. The "possible" designation is applied when there is some limited evidence of carcinogenicity. For piperonyl butoxide, lab results have been mixed, with some studies finding cancer-causing at very high doses and others not finding an effect.
However, a pesticide’s risk classification can be a matter of dispute.
Dr. Brian Dementi, formerly a senior toxicologist at the E.P.A., was the lead scientist in charge of evaluating the safety of malathion, the pesticide New York City used before switching to Anvil.
In an independent scientific advisory panel in 2000, Dementi testified that malathion should be classified as a "likely" carcinogen. But in the end, the agency rejected his conclusion, arguing that the insecticide was safe if properly used, and decided to designate malathion as having "suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity"– a lower risk classification.
When the West Nile outbreak first hit New York, and the Health Department was spraying malathion by helicopter, Dementi was conflicted, but ultimately believes the justification for using any given pesticide comes down to a risk-benefit calculation.
"It did indeed bother me," he says. "But on the other hand, it was preventing encephalitis. One always has to consider the risk assessment… Is there greater risk of not doing it? You’ve always got to discern. It’s a hard thing balancing risk versus benefit."
Though fewer than 1 percent of those infected develop severe symptoms, West Nile can cause neurological damage and death, according to the Center for Disease Control. Since 1999, there have been 317 cases of symptomatic West Nile infection reported in New York City, 38 of them fatal, according to the Health Department, a rate of under one case per 100,000 people.
Advocate: Notification is key
Despite the Local Law 37 exemptions, Haight, who worked closely with the Health Department on curbing pesticide use during her years at NYPIRG, says she is proud of the law.
"There’s no such thing as a perfect law. All laws are developed with compromises," she says, adding that she believes the Health Department has acted in good faith to reduce pesticide use and minimize risks. "We worked with a lot of places that passed laws, but no one’s been as vested."
"The law should be stronger," says Joel Kupferman, executive director and senior attorney at the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project. Its major weakness, he argues, is that exemptions are granted at the city level. Instead, requests for exemptions should be evaluated at the state or federal level, instead of by the city, Kupferman says. In addition, he believes that agencies offer inadequate, or insufficiently transparent, reporting on adverse effects.
Though New York City and activists might not see eye-to-eye on pesticide risks and classifications, Swan is asking the city to at least better inform residents.
"We’re basically saying you if you are going to do it, at least be giving people proper notification," she says.
In April, Swan attended meeting of Brooklyn Community Board 7, where a Health Department representative had been invited to talk about the upcoming West Nile Virus spraying. A resident who had signed up for Notify NYC email alerts complained that she sometimes received notice after the spraying had happened. Jeremy Laufer, the district manager, added that 24 hours notice was not enough, and said that the administration relied too much on email, rather than physical notices—a problem for a community where many households don’t have internet access.
Others in attendance wanted to know how dangerous these substances are, whether they were carcinogenic and whether they build up in the environment. The representative, who had only been on the job for three weeks at that point, wasn’t sure of the answers.
The Health Department has not responded to a request for comment about Local Law 37.
...Read more
Monday, August 17, 2015
Warblers in Prospect Park
Despite oppressive heat and humidity this morning, there was a pretty good showing of migrant songbirds in Prospect Park.
I figured the best way to try and beat the heat was to stick to the park's wooded areas. In the couple of hours that I strolled the Ravine, Lookout Hill and the Peninsula I managed to tally 12 species of warbler. The most memorable was a Worm-eating Warbler. I had just sat down on the top step of the stone stairway adjacent to the Nethermead Arches. I heard something moving low in the shrubs behind my head and turned to see the worm-eating working some dead leaves only about three feet from my face. I watched for what seemed like minutes this tiny, elegant, understated wood-warbler as it probed for insects within clumps of curled, withered leaves.
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Location: Prospect Park
Date: August 17, 2015
Species: 51
Wood Duck (1.)
Great Blue Heron (1.)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2.)
Red-tailed Hawk (1.)
Spotted Sandpiper (1.)
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker (1.)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (2.)
Willow Flycatcher (1.)
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Barn Swallow
House Wren (1.)
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird (4.)
Worm-eating Warbler (2.)
Louisiana Waterthrush (1.)
Northern Waterthrush (5.)
Blue-winged Warbler (1.)
Black-and-white Warbler (10.)
Common Yellowthroat (1.)
Hooded Warbler (1, male. Ravine along ridge opposite Ambergil.)
American Redstart (12.)
Yellow Warbler (6.)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1.)
Canada Warbler (6.)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (2.)
American Goldfinch
Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Laughing Gull, Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon), Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker (1.), Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow
...Read more
An Old Shorebird in Brooklyn
Last year I posted a piece about a Red Knot that has become known as "Moonbird". This long-distance migrant was banded over 21 years ago and has traveled the equivalent distant of the Earth to the Moon and halfway back. Now it appears that Brooklyn has had a visit from a close runner up.
At this time of year many of us local Brooklyn birders spend our early mornings looking for shorebirds at Plum(b) Beach. So far it has been an unremarkable season with mostly the expected species seen. Sanderlings are one of the common species seen along the coast during migration with a small percentage of them remaining through the winter along the ocean beaches. On August 9th my friend Heydi took a photograph of one that was sporting several blue bands. She entered the information on the website "www.bandedbirds.org", which maintains a database of banded shorebirds. The response from their database administrator was very surprising:
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From: "Banded Birds"
Date: August 16, 2015 at 5:43:25 PM EDT
Subject: RE: Recent report to bandedbirds.org
Hi Heydi,
Thanks so much for continuing to report to bandedbirds.org. The sanderling you reported is an “oldie!” Prior to the use of coded flags, many shorebirds were banded as cohorts, i.e. many birds banded in like manner to denote time and/or place. The combo you saw was used in 1998 during spring stopover along the Delaware Bay on the NJ side. Also, the upper right looks white in the photo, but that is the metal USGS band.
Cheers,
Jeannine
Jeannine M Parvin
Database Administrator
www.bandedbirds.org
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That would make this bird at least 17 years old! Sanderlings breed in the high arctic with most wintering in South America. They travel, on average, anywhere from 1,900 miles to 6,200 miles from their wintering sites to their breeding grounds. Based on those numbers, Mr. Plumb Beach Sanderling has flown anywhere from 64,600 to 210,800 miles since he was banded! Pretty impressive for an animal that only weighs, on average, 60 grams (about 24 pennies). At the far end of that scale, however, our tireless Brooklyn visitor would still need to make the annual journeys a few more times to arrive at the Moon. He made it this far, so I'm rooting for him.
...Read more
Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, August 22, 2015 to Sunday, August 23, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, August 22, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 10 am – 11 am
Family Bird Watching
Looking for a fun way to spend time with your family outdoors? Join the Prospect Park Alliance for its monthly family bird watching tours. After learning how to use binoculars, join our naturalists to identify some of the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home. Please note this tour leaves promptly at 10 am.
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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Birds and Bugs on Ninham Mountain, Putnam County
Leader: Paul Keim
Registrar: Pearl Broder – pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday, August 10
Ride: $35
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
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
Trips return on September 5, 2015
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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 22, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Saturday, August 22, 2015, 8:00am – 10:30am
Prospect Park Bird Walk
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet under the arch in Grand Army Plaza. Join Gabriel Willow for a leisurely walk to get to know the summer bird residents of 'Brooklyn's Back Yard', beautiful Prospect Park. Although birding in the summertime in NYC can be a bit slow, Prospect Park has a wide variety of habitats that attracts a number of breeding bird species. We will explore the park's meadows, forests, and waterways in search of nesting waterfowl, green herons, barn swallows, yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles, and some of the other species that call the park home. Limited to 15. $33 (23)
Click here to register
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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Hempstead Lake State Park
Notes:
All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Natural Areas Exploration Day at Randalls Island Natural Areas (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Come explore Randall’s Island’s wetlands and other natural areas- all ages are welcome at this free event!
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
...Read more
Friday, August 14, 2015
Friday's Foto
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Treehugger Tuesday
Another Assault on the Marine Environment
The following story is about the potential collapse of a large component of the marine ecosystem due to greed, questionable marketing and shortsightedness. This comes to us from the organization SumOfUs via treehugger.com:
People Don’t Need Krill, Oceans Do
August 5, 2015
By Katherine Tu, SumOfUs
Three months ago a malnourished humpback whale was found washed up on the beaches of Washington state. This isn’t an isolated example — in fact twelve other whales were washed ashore in California this year and an unprecedented number of humpback whales, predominantly calves and juveniles, have been stranded on the west coast of Australia since 2008.
Scientists have consistently found that the reason behind most of these strange and increasingly frequent strandings is malnutrition. Why is this happening? To find the answer we literally have to go to the end of the Earth.
In the pristine and untouched reaches of the Antarctic ocean, a land of vast beauty, lives a tiny little, shrimp-like crustacean, krill. Although only a couple of inches long, this minuscule creature forms the basis of the entire marine ecosystem.
Crucially, krill are whales’ main source of food. A single humpback whale can eat up to 4.5 tonnes of krill each day. Humpback whales’ feeding season only lasts a couple of months. During this time they have to eat and store enough fat to be able to make a 3,100 mile long migration to their calving grounds.
Nobody knows how much krill is out there, but research indicates that populations have fallen by 80% since the mid-1970s due to climate change. In addition to this, there is a growing krill fishing industry. It’s easy to see how human influence is making whales much more vulnerable. To put it in the cautious words of a researcher: “[Humpback] whales feed almost exclusively on krill in the Antarctic and it's unknown what effect an expanding krill fishery in conjunction with climate warming might be having on the abundance of krill."
Meanwhile, some companies have cottoned on to the fact that there are big profits to be made from fishing krill from the depths of the Antarctic Ocean for aquaculture and to supply luxury omega-3 health supplements.
But why do humans need omega-3 krill pills? We don’t really. Even if you accept the less than scientific claims of the multi-billion dollar omega-3 industry about the pills’ health benefits, there are certainly more sustainable sources of omega-3 than krill, like a nutritious diet. The idea that we are gambling with the entire Antarctic ecosystem and the lives of incredible species like whales for the sake of “boosting our brain power,” as advertised in numerous health magazines is quite simply insane.
SumOfUs has started a campaign to get pharmacy giant CVS to remove krill oil supplements from their shelves. We started a petition asking CVS to stand by their sustainability claims and remove krill-based Omega-3 products from their stores. CVS is not the only company selling krill products, but it is one of the biggest and the one that it can make a difference by showing genuine leadership. As CVS has so far been refusing to remove these products, SumOfUs released this fun video aimed at raising the awareness of CVS costumers and other consumers:
The bottom line is that humans do not need krill, but oceans do. Whales do not have the luxury of choice of their omega-3 supplement or their diet, but we do. It is our joint responsibility to protect the vast Antarctic ecosystem and creatures that depend on it.
Join 95,000 other people and sign the petition calling for CVS to remove krill-based products at sumofus.org/cvs.
For any readers in the UK, there's also a petition calling for Sainsbury's to do the same.
...Read more
Monday, August 10, 2015
Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, August 15, 2015 to Sunday, August 16, 2015:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, August 15, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 10 am – 11 am
Family Bird Watching
Looking for a fun way to spend time with your family outdoors? Join the Prospect Park Alliance for its monthly family bird watching tours. After learning how to use binoculars, join our naturalists to identify some of the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home. Please note this tour leaves promptly at 10 am.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Jamaica Bay Refuge
Leader: Rafael Campos
Focus: Peak of shorebird migration
Car fee: $10.00
Registrar: Donna Evans, email devansny@earthlink.net
Registration Period: August 4th - August 13th
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Fresh Kills Park Alliance (Staten Island)
Saturday, August 15, 2015, 1:00pm
Naturalist-Led Hike
Join us for an August hike lead by a naturalist working alongside the FkP Development team! The name of the naturalist and the flora and fauna expected will be updated closer to the event date. This program includes moderate to steep elevations. Water, bug spray, and comfortable shoes recommended. Space is limited, ages 10+. Free.
Meet shuttle into the park at Schmul Park (Wild Ave and Melvin Ave)
Sign Up at EventBrite
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 12:00pm
Kayak the Creeks
Join the Freshkills Park Team and Kayak Staten Island for a kayaking experience like no other! Kayak along the Fresh Kill and see the site from a different perspective. This three hour excursion will take you into the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge and up close to some of the varied wildlife that calls Freshkills Park home.
Kayaks, life vests, and brief safety training will be provided. Kayak events are currently limited to participants ages 16 and over, in good health and with basic swimming skills. Be prepared to get wet! Space is very limited. Email freshkillspark@parks.nyc.gov if you own a kayak and wish to participate in this program with your personal kayak.
Sign up at EventBrite
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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Jamaica Bay 22ND Annual Tom Davis Memorial Shorebird Walk
Leader: Sean Sime — seansime@seansime.com or 917-324-2735
Registration opens: August 3
Public transportation
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
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
Trips return on September 5, 2015
**********
New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 15, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Saturday, August 15, 2015, 9:30am – 2:00pm
Shorebird Walk in Jamaica Bay, Queens
Guide: Andrew Baksh
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. We'll search the mudflats and ponds for breeding herons and egrets, Forster's and Common Terns, Clapper Rail, and American Oystercatcher, as well as migratory plovers and sandpipers that will already be headed south. Limited to 15. $40 (28)
Click here to register
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 10am – 1pm
Shorebird Identification Workshop
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Shorebirds are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify, yet beautiful and fascinating once they can be distinguished. Learn to identify plovers and sandpipers (including "peeps") by learning behavior, field marks, and calls - then take a field trip to Jamaica Bay to practice your new skills. Limited to 12. $65 (45)
Click here to register
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 7pm – 9pm
Sunset EcoCruise to the Harbor Heron Islands: Hoffman and Swinburne Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow with New York Water Taxi
Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 16. We're excited about this summer's ecocruises; we’ve expanded our explorations of the City's island rookeries to three different locations! Depending on which weekend you choose, cruises may visit the fascinating Brother Islands, the large egret and cormorant colonies on Hoffman and Swinburne Islands, or the great expanses of Jamaica Bay. Whichever your destination, you'll experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on these urban island treasures. To learn about specific cruise dates and register, visit New York Water Taxi online or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 140. Pricing varies by destination.
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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, August 16, 2015, 8:30am – 1:00pm
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Corey Finger 518-445-5829
Meet: 8:30am at visitors center
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
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Young Birders Club (New York State)
Sunday August 16, 2015
Montezuma NWR
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Rochester Birding Association
Montezuma NWR is one of New York State's top birding destinations. Shallow pools and cattail marshes are maintained for waterfowl. Pools are often drawn down for shorebirds in the fall. Upland and bottomland hardwood forests attract nesting birds and passerine migrants. Migrants of all types, especially shorebirds, ducks, eagles, osprey, and herons, will be seen. Our RBA guide is very familiar with the refuge and promises to show us her secret birding spots. We will have lunch at a wonderful local diner and after that, more birding for those that wish to continue. MNWR covers a vast area of varied habitat.
Visit www.rochesterbirding.com (go to Hotspots Montezuma- NWR for complete details on this birding mecca.
Note from Rochester Birding Association: No fee; donation to MNWR appreciated
Permission form due by 8/6/15. If you have not yet submitted a 2015 medical form (page 2 of the permission form) please submit it with your permission form.
...Read more
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