Friday's Foto
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Friday, May 09, 2014
Thursday, May 08, 2014
A Big Birding Day in Brooklyn
Last Saturday Heydi, Keir and I teamed up to do a "Big Day" of spring birding. Our day consisted of hitting some key birding spots only within the borders of Brooklyn from 4am until we either ran out of birds or ran out of steam. It turned out that conditions weren't ideal for some groups of birds, but we still ended the day with a very respectable 132 species.
We had talked briefly a few times over the previous 2 weeks about a strategy, but finally got serious about our agenda on the Thursday before over a couple of pints. The first weekend in May isn't generally the best time to see the greatest diversity of northbound migrants, but Keir wouldn't be able to participate this coming weekend, so we decided to give it a shot. The one benefit we might have was that there were some lingering winter birds around that we wouldn't normally see on a typical spring Birdathon. Our finalized list of locations was Dreier-Offerman Park, Floyd Bennett Field (twice), Gravesend Bay (southern parking lot), Green-Wood Cemetery, Hendrix Creek, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (western edge, Brooklyn), Paerdegat Basin, Plum Beach, Prospect Park and the Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park.
During past spring Birdathons my team would start the day at a tiny patch of remnant wetlands behind a baseball field at the edge of Paerdegat Basin. Two out of three years we spotted Barn Owl hunting over the marsh, so Heydi, Keir and I thought we'd give it a shot. With flashlights in hand we walked to the edge of the wetland at around 4am. It was pitch black and completely silent. I played recordings of rails and marsh sparrows to try and call out some birds. Nothing. We stayed for about 20 minutes, then packed it in and headed west along the coast to Floyd Bennett Field, then Gerritsen Creek.
One of our target birds at Floyd Bennett Field was American Woodcock. These birds nest there and can usually be heard making their nasal "peent" courtship call at night. We were also hoping to hear Ring-necked Pheasant, meadowlark and Field Sparrow. Three out of the four birds were heard relatively quickly, then we headed west to our next stop. The wetland habitat around the Marine Park Nature Center on Gerritsen Creek is generally good for night-herons, shorebirds, rails and Marsh Wren. From 5:10am to 5:30am it was good for 9 species, none of them particularly rare, in fact, we didn't find any of our target birds. Sticking to a tight schedule, we left Marine Park by 5:30am.
Prospect Park is the best location in Brooklyn for finding warblers and other songbirds. Our plan was to be there by first light and spend between 5 and 6 hours, picking up about 90 species. My best single day in Prospect Park was a little over 100 species, but that was in mid-May. It was still a bit early in the season and many species had yet to arrive in New York City's parks, in particular, flycatchers, which represent around 10 species. We'd be lucky to find 3 or 4.
From the moment we entered Prospect Park at its north end, it seemed like we'd do really well with warblers. They were all along the worn, dirt path that parallels Flatbush Avenue. At the Vale of Cashmere we probably picked up 8 more species of warbler, as well as, both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles and Scarlet Tanager. There were dozens of birders in the park and I had to remind our group (really just me) to keep socializing to a minimum so we could keep to our schedule. We let others know that we were doing a big Brooklyn day and to text us if they found anything good. One tip we received was from Dale Dyer, who had spotted a Hooded Warbler near the north end of the Prospect Park zoo, or the opposite side of the park from where we were when word came through. Luck was on our side and we eventually found this beautiful warbler right were Dale had left him. By the time we were ready to leave Prospect Park for our next location we had added 96 species to our day list.
We had two primary targets at our next stop, Green-Wood Cemetery. They were Monk Parakeet and Red-headed Woodpecker. If we hadn't seen Chipping Sparrow yet, this was also the place to find one as they nest in the cemetery's numerous conifers. As usual, lots of Monk Parakeets were right at the main entrance and, thankfully, at least one of the Red-headed Woodpeckers was still hanging around. We also picked up a couple of raptors, including Cooper's Hawk.
On our way to Dreier-Offerman Park we made a quick stop along Gravesend Bay to look for Purple Sandpipers. At a stretch of exposed boulders just below the promenade we found a small flock of these arctic breeding shorebirds. We spent all of about 5 minutes scanning the bay for waterfowl and seabirds, then hopped back in the car for the short ride to Dreier-Offerman Park.
Dreier-Offerman Park is on a small peninsula and the species of birds found there can vary quite a bit as there is a creek on two sides and the large open water of Gravesend Bay off of the point. There are also large grass fields, as well as, secondary growth along the fringes. On the water we hoped to find a good selection of gulls, wading birds and waterfowl. On the fields, maybe a meadowlark or "grasspiper" and along the edges, some warblers, sparrows and maybe an Indigo Bunting or Blue Grosbeak.
Within about 10 minutes into our walk towards the end of the peninsula we found probably the most peculiar spring Big Day bird imaginable in Brooklyn - an immature Glaucous Gull. I'm guessing that it is the same individual that was seen sporadically in this area through the winter. He is a long way from home and should be feeding in the waters a lot closer to Greenland than the Coney Island Cyclone.
Another good lingering winter bird we found was a Black Scoter. Normally seen in the ocean, this individual has been hanging around close to shore at the cove at the north side of Dreier-Offerman Park. I hope that there isn't anything wrong with the bird as this seems like abnormal behavior.
A radio controlled helicopter club was enjoying their hobby on the main grass field, so there was no chance of finding meadowlarks or any birds at that spot. We did luck out on the return walk passed the creek. While we were scanning a growing flock of gulls on the sandspit across the water Keir spotted an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. This is another bird that was seen here frequently during the winter months.
With the wind picking up and temperatures dropping we headed to Plum Beach to look for shorebirds and marsh sparrows.
It was close to low-tide when we arrived at this stretch of beach and marsh on Jamaica Bay. Normally shorebirds would be feeding here once the mudflats become exposed. Unfortunately 20 mph wind were blowing off the white-capped whipped bay. Any shorebirds in the vicinity would be hunkered down somewhere out of the wind. A trio of Willets were the only shorebirds large enough to tolerate the gusts. We also managed to spot a pair of early Least Terns, as well as, two Forster's Terns. Four species that we needed to find on the marsh side of Plum, Clapper Rail, Marsh Wren, Saltmarsh Sparrow and Seaside Sparrow were nowhere to be found. We cut our losses and headed to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The western end of the refuge's West Pond falls within Kings County, so it would be the only location there where we'd bird.
We pulled into the parking lot at around 6:30pm, 15 hours after Heydi and Keir picked me up in front of my apartment. The three of us seemed to struggle as we took our scopes out of the car. It was obvious that our energy levels were waning as we contemplated walking the 1 mile route. Hurricane Sandy breached the West Pond necessitating the much longer counter-clockwise route to the west side of the pond turned cove. With occasional rain droplets and cold winds blowing off the water, I wasn't too optimistic we'd find many more birds. The refuge is normally a great spot for a variety of wading birds, but not on Saturday. Our "definite" nesting pair of Osprey at Marine Park was mysteriously missing early in the morning, but one flying over the Brooklyn side of the bay saved us the big miss. In addition, a Horned Grebe, another lingering winter bird, was spotted paddling around within a large flock of Brant. There weren't any birds in or around the breached West Pond and I was starting to worry about the storm clouds and rain on the horizon. I wondered if there was any point in spending any more time shivering and hoping for more birds. A passing crow cawed a nasal "uh-uh", giving me my answer and one final bird for the day - Fish Crow.
Best of luck and good birding to all the teams participating in this Saturday's International Migratory Bird Day "Birdathons".
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Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014, 4:05am to 7:40pm
Locations: Dreier-Offerman Park; Floyd Bennett Field; Gravesend Bay--Southern Parking Lot; Green-Wood Cemetery; Hendrix Creek; Jamaica Bay West--Brooklyn; Paerdegat Basin; Plumb Beach; Prospect Park; Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park
Species: 132
Checklists: 11
1) Brant
2) Canada Goose
3) Mute Swan
4) Wood Duck
5) Gadwall
6) American Black Duck
7) Mallard
8) Blue-winged Teal
9) Green-winged Teal
10) Greater Scaup
00) Greater/Lesser Scaup
11) Black Scoter
12) Bufflehead
13) Red-breasted Merganser
14) Ruddy Duck
15) Ring-necked Pheasant
16) Common Loon
17) Pied-billed Grebe
18) Horned Grebe
19) Double-crested Cormorant
20) Great Blue Heron
21) Great Egret
22) Snowy Egret
23) Green Heron
24) Black-crowned Night-Heron
25) Glossy Ibis
26) Turkey Vulture
27) Osprey
28) Cooper's Hawk
29) Red-tailed Hawk
30) American Coot
31) American Oystercatcher
32) Killdeer
33) Spotted Sandpiper
34) Solitary Sandpiper
35) Greater Yellowlegs
36) Willet
37) Lesser Yellowlegs
38) Purple Sandpiper
39) Least Sandpiper
40) American Woodcock
00) shorebird sp.
41) Laughing Gull
42) Ring-billed Gull
43) Herring Gull
44) Lesser Black-backed Gull
45) Glaucous Gull
46) Great Black-backed Gull
47) Least Tern
48) Forster's Tern
49) Rock Pigeon
50) Mourning Dove
51) Great Horned Owl
52) Chimney Swift
53) Ruby-throated Hummingbird
54) Belted Kingfisher
55) Red-headed Woodpecker
56) Red-bellied Woodpecker
57) Downy Woodpecker
58) Hairy Woodpecker
59) Northern Flicker
60) American Kestrel
61) Peregrine Falcon
62) Monk Parakeet
63) Eastern Phoebe
64) Great Crested Flycatcher
65) Eastern Kingbird
66) White-eyed Vireo
67) Yellow-throated Vireo
68) Blue-headed Vireo
69) Warbling Vireo
70) Blue Jay
71) American Crow
72) Fish Crow
73) Northern Rough-winged Swallow
74) Tree Swallow
75) Barn Swallow
76) Black-capped Chickadee
77) Tufted Titmouse
78) White-breasted Nuthatch
79) House Wren
80) Winter Wren
81) Carolina Wren
82) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
83) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
84) Veery
85) Hermit Thrush
86) Wood Thrush
87) American Robin
88) Gray Catbird
89) Brown Thrasher
90) Northern Mockingbird
91) European Starling
92) Cedar Waxwing
93) Ovenbird
94) Worm-eating Warbler
95) Northern Waterthrush
96) Blue-winged Warbler
97) Black-and-white Warbler
98) Nashville Warbler
99) Common Yellowthroat
100) Hooded Warbler
101) American Redstart
102) Northern Parula
103) Magnolia Warbler
104) Blackburnian Warbler
105) Yellow Warbler
106) Chestnut-sided Warbler
107) Blackpoll Warbler
108) Black-throated Blue Warbler
109) Palm Warbler
110) Yellow-rumped Warbler
111) Prairie Warbler
112) Black-throated Green Warbler
113) Eastern Towhee
114) Chipping Sparrow
115) Field Sparrow
116) Savannah Sparrow
117) Song Sparrow
118) Swamp Sparrow
119) White-throated Sparrow
120) White-crowned Sparrow
000) sparrow sp.
121) Scarlet Tanager
122) Northern Cardinal
123) Rose-breasted Grosbeak
124) Red-winged Blackbird
125) Common Grackle
126) Boat-tailed Grackle
127) Brown-headed Cowbird
128) Orchard Oriole
129) Baltimore Oriole
130) House Finch
131) American Goldfinch
132) House Sparrow
000) passerine sp.
...Read more
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
In Search of Chuck (will's-widow)
Nightjars are an odd family of birds that include the Common Nighthawk, Chuck-will's-widow and Eastern Whip-poor-will. They are characterized by short legs, long, falcon-like wings and very short bills. Primarily nocturnal, they are heard more often then seen as their cryptic plumage makes them difficult to notice roosting during the day. According to author Diana Wells the term nightjar refers to "their 'jarring' nocturnal cries." I'm not sure I'd ever call their evening serenades "jarring", but it is certainly a unique vocalization. Of these three, only the Common Nighthawk is seen regularly around Brooklyn and the rest of NYC during migration. The other two are very rare, although they've had some success nesting on Staten Island. This past week's northbound push of migrants included a few rare reports of one of these two scarce goatsuckers - the Chuck-will's-widow. From what I've read in various sources, not a lot is known about this bird because they are so difficult to observe, which makes finding one even more exciting.
On Sunday, May 4th, Peter Dorosh was leading a Brooklyn Bird Club trip in Green-Wood Cemetery. At around 11:30am they spotted an odd bird perched on a low granite wall that surrounds a family plot. Clearly smooth, gray stone is not the idea camouflage for this bird, so a couple of dozen birders had the opportunity of a lifetime to briefly study and photograph it. That is, until it was spotted by one of the resident Red-tailed Hawks and chased off, deeper into the cemetery.
There are very few records of this bird in Brooklyn. The first one I was aware of occurred on May 6th, 1995. My friend Doug, who was 9 years old at the time, was birding in Prospect Park with his father. He wandered into the woods adjacent to the Maryland Monument where he found the bird roosting. The only older record that I was able to find was also in Prospect Park. According to Bull's Birds of New York State, Joe Moraio of the Brooklyn Bird Club observed one on April 2, 1961.
In the past, when I needed one for my year list, I'd go with my birding pals to Staten Island in the middle of the night, park the car along a deserted stretch of Arthur Kill Road next to a lumber yard and listen for a distant, rolling (and endless) "chuck-will's-widow, chuck-will's-widow, chuck-will's-widow" within the conifers of Clay Pits Pond Park. We would hear them, but of course, never see them.
A few years ago, on April 30th, 2011, however, we got lucky. Myself, a few birding friends and a group of other birders had converged near the top of Lookout Hill in Prospect Park. As we approached the stairway that descends to the Maryland Monument, a large nightjar flew passed, chased by another bird, then disappeared within the wooded hillside. There must of been 15 pairs of eyes searching for that bird, but we never managed to locate it. Everyone agreed that it was a nightjar, either whip-poor-will or Chuck-will's-widow, but it took a little debating to decide on chuck, based mostly on its huge size (compared to whip-poor-will it is a bit more than double the weight, with a 7" longer wingspan). My friend Heydi and I thought it might be a good idea to go back at dusk and play a recorded song to see if the bird responded. Well, it responded better than expected and flew off the hillside directly towards Heydi's head. The bird was definitely a Chuck-will's-widow.
Wanting to get a visual on this past weekend's cemetery bird, Heydi and I met at Green-Wood on Sunday afternoon. I knew we had probably a one in a million chance to find it, but if I didn't try there would be no chance. We didn't find it. I went back briefly on Monday to try again, but still no luck.
On Monday, birders in Central Park discovered their own Chuck-will's-widow, which was seen by many folks throughout the day and in several locations. Either there was more than one present, or the unluckiest nightjar in New York State decided to take a rest in the most crowded urban park in the state, only to get chased from one roost to another.
My friend Sean realized that with these two reports of chucks that it was likely one might be in Prospect Park. He began emailing a couple of us in the afternoon about going into the park just before dusk to try and find one. Unfortunately, I was tied up and couldn't meet them. He joined up with Doug and Heydi and the three of them scoured the Lullwater and Lookout Hill. As they were walking off the hill near the Maryland Monument, they heard a singing Chuck-will's-widow across the Terrace Bridge near Breeze Hill. This is a large bird that has a very loud song that carries. Doug heard a second one farther off. It didn't take them long to find one bird perched in a tree close to the footpath singing his heart out. While Sean held a flashlight on the bird, Doug managed to take a couple of good photos. Here is one:
As they were leaving the park I got a call from Sean. I think his exact words were, "You need to go into the park before dawn." Then he explained what they had found. I texted him a little while later and said I couldn't wait and was hopping on my bike and heading into the park. It was a couple of minutes before ten o'clock when I got off my bike and stood in the darkness at the head of Breeze Hill's Lullwater path. Other than the usual distant background noise of cars, planes and people playing music, it was quiet. I took out my iPhone, launched BirdTunes and called up the Chuck-will's-widow songs. About 5 seconds into the playback, a startlingly loud round of "chuck-will's-widow, chuck-will's-widow, chuck-will's-widow" came right back at me from a seemingly low perch. As I walked down the dark sidewalk a raccoon skulked by in front of me. I decided it was too dark to find the songster and instead went back to the roadway to listen and tweet out the news. Keir called almost immediately for directions. He could hear the bird singing so clearly over the phone that he asked if I was playing the recording. Here's a short video from that night:
While it was a great experience standing in the dark listening to Sir Charles serenade a probably non-existent paramour, I hope to someday be lucky enough to stumble on one of these unusual birds roosting during the day.
...Read more
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Treehugger Tuesday
From the Earth Policy Institute:
The Downfall of the Plastic Bag: A Global Picture
Janet Larsen and Savina Venkova
Worldwide, a trillion single-use plastic bags are used each year, nearly 2 million each minute. Usage varies widely among countries, from over 400 a year for many East Europeans, to just four a year for people in Denmark and Finland. Plastic bags, made of depletable natural gas or petroleum resources, are often used only for a matter of minutes. Yet they last in the environment for hundreds of years, shredding into ever-smaller pieces but never fully breaking down.
Over the last century, plastic has taken over the planet. On the one hand, plastic seems a miracle material, with beneficial uses ranging from medical devices to making vehicles lighter and more fuel-efficient. On the other hand, it is a curse, allowing for the seemingly cheap mass production of disposable materials that fill up landfills, cloud the oceans, choke wildlife, and sully vistas. Filled with additives that lack a safety record, plastics have been linked with a slew of health concerns, including certain types of cancer and infertility. While plastics can be used and recycled wisely, the majority of those produced are neither.
Perhaps no other item symbolizes the problems of our throwaway culture more than the single-use plastic bag.
Click here to read the entire piece.
Monday, May 05, 2014
Upcoming Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of May 10, 2014 to May 11, 2014:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturdays, through June 28, 12 – 1 p.m.
Free
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday May 10, 2014
International Bird Migratory Day "The Birdathon"
A global event celebrating the beauty of birds and habitats. This event encourages fundraising for conservation causes. For this year, a cause/theme will be discussed and adopted by the Birdathon team members under the club's auspices, and posted on the BBC Facebook webpage and Prospect Sightings blog prior to the event (see http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org).
If you are interested in forming a team with members or friends, or need more information please contact the BBC Birdathon coordinator Bobbi Manian by email bobbi.manian@alumni.lafayette.edu
For those who want to bird but not be part of an official team, there will also be two walks that day. In Prospect Park, Introduction To Birdwatching meets at Noon by the Audubon Center and will walk until 2:00. Bring your own binoculars. In addition, Janet Schumacher will be leading a walk in Greenwood Cemetery. Meet at 8 am at the entrance at PPW and 20th street. You can solicit pledges from friends/families for how many birds you see on the walks, or you can make a donation and give it to the leader.
Event Profile: http://www.birdday.org Theme: "Why Birds Matter"
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Prospect Park "Big Sit" in Butterfly Meadow
Meet: No registration necessary. Meet 7:30 am at Lookout Hill's Butterfly Meadow, http://tinyurl.com/BigSitMay11PP
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Note: In case of inclement weather, call or text leader at 1-347-981-5361
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City Island Bird Walks
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 8:00 AM SHARP!
Spring Migration Walk
(Not Sunday, it’s Mother’s Day!)
Meet at Rodman’s Neck Parking Lot
All Walks are Free!
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Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 12pm – 2pm
Leader: Katie
We offer FREE self-guided canoeing and we promote the walking and bicycle tours that may be listed below. Canoe Gowanus Canal for Free events are our estuary stuardship days where you can stop by anytime during the event. Dates with names indicate members who are open to have people join the trip - arrive 5-10 min. before departure. Busy indicates time when canoes are in use but trip is "sold out".
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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday May 11, 2014 (new date)
Brigantine
Leader: Rick Wright
Registrar: Kathleen Howley – kathleenhowley@gmail.com or 212-877-3170
Registration opens: Monday April 21
Ride: $40
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Littoral Society
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 2-5 PM
'Ship to Shore', a Sea to Table Tasting Cruise
Skyport Marina, Cabana Boat, East 23rd Street & FDR Drive, New York, NY.
$55.00: Early Oyster Tickets (until midnight, Saturday, May 3, 2014)
$65.00: Scallop Tickets (until midnight, Thursday, May 8, 2014)
$75.00 Full Price Tickets (until day of event).
Click here to purchase tickets.
Step aboard and sample oysters, clams, scallops, nuts, berries, beer and wine sourced from within 150 miles of New York City, and inspired by what Manhattan’s earliest residents might have been eating in 1609, when Henry Hudson sailed into New York Harbor. Discover the world between the city and the sea as experts discuss the secret lives of the fish, birds, plants of New York’s waterways. Learn about the once and future islands of New York City, once the home of hundreds of thousand of acres of oyster beds and marsh islands, and understand how sustainable seafood systems are fundamentally connected with local flora and fauna.
Event proceeds will help the American Littoral Society restore shorelines and marsh islands across New York and New Jersey.
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 10, 2014
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, May 10, 2014, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center
Guide: 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 718-548-0912.
No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Sunday, May 11, 2014, 9am – 5pm
Sterling Forest Warblers
Guides: Don Riepe, Tod Winston Explore the woodland and pond habitat of the 20,000-acre Sterling Forest preserve during peak spring migration. Look for nesting warblers (including golden-winged, cerulean, hooded, prairie, and blue-winged) as well as spring wildflowers, reptiles, and amphibians. Visit the rustic visitor center. Trip involves 4-mile hike and some rocky terrain.
Bring lunch. Transport by passenger van. Limited to 11. $108 (75) Click here to register
Sunday, May 11, 2014, 9:30am – 11:30am
Birding at Wave Hill
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center. Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for resident and migrating birds. Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult. Reservations recommended; register online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718-549-3200 x305, or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Severe weather cancels; for updates call 718-549-3200 x245 by 8am the day of the walk. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission.
Sunday, May 11, 2014, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Sundays, March 2 - May 25, 10-11am Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up.
Free. Click here to learn more and to register
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New York Wildflower Week
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Nature Walks, BK:
Sunrise Listening Tour
Children's Events, SI:
Spread the Love: Wildflower Seed Balls
Plantings / Actions, BX:
Butterfly Project Native Plant Share and Workshop
Garden Tours, BX:
Azaleas of NYBG
Garden Tours, BX:
NYBG Native Plant Garden Tour
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Plantings / Actions, MN:
Tree and Lawn Care in Sherman Creek
Garden Tours, BX:
Azaleas of NYBG
Garden Tours, BX:
NYBG Native Plant Garden Tour
Garden Tours, MN:
Wildflower Walk in Sherman Creek
Garden Tours, QU:
Native Gardens of Queens Botanical GardenTour
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Long Pond Park on a Spring Evening
During a one and a half mile hike through the woodlands of Long Pond Park we will observe evidence of the geologic history and human influence on the park as well as look for evidence of wildlife of the park. Reptiles and amphibians are out of hibernation and we are likely to meet some of the local species. Meet at PS 6, on Page Avenue and Academy Avenue about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Boulevard.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Bird Walk at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.
NYC Audubon experts lead the way as we marvel at quirky but logical bird behavior and delicate feathers in exquisite patterns. Bring binoculars if you have them and wear sturdy…
Free!
Pop-Up Audubon: Wonderful Warblers at Binnen Bridge (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Prospect Park Alliance presents Pop-Up Audubon, now in its second season, which invites families to directly engage with nature through outdoor learning in locations around the Park.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Alliance to learn about the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Freshkills Park Hike at Schmul Park, Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join the Freshkills Park Staff as we hike areas we are developing into brand new parkland on Staten Island.
Free!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Birding: Ridgewood Reservoir at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.
Enjoy a morning of birding around the newly restored Ridgewood Reservoir.
Free!
Springtime Hike at Breezy Point at Fort Tilden, Queens
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Highlights will include dune foliage, shore birds and a surprising assortment of rocks and minerals used in the construction of the Breezy Point Jetty.
Free!
Pop-Up Audubon: Wonderful Warblers at Binnen Bridge (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Prospect Park Alliance presents Pop-Up Audubon, now in its second season, which invites families to directly engage with nature through outdoor learning in locations around the Park.
Free!
...Read more
Friday, May 02, 2014
Friday's Foto
Thursday, May 01, 2014
April Birds
April showers delivered the first wave of expected north-bound migrants to Brooklyn and surrounding areas. With the exception of one early and two somewhat unusual Prospect Park sightings, it was a fairly predictable thirty days. During the course of the month I added one species over my anticipated 35-40 year birds.
The one early bird was a Worm-eating Warbler, which spent a little over two weeks around the wooded habitat behind Prospect Park's Upper and Lower Pools. One of the wood-warblers with the least showy plumage (but no less beautiful), they are generally seen on migration during the month of May. The weather during the month was mostly cold and damp, so finding this bird was a nice reminder of warmer days and the flocks of neotropic songbirds that will soon be seen in every park and backyard throughout the city.
As if right on cue, during the second week of the month a Yellow-throated Warbler arrived in Prospect Park. This early migrant, for the most part, breeds south of New York City, so while seen regularly their numbers are limited. Here's an animated map from Cornell's eBird website that shows their occurrence over time through the US.
The final week of the month had two unusual wading birds show up in Prospect Park. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is not so much a "rare bird" as rarely seen in Prospect Park. They are fairly common in the coastal marshes around the city and breed on some of the islands that dot New York City's coast. However, in the 22 years that I've been birding in Prospect Park, this was my first park yellow-crowned. Historically, there are probably less than ten sightings of this bird in the park. Build a marsh and throw in some Fiddler Crabs and I'm sure they'd move right in.
Finally, one of my favorite wading birds, the American Bittern, was spotted by my friend Bobbi as it attempted to hide in plain sight on one of Prospect Lake's islands. This is a bird with cryptic, streaked plumage that is perfected suited for vanishing into cattails or phragmites. In New York you could say that this bird falls under the category of "Not Rare, just Rarely Seen". At least a dozen birders responded to the tweets that went out after I confirmed its identity. It was funny to watch as some folks struggled to find the bird at the edge of a stand of phragmites when it was only about 60 feet away.
In the words of Robert Arbib, we are now in "The month the bird watcher dreams about all year". I expect that my "May Birds" posting will have between 42 and 46 new year birds.
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NYS Total: 165
Kings Total: 164
Added in April: 41
124) Pine Warbler (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/02/14)
125) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/04/14)
126) Chipping Sparrow (Prospect Park, 04/04/14)
127) Great Egret (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/05/14)
128) Black-crowned Night-Heron (Hendrix Creek, 04/06/14)
129) Laughing Gull (Hendrix Creek, 04/06/14)
130) Louisiana Waterthrush (Prospect Park, 04/07/14)
131) Palm Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/07/14)
132) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Prospect Park, 04/08/14)
133) Winter Wren (Prospect Park, 04/09/14)
134) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Prospect Park, 04/09/14)
135) Green Heron (Prospect Park, 04/12/14)
136) Blue-headed Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/12/14)
137) Eastern Towhee (Prospect Park, 04/12/14)
138) Brown Thrasher (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/12/14)
139) Northern Parula (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/12/14)
140) Snowy Egret (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park--Southwest, 04/12/14)
141) Forster's Tern (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park--Southwest, 04/12/14)
142) YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (Prospect Park, 04/13/14)
143) Barn Swallow (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/16/14)
144) House Wren (Prospect Park, 04/19/14)
145) Wood Thrush (Prospect Park, 04/19/14)
146) Prairie Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/19/14)
147) Chimney Swift (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/19/14)
148) Ovenbird (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/19/14)
149) Worm-eating Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/21/14)
150) White-eyed Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/22/14)
151) Black-and-white Warbler (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/23/14)
152) Blue-winged Teal (Prospect Park, 04/23/14)
153) Hooded Warbler (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/25/14)
154) Bank Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/26/14)
155) Prothonotary Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/26/14)
156) Willet (Dead Horse Bay, 04/26/14)
157) AMERICAN BITTERN (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
158) Spotted Sandpiper (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
159) Yellow-throated Vireo (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
160) Northern Waterthrush (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
161) American Redstart (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
162) Yellow Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
163) Black-throated Green Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/28/14)
164) YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Prospect Park, 04/29/14)
...Read more
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
New York City Bird Species by the Numbers
Most non-birders wouldn't consider New York City a hotbed of wildlife, but the numbers say otherwise. Consider these statistics:
Total number of bird species recorded in North America (AOU): 981
Total number of bird species recorded in New York State (NYSARC): 476
Total number of bird species recorded in New York City (Cornell eBird): 386
That means that 39.3% of all the birds ever recorded in North American have been seen in New York City. That may not seem like a lot, but let's compare the area:
North American total area: 9,540,000 sq mi
New York City total area: 468.9 sq mi
So, in a nutshell, over one third of the birds on the North American checklist have been recorded in a minuscule 0.0049% of the total area; or an area so small that it is covered by the tip of the arrow in this image (click to enlarge):
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find some birds!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Birding by Phone
There are primarily two birding skills that are used by most experienced birders to find and identify birds. They are visual birding ("eye birding") and auditory birding ("ear birding"). Over the past decade, however, I have found that one technological advancement has trickled down to the discipline of birdwatching and led to a third skill - "phone birding".
I first became aware of the art of phone birding on April 24, 2006. It was late afternoon and I had retired to my roof to relax before dinner and look for migrating birds that were heading north. My friend Sean, who lived 3/4 mile to the southwest, was on his roof doing the same. We chatted on the phone as we scanned our respective sections of sky. At one point Sean excitedly announced, "There’s a Northern Harrier flying over 5th Avenue!" The avenues in this part of Brooklyn run, loosely, from north to south. I waited a beat, trained my bins in his general direction, then replied, "It just passed over Methodist Hospital".
Fast forward to April 22, 2014, one week ago.
I had work to do during the early morning and couldn't get out into the park for some spring birding. It was about 11am when I finally ventured into Prospect Park. Sean called me as I was walking through the park's "Ravine", passed the back of the "Upper Pool". He gave me the rundown of his morning's birding while he walked to the subway station near his house. About 5 minutes into the conversation he stopped in mid-sentence and exclaimed, "There are two Bald Eagles flying over me!" I asked him in what direction they were flying, to which he replied that it looked like they were heading towards Prospect Lake. He continued his binocularless description of the huge, soaring raptors as I ran down the steep path towards the open sky of the Nethermead Meadow. Once in the middle of the field I spotted an immature Bald Eagle in the sky to my south, over the neighborhood of Windsor Terrace. It soared into the park between Lookout Hill and the Quaker Cemetery, then followed the park's ridged, forested spine, quickly moving north and out of sight.
I guess it is only a matter of time until we have thousands of remote cameras trained on birding hotspots (with GPS coordinates displayed) that would allow people to check their devices for birds that are present, then run over to said locations to see them. Although there is the minor issue that, well, birds fly.
...Read more
Treehugger Tuesday
Melting of Arctic Ice Poses Huge Oil Spill Risk
From the Environmental News Service:
U.S. Not Ready for Oil Spill in Arctic Waters
WASHINGTON, DC, April 23, 2014 (ENS) – The warming climate is melting sea ice, opening U.S. Arctic waters to shipping and oil and gas development, but the National Research Council warned today that U.S. personnel, equipment, transportation, communication, navigation, and safety resources are not adequate for an Arctic oil spill response.
In a new report released today, “Responding to Oil Spills in the US Arctic Marine Environment” the National Research Council calls this absence of infrastructure a “significant liability” in the event of a large oil spill.
The Arctic poses challenges to oil spill response, such as extreme weather and environmental settings, limited operations and communications infrastructure, a vast geographic area, and vulnerable species, ecosystems, and cultures.
“There is a need to validate current and emerging oil spill response technologies under these real-world conditions,” the report finds.
Grabowski
The Committee on Responding to Oil Spills in Arctic Environments that wrote the report is chaired by Professor Martha Grabowski, Business Administration Department, LeMoyne College, and includes scientists from the United States, Norway, England and Australia, as well as Thomas Coolbaugh, an associate of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.”
The committee recommends that “carefully controlled field experiments that release oil in the U.S. Arctic be conducted as part of a long-term, collaborative Arctic oil spill research and development program that spans local, state, and federal levels.
It suggests that positioning response equipment such as aerial in situ burn and dispersant capabilities in the region before a spill occurs would provide immediate access to rapid response options.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s presence and performance capacity in the Arctic should be enhanced, the report recommends. The Coast Guard should work with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to develop an oil spill training program for local communities and trained response teams in local villages.
They also should integrate local and traditional knowledge of ice and ocean conditions and marine life to enhance oil spill response, the report says.
map
Given the nearness of U.S. Arctic waters to international territories, communications between command centers, coordinated planning, trans-boundary movement of people and equipment, and identification of translators, should be addressed before an actual spill, the report says.
While formal contingency planning and exercises with Canada have been established, the U.S. Coast Guard should expand its bilateral agreement with Russia to include Arctic spill scenarios and conduct regularly scheduled exercises to establish joint response plans, the report recommends.
“High-quality nautical charting is essential for marine traffic purposes and oil spill response in the Arctic. However, shoreline topographic and hydrographic data are mostly obsolete, with limited tide, current, and water level data and very little ability to get accurate positioning and elevation,” the report warns.
“Vessel traffic is not actively managed in the Bering Strait or in the U.S. Arctic, nor is there a comprehensive system for real-time traffic monitoring,” states the report. “The lack of a U.S. vessel traffic monitoring system for the Arctic creates significant vulnerability for U.S. Arctic missions, including oil spill response, and creates undue reliance on private industry and foreign national systems.”
“Private AIS [Automatic Identification System] receivers are used to track vessels in the Bering Strait and along a large part of Alaska coastal areas, but there are significant gaps in coverage. Consequently, there are numerous regional ‘blind spots’ where an early indication of elevated risks may not be apparent to officials on shore,” warns the committee.
Chukchi
The committee also cautions that the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund “may prove insufficient to cover the sociological as well as economic damages of an affected community,” adding that a structure other than the National Contingency Plan may be needed to deal with broader social impacts resulting from a significant oil spill.
The study was sponsored by the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, the American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Marine Mammal Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oil Spill Recovery Institute, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Greenpeace U.S. Arctic Campaigner John Deans commented, “This proves yet again that Arctic drilling is far too risky. The only way to prevent a spill is not to drill in the first place.”
“The inevitability of an oil spill given the industry’s drive for profit at all costs, the immense difficulties of responding to an Arctic spill and the devastating impact a spill will have on the region’s residents, wildlife and ecosystem should be enough to prevent this lunacy,” said Deans.
“Some of the country’s preeminent scientists unequivocally state in this report that ‘There are no response methods that are completely effective or risk free.’ We hope this will further push the oil industry to ‘unequivocally’ leave the Arctic alone, and the Obama administration to permanently protect this precious part of our country.”
drill ship
“Amazingly, Shell seems determined to attempt another assault on the Arctic, even after the catastrophic bungling of its 2012 foray. There is no clearer evidence that oil companies are not prepared enough, are cutting corners, and according to a recent U.S. Coast Guard Report, are committing multiple violations of the law in order to get to deep sea black gold, than Shell’s Alaskan debacle.”
In 2012, Royal Dutch Shell started drilling the first wells in the Alaskan Arctic in nearly two decades in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Shell’s goal for the summer drilling season was to confirm a major discovery of oil in commercially-viable quantities in the Alaskan Arctic Ocean.
Shell was not able to achieve its goal and did not complete any exploration wells. The company was unable to obtain certification of its containment vessel, and both of Shell’s drilling rigs experienced marine transport problems, including the grounding of the Kulluk off Alaska’s Kodiak Island during a towing operation.
A subsequent federal government review of Shell’s 2012 operations concluded that before it is allowed to approach Arctic drilling again, the company must submit to the Interior Department a comprehensive, integrated plan describing every phase of its operation from preparations through demobilization. Shell did no drilling in U.S. Arctic waters last year.
“As a report sponsor, the American Petroleum Institute and its members must heed this grave warning. Of course, much of this is not new,” said Deans. “Everyone from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Government’s Geological Survey, Lloyds of London and CEOs of giant oil companies agree there is no such thing as safe Arctic drilling.”
“Weeks after the 25th Anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil disaster, and days after the fourth anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, those environments remain forever altered and communities continue to struggle against oil company obfuscation. To allow the same thing to happen again in pursuit of bigger profits for the world’s largest corporations is insane,” Deans said.
Nearly five million people from around the world have signed the Greenpeace petition to protect the Arctic, calling on governments to create a global sanctuary around the North Pole, and to ban offshore drilling and destructive commercial activity in the fragile Arctic environment.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2014. All rights reserved.
...Read more
Monday, April 28, 2014
Upcoming Nature Trips
Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of May 3, 2014 to May 4, 2014:
Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturdays, through June 28, 12 – 1 p.m.
Free
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 8 a.m.
Morning Bird Walk: Marvelous Migrants
Free
Meet the amazing birds who use the Park as a migratory layover on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!
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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Prospect Park
Meet: No registration necessary. Meet 7:00 am at Grand Army Plaza Stranahan Statue
Leader: Paul Keim
Directions: Nearest subway is 2 or 3 line to Grand Army Plaza
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Greenwood Cemetery
Meet: No registration necessary. Meet 8:00 am at the cemetery's 25th Street /5th Ave entrance Arch Castle
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Note: In case of inclement weather, call or text leader at 347-622-3559
Directions: Nearest train is the R line to 25th St; There is a Baked in Brooklyn bakery for coffee and pastries outside the main gate. http://www.green-wood.com/
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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 3, 2014
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, May 3, 2014, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center
Guide: 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 718-548-0912.
No registration necessary. No limit. Free.
Saturday, May 3, 2014, 11am – 1pm
Explore the Bronx River by Rowboat
Guide: Chrissy Word With Rocking the Boat Meet at Rocking the Boat, at 812 Edgewater Road in the Bronx, and launch from the adjacent Hunts Point Riverside Park. Explore the Bronx River aboard a hand-built wooden boat, led by experienced rowers. The Bronx River is the City’s only true river and hosts an abundance of wildlife, including herons and egrets, osprey, and belted kingfishers. Visit restoration sites and learn about the Bronx River eco-system and the area’s history. rowing optional.
Limited to 20. $45 (31) for adults, $35 (24) for ages 18 and under Click here to register.
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 8am – 11am
Spring Warbler Identification Workshop (field trip)
Class: Thursday, May 1, 6:30–8:30pm Trip: Sunday, May 4, 8-11am Instructor: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC First learn to identify the 30-plus species of warblers that migrate through our area each spring, using field marks and other techniques. Then go out in the field and reinforce what you've learned! field trip to Central Park. Limited to 12. $65 (45)
Click here to register
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Sundays, March 2 - May 25, 10-11am Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up.
Free. Click here to learn more and to register
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 3, 2014, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Annual Spring Ten-Mile Walk of the SI Greenbelt
Enjoy walking at a comfortable pace to see wonderful vistas, beautiful, spring woodlands. The hike begins at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue. Bring lunch, a beverage and sturdy walking shoes.
For more information call Dominick Durso at (718) 967-0379 or Chuck Perry at (718) 667-1393.
Saturday, May 3, 2014 – 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Mt. Loretto
With its bluffs nestled 85 feet above sea level, Mt. Loretto is home to beautiful vistas of the shore facing Prince’s Bay. The shoreline is home to some of Staten Island’s most unique natural artwork. Nestled in the meadow’s hills are a variety of plants and wildlife. Mt. Loretto is a habitat for harbor seals, monarch butterflies, wild rabbits, muskrats, ospreys, and on occasion, bald eagles. Meet at the parking lot at Cunningham Road and Hylan Boulevard ( http://goo.gl/maps/3c5Fh ).
Please call John Paul Learn at 718-619-5051 or e-mail at john.paul.learn@gmail.com for more information.
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 11 a.m to 1:00 P.M.
Cherry Blooming Time at Silver Lake
The park is loveliest in the spring. Let’s identify what trees are blooming and see what birds and insects are about. Meet at Silver Lake Park Road and Forest Avenue for a walk across the lake bridge to the trails above. If it’s raining at the time of the walk, the event is postponed to Sunday, May 11, same time.
Contact Hillel Lofaso at hlofaso@siprotectors.org for more information.
Sunday, May 4, 2014 – 2:00 P.M. to 4:00P.M.
Wolfe’s Pond Park
Containing mature upland woods, swamp forest, open marsh, ponds, and shoreline on Raritan Bay, Wolfe’s Pond is one of the most diverse parks in the city. Meet at the comfort stations at the end of the parking lot. The entrance to the parking lot is located off of Cornelia Avenue (http://goo.gl/maps/n8XBa).
Please call John Paul Learn at 718-619-5051 or e-mail at john.paul.learn@gmail.com for more information.
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Queens County Bird Club
Friday, May 2 - Monday, May 5, 2014
DelMarVa
Weekend Trip
Leader: John Collins (908 581 4976)
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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Bird Walk at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.
NYC Audubon experts lead the way as we marvel at quirky but logical bird behavior and delicate feathers in exquisite patterns. Bring binoculars if you have them and wear sturdy…
Free!
Pop-Up Audubon: Wonderful Warblers at Binnen Bridge (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Prospect Park Alliance presents Pop-Up Audubon, now in its second season, which invites families to directly engage with nature through outdoor learning in locations around the Park.
Free!
Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Alliance to learn about the 250 species of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Birds of the Highland Park Ridgewood Reservoir at Ridgewood Reservoir
8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Heidi Steiner, from the Brooklyn Bird Club, will lead this spring bird watching tour around the Ridgewood Reservoir. Binoculars recommended.
Free!
Early Morning Bird Walk: Marvelous Migrants at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Join the Prospect Park Alliance to see some of the dazzling birds that visit the Park before flying to northern breeding grounds.
Free!
Pop-Up Audubon: Wonderful Warblers at Binnen Bridge (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Prospect Park Alliance presents Pop-Up Audubon, now in its second season, which invites families to directly engage with nature through outdoor learning in locations around the Park.
Free!
...Read more
Friday, April 25, 2014
Friday's Foto
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