Helping people enjoy the natural world around them
Don't think these guys could complain about the slow ride and disco soundtrack on the bus down to Rockaway Beach as the Ramones might -- having arrived from winter grounds, these soft white sand beaches fit the bill for mating, nesting, and related fun!
Read MoreNew York City's nature diversity now appears to be common knowledge for many people. Between beaches, grasslands, forests, meadows, salt marshes, and glacial ponds, we have it all!
What I'm amazed by is the amount of bird life I've seen and heard just from my apartment window.
Read MoreThis weekend while visiting lovely friends (and incredible cooks!) Jody and Joe at their home near Danbury, Connecticut, I experienced proof positive of one bird-feeding tactic: birds love black-oil sunflower seed.
Read MoreAppropriate that this Mother’s Day weekend, I found myself taking in an Annapolis nature safari with mom, the person responsible for instilling an appreciation of the outdoors since I was a very small child.
Read MoreQuick photos from my iPhone this time, but wanted to share the blooms of QBG -- enjoy!
Read MoreMoving on to this week's topic: I am, like many others, pining for a proper spring day. Between our recent chilly air, rain, and wind, the promise of sun and pleasant temps lured me outside yesterday to probably my favorite spot for botanical beauty and all that comes with the package: Queens Botanical Garden. Trust me, I work there and happily visit on a day off, so it must be worth it!
Read MoreSaturday mornings are a lounge around the apartment time for me. But this past Saturday I decide to haul out early for a morning bird walk at New York Botanical Garden in the hopes of seeing a great-horned owl nesting spot. I was somewhat fooled by the sunshine and could have used one more layer, but my focus soon shifted to birds under the great leadership of Deb, our guide for the morning. Her knowledge of birds was incredible, plus she’s a great photographer to boot!
Read MoreNot to be confused with the April event that marks the beginning of the environmental movement, International Earth Day is celebrated on the vernal equinox. To mark the occasion, QBG held a full day of fun on March 20.
Read MoreAfter a heavenly few days of warm weather, I was so disappointed to wake up on Saturday morning to high winds and cold (though probably more seasonable) temperatures.
Read MorePerhaps a bit gory for the faint of heart, but still a great video taken by Mitch, clearly my budding wildlife documentarian hubby, of a red-tailed hawk that swooped in for a pigeon dinner. An open space species according to All About Birds, red-tails are rather common throughout New York City. You might not expect to see such majestic raptors in urban areas, but they're around -- just look up! Or, in this case, just look on the ground -- this video was shot with an iPhone in McDonald Park, our little open space in Forest Hills, Queens.
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