Bird City: Part 2!

“Last week we began our delightful conversation with Ryan Goldberg, author of Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds. Ryan talked about how the social and even political structure of New York city has been shaped by, and shaped, New York’s birds from beaches to parks, cemeteries to garbage dumps, airports to salt marshes. We left off our conversation where I had asked Ryan about the New York City so-called celebrity birds that from time to time blow up on social media…”

Click on the small triangle or mp3 link above to hear the continuation of my interview with Ryan Goldberg, author of Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds, as broadcast this week on the Arts Express radio program, heard on WBAI-FM NYC, WBAI.org, and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.

(You can find Part 1 of our conversation here)

Bird City

“When most New Yorkers look up they see skyscrapers, but award winning journalist Ryan Goldberg sees birds. In fact, he sees birds everywhere: New York City beaches, parks, cemeteries, even garbage landfills–and discovers how  birds help tell the social, cultural and even political story of our city…”

Click on the small triangle or mp3 link above to hear my interview with Ryan Goldberg, author of Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds, as broadcast this week on the Arts Express radio program, heard on WBAI-FM NYC, WBAI.org, and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.

(You can find Part 2 of our conversation here)

Repurposing Resources

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This American Robin turned this empty feeder bowl into a holder for her nest, where she is currently incubating her eggs.

Prospect Park,

Brooklyn, New York

Scarlet Macaws

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They have to be my favorite birds ever, otherworldly in their beauty. The macaws would fly by our hotel room balcony in twos or threes, around twice a day. Fortunately, their raucous call alerts one to drop everything else and pick up a camera.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

House Party

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This Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal are getting along fine, but the incoming House Sparrow is none too pleased.

Prospect Park,

Brooklyn, New York

Amy Tan: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Sometimes in life you see a person in a different context and it changes everything, like seeing a favorite teacher climb into a sports car. I had the same sort of feeling when I discovered that novelist Amy Tan has just come out with a new non-fiction book called The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a diary of Amy Tan’s backyard birding experiences. I was happy to have her as a guest on the Arts Express radio show.

Click on the small triangle or mp3 link above to hear my interview with Amy Tan as heard on Arts Express, broadcast yesterday on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.

Feather Shower

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This Spotted Sandpiper, an infrequent guest to Prospect Park, is surrounded by the shedding feathers of the more plentiful Canada Geese. Thanks to the highly experienced birders of the Brooklyn Bird Club for the bird ID.

Prospect Park,

Brooklyn, New York

Acrobatics

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This Downy Woodpecker doesn’t mind hanging upside down looking for breakfast.

Prospect Park,

Brooklyn, New York

Father And Son Day

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Actually, I have no idea what sex either Osprey is, but I did see the larger one bring a nice fish back to the nest.

Marine Park Salt Marsh

Brooklyn, New York

The Chase Is On

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The Wood Duck is trying to make a quick getaway with its piece of bread before the aggressive gull can snatch it away.

Prospect Park

Brooklyn, New York

“Whoops–Is This Perch Taken?”

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A Tufted Titmouse, en route to a delicious feeder, is stopped mid-air by the sight of a Black-Capped Chickadee looking to reclaim his space.

Prospect Park

Brooklyn, New York

In The Weeds

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This Glossy Ibis is a lifer for me. If you’ve ever wondered why it has that long de-curved bill-well the photo below illustrates here’s one reason–a reason why I almost didn’t see the bird. The bill looks just like the curved grasses!:

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Marine Park Salt Marsh

Brooklyn, New York

#Mew, Too

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The Grey Catbirds were plentiful this week at the Salt Marsh–and noisy!

Marine Park Salt Marsh

Brooklyn, New York

Crab Dinner

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The Yellow-crowned Night Heron has returned to Marine Park, digging for the plentiful fiddler crabs by the shore.

Marine Park Salt Marsh

Brooklyn, New York

Going Home

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I had put my camera back in its case, but was able to catch this picture on my phone as these sandhill cranes flew off from the field.

Northern California

Sandhill Crane

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Sandhill Crane

Staten Island Road

Lodi, California

Thanks to Sister Bev for taking us there!