tag:nycaudubon.org,2005:/blogBlog2024-03-06T18:20:57Ztag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27392024-03-06T13:20:00Z2024-03-06T19:14:51ZPresident's Perch: A Proud Farewell from Karen Benfield<div><strong><em><sub>NYC Audubon Board President Karen Benfield and Executive Director Jessica Wilson at a member birding event. <br></sub></em></strong><br></div><h1>president's perch: a proud farewell from karen benfield</h1><div><br><strong><em>This column appears in the </em></strong><a href="https://issuu.com/nycaudubon/docs/ua_2024_01_spring_final_web"><strong><em>spring 2024 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong></a>. <br><br><strong>Karen Benfield, NYC Audubon Board President </strong>| March 6, 2024 <br><br>With spring comes growth and renewal in our City’s green spaces. As I wind down my four-year term as president, I am awed by the growth and renewal inside our organization as well. </div><div><br></div><div>Since I began my role, we have welcomed new faces to all levels of our staff. These tireless and creative dynamos bring a diversity of experience to our work, commitment to conservation and birds, and endless energy and expertise. In the last four years, I have been fortunate to work alongside two extraordinary executive directors; first Katherine Heintz, and since 2022, Jessica Wilson. They have paved the way for continued impact. </div><div><br></div><div>We have also grown our community outreach through new initiatives like our <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/events-birding/programs-and-events/nycha-in-nature">NYCHA in Nature </a>partnership with public housing residents, multilingual bird outings, and the City’s first Spanish-English bird guide. Our <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/take-action/volunteer">volunteer</a> and advocate armies continue to expand. And oh—the progress we have made for the birds: passing landmark bird-friendly design and artificial light laws, partnering with buildings to retrofit bird-killing glass, and leading the charge in the creation of a network of green roofs that have become a haven for wildlife and make our City more resilient. </div><div><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ NYC Audubon Board President Karen Benfield speaking at the 2023 Fall Roost fundraising event.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcDRNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--70ff35d0b309abaceb2690708b0ce4cb7dd21a04/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image1.jpg' alt='NYC Audubon Board President Karen Benfield speaking at the 2023 Fall Roost fundraising event.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ NYC Audubon Board President Karen Benfield speaking at the 2023 Fall Roost fundraising event."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcDRNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--70ff35d0b309abaceb2690708b0ce4cb7dd21a04/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image1.jpg" alt="NYC Audubon Board President Karen Benfield speaking at the 2023 Fall Roost fundraising event."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div>Of course, our core mission remains unchanged. For more than four decades we have been guardians for birds in our urban spaces. We continue to protect waterbirds along our waterways and beaches. We know which birds are thriving and which are in trouble, and we have plans to help. Our <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight">Project Safe Flight program</a>, launched in 1997, has become a nationwide model and remains a cornerstone of our bird collision efforts. </div><div><br></div><div>Excitingly, we will continue this work under a new name this spring, welcoming all New Yorkers into our conservation community with a new calling card. I am proud to have led our dedicated board, committed to tackling important projects like the name change to serve the organization’s future. </div><div><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Left to right: Board Members Sandy Ewing, Karen Benfield, Mike Yuan, and Jeff Kimball at a summer member-birding event. '> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcUFNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--42e48178224fbf3c2fd96777a81ecbe09f5af580/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg' alt='Left to right: Board Members Sandy Ewing, Karen Benfield, Mike Yuan, and Jeff Kimball at a summer member-birding event. ' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Left to right: Board Members Sandy Ewing, Karen Benfield, Mike Yuan, and Jeff Kimball at a summer member-birding event. "> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcUFNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--42e48178224fbf3c2fd96777a81ecbe09f5af580/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg" alt="Left to right: Board Members Sandy Ewing, Karen Benfield, Mike Yuan, and Jeff Kimball at a summer member-birding event. "> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div>I step down fulfilled by the privilege of being part of such magnificent expansion of urban conservation. And what an honor it has been to have come to know our members. Your support of our mission is key to the continuing growth of our organization and the future for birds.<br><br><strong><em>Join our flock! </em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/support-birds/membership/join-our-flock"><strong><em>Become a member</em></strong></a><strong><em> to support our mission and do your part for the birds.</em></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27382024-03-06T13:15:00Z2024-03-06T19:15:02ZHow Can Weather Forecasts Help Us Save Birds?<div><strong><em><sub>An infographic, with a dead White-throated Sparrow at the right, explains the weather conditions that increase collision risk in New York City during the fall and spring seasons. Graphic: Sara Kross, PhD, with photo from Katherine Chen. <br></sub></em></strong><br></div><h1>How Can Weather forecasts help us save birds? </h1><div><br><strong><em>This article appears in the </em></strong><a href="https://issuu.com/nycaudubon/docs/ua_2024_01_spring_final_web"><strong><em>spring 2024 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong></a><strong>. <br><br>Sara Kross, PhD, Katherine Chen (NYC Audubon Community Science and Outreach Manager), and Benjamin Van Doren, PhD </strong>| March 6, 2024 <br><br>Migration is a particularly dangerous journey, and it’s estimated that collisions with windows kill up to one billion birds across North America annually. NYC Audubon scientists and partners have focused on this problem for decades. Now, new research on weather’s impact can make solutions more effective. </div><div><br></div><div>Every year, billions of birds migrate from their breeding grounds to their overwintering sites and back again. During this journey, NYC Audubon estimates that nearly a quarter million birds die from injuries caused by window collisions in the City each year. The causes? Glass and light. </div><div><br></div><div>A key action to decrease bird collisions is turning off unnecessary night-time lighting and reducing New York City’s light pollution, which draws migratory birds into the City, disorienting them and making them more susceptible to collisions with windows. </div><div><br></div><div>Across the continent, “Lights Out” programs encourage building owners and tenants to <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/artificial-light">turn off unnecessary lights</a> during migration. However, these programs are largely voluntary, and for many large buildings, a season-long Lights Out program (in New York City, April 1–May 31 in spring; August 15–November 15 in fall) has been a barrier to full participation.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2021, we—scientists from NYC Audubon, Columbia University, the University of Canterbury, American Bird Conservancy, Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—set out to remove this barrier. Our goal was to better understand collision risk factors and hone in on the most dangerous nights for birds in order to facilitate more effective calls for Lights Out participation.</div><div><br></div><div>Radar technology, like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast tool (pictured below), allows us to better predict nights that are likely to be problematic for bird collisions based on the number of migrating birds. Sometimes, however, nights that were predicted to be especially risky for bird collisions were below average, and nights that supposedly didn’t pose a threat turned into major mortality events. We thought weather might explain this variation.</div><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ BirdCast uses radar technology to predict migration intensity on given nights, up to three days in advance. Combining this information with weather forecasts and historical collision data opens up new bird conservation opportunities.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcHdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--563afc8024fdac321eeb37aa6b49a96da97c6c47/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/3%20US%20bird%20migration%20map_Cornell_Lab_BirdCast%20(1).jpg' alt='BirdCast uses radar technology to predict migration intensity on given nights, up to three days in advance. Combining this information with weather forecasts and historical collision data opens up new bird conservation opportunities.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ BirdCast uses radar technology to predict migration intensity on given nights, up to three days in advance. Combining this information with weather forecasts and historical collision data opens up new bird conservation opportunities."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcHdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--563afc8024fdac321eeb37aa6b49a96da97c6c47/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/3%20US%20bird%20migration%20map_Cornell_Lab_BirdCast%20(1).jpg" alt="BirdCast uses radar technology to predict migration intensity on given nights, up to three days in advance. Combining this information with weather forecasts and historical collision data opens up new bird conservation opportunities."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div><em>BirdCast uses radar technology to predict migration intensity on given nights, up to three days in advance. Combining this information with weather forecasts and historical collision data opens up new bird conservation opportunities. </em></div><div><br></div><div>Building on NYC Audubon’s <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight">Project Safe Flight</a>—where volunteers monitor buildings across the City for collision victims—we incorporated local weather data to avian migration data to see if weather could be an important predictor of collisions. Our findings indicated that weather conditions combined with migration traffic patterns are important predictors of bird collision risk. Generally, bird collision rates were higher when there was more migration traffic, but they were also affected by unfavorable wind and visibility.</div><div><br></div><div>In spring, birds migrate north; therefore, headwinds blowing from the north are unfavorable. In fall, when birds fly south, winds coming from the south are unfavorable. In both seasons, winds from the west push migrating birds toward New York City and its bright lights and then further past the coast towards open water. These wind conditions, along with poor visibility at higher altitudes, lead birds to fly at lower heights where they are more susceptible to collide. </div><div><br></div><div>These results will allow organizations and individuals to tailor their Lights Out initiatives. While Lights Out throughout entire migration seasons is the ultimate goal, it’s not an easy ask of many buildings, especially large ones. If we can garner greater participation from buildings across the City (and country) on the nights that are likely to be most dangerous—when migration traffic is high and birds are likely to face headwinds or low clouds—we can begin reducing collisions immediately. </div><div><br></div><div>Visit <a href="http://nycaudubon.org/artificial-light">nycaudubon.org/artificial-light</a> to learn more about the dangers of light pollution to birds and how you can help prevent collisions. <br><br><strong><em>Read the published research article </em></strong><a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14590"><strong><em>here</em></strong></a><strong><em>, from the </em></strong><strong>Journal of Applied Ecology.</strong></div><div><br></div>Katherine Chentag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27362024-03-06T13:00:00Z2024-03-06T19:15:47ZA Tale of Two Egrets <div><strong><em><sub>Large photo: “Edgar” the Great Egret is photographed exploring the interior of Don Riepe’s house in Broad Channel, Queens. Inset Photo: Edgar outside Don’s house. </sub></em></strong></div><div><br></div><h1>A Tale of Two Egrets</h1><div><br><strong><em>This article appears in the </em></strong><a href="https://issuu.com/nycaudubon/docs/ua_2024_01_spring_final_web"><strong><em>spring 2024 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong></a><strong>.</strong></div><div><br><strong>Don Riepe </strong>| March 6, 2024 </div><div><br></div><div>For most of my life, I lived happily at Broad Channel, Queens, with the birds outside. Until 15 years ago, when the birds started coming inside. As I sat on my dock in 2009 looking out at Jamaica Bay, a beautiful white Great Egret landed—and to my surprise—followed me into the house. I know we’re not supposed to feed wild animals but I couldn’t help myself and I offered the bird a fish. Soon, my new friend Egor the egret would stop by nearly every day for a snack. Egor was a gentle bird and would gingerly take the fish from my hand. She (I learned a few years later that Egor was female) quickly became a hit with my neighbors and the summer interns hired for the American Littoral Society. Every spring, she showed up in Jamaica Bay around April 1 and stayed until late October before she migrated south. </div><div><br></div><div>One spring morning in 2014, another egret visited my dock and chased Egor away. This individual was a little bigger with a deeper croak and more aggressive behavior—I knew this one was a male. I named him Edgar. It too started coming into my house, but now I had to figure out how to accommodate the two opposing genders, including on the occasions they came in at the same time and started flying through the house! One solution was to lure Edgar into a side room and lock him in until Egor was given some fish. Another was to train Egor to come to the upper deck out of Edgar’s sight and then feed her there. </div><div><br></div><div>Egor was a regular and reliable visitor for 10 years. Once she even showed up at my front door! But in 2020, Egor failed to return from her southern wintering area. To this day, Edgar still visits me at my house on the water in Jamaica Bay. Like Egor once did, he usually arrives in early April and stays through October, though last spring (2023) he came back in late March and didn’t leave the Bay until mid-November. This isn’t unusual—some egrets stay in New York well into December and have been seen on the <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/community-science-bird-surveys/audubon-christmas-bird-count">annual Christmas Bird Count</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>Over the years I’ve learned a lot about egret behavior and food preferences. Edgar for example rarely eats killifish and prefers Atlantic Silversides, a small baitfish that I catch in a trap or buy at a local bait shop. Once I ran out of silversides and gave him a small slice of salmon—which I soon learned was an expensive mistake because he now only wants salmon and refuses any other type of fish I give him. Fortunately, after the breeding season, he becomes somewhat shy and eats much less as he prepares to leave town.</div><div><br></div><div>Great Egrets nest at several of the NYC Audubon <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/birds-of-ny-harbor/harbor-herons">Harbor Heron monitoring sites</a> within Jamaica Bay along with Glossy Ibis, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, and several other species of waders. While Great Egret populations are stable, other birds—including Glossy Ibis and Black-crowned Night Herons—are showing alarming population declines. (Our back cover highlights NYC Audubon’s State of the Harbor Herons 2023 report, which details these findings.) While you don’t need to go as far as hand-feeding birds to understand them, the protection of these birds depends on monitoring and analyzing their behavior.</div><div><br></div><h4>* Editor’s note: NYC Audubon does not condone or encourage the feeding—or anthropomorphizing—of wild birds.</h4><div><br><strong><em>Discover the hidden world of NYC's majestic harbor herons with our annual </em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/birds-of-ny-harbor/harbor-herons/state-of-the-harbor-herons-2023"><strong>State of the Harbor Herons </strong><strong><em>report</em></strong></a><strong><em>. </em></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27372024-03-05T10:00:00Z2024-03-06T19:15:12Z2023 Christmas Bird Count Soars to New Heights<div><strong><em><sub>Almost two dozen intrepid Christmas Bird Count volunteers, led by Linnaean Society Board Member Alan Drogin and NYC Audubon Senior Manager of Green Infrastructure Myles Davis, survey The Farm atop the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Photo: NYC Audubon. </sub></em></strong><strong><em><sub><sup><br></sup></sub></em></strong><br></div><h1>2023 Christmas Bird Count Soars to New Heights </h1><div><br><strong><em>The article appears in the </em></strong><a href="https://issuu.com/nycaudubon/docs/ua_2024_01_spring_final_web"><strong><em>spring 2024 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong></a><strong>. <br><br>Carol Peace Robins </strong>| March 5, 2024 <br><br>When someone mentions Hudson Yards, what crosses your mind? Shops? Restaurants? The Vessel? Crowds? <br><br></div><div>Birds? <br><br></div><div>Well, yes, birds! This year for the second time, Hudson Yards was one of the 17 locations surveyed by NYC Audubon for the 124th Annual <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/community-science-bird-surveys/audubon-christmas-bird-count">Christmas Bird Count</a> (CBC) on Sunday, December 17, 2023. <br><br></div><div>NYC Audubon’s official territory—called the <em>New Jersey Lower Hudson Count Circle</em> by National Audubon—was one of thousands across North America taking part. This particular count circle, as each zone is called, consists of Manhattan, Randall’s Island, Governors Island, and parts of NJ. And this year was a historic one.<br><br></div><div>Bird-wise, Hudson Yards is no Central Park. However, that’s exactly why NYC Audubon chose it as one of its 17 sites. In an effort to highlight the allure of the City’s wide diversity of green space to native and visiting birds alike, and to appeal to both new and seasoned counters, it tapped some smaller areas like Hudson Yards, Madison Square Park, and Bryant Park. It worked! This year we had a record number of 400 registered volunteer counters.</div><div><br>Our Hudson Yards group of about twenty, led by volunteer Alan Drogin, spotted 10 different species, including a friendly Ovenbird who crept around long enough and close enough to pose for a lovely portrait. The final count was 2 Ovenbirds, 22 European Starlings, 21 House Sparrows, 54 Rock Doves, 46 White-throated Sparrows, 2 Grey Catbirds, 2 Eastern Towhees, 1 Northern Cardinal, 1 Swamp Sparrow, and 3 Double-crested Cormorants. This was, alas, less than last year’s count of 15 species, including a Hermit Thrush and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Closeup of an Ovenbird. Photo: shaunl from Getty Images Signature'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcHNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1fdfd8a77cd2714b66daa8a547a93334cc47c335/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image1.jpg' alt='Closeup of an Ovenbird. Photo: shaunl from Getty Images Signature' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Closeup of an Ovenbird. Photo: shaunl from Getty Images Signature"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcHNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1fdfd8a77cd2714b66daa8a547a93334cc47c335/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image1.jpg" alt="Closeup of an Ovenbird. Photo: shaunl from Getty Images Signature"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>What was most surprising about this year’s Hudson Yards count, however, was the inclusion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and, more specifically, its 6.75-acre Green Roof.<br><br></div><div>“Our count on top of the Javits green roof was the first time a green roof had ever been included in the Christmas Bird Count,” said Myles Davis, NYC Audubon Senior Manager of Green Infrastructure and co-lead of our count circle. “This was a really exciting opportunity for returning and first-time CBC volunteers.”<br><br></div><div>Davis gave our lucky group a private tour of the amazing farm, orchard, greenhouse, and “exclusive” herring gull nesting site in this truly unique space.<strong> <br></strong><br></div><div>“We've only just begun to understand <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/habitat-protection/green-roofs-and-infrastructure">the potential for green roofs</a> and other forms of urban green infrastructure to support urban bird diversity, and I think it's really special that one of the country's longest-running wildlife censuses is now part of that effort.”<br><br></div><div>Only four White-throated Sparrows and three Double-crested cormorants were spotted on the roof that day. But it’s also worth noting that NYC Audubon scientists have been counting species at the Javits Center since the Green Roof’s 2014 debut. And the current tally is…. 65!<br><br></div><div>Counts in diverse locations like the high-up Javits Green Roof and the pocket-sized Madison Square Park can help scientists understand how different habitats support bird populations over time. In Madison Square Park, leader Tod Winston led an accessible “slow walk” count where volunteers observed 13 species, matching last year’s species total exactly. This year, species at Madison Square Park included Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, and Hermit Thrush. <br><br></div><div>The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running community science bird survey project, originating on Christmas Day 1900 when ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the very early days of the National Audubon Society, suggested a “Christmas Bird Census” that would <em>count</em> birds—a novel idea at the time to replace an earlier and more troubling Christmas activity that centered on <em>shooting</em> birds. That day, 27 first-ever bird counters tallied about 90 species in locations ranging from Toronto to Pacific Grove, California.<br><br></div><div>Now, more than a century later, tens of thousands of volunteers take part in the CBC around the world. The data collected is vital for researchers and scientists to assess the rise and fall of bird populations, to help protect species and their habitat, and more recently, to weigh the dangerous effects of climate change. <br><br></div><div>While very helpful for protecting birds, the Christmas Bird Count also happens to be fun! Read more about the Christmas Bird Count, including NYC Audubon’s final bird count tallies, at <a href="http://nycaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count">nycaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count</a>. And make sure to join us next year by signing up for our monthly <a href="http://nycaudubon.org/egret">eGret eNewsletter</a>. <br><br><strong><em>In addition to the </em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/community-science-bird-surveys/audubon-christmas-bird-count"><strong><em>Christmas Bird Count</em></strong></a><strong><em>, you can </em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/take-action/volunteer"><strong><em>volunteer with NYC Audubon</em></strong></a><strong><em> year-round. Help protect wild birds and build a bird-safe New York City by joining our team! </em></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27352024-02-21T10:30:00Z2024-02-21T13:34:55ZStudy Shows How Weather, Migration Intensity Affect Bird Collisions in New York City<div><strong><em><sub>A New York City Audubon volunteer finds a White-throated Sparrow dead on the sidewalk, a victim of a collision with reflective glass. Photo: Winston Qin</sub></em></strong><strong><sub><br><br></sub></strong><strong>Andrew Maas</strong> | February 21, 2024<strong><sub><br></sub></strong><br><strong>Study Reveals How Weather, Migration Intensity Affect Bird Collisions in New York City</strong></div><div><em>Predicting the number of collisions during a given period will improve conservation efforts in the City and other urban areas<br><br></em>Up to a quarter million birds die annually from crashing into New York City’s buildings due to light pollution and reflective or clear glass. <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14590">A new study in the <em>Journal of Applied Ecology</em></a> found that weather forecasts and bird migration intensity data can be used together to predict the days of greatest bird collision risk in New York City. This information can then be used to target particularly high-risk nights in New York City—and potentially, metropolises similar to New York City—for “Lights Out” initiatives that would reduce collisions more effectively. </div><div><br></div><div>“We found that seasonally unfavorable wind directions, low visibility, and low cloud ceilings increase collision risk during both spring and fall migration, especially on nights when large numbers of birds are migrating overhead,” says Katherine Chen of Columbia University and NYC Audubon, and the lead author of the study. “Specifically, northerly and westerly winds and low visibility in the spring, as well as southerly and westerly winds and low cloud ceiling height in the fall, lead to the greatest collision risk in New York City.” </div><div> </div><div>Scientists from NYC Audubon, Columbia University, the University of Canterbury, American Bird Conservancy, Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign combined five years of bird collision data from 27 buildings in New York City with concurrent historical weather and migration data. Using this dataset, they then generated predictions of the likelihood of collisions under varying weather and migration conditions for spring and fall. </div><div> </div><div>“We’d seen that during periods of high bird migration ‘traffic,’ there were mornings where volunteer collision monitors found hundreds of dead or injured birds, and mornings that were much quieter,” says study co-author Dr. Sara Kross of Columbia University and the University of Canterbury. "We suspected weather was playing a role in that variation, so we combined the two to see if we could provide more refined predictions of bird collision risk. We were lucky to have such a large dataset collected by NYC Audubon to work with, allowing us to conduct the first study that has considered the effects of weather and bird migration intensity on bird collision rates at a city-wide scale.”</div><div> </div><div>“Most birds migrate at night, flying hundreds to thousands of miles in several days,” says study co-author Kaitlyn Parkins, formerly at NYC Audubon and now glass collisions program coordinator at American Bird Conservancy. “Those that land in the City to rest and refuel find themselves in an unfamiliar maze of intense lights and deadly glass. Our study shows that unfavorable weather conditions including fog, low clouds, and strong winds may amplify the effects of light pollution and cause even larger numbers of birds to land in dangerous built environments, leading to deadly window collisions."</div><div> <br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ An infographic, featuring a dead White-throated Sparrow on the right side, explains the weather conditions that increase collision risk in New York City during the fall and spring seasons. Graphic by Dr. Sara Kross, with photo by Katherine Chen.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBb2NNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--df4067de42772a52cd06eb6d06ab4138fca94449/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2%20Weather%20collisions%20NYC%20infographic%20Dr%20Sara%20Kross%20and%20Katherine%20Chen.png' alt='An infographic, featuring a dead White-throated Sparrow on the right side, explains the weather conditions that increase collision risk in New York City during the fall and spring seasons. Graphic by Dr. Sara Kross, with photo by Katherine Chen.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ An infographic, featuring a dead White-throated Sparrow on the right side, explains the weather conditions that increase collision risk in New York City during the fall and spring seasons. Graphic by Dr. Sara Kross, with photo by Katherine Chen."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBb2NNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--df4067de42772a52cd06eb6d06ab4138fca94449/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2%20Weather%20collisions%20NYC%20infographic%20Dr%20Sara%20Kross%20and%20Katherine%20Chen.png" alt="An infographic, featuring a dead White-throated Sparrow on the right side, explains the weather conditions that increase collision risk in New York City during the fall and spring seasons. Graphic by Dr. Sara Kross, with photo by Katherine Chen."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div>The study used collision data from NYC Audubon’s Project Safe Flight collision monitoring program, which for over 25 years has engaged volunteers to patrol the City’s streets to look for bird strike victims during migration seasons. Using these community science data, as well as collisions reported by the public to its crowd-sourced <a href="http://dbird.org">dBird.org</a> database, NYC Audubon partners with managers of collision-prone buildings–most recently and notably <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/climate/new-york-birds-windows.html&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1707958195278746&usg=AOvVaw1NatBtPi6G8ZG7gqMd44bE">Circa Central Park</a>–to implement bird-safe glass retrofits. </div><div> </div><div>“While urban green spaces can provide quality stopover habitat for birds to rest and refuel, cities also present hazards and so research like this is important for understanding how to better mitigate those risks,” said study co-author Dr. Chad Seewagen of Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center and Columbia University.</div><div> </div><div>The ability to forecast both weather patterns and bird migration intensity and timing has opened new doors for conservationists to analyze and act on hazards for migratory birds. The <a href="http://birdcast.info">BirdCast</a> program, a consortium of several universities’ aeroecologists and data scientists run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, employs weather surveillance radar technology and machine learning algorithms to provide predictions about and near real-time insights into bird migrations. As bird migration forecasting tools continue to improve with the advances made by programs like BirdCast, conservation groups are developing customized migration alerts for cities and regions.</div><div> </div><div>“Bird migration is complex and dynamic, but the fact is that we can model it, and predict it with high confidence, which affords us some exciting opportunities,” says study co-author Dr. Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Additionally, enabling communities, in this case municipal and conservation, to understand bird movements as they happen, and with sufficient historical background to then predict what will happen with precision and accuracy, well that’s decision support to take more effective actions at its best–be it for eliminating non-essential light, treating glass, or expanding collision monitoring efforts.”</div><div> </div><div>NYC Audubon helped pass Lights Out legislation in the New York City Council in 2022, requiring all City-owned and managed buildings to significantly reduce night-time lighting to weaken the lure of migrating birds into the City. But, for effective action to reduce collisions, a much larger percentage of the City’s hundreds of thousands of buildings would need to participate. A bill expanding upon this 2022 legislation requiring a significant number of commercial buildings to reduce their nighttime lighting is currently being considered for introduction in the New York City Council.</div><div> </div><div>“Existing Lights Out advisories generally focus on alerting stakeholders to the times of heaviest predicted bird migration, but what we are learning in cities like New York City and Chicago is that it is also crucial to consider local weather conditions when predicting collision risk,” says study co-author Dr. Benjamin Van Doren, a BirdCast team member and Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “This study will help us better forecast bird collision risk in urban areas.”</div><div> </div><div>“Temporary reductions in light pollution save migratory birds and are a great way to engage the public with the excitement and dynamism of bird migration,” Dr. Van Doren continues. “But actions that permanently reduce light pollution and encourage bird-safe building standards and window treatments are also essential steps towards reducing collisions.” </div><div> </div><div>By combining both weather forecasts and bird migration forecasts, catastrophic collision events like the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/16/new-york-city-migrating-birds-deaths">hundreds of birds found dead in New York City</a> on one day in 2021 or the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/us/birds-dead-chicago-building.html">nearly one thousand avian fatalities found one morning at Chicago’s McCormick Place</a> Lakeside Center last year could be avoided, as could the less visible individual collisions that make up the nearly one billion bird deaths each year in the U.S. </div><div> </div><div>"This study shows the promise of using weather forecasts to determine when collision risk will be highest," says Jessica G. Wilson, executive director of New York City Audubon. "Though the study focuses on buildings in New York City, the model can be replicated in other cities to reduce the staggering number of birds that collide with buildings across the globe.”<br><br></div><div><strong>Read the Paper in the </strong><strong><em>Journal of Applied Ecology</em></strong><strong>:</strong></div><div>Katherine Chen, Sara Kross, Kaitlyn Parkins, Chad Seewagen, Andrew Farnsworth, Benjamin Van Doren. Heavy migration traffic and bad weather are a dangerous combination: bird collisions in New York City. <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14590"><em>Journal of Applied Ecology</em></a>. 2024. </div><div> </div><div><strong>More Information</strong>:</div><ul><li>NYC Audubon’s <a href="http://nycaudubon.org/project-safe-flight">Project Safe Flight</a> collisions research </li><li>American Bird Conservancy’s <a href="https://abcbirds.org/glass-collisions/">Glass Collision Prevention</a> program</li><li>Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s <a href="http://birdcast.info/">BirdCast</a> migration forecasts</li><li>NYC Audubon’s <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/lights-out-legislation">Lights Out</a> advocacy</li></ul>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27342024-02-05T15:10:00Z2024-02-05T20:41:43ZShare Your Feedback on Top Five Name Choices<div><strong><em><sub>Graphic: NYC Audubon</sub></em></strong><br><br><strong>Andrew Maas</strong> | February 5, 2024<br><br>As <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/nyregion/audubon-name-change-nyc.html">many already know</a>, NYC Audubon decided to drop "Audubon" from its name last spring and will soon choose a new name that is inclusive and represents our focus on bird conservation. We have some exciting news to share with the public about the process! <br><br></div><div><strong>We're down to five possible name choices.</strong> Throughout 2023, we collected hundreds of suggestions for new names from members, supporters, volunteers, program participants, and others. We’ve also considered the names that chapters across the nation are choosing as they come up with new names. <br><br>Our <a href="https://nycaudubon.app.neoncrm.com/track//servlet/DisplayLink?orgId=nycaudubon&{{emailTrackingId}}&{{secureId}}&linkId=70322&targetUrl=https://nycaudubon.org/audubon-name/newname">Name Change Task Force</a> has narrowed down the choices to these top five names: <br><br></div><ul><li><strong>Birds Connect NYC</strong></li><li><strong>Birds for All NYC (or NYC Birds for All)</strong></li><li><strong>Birds NYC (or NYC Birds)</strong></li><li><strong>NYC Bird Alliance</strong></li><li><strong>NYC Bird Conservancy</strong></li></ul><div><br><strong>We want to hear from you!</strong> We have invited our organization’s diverse array of stakeholders—from our thousands of volunteers to our expert bird guides to our many partner organizations—to share their feedback as well. Based on all the input we receive, plus any marketing, legal, and administrative considerations, our task force will present two final names to our board of directors, who will decide the name in late March. <a href="https://nycaudubon.app.neoncrm.com/track//servlet/DisplayLink?orgId=nycaudubon&{{emailTrackingId}}&{{secureId}}&linkId=70323&targetUrl=https://nycaudubon.org/audubon-name/newname">Learn more about our name change process here</a>. <br><br>Thanks to the many members and supporters who attended our special webinar on January 23 and shared input about those five choices. You can view a <a href="https://youtu.be/0yjStRqQWDo">recording of our Name Change presentation here</a>. If you would like to provide feedback on our top five name choices, <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3ZYt4vlU3MvIf8q9C6dSH4iKeIYeRyZBvsVgNkOtN3Q7caQ/viewform">please use this google form</a> by February 15, 2024. We consider each and every bit of feedback provided to us along this journey.</div><div><br><strong>What’s next in the name change process?</strong> Based on all the input we receive over the next month, as well as marketing, legal, and administrative considerations, our task force will present two final names to our board of directors, who will decide our new name in late March. Stay tuned for more information! <br><br>Sincerely,<br><br>Andrew Maas<br>Director of Marketing and Communications</div>Andrew Maastag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27332024-01-08T10:25:00Z2024-03-06T18:22:16Z2023 Harbor Herons Report: A Q&A <div><strong><em><sup>Egret Colony. Photo by Don Riepe. </sup></em></strong><br><br><strong>Olivia Liang</strong> | January 8, 2024<br><br>NYC Audubon’s annual Harbor Herons Nesting Survey has monitored and protected these birds since 1982. This year, NYC Audubon (in partnership with American Littoral Society, Huckleberry Indians, Inc., NPS, NYC Parks, USDA/APHIS, and Wild Bird Fund) surveyed 19 New York harbor islands and found 1,398 pairs of seven different wading bird species. </div><div><br></div><div>To get a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s data collection, NYC Audubon sat down with <strong>Tod Winston</strong>, our Urban Biodiversity Specialist, creator of the <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/state-of-the-harbor-herons-2023">2023 <em>State of the Harbor Herons</em></a><em>,</em> and former Harbor Herons Nesting Survey Coordinator, and <strong>Dr. Shannon Curley, PhD</strong>, our current Harbor Herons Nesting Survey Coordinator who has collaborated on the last 38 years of Harbor Heron data.<br> <br><em><sup>This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.</sup></em><br><br></div><h3>View the 2023 State of the Harbor Herons Report <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/state-of-the-harbor-herons-2023">here</a>. </h3><div><em><sup><br></sup></em><br></div><h4><strong>Let’s start with some background of the </strong><strong><em>State of the Harbor Herons </em></strong><strong>Report. Tod, this report looks very different from previous years. </strong></h4><div><br><strong>Tod Winston:</strong> Yes! The idea of this report is to make the Harbor Herons a lot more accessible to people who aren't scientists already working with these birds. We already know and love them; we need to spread the love. </div><div>Our past reports were very dense, technical texts, many pages long. When creating this report, we’ve tried to keep things very simple. We have good news: first, when birds are disturbed and abandon their colony, they are successfully moving to new islands in New York Harbor. Second, Great Blue Herons nested on Millrock Island, a record for Manhattan! But there are also causes for alarm: the main threats to these species are human disturbance, predators, pollution, and climate change. <br><br>And of course, we want people to know how they can help these beautiful birds. So this year’s report really has an entirely different goal. I hope it's effective and that it connects people to our work—and to the Harbor Herons.<br><br><br></div><h4><strong>Shannon, could talk about what it's like performing these surveys and the experience of collecting this data? </strong></h4><div><br></div><div><strong>Shannon Curley:</strong> Every year, our surveys are conducted from the 15th to the 31st of May. It's the peak of the breeding season so we expect that most birds have already started incubating their eggs or have nestlings, which is why we time the surveys that way. We typically bring out a group of six to 12 volunteers, depending on how large the island is for the survey, and we split into groups and record nests by species. We look at the nests, the contents, whether it has nestlings or unhatched eggs, and we record the tree or shrub species of the type of vegetation the nest is in to get as much data as we can. And essentially, we want to make sure we document as many nests as possible to get the most accurate counts for each island. </div><div><br></div><div>Every island is its own new adventure. The composition of species is different on each island, and every island has a unique history about it. So it's a very interesting dynamic. At first, it seemed like a lot of islands to get to know, but then once you realize how different they are, and as you go back each time, it becomes a little more second nature. <br><br><br></div><h4><strong>Looking at the </strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbDhNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--dce0385340ea11e682e4694fc430596bc643c143/State%20of%20Harbor%20Herons_2023_web.pdf"><strong>species numbers on page 2</strong></a><strong>, what are your thoughts? As the ornithologist leading these surveys and conducting this research, how do you read these numbers? </strong></h4><div><br><strong>SC:</strong> The Glossy Ibis decline is what I'm finding troubling. The Black-Crowned Night Heron decline is also troubling, but the Glossy Ibis numbers are becoming quite low… I think the 2022 season was the first year Glossy Ibis were not recorded on our largest Harbor Heron colony, so that's a bit alarming. But the Black-crowned Night Heron populations have also been steeply declining since 2000. So they're both cause for alarm.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>TW: </strong>My main thoughts are similar to Shannon's. The Black-crowned Night-Heron numbers represent a more clear and stable decline over time. Glossy Ibis numbers, on the other hand, have gone up and down a lot from year to year. They vary a lot. But a statistical analysis takes out those highs and lows and shows they are also declining.<br><br></div><div>For me, these findings raise a lot of questions as to why. Are there some causes that they have in common? And maybe some that affect one species and not the other? Glossy Ibis nests are very close to the ground, so they seem very vulnerable to sea level rise and predators, while Black-crowned Night-Herons actually nest quite a bit higher. So I wouldn't think they would be more vulnerable than other species that nest in similar places, like Snowy Egrets—but perhaps other issues like contaminants or things that we don't yet know are in play.<br><br><br></div><h4><strong>With these larger questions, what’s the next step in answering those? What’s the next step for a report like this? </strong></h4><div><br></div><div><strong>TW:</strong> Next year, we will fully analyze the last 37 years of data which will help us get a clearer idea of what the declines really are. But also sharing that with the wider community will help us communicate with other scientists who are studying the same species. Understanding these declines may be beyond our ken just in New York City. The bigger trends that require research should combine the minds of researchers who are studying the species over much larger areas. Would you agree, Shannon? </div><div><br></div><div><strong>SC: </strong>Absolutely. Because it's likely not just one thing that is contributing to these declines. It's likely a multitude of things combined. And I think publishing these declines, first and foremost, is the most important step in getting that information out there. And, hopefully, this will garner more interest in the regional community so that we can start collaborating on other research projects and research goals from an applied conservation perspective.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>TW:</strong> Right, because the thing is that it's not just New York City. These are wide-ranging species, so the causes of the decline could be in NYC, they could be in NYC <em>and</em> on their wintering grounds. They could be on the wintering grounds and not in NYC. They could also be along the birds’ migration routes! And there may be multiple causes, so it's very complex. And as Shannon said, publishing our findings allows other people to see and respond to the data, kicking off new questions that could actually lead to more research. </div><div>We have a really long data set that includes not just the numbers of each species year to year, but also which islands they’re nesting on and what kind of habitats they're using. So it's possible that our data might hold more answers if we ask the right questions.</div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Dr. Shannon Curley, PhD, and Tod Winston survey Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbW9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--f6dbca9616606bebc7ce06fd0df1eb1946d70d99/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image2.jpg' alt='Dr. Shannon Curley, PhD, and Tod Winston survey Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Dr. Shannon Curley, PhD, and Tod Winston survey Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbW9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--f6dbca9616606bebc7ce06fd0df1eb1946d70d99/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image2.jpg" alt="Dr. Shannon Curley, PhD, and Tod Winston survey Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h4><strong>Do you have any particular highlights from this season’s surveys?</strong></h4><div><br><strong>SC:</strong> I remember getting to one Jamaica Bay island and thinking it was going to be one of the easier surveys. Some surveys are harder than others and with this island, you would expect it to be [consistent with the previous year’s decline]. I remember the weather was beautiful. It just seemed like a perfect day and it really was because we got to the island and realized, oh, there's <em>a lot</em> of birds. Usually some surveys can be more of a leisurely stroll, but this time, it was no, we gotta go. We gotta count quickly! So I was really happy to see this colony doing so well this year. That was a lot of fun—a little intimidating because that was the first time as survey coordinator that I realized it was a much bigger survey than I initially expected, but I had a great group of volunteers with me, so I got very lucky.</div><div><br><strong>TW:</strong> It is very exciting going to the islands every year because they change every year! We find different birds, we find birds we don't expect, we find that the birds are gone from where they were before—which always worries us. The islands that Shannon was talking about are ones that have shifted around a lot in Jamaica Bay. We found one island that had been a really productive colony, but now it was abandoned. But at the same time, we discovered that birds were greatly increasing on several other islands, so that makes an exciting season. The birds are still there. They've just moved on to new places.<br><br><br></div><h4><strong>As scientists, how do you juggle the good with the bad? This year, we have new data on declining populations, but at the same time, Great Blue Herons nested in Manhattan, a first for modern times! How do you process that progress with the decline? </strong></h4><div><br></div><div><strong>SC:</strong> Being a Harbor Herons survey leader has a lot of ups and downs because-–and Tod you can attest to this—you are <em>so</em> emotionally invested. When you start running these surveys, you take on everything. It's hard to not get upset when a colony becomes abandoned, it's hard to not get upset about certain things. But at the same time, you realize what a neat responsibility this is that we are out there collecting this data because it's so important. And though it can be heartbreaking at times, it is also very rewarding. And I think having this data, and being able to use this data in a bunch of different ways—whether it's conservation or advocacy—I think it's all for the greater good. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>TW: </strong>Like Shannon says, it can be really upsetting to find that a beautiful colony has been devastated. I remember when I was on a survey, this is maybe 10 years ago now, we discovered Goose Island in the Bronx had been not only abandoned, but raccoons had gotten on the island and killed a bunch of birds. We found cracked eggs and dead adults, and we all responded really emotionally. We love these birds. That's why we do this work. </div><div>At the same time, since we have access to 30 years of these surveys, you can see that the birds have moved all over the harbor. They used to be on completely different islands than they are now, and they've moved several times among all of these several dozen islands. So that gives us hope. It is important to note that the birds have not returned to previously abandoned islands, so one of our main pushes in this project is to make sure as many islands as possible remain open and available to these birds. Because if they do have habitat available, they seem quite capable of adapting to changes and continuing to live and thrive here.<br><br><br></div><h4><strong>So with that said, if someone were to ask you: The Black-crowned Night-Heron currently has the largest number of nesting pairs. Does it really matter that they’re in decline? What do you say to those who might not understand the importance of each of these nesting pairs and populations? </strong></h4><div><br></div><div><strong>SC:</strong> I love that question, and it's a really important question. I think when people say, oh, there's a lot of pairs nesting here, why does it matter if they’re declining so quickly? The answer is: birds are bioindicators. They give us an idea of the health of an ecosystem, so they're important, especially Black-crowned Night Herons who are more sensitive to things like pollutants.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>TW:</strong> My first thought too was that if bird populations are changing that quickly, it means that something is wrong, and we need to figure out what that is. Both because it affects the beautiful birds that have value in their own right, and because it could be affecting all sorts of other parts of the ecosystem, including people. <br><br></div><div>These birds are bioindicators because they're at the top of the food chain. They eat a lot of smaller critters, so pollutants show up in them in high concentrations. People are also at the top of the food chain! The same pollutants that show up in these birds could show up in us. We all drink the same water and live in the same area. We're not living in a bubble… or I guess, we're living in the <em>same</em> bubble!</div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Black-crowned Night-Heron surveyed on Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Jeffrey_Kolodzinski'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbXNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9bf0a953f1838b9fab3b6c64af00a701a63dc0d7/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg' alt='Black-crowned Night-Heron surveyed on Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Jeffrey_Kolodzinski' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Black-crowned Night-Heron surveyed on Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Jeffrey_Kolodzinski"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbXNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9bf0a953f1838b9fab3b6c64af00a701a63dc0d7/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg" alt="Black-crowned Night-Heron surveyed on Elder’s East Island in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Jeffrey_Kolodzinski"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h4><strong>As you know, our NYC Audubon community is an incredibly passionate and curious bunch. What would you say to those who want to learn more about our Harbor Herons and possibly visit these islands? </strong></h4><div><br><strong>SC: </strong>We want the public to know what's happening with these birds in our region, but without them feeling the need to be like: I have to go to this island and check for myself.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>TW:</strong> That's always a concern of ours. When we talk about these birds, we want people to know about them but we also don't want people to visit the islands and potentially hurt them. So we're asking people to admire them from afar, to get to know them and see how beautiful they are, but also realize that it's all of our responsibility to protect them. It’s critical that we allow them to do their thing without being disturbed.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>SC: </strong>And “disturbance” is the key word here. These are colonial nesting birds; they are attracted to the presence of other birds. If some of them get spooked, the whole colony could get scared away. So I think being mindful of how sensitive they are to human disturbance and the presence of predators means we keep our distance and admire from afar.</div><div><br><strong>TW: </strong>But also, when people go out into their neighborhoods, they can see these birds! They breed on these remote islands, but they come to find food in little lakes and ponds and along the shoreline all over the City. So in the spring and summer, when people are out in their neighborhoods, they can see a Great Egret or a night-heron. Lots of people live in areas where these birds forage regularly if they want to go looking for them. They're probably seeing the same birds we count on the islands, catching a frog or crawfish to bring back to their babies.<br><br><br></div><h4>Read the complete 2023 <em>State of the Harbor Herons</em> Report <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/state-of-the-harbor-herons-2023">here</a>. </h4><div><br></div>Olivia Liangtag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27322023-12-04T11:05:00Z2024-03-06T18:22:26ZSyrinx Spotlight: PSF Volunteer, Photographer & High-School Senior Winston Qin<div><strong><em><sup>Winston Qin (left) is a high school senior who has used his talent as a gifted photographer to document the inspiring work of our Project Safe Flight volunteers. An injured Yellow-rumped Warbler (right) bleeding from the beak is handled by a Project Safe Flight volunteer before being transported to the Wild Bird Fund. Photo by Winston Qin.<br><br></sup></em></strong><strong>By Olivia Liang | </strong>4 December 2023<br><br>Acts of service sustain every nonprofit, and the New York City Audubon network is built upon volunteers who give their time—and talents. Regardless of background or ability, we are all here in service of birds and New York City. Our community is a diverse one, spanning from original members who started this chapter in 1979 to the young people in our City who are growing up in a world of crisis. Winston Qin is one of the latter. He is one of our <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight">Project Safe Flight</a> volunteers who, like 141 others, gives up his mornings to walk a designated route searching for collision victims—injured, stunned, and deceased birds. </div><div><br></div><div>Winston Qin shares the same grit and passion that make our volunteers invaluable; but while others squeeze in their volunteer hours before work or after a day of caretaking, Winston does his service between homework, exams, and now, college applications. Winston Qin is a 17-year-old high school senior at Hunter College High School; he is a NYC Audubon collision monitor and has been using his talent as a self-taught photographer to bring the duty and service of a Project Safe Flight volunteer to life. <br><br></div><h3>“We didn’t even have that much glass, but I saw it and wondered what happened.”</h3><div><br></div><div>Winston has loved birds since his mom bought him a stuffed animal penguin when he was three years old. But it was only two years ago when Winston stepped outside his apartment building in Lower Manhattan and spotted a dead Northern Waterthrush that he considered the lives of wild birds in his home City. “We didn’t even have that much glass,” he said, “but I saw it and wondered what happened.” </div><div><br></div><div>In many ways, a dead Northern Waterthrush became Winston’s sparkbird. Suddenly, birds meant more than park pigeons and sparrows, smiling cartoon ducks, and his trusty stuffed animal penguin.</div><div><br>“The world of happy and free birds suddenly became less realistic.”</div><div><br></div><div>Soon after, Winston joined NYC Audubon’s Injured Bird Response Team, working three five-hour shifts each week during summer vacation, monitoring the emails and calls from across the City reporting birds in need of rescue. The Injured Bird Response Team introduced the very idea of conservation to Winston; Project Safe Flight then allowed him to partake in the fight. </div><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ A stunned Common Yellowthroat lifelessly faces the wall. Many stunned collision victims lose the coordination and strength to resume flight and instead remain motionless and vulnerable for up to hours. Photo by Winston Qin.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBakFNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--c8583e13fa66b81cba703071c7e5f769b2de0544/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Copy%20of%20PSF_EXPORT_1-4.jpg' alt='A stunned Common Yellowthroat lifelessly faces the wall. Many stunned collision victims lose the coordination and strength to resume flight and instead remain motionless and vulnerable for up to hours. Photo by Winston Qin.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ A stunned Common Yellowthroat lifelessly faces the wall. Many stunned collision victims lose the coordination and strength to resume flight and instead remain motionless and vulnerable for up to hours. Photo by Winston Qin."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBakFNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--c8583e13fa66b81cba703071c7e5f769b2de0544/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Copy%20of%20PSF_EXPORT_1-4.jpg" alt="A stunned Common Yellowthroat lifelessly faces the wall. Many stunned collision victims lose the coordination and strength to resume flight and instead remain motionless and vulnerable for up to hours. Photo by Winston Qin."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><br></div><h3>“That’s one building, one bird, in one hour, in one day. There are thousands of buildings, thousands of hours of migration, thousands of different species, and thousands of birds of those different species.” </h3><div><br></div><div>Willingly beginning a day with tragedy takes a special kind of person. Our Project Safe Flight volunteers set out while sidewalks are still empty and the sky still dark, documenting and clearing away collision victims before the rest of us wake: dead birds are placed in plastic bags, the injured in paper ones. </div><div><br></div><div>For Winston, colorful collision victims, like Northern Parulas, with their bright yellows and greens carry a particularly somber note. Then there are the “really bad days,” like one several weeks ago, when Winston and his monitoring partner Hilary Berliner encountered almost 30 injured and dead birds. “We saw warblers literally falling from the sky,” Winston said. “We saw one crash above us, we saw one falling in the trees. They were dying right in front of us.” </div><div><br></div><div>It can be uncomfortably easy to acclimate to ugliness and tragedy, as the bar for what disturbs us gets raised and raised. Winston, like many other collision monitors, admits that he has become desensitized to the loss of life, but that doesn’t mean the bigger picture is lost on him. </div><div><br></div><div>“This morning, I found an Ovenbird dead next to a window,” he said. “That’s one building, one bird, in one hour, in one day. There are thousands of buildings, thousands of hours of migration, thousands of different species, and thousands of birds of those different species. It’s incredible.”</div><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ The marvelous plumage of a stunned (but alive!) male Common Yellowthroat. Common Yellowthroats are common collision victims found throughout fall migration in the northeast. Photo by Winston Qin.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBakVNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a8090e72c3f7a4d66dd3fe4503c93a1a115c8714/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2023-09-23_export_1-5.jpg' alt='The marvelous plumage of a stunned (but alive!) male Common Yellowthroat. Common Yellowthroats are common collision victims found throughout fall migration in the northeast. Photo by Winston Qin.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ The marvelous plumage of a stunned (but alive!) male Common Yellowthroat. Common Yellowthroats are common collision victims found throughout fall migration in the northeast. Photo by Winston Qin."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBakVNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a8090e72c3f7a4d66dd3fe4503c93a1a115c8714/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2023-09-23_export_1-5.jpg" alt="The marvelous plumage of a stunned (but alive!) male Common Yellowthroat. Common Yellowthroats are common collision victims found throughout fall migration in the northeast. Photo by Winston Qin."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><br></div><h3>"For Project Safe Flight, you're already directly helping birds. [...] Layering on photography is just another way."</h3><div><br>While volunteering as a Project Safe Flight monitor is work enough, Winston’s service to New York City birds doesn’t stop with the route. Instead, he uses these morning hours as an opportunity for artistic expression. </div><div><br></div><div>“I’ve done photography for seven years, so that’s a pretty long time for someone who is 17 years old,” said Winston. His photography journey started with what is perhaps a familiar role to some of us: de-facto family photographer. With an old Canon Rebel XT-i, Winston documented vacations to Virginia: family photos, Blue Ridge mountains, blurry Turkey Vultures. But after an indescribable number of hours reading blogs, diving into camera catalogs, and watching YouTube videos to refine his craft—and haggling on Craigslist for used cameras and lenses—Winston now supplies photos for his school newspapers, yearbook, and student government. His professional website has albums from his early street photography days—when he’d sneak around trains and neighborhoods in search of a moving shot—to school cultural celebrations, sporting events, and now, Project Safe Flight. </div><div><br></div><div>“I work my photography into a bunch of different places and with Project Safe Flight came this opportunity to do that again,” Winston said. “We see all these birds, they’re right next to glass, and it’s just such a perfect opportunity for me to use my photography skills and integrate it into what I’m doing otherwise.” </div><div><br></div><div>Winston strives for photos that “pop out” to the viewer and offer a sense of wonder: Icelandic puffins against teal blue water, rolling sand dunes in Colorado, a collision victim bleeding from the beak or stunned in front of warmly lit windows. </div><div><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ A Bay-breasted Warbler, stunned after colliding with a window at Brookfield Place, remains motionless as the hand of a Project Safe Flight volunteer reaches out to contain it. Photo by Winston Qin. '> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaTRNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--68a60057233113672ab1deae84fb7f37d2da992a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2023-09-16_PSF_high_migration_day_EXPORT_2-11.jpg' alt='A Bay-breasted Warbler, stunned after colliding with a window at Brookfield Place, remains motionless as the hand of a Project Safe Flight volunteer reaches out to contain it. Photo by Winston Qin. ' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ A Bay-breasted Warbler, stunned after colliding with a window at Brookfield Place, remains motionless as the hand of a Project Safe Flight volunteer reaches out to contain it. Photo by Winston Qin. "> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaTRNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--68a60057233113672ab1deae84fb7f37d2da992a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2023-09-16_PSF_high_migration_day_EXPORT_2-11.jpg" alt="A Bay-breasted Warbler, stunned after colliding with a window at Brookfield Place, remains motionless as the hand of a Project Safe Flight volunteer reaches out to contain it. Photo by Winston Qin. "> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>This photo of a Bay-breasted Warbler is Winston’s favorite from his time with Project Safe Flight. </div><div><br></div><div>Despite the warm appearance of the photo, “The story behind [it] is kind of sad. There was a dead Ovenbird right next to this one, so we put that in the plastic bag and we were about to put this in the brown bag to take to the Wild Bird Fund. This hand is the hand of my coworker, Hilary,” Winston explained. “These birds are very very feisty birds—it’s impossible to get ahold of these. She went to grab it and its wings started to flap and it took off, so it escaped, unfortunately, but we got this photo. …This was right in front of a restaurant window near Brookfield Place.”</div><div><br></div><div>Photography, for Winston, is just another form of service in the fight to protect wild birds in New York City, and his willingness to share these photos is a great asset to NYC Audubon and our mission to protect wild birds and bring awareness to their plight.</div><div><br></div><div>“For Project Safe Flight, you’re already directly helping the birds. You’re rescuing them, you’re saving them from cats, transporting them to <a href="http://wildbirdfund.org">Wild Bird Fund</a>. It’s a direct connection to birds. And layering on photography is just another way to help [them].” </div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Project Safe Flight volunteers Hilary Berliner and Fruzsina Agocs document the bird collision victims as onlookers watch in shock. Injured and stunned birds are kept in paper bags and transferred to the Wild Bird Fund. Photo by Winston Qin.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaThNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d40374c8cd3ccf671570fa92f38a00767b76ab89/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Copy%20of%20PSF_EXPORT_1-27.jpg' alt='Project Safe Flight volunteers Hilary Berliner and Fruzsina Agocs document the bird collision victims as onlookers watch in shock. Injured and stunned birds are kept in paper bags and transferred to the Wild Bird Fund. Photo by Winston Qin.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Project Safe Flight volunteers Hilary Berliner and Fruzsina Agocs document the bird collision victims as onlookers watch in shock. Injured and stunned birds are kept in paper bags and transferred to the Wild Bird Fund. Photo by Winston Qin."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaThNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d40374c8cd3ccf671570fa92f38a00767b76ab89/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Copy%20of%20PSF_EXPORT_1-27.jpg" alt="Project Safe Flight volunteers Hilary Berliner and Fruzsina Agocs document the bird collision victims as onlookers watch in shock. Injured and stunned birds are kept in paper bags and transferred to the Wild Bird Fund. Photo by Winston Qin."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><br></div><h3>"I've never seen anything like that passion before."</h3><div><br></div><div>Looking ahead to college, Winston plans to pursue environmental engineering, as a self-proclaimed engineer at heart, who had had the bad habit of taking apart home electronics only to put them back together—often less functionally than before. Regardless, Winston vows to continue bird collision monitoring and bird conservation work wherever he ends up. </div><div><br></div><div>“I might not be doing ecology, zoology, or ornithology in college, but I’ll try my best to be as involved as I can with birds. Who knows—maybe I’ll decide to switch majors!”</div><div><br></div><div>While volunteering for the Injured Bird Response Team and Project Safe Flight may have started as a side activity, an easy way to learn more about birds and incorporate conservation work into his schedule, Winston made special note that it was the dedication of his fellow volunteers that has impacted him the most. </div><div><br></div><div>Referring to his fellow volunteers like Jen, Jairus, Rey, Katie, Hitomi, and others, Winston notes: “These guys on my team—they’re responding to injured bird calls at midnight, at noon, at work. That passion is really what pulled me closer into the organization because I’ve never seen anything like that passion before.” </div><div><br></div><div>“Seeing that passion, seeing everybody be so dedicated to this free work, this thing that is<em> just </em>to help birds throughout New York City, it’s just so empowering. You feel that energy and you want to do the same.”</div><div><br><em>Feel inspired to join Winston in protecting our City’s birds? Learn about upcoming and ongoing </em><a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/take-action/volunteer"><em>volunteer opportunities</em></a><em>, or help us fund Project Safe Flight by donating at </em><a href="http://nycaudubon.org/invest-in-change"><em>nycaudubon.org/invest-in-change</em></a><em>. <br><br></em><em><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label=''> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaklNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1712d031f6c20dd226e7b7a7f2ecaa07fbb4e0d6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Winston%20Qin%20Header%20(2).jpg' alt='' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" data-trix-attributes="{"italic":true}" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label=""> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaklNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1712d031f6c20dd226e7b7a7f2ecaa07fbb4e0d6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Winston%20Qin%20Header%20(2).jpg" alt=""> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></em><em><br><br>See more of Winston’s photography at </em><a href="https://www.winstonpx.com/"><em>WinstonPX.com</em></a><em> and follow him @winston.px. </em></div>Olivia Liangtag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27312023-12-04T11:00:00Z2023-12-07T15:47:41ZNYC Audubon's Birdy Holiday Gift Guide<div><strong><em><sup>The NYC Audubon Staff has gathered our best and birdiest gift guide recommendations to ensure a happy holiday! Graphic by NYC Audubon. </sup></em></strong><strong><br><br>NYC Audubon Staff </strong>| 4 December 2023<strong><br><br></strong>The holiday season is here and the NYC Audubon staff has put together our best and birdiest list of gift recommendations! Whether you’re shopping for tchotchke-lovers, craft-doers, fashion divas, or bookworms, we have 15 amazing recommendations that are sure to win over the cheery cardinals, weird ducks, and even the grumpy grackles of your life. Happy holidays and happy birding! <br><br></div><h1>Home is Where the Birds Are</h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bird Collective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Etsy.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--aa030806c123e9073a16cad1ca4fcf120d056147/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bird Collective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Etsy.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bird Collective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Etsy."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--aa030806c123e9073a16cad1ca4fcf120d056147/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/2.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bird Collective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Etsy."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>Bird Collective Mugs | </strong>Matthew Coody, <em>Director of Development </em></div><div>Bird Collective is truly a one-stop shop for all of your holiday gifting needs. You can’t go wrong with anything they offer, but I’m especially partial to this 70s-inspired enamelware ducks mug (probably because it reminds me of my grandfather!). But they also have the coolest tees, sweatshirts, and stocking stuffers. And it always feels great to support Bird Collective, which was co-founded by NYC Audubon board member Angie Co and has donated over $100,000 to bird conservation organizations. </div><div><br></div><div>Support bird conservation and shop at <a href="https://www.birdcollective.com/collections/bird-collective-drinkware/products/ducks-large-enamelware-mug">BirdCollective.com</a>. </div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Glass Bird Ornaments | </strong>Andrew Maas, <em>Associate Director of Communications </em></div><div>Everyone loves a cute ornament. And what’s a more fitting ornament to hang on a tree than one featuring a bird, nature’s predominant tree-dwellers? These whimsical glass bird ornaments from the Metropolitan Museum of Art will feel right at home perched on your tree each holiday season! While their Cardinal may be the most natural fit for the season, I find myself drawn to the adorable robin and the mischievous-looking woodpecker designs. Other options include a Blue Jay and even a hummingbird, which, although not a species associated with winter, is quite gorgeous! </div><div><br></div><div>Stop by The Met gift store or shop online at <a href="https://store.metmuseum.org/catalogsearch/result/?q=Bird+glass+Ornament">Store.MetMuseum.org</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Antique Duck Decoys | </strong>Dustin Partridge, <em>Director of Conservation and Science </em></div><div>What is more sustainable than decorating with something vintage? Antique decoys are hand-carved and crafted sculptures made of wood by waterfowl hunters long ago. These pieces of folk art, often created by people untrained in art, can incredibly capture the essence of the ducks they’re emulating. There are some modern replicas, but if you’re a collector like me, antique is the way to go! </div><div><br>Be sustainable this season and peruse Antique Duck Decoys on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/search?q=Antique%20Duck%20Decoys&ref=search_bar">Etsy</a>! <br><br></div><h1>Arts, Crafts, and Games </h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Etsy, Bird Collective, and Pigeon Posted.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--08e8daff804f1822d9a652595521022dfae1d6d6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/1.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Etsy, Bird Collective, and Pigeon Posted.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Etsy, Bird Collective, and Pigeon Posted."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--08e8daff804f1822d9a652595521022dfae1d6d6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/1.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Etsy, Bird Collective, and Pigeon Posted."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>Bird Garland Kit | </strong>Hillarie O’Toole, <em>NYC Audubon Publications Committee Member </em></div><div>With just a needle and pair of scissors, create your own garland gift or gift the step-by-step kit to those who enjoy a birdy craft. This kit makes a full set of eight birds—Robin, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Magpie, Bullfinch, Mallard, Kingfisher—which can be strung into a garland or placed throughout the house as festive decoration. </div><div><br></div><div>Purchase your garland kit and support a local artist here on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/229448157/make-your-own-felt-british-birds-garland">Etsy</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Wingspan Board Game | </strong>Roslyn Rivas, <em>Public Programs Manager </em><strong> </strong></div><div>It’s been out for a few years now, but I’ll never stop recommending Wingspan; I absolutely love this game! If you like birds, nature, or board games in general, this is the game for you. </div><div><br></div><div>It may seem complicated at first, but once you get the rules down, you’ll be hooked. My old coworkers at the National Audubon Society and I wouldn’t even notice the hours go by as we strove to build the best habitats, lay the most eggs, and collect the best bird cards. I’m definitely competitive and this game has the best mix of chance and strategy.</div><div><br></div><div>Support bird conservation and buy Wingspan from <a href="https://www.birdcollective.com/products/wingspan-board-game?variant=42142862508275&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC9GLH6c9KNmDsqBFRZKxo0pZTF0NROiCOcv3XH4Tqv5r5nPnPdEF1RoC5tkQAvD_BwE">BirdCollective.com</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Pigeon Pack Stationery | </strong>Olivia Liang, <em>Communications Associate </em></div><div>There is nothing more precious to me than receiving a note in the mail, which means I’m always on the lookout for unique stationery. And while I would love an <em>actual</em> carrier pigeon to deliver my letters, Pigeon packs are the next best thing, each with six pages of stationary that can be folded up and mailed in one piece. Shop from 15 different designs, plus feel good about supporting a carbon-neutral company! </div><div><br>Learn more at <a href="https://pigeonposted.com/">PigeonPosted.com</a>, then shop locally at <a href="https://www.loftypigeonbooks.com/">Lofty Pigeon Books</a> in Kensington, Brooklyn. <br><br></div><h1>For the Feather-Fashion Forward</h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Darn Tough Vermont and Jabebo Studio.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWtNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--512e69b6c6818da05a277f08d37f261c4915d791/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/3.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Darn Tough Vermont and Jabebo Studio.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Darn Tough Vermont and Jabebo Studio."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaWtNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--512e69b6c6818da05a277f08d37f261c4915d791/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/3.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Darn Tough Vermont and Jabebo Studio."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>Darn Tough’s Wool Bird Socks | </strong>Anne Schwartz, <em>Institutional Giving Manager</em></div><div>For people who love fun socks and birds, you can't go wrong with Darn Tough's made-in-Vermont lifestyle socks featuring birds local to Vermont. They’re true to their word—these lightweight merino wool everyday socks are <em>tough</em>. Mine have lasted for years! </div><div><br></div><div>Shop "Duck Duck Moose,” Chickadee patterns, and more online at <a href="https://darntough.com/products/womens-merino-wool-twitterpated-crew-lightweight-lifestyle-socks?variant=41614165213370">DarnTough.com</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Jabebo Studio Bird Earrings | </strong>Katherine Chen, <em>Community Science and Outreach Manager </em></div><div>Express your love for your favorite birds with these cute and unique bird earrings! With over 100 species to choose from—from warblers, owls, ducks, and titmice—there's an option for everyone. Even better, they're made from locally sourced recycled cereal boxes and surgical steel—great for the birds they resemble and for sensitive ears. </div><div><br></div><div>Chat with a park ranger and shop locally at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge.htm">Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center</a>.<br><br></div><h1>Back to the Birding Basics</h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Birdbuddy, NOCS, and Laterzees.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaW9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--ce598e6b1651f8e8bf443ced5072a1e539196c87/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/4.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Birdbuddy, NOCS, and Laterzees.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Birdbuddy, NOCS, and Laterzees."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaW9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--ce598e6b1651f8e8bf443ced5072a1e539196c87/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/4.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Birdbuddy, NOCS, and Laterzees."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>Birdbuddy Smart Bird Feeder </strong>| Carol Peace Robins, <em>NYC Audubon Publications Committee Member </em></div><div>There are so many options when it comes to bird feeders, but Birdbuddy’s Smart Bird Feeder stands out for its ingenious tech. Fitted with an AI-powered camera, this feeder will capture photos of your bird visitors and then send photo postcards directly to your phone. You’ll even be notified when new visitors come to snack so you won’t miss a thing. What more could a birder ask for? </div><div><br></div><div>Buy online at <a href="https://mybirdbuddy.com/product/smart-bird-feeder/">MyBirdBuddy.com</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>NOCS Binoculars | </strong>Karen Benfield, <em>NYC Audubon Board of Directors President </em></div><div>I love the portability and grip of my NOCS 8x32 Field Issue bins. These compact bins are waterproof and fog-proof, and with their lightness and small size—they stash nicely in a glove compartment for an impromptu twitch—they’re perfect for every outing. You’ll find my pair in my purse because you never know when a good bird is going to pop up in midtown! And the colors—vibrant options like coral, glacial green, cobalt blue, even a fuchsia pink, and olive—these are the Painted Bunting of binoculars. </div><div><br></div><div>Shop online at <a href="https://www.nocsprovisions.com/">NOCSprovisions.com</a>.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Cork Binocular Strap | </strong>Jesse McLaughlin, <em>Advocacy and Engagement Associate </em></div><div>Tired of your boring old binocular strap? Check out these fun straps made from cork! Cork is soft, comfortable, and durable, plus naturally water and stain-resistant. It’s also an eco-friendly alternative to leather or vinyl. There’s a multitude of bird patterns to choose from—Piping Plover, American Kestrel, Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, the list goes on! Rep your favorite NYC bird wherever birding takes you!</div><div><br>Support independent artisans and buy cork binocular straps from <a href="https://laterzees.com/product-category/wearables/straps/">Laterzees.com</a>. <br><br></div><h1>For the Birding Bookworms</h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bookshop.org and Barnes & Noble.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaXNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--695ba3f3c360d7cdead4c0fc81df16cdb30e1472/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/5.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bookshop.org and Barnes & Noble.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bookshop.org and Barnes & Noble."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaXNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--695ba3f3c360d7cdead4c0fc81df16cdb30e1472/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/5.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Photos courtesy of Bookshop.org and Barnes & Noble."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>David Sibley’s </strong><strong><em>What It’s Like to Be a Bird</em></strong><strong> | </strong>The Conservation Team</div><div>With <em>What It’s Like to Be a Bird</em>, David Sibley, author of arguably the best all-around field guide to North American birds, has created a way to delve deeper into birds in a digestible, entertaining format. This attractive coffee-table-sized book has updated information on many familiar species, and as you skip around the book, you may find that what you thought you knew about your favorite birds is not quite right! </div><div><br></div><div>Support independent bookstores and purchase from <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/nycaudubon">Bookshop.org</a>. </div><div><br><br></div><div><strong>Children’s Bird Books | </strong>Jessica Wilson, <em>Executive Director </em></div><div>When my kids were toddlers, these two board books were on heavy rotation for reading aloud. They’re great ways to teach the basics of ABCs and colors. The color book also helps little kids pay attention to details to spot differences in common backyard and city birds. It’s very impressive for a two-year-old to be able to identify an Umbrella Bird, and who doesn’t love a good Z (Zebra Finch) example? </div><div><br></div><div>Buy <em>ABC Birds </em>by the American Museum of Natural History from <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abc-birds-american-museum-of-natural-history/1123315521">Barnes & Noble</a> and <em>Baby’s First Book of Birds & Colors </em>by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes from our virtual <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/nycaudubon">Bookshop.org Storefront</a>.<br><br></div><h1>Birds of a Feather Flock Together!</h1><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Logo courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaXdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--4abb1c8f585d44b996bfb0d102c346c0f0c8b6e7/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/6.jpg' alt='Graphic by NYC Audubon. Logo courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Graphic by NYC Audubon. Logo courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaXdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--4abb1c8f585d44b996bfb0d102c346c0f0c8b6e7/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/6.jpg" alt="Graphic by NYC Audubon. Logo courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><strong>Birds of the World | </strong>Tod Winston, <em>Birding Guide and Urban Biodiversity Specialist </em></div><div>Need a gift for the passionate birder in your life? A personal subscription to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of the World platform opens a door to the most in-depth ornithology resource ever created, including information on ID, molts, ecology, and conservation history for the over 10,000 bird species on earth. Whenever I have a question that field guides and other resources don’t answer, Birds of the World is the place I go.</div><div><br></div><div>Gift Birds of the World at <a href="https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe">birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe</a>. <br><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>NYC Audubon Membership </strong></div><div>A NYC Audubon gift membership is a gift that keeps giving, both to the recipient and to the birds! Learn about membership levels to suit the bird-lover in your life—whether a young professional, student, senior, or the whole family. </div><div><br>Give the gift of membership and help grow our flock on our <a href="https://nycaudubon.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nycaudubon/donation.jsp?campaign=120&">website</a>!</div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27282023-11-10T11:30:00Z2023-11-10T15:49:42ZSmall Wins. Big Impact.<div><strong><em><sup>NYC Audubon's Director of Advocacy and Engagement Saman Mahmood (left) with NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif (right) at the 2023 Fall Roost. Photo Credit: Cyrus Gonzeles <br><br></sup></em></strong><strong>By Olivia Liang<br><br></strong><em>Saman Mahmood joined the NYC Audubon team in August 2023 in the new role of Director of Advocacy and Engagement. Saman’s extensive expertise bridging government relations and grassroots campaigns—as she did when working with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Community Partnership Unit and serving as Deputy District Director in the US House of Representatives—will bolster NYC Audubon’s efforts to protect urban biodiversity and make the City more sustainable for birds and people.</em></div><div><br></div><div><em>This interview has been shortened for length and clarity. </em></div><div><br></div><div><strong>What brought you to NYC Audubon? </strong></div><div>I came from a law enforcement agency working for the District Attorney of Richmond County Michael McMahon in his Community Partnership unit. I’ve been in government and politics for almost a decade; I’ve done a lot of campaign work, I’ve worked in Congress, I’ve worked for some City agencies, and I really wanted to find a city or statewide platform. That’s what brought me to Audubon—the platform itself. </div><div><br></div><div>Climate change and conservation work needs to be more accelerated now than ever. We’re seeing that in all the different extreme weathers that are in New York City. We’re getting used to every September there being floods in Brooklyn and Queens, but this is not normal. This is not okay. Our resiliency as a City is really crumbling, and our infrastructure can’t handle it. </div><div><br></div><div>We need to get more invested in our environment, so that was a big part of the reason why I wanted to come and focus on one area and build an impact from there. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>How will your experience working in government tie in with NYC Audubon’s mission and vision?</strong></div><div>I’ve done work with FEMA and with infrastructure, I’ve done work with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/staten-island-seawall-climate-crisis-design/index.html">building the sea wall in Staten Island</a>. I’ve worked with City agencies doing a lot of work with the sewage system, helping people get more infrastructure for their areas that get overflowed. What we often see is that there’s a lot of disconnect between development and infrastructure. A local block was supposed to have five houses on it. It now has 10 smaller houses on it, and that infrastructure isn’t made to handle that much sewage, so it overflows quickly and backs up. It’s affecting someone’s home, it’s affecting somebody who may have a disability and may need a ramp to get out of their house. Seeing things like that and fighting for constituents to get them help to deal with these kinds of problems that aren’t very simple is really what brought me into this. </div><div><br></div><div>Overall, we as a City need to pay attention to infrastructure. And I feel like it’s at the level that it’s a national security concern. Look at the impact on birds in New York City: glass and artificial light impact birds all throughout the eastern coast, all throughout migration season, no matter where they’re going. We’re a hotspot in-between and we see that what we do here matters. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>What are some of your long-term goals as Director of Advocacy & Engagement? </strong></div><div>Putting <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/about-us/edia-initiatives">diversity, equity, and inclusion</a> at the center of our work. That starts off by engaging different communities but being more understanding and mindful of our impact. We don’t want to go into different communities and just run programs for the hell of running them. We want to go and put in the groundwork to understand where we’re going to be impactful and build that out through partnerships. Let’s partner with organizations and agencies that are already in these areas, that are already doing the work that we can get feedback from. </div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Saman Mahmood, Executive Director Jessica Wilson, and Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas join the March to End Fossil Fuels for Climate Week NYC. Photo Credit: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaE1NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--4ec746ecae9a9b6cb5ad6085f9ba6c4e06778b35/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/March%20to%20End%20Fossil%20Fuels%209-17-23%20photo%20Anne%20Schwartz%20-%203_shadowscrop.jpg' alt='Saman Mahmood, Executive Director Jessica Wilson, and Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas join the March to End Fossil Fuels for Climate Week NYC. Photo Credit: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Saman Mahmood, Executive Director Jessica Wilson, and Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas join the March to End Fossil Fuels for Climate Week NYC. Photo Credit: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaE1NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--4ec746ecae9a9b6cb5ad6085f9ba6c4e06778b35/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/March%20to%20End%20Fossil%20Fuels%209-17-23%20photo%20Anne%20Schwartz%20-%203_shadowscrop.jpg" alt="Saman Mahmood, Executive Director Jessica Wilson, and Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas join the March to End Fossil Fuels for Climate Week NYC. Photo Credit: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure>We’re really focusing on building the pipeline between public programming and building our advocacy, not just for birds but for all New Yorkers and investing New Yorkers in urban biodiversity. That’s one of my goals: to build a conversation and understanding that investing in urban biodiversity is an investment in a more resilient and long-term New York. <br><br></div><div>I talk to people about the work at <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/bird-friendly-actors">Javits and Brookfield</a>, all these huge real estate owners in New York City, and people are so surprised. We’re having conversations about: what’s your organizational impact? What are you building upon? Do you understand how your organization affects the ecology of where you are? We understand that the New York we’re in today is not the New York we all grew up in. What is our responsibility and our community service to New York? </div><div><br></div><div>We totally understand when it comes to collision work and retrofitting glass how expensive and costly and hard it can be for the industry. Getting <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/lights-out-legislation">Lights Out legislation</a> is a process but long-term investments start out with conversations. I like to take small wins as the key. Building impact is really through small wins. Building out the space to really focus on New York and invest in New York is really one of our key understandings and what I want to build out. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>As a native Staten Islander, how does it feel doing New York-centric work? </strong></div><div>I am a die-hard New Yorker. I don’t want to live anywhere else, I don’t want to be anywhere else. I’m very invested here, and it’s very central to who I am. It’s my passion work, I’m passionate about making a positive impact on my community through government and building partnerships that bring long-term effects and long-term resilience. This is my way of doing that. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>What challenges do you expect Advocacy & Engagement will have to tackle? </strong></div><div>One of our biggest challenges in New York City, something we’re looking out for, is only being associated as a birders club. So we’re really building out the understanding of all the other work that we’re doing, in addition to building an appreciation of birds. What I’m excited about is getting everyone involved, getting our Board involved, people who come to our outings, people we’re meeting at festivals. Whether that’s them reading <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/about-us/publications/the-urban-audubon"><em>The Urban Audubon</em></a> newsletter or <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/about-us/publications">the eGret</a>, or following us on social media, that’s building upon our presence. </div><div><br></div><div>But I am excited to bring this as a recreational activity to communities that have not done this before, helping people connect with their environment and where they live. We all learned in COVID that we need to be outside. Being in nature makes you happy. Many organizations are pushing birding because they understand that it’s great for your mental health. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>Are you concerned that the </strong><a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/audubon-name/audubon-name"><strong>Audubon name change</strong></a><strong> might pose some challenges? </strong></div><div>No. I’m really excited about it actually. The Audubon name means something to many people, but there’s only a small sector of people that associate Audubon with birds. I actually didn’t know what Audubon meant until I did research for this position, but the elected official I was working for, said: “Yeah, James John Audubon. It’s a household name.” </div><div><br></div><div>It wasn’t a household name in my house. I had no idea. I’m the daughter of immigrants. We don’t even speak English at home.</div><div><br></div><div>This name change is very different. But it’s exciting. The organization is in a really transformational phase, and we’re looking forward to growing our impact around our name, making it more inclusive. I’m excited about the work that we’re doing and to have a name that reflects it.</div><div><br><br></div><div><strong><br></strong><br></div>Olivia Liangtag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27292023-11-08T12:12:00Z2023-12-07T15:46:51ZRaising a Glass to Bird-Safe Glass<div><strong><em><sup>Fall Roost 2023 honoree Jeff Kimball proudly raises his just-received glass bird award, given to him by NYC Audubon in recognition of his great contributions to the organization. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles <br></sup></em></strong><br></div><div><strong>By Hillarie O’Toole<br><br></strong>NYC Audubon’s annual Fall Roost benefit always succeeds in bringing together the best of the conservation community, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow birders and environmentalists, and to celebrate and support NYC Audubon’s conservation, advocacy, and engagement work. It can often be difficult for organizations to make a connection between fancy fundraising parties and the real work they are doing, but this year’s event, hosted at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, exemplified the importance of community partnerships. The festive cocktail party was a fitting tribute to those who work to make our shared spaces more sustainable for birds and people, alike.</div><div> </div><div>It wasn’t long ago that the site for this year’s event was a hotspot for frequent bird collisions. The luxurious 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge opened in 2017, situated within and inspired by the 85-acre <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-brooklyn/west-brooklyn-coast#bbparkhs">Brooklyn Bridge Park</a>—a beautiful urban haven for birds and other pollinators. <a href="https://www.1hotels.com/sustainability">Sustainability has always been at the core of their business model</a>: utilizing 100% wind power, collecting rainwater from the rooftop to reduce stormwater runoff, utilizing low energy lighting, and a design that incorporated 54% reused and recycled materials among their long list of accomplishments. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ The exterior of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, retrofitted last year with Feather Friendly® bird-safe film. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaGtNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--30a599e2cf623adf78455c633f9b2368254e731f/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53297979263_a66f21860d_k.jpg' alt='The exterior of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, retrofitted last year with Feather Friendly® bird-safe film. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ The exterior of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, retrofitted last year with Feather Friendly® bird-safe film. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaGtNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--30a599e2cf623adf78455c633f9b2368254e731f/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53297979263_a66f21860d_k.jpg" alt="The exterior of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, retrofitted last year with Feather Friendly® bird-safe film. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>So, when NYC Audubon scientists first noted to management the high number of bird collisions found by Project Safe Flight monitors at the 10-story waterfront building, the hotel knew it must act: 1 Brooklyn Bridge Hotel retrofitted a portion of its windows with <a href="https://www.featherfriendly.com/">Feather Friendly®</a> bird-safe film which resulted in an over 50% reduction in collisions at the site. It is no wonder that the organization chose to honor 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge as a model <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/bird-friendly-actors">bird-friendly building partner</a>—and it was inspiring for Fall Roost attendees to experience the beauty of the space and such conservation-in-action first-hand. </div><div> </div><div>NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson introduced 1 Hotel’s Tysen Gregersen and Laura O’Neall, who accepted the honor on behalf of the hotel. O’Neall noted, “At the end of the day why else are we here except for this beautiful city? We get to live and exist in a beautiful space that attracts wildlife and birds!” Gregersen added, “We are committed to fostering a better world for our community and must constantly ask ourselves, ‘What can we do differently? What can we do better?’” <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ From left to right: Laura O’Neall, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge; NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson; Tysen Gregersen, SH Hotels and Resorts; NYC Audubon President Karen. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaG9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d770d2b77382938a27de4918a3f47c56c6645efb/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287682303_e7cc3af417_k.jpg' alt='From left to right: Laura O’Neall, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge; NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson; Tysen Gregersen, SH Hotels and Resorts; NYC Audubon President Karen. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ From left to right: Laura O’Neall, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge; NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson; Tysen Gregersen, SH Hotels and Resorts; NYC Audubon President Karen. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaG9NIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d770d2b77382938a27de4918a3f47c56c6645efb/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287682303_e7cc3af417_k.jpg" alt="From left to right: Laura O’Neall, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge; NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson; Tysen Gregersen, SH Hotels and Resorts; NYC Audubon President Karen. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>Green infrastructure, and partnerships such as the one with 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, have been a major focus for NYC Audubon thanks to the unwavering efforts of staff, board, and volunteers. Board President Karen Benfield introduced the event’s second honoree, Jeffrey Kimball, whose ability to craft impactful stories and capacity to capture the hearts of a broader audience have kept the organization on this path towards sustainability. </div><div> </div><div>Kimball, a filmmaker who is well-known for his acclaimed documentary film, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2310157/"><em>Birders:</em> <em>The Central Park Effect</em></a>, has served on the organization’s Board of Directors for more than ten years and as board president from 2016 to 2020. A lifelong naturalist and birder for over 30 years, he first became interested in birds when he moved to New York City from California. As his passion for birding grew, so did his desire to protect birds. </div><div> </div><div>Kimball has worked to share the magic of birding—and helped NYC Audubon become the “voice for birds” in the City. He states that the single most rewarding thing in his tenure has been <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/advocacy-accomplishments/bird-friendly-materials-bill-local-law-15">passing “bird-safe glass legislation”</a> and is thrilled by work he is doing with the organization to <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities">change even more laws</a> and to involve all New Yorkers, in all five boroughs, in these efforts. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ From left to right: NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson, honoree Jeffrey Kimball, and NYC Audubon President Karen Benfield. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaHNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d2b9b43d9f56e30860d3608380ec1ce47dbcd3c6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287431696_7a3af13175_k.jpg' alt='From left to right: NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson, honoree Jeffrey Kimball, and NYC Audubon President Karen Benfield. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ From left to right: NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson, honoree Jeffrey Kimball, and NYC Audubon President Karen Benfield. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaHNNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--d2b9b43d9f56e30860d3608380ec1ce47dbcd3c6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287431696_7a3af13175_k.jpg" alt="From left to right: NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson, honoree Jeffrey Kimball, and NYC Audubon President Karen Benfield. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>Following the honoree presentation, guests were invited once again to raise a glass and raise funds to strengthen the reach of <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight">Project Safe Flight</a>. This year’s event was a resounding success, raising nearly $390,000 through this philanthropic opportunity, ticket sales, and the lively silent auction featuring a wide variety of items ranging from unique birding gifts to birding tours here in NYC—and even a trip to the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest. Guests mingled over cocktails, sampled a plant-based menu, and shared birding adventure tales with friends new and old. </div><div> </div><div>Perhaps most importantly, the Roost continues to serve as “friend-raiser”—bringing together volunteers, birders, staff, and board members to celebrate New York City’s diverse birds and communities. Longtime volunteer and advisory council member Lauren Klingsberg stated with a smile, “The guests just keep getting younger each year. Or perhaps I am getting older? Either way, it is a joy to see how much this event has grown and changed through time.” </div><div> </div><div>We can’t wait to see what is in store for this coming year with a <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/audubon-name/newname">new organization name on the horizon</a> and new partnerships that will further the organization’s mission to protect birds and habitat.</div><div> </div><div>Special thanks to the Fall Roost committee co-chairs Karen Benfield, MaryJane Boland, Catherine Heller, Tatiana Kaletsch, Jennifer Maritz, Vivek Sriram, and Sharon Weidberg.<br><br><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/190994694@N06/albums/72177720312244609"><strong>Want to see more photos from the night? See our Fall Roost 2023 photo album on Flickr</strong></a><strong>. <br><br></strong><strong><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<a href='https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB164P' class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ NYC Audubon’s Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas (front) with partners from Audubon NY & CT, Latino Outdoors, and other partner organizations. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;🔗 https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB164P'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaHdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b90937ea86ec7cff28b5717815020bfa1ec5a821/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287682453_d9e5eb552b_k.jpg' alt='NYC Audubon’s Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas (front) with partners from Audubon NY & CT, Latino Outdoors, and other partner organizations. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles' /> </a>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" data-trix-attributes="{"bold":true}" class="attachment attachment--content"><a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB164P" class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ NYC Audubon’s Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas (front) with partners from Audubon NY & CT, Latino Outdoors, and other partner organizations. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles 🔗 https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB164P"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaHdNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b90937ea86ec7cff28b5717815020bfa1ec5a821/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/53287682453_d9e5eb552b_k.jpg" alt="NYC Audubon’s Public Programs Manager Roslyn Rivas (front) with partners from Audubon NY & CT, Latino Outdoors, and other partner organizations. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles"> </a><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27272023-10-20T15:22:00Z2023-10-20T21:06:16ZRemembering Betty Hamilton<div><strong><em><sup>NYC Audubon leader Betty L. Hamilton died on September 14 at the age of 99. Pictured here at the 2012 Roost.<br> </sup></em></strong><br><em>It is with sadness NYC Audubon reports the passing of Betty Hamilton on September 14, 2023, at the age of 99. Betty was a friend, colleague, and active leader with NYC Audubon from the very beginning. We are pleased to share these remembrances of Betty from NYC Audubon’s past organizational leaders. </em></div><div><br></div><blockquote>Betty was partner and better half to Geoffrey Cobb Ryan, one of the early organizers and then President of what became the New York City Audubon Society. She worked tirelessly with Geoffrey in fostering environmental interests of the city, state, and nation from the 1970s to his untimely passing in 2007. A commercial artist, watercolorist, and photographer, Betty’s artwork adorned the earliest issues of <em>The</em> <em>Urban Audubon. </em>She was an enthusiastic Central Park birder, particularly for spring migration, for dozens of years. Her friends will miss her warmth, insights, and sparkling countenance.<br><br><strong><em>-- Lew Rosenberg, NYC Audubon founding member and Board member (1979-1990), including Vice President (1982-1984). He is a current Advisory Council member.</em></strong></blockquote><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Betty Hamilton’s line drawing adorns the front cover of the first Urban Audubon in 1979.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZ2tNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--5f32a161abecc141d2f6923e8f27f16ff941a931/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Screenshot%202023-10-20%20164009.jpg' alt='Betty Hamilton’s line drawing adorns the front cover of the first Urban Audubon in 1979.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Betty Hamilton’s line drawing adorns the front cover of the first Urban Audubon in 1979."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZ2tNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--5f32a161abecc141d2f6923e8f27f16ff941a931/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Screenshot%202023-10-20%20164009.jpg" alt="Betty Hamilton’s line drawing adorns the front cover of the first Urban Audubon in 1979."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div><br></div><blockquote>Betty was a stalwart supporter of everything NYC Audubon accomplished and everything it stands for. Though she may not have ever held a title, she contributed much to the welcoming spirit of the organization. She was always there beside Geoffrey on bird walks, at Audubon New York retreats, at lectures, on harbor cruises, and other events, contributing her wisdom and her subtle humor.<br> <br>-- <em>Marcia Fowle, NYC Audubon’s Executive Director from 1993-1999, as well as Past President (2000-2004) and Board member (2005-2009). She is a current Advisory Council member.</em></blockquote><div><br></div><blockquote>Betty was NYC Audubon through and through. She and Geoffrey never missed an event or action. They loved life—and birds! They were generous guides to the brand-new Executive Director that I was. We have lost a great member of the NYC Audubon family.<br><em><br></em><strong><em>-- E.J. McAdams, NYC Audubon’s Executive Director from 2002-2006. E.J. is now at BirdLife International.</em></strong></blockquote><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Betty’s photos helped bring to life many of our organization’s stories and activities in the pages of The Urban Audubon.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZ3NNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--3e2bcbd3e8cd5e41903b7007cfd2fecbeb646098/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/urban%20audubon%20screenshot.jpg' alt='Betty’s photos helped bring to life many of our organization’s stories and activities in the pages of The Urban Audubon.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Betty’s photos helped bring to life many of our organization’s stories and activities in the pages of The Urban Audubon."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZ3NNIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--3e2bcbd3e8cd5e41903b7007cfd2fecbeb646098/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/urban%20audubon%20screenshot.jpg" alt="Betty’s photos helped bring to life many of our organization’s stories and activities in the pages of The Urban Audubon."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><br></div><blockquote>Betty was a treasure. On NYC Audubon trips to Costa Rica, she put many of the younger participants to shame: she didn't want to miss a single bird! Passionate about the organization, I could count on her to introduce me to somebody she thought I should know at every event. She went out of her way to acknowledge NYC Audubon's successes and was incredibly supportive of our staff.<br> <br><strong>-- </strong><strong><em>Glenn Phillips, NYC Audubon’s Executive Director from 2007-2014. Glenn is now at Golden Gate Bird Alliance (formerly Golden Gate Audubon Society).</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><div><em>* * * * </em></div><div><em>You can read more information about Betty in her </em><a href="https://www.reddenfuneralhome.net/book-of-memories/5278418/Hamilton-Betty/index.php"><em>obituary here</em></a><em>. </em></div>Jessica Wilsontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27262023-10-06T13:17:00Z2023-10-10T15:53:00ZPaper Menagerie on Governors Island <div><strong><em><sup>Paper cutout facsimile of a Gray Catbird, photographed by Carolyn Monastra on Governors Island for her AiR conceptual art project, “Divergence of Birds.”<br></sup></em></strong><br><strong>By Olivia Liang<br><br></strong>On Sunday, October 1, Carolyn Monastra’s new exhibit “<a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/programs-and-events/governors-island/divergence-of-birds">Divergence of Birds</a>” debuted at NYC Audubon’s seasonal environmental Center on Governors Island. For four weeks, two of our downstairs rooms will be dedicated to Monastra’s photography exhibit which looks to our impending climate-changed future—and the birds that may or may not be there. </div><div><br></div><div>Monastra, a NYC Audubon Artist in Residence, began this conceptual art project in 2015 after reading National Audubon Society’s first “<a href="https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees">Birds and Climate Change Report</a>,” which listed 314 climate-threatened birds. 389 species are now on the brink.</div><div><br></div><div>“It really hit me,” said Monastra, whose previous photography work often featured birds, though she had never taken them on as a standalone subject. </div><div><br></div><div>“This bell went off in my head.” </div><div><br></div><div>Wanting to photograph the climate crisis with birds as the scope, Monastra sought inspiration from Phillip K. Dick’s <em>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? </em>This science fiction classic features almost-human androids, with highly realistic electric versions of once-commonplace animals. While the electric animals only play a minor role in this dystopian world, they prompted a daunting question: “What will our animals look like in the future?” </div><div><br></div><div>As Monastra considered how climate change, habitat loss, and human impact would affect the birds of our future, her project took shape. </div><div><br></div><div>The result: a paper menagerie and a surreal blend of fact and fiction. <br><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Left: \"Divergence of Birds\" artist Carolyn Monastra; Right: Paper cutout facsimile of a Brown Creeper, photographed by Carolyn Monastra on Governors Island.'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdjBMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--84a98349f0ff35aa566a138b5c86c9f5f3cfc743/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Untitled%20design.jpg' alt='Left: \"Divergence of Birds\" artist Carolyn Monastra; Right: Paper cutout facsimile of a Brown Creeper, photographed by Carolyn Monastra on Governors Island.' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Left: "Divergence of Birds" artist Carolyn Monastra; Right: Paper cutout facsimile of a Brown Creeper, photographed by Carolyn Monastra on Governors Island."> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdjBMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--84a98349f0ff35aa566a138b5c86c9f5f3cfc743/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Untitled%20design.jpg" alt="Left: "Divergence of Birds" artist Carolyn Monastra; Right: Paper cutout facsimile of a Brown Creeper, photographed by Carolyn Monastra on Governors Island."> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div>Monastra’s “Divergence of Birds” is first and foremost a photography exhibition. And yet, while at first glance her work seems to be a collection of stunning yet standard portraits of birds, upon further inspection, something feels… <em>off. </em></div><div><br></div><div>“I want there to be a sense of unease,” she says. “I want people to stop and go—wait a minute…” </div><div><br></div><div>The birds in these nature portraits are not live specimens, captured in a lucky shot during a momentary stretch or song. They are instead something far more profound: paper cutouts of climate-threatened species, posed then photographed in their rightful habitats which soon may no longer be there: cropped pictures of two Common Terns, balanced in the sand with chopsticks and tape; a Fish Crow nestled into a Dwarf Palmetto Tree. Walking through the two rooms of Nolan House #17, each visitor can see how Monastra placed her cutouts within the birds’ habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—a gesture to the recession of actual birds into marginal zones of survival.</div><div><br></div><div>When first embarking on the project, Monastra needed high-quality bird photos to stage, yet lacked the proper equipment and experience as a wildlife photographer. Originally, Monastra turned to secondhand bird books and guides, cropping avian cutouts that would then be returned to their natural habitats to be photographed. As her project has grown, along with Monastra's dedication to respecting other artists and not infringing on any copyrights, she now turns to paid stock and Creative Commons photos, along with contributions from ornithologists she meets in her travels.</div><div><br></div><div>Monastra’s work is both framed in our showroom and printed on silk banners, alluding to the delicate status of our many birds. These floating banners are suspended from the ceiling, inviting viewers to walk beneath an avian canopy. </div><div><br></div><div><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ As part of the \"Divergence of Birds\" exhibit, Carolyn Monastra’s photographs hang on silk banners inside our Governors Island seasonal environmental center. Photo: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdndMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--57848d982edfb8a6e13ac0ddc639d452cf6895e8/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20130300.jpg' alt='As part of the \"Divergence of Birds\" exhibit, Carolyn Monastra’s photographs hang on silk banners inside our Governors Island seasonal environmental center. Photo: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ As part of the "Divergence of Birds" exhibit, Carolyn Monastra’s photographs hang on silk banners inside our Governors Island seasonal environmental center. Photo: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdndMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--57848d982edfb8a6e13ac0ddc639d452cf6895e8/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20130300.jpg" alt="As part of the "Divergence of Birds" exhibit, Carolyn Monastra’s photographs hang on silk banners inside our Governors Island seasonal environmental center. Photo: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><div>The artistic process of creating these portraits has been quite the adventure, laughed Monastra, remembering a rogue wave that separated her pair of Laughing Gulls in Florida. In Texas, she had trouble relocating a print whose camouflage was too effective… even in a reproduced print form. And in Houston, as Monastra positioned her Indigo Bunting cutouts, a speedwalking couple stopped and gasped, mistaking them for live birds who were injured or sick. Offering their aid, Monastra revealed her artistic undertaking, letting her blend of art and conservation work reach beyond an exhibition. </div><div><br></div><div>Monastra plans to continue building her photographed menagerie, hoping it can be an educational tool for children to learn about birds, climate change, and our human impact. </div><div><br></div><div>“[Birds] really are the canary in the coal mine for climate change,” says Monastra, adding with pride and hope: “They’re so small, but so resilient.” </div><div><br></div><div>Carolyn Monastra is an artist, activist, and educator, using photography, video, sound, and community engagement to address environmental concerns and examine our relationship to surrounding ecosystems. Learn more about Monastra at <a href="https://www.carolynmonastra.com/index">carolynmonastra.com</a>; “Divergence of Birds” at <a href="http://www.divergenceofbirds.org">Divergenceofbirds.org</a>, and on Instagram <a href="http://instagram.com/carolyn_monastra">@carolyn_monastra</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>“Divergence in Birds,” as well as another Artist-in-Residence exhibition—“<a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/programs-and-events/governors-island/paggank-hunting-grounds">Paggank ‘Hunting Grounds’</a>” by Dennis RedMoon Darkeem—will be on display through the end of October, when our 2023 seasonal stay on Governors Island concludes. <a href="nycaudubon.org/gov-island">Learn more about our seasonal nature center on Governors Island</a>. </div><div><br><em>-Olivia Liang, Communications Associate</em></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27252023-10-05T15:30:00Z2023-10-05T19:18:43Z9/11 Memorial Shines a Spotlight on Risks to Birds<div><strong><em><sup>NYC Audubon volunteers monitoring birds circling in the 2023 9/11 Tribute in Light Memorial. Photo: NYC Audubon<br><br></sup></em></strong><strong>By Katherine Chen</strong><br><br>Every night, the bright lights of New York City draw birds in. There’s one night in particular when the lights shine brighter than ever, and when NYC Audubon has a critical role to play: September 11. This year’s 9/11 Tribute in Light Memorial, while a poignant reflection on the tragic events of that terrible day, was particularly hazardous to birds.</div><div><br></div><div>For over 20 years, NYC Audubon scientists have been granted access to monitor the twin beams of the Tribute, consisting of 88 high-powered spotlights. The Tribute shines throughout the night of September 11 and can be seen throughout the City as a somber reminder of the tragedy.</div><div><br></div><div>Night-migrating birds are naturally drawn to sources of light, and the Tribute beams—which can reach up to four miles high—pose a significant risk. NYC Audubon scientists, stationed at the base of the Tribute atop the Battery Parking Garage in Lower Manhattan near Ground Zero, see that birds become “trapped” within the lights. The birds can circle endlessly, leading to exhaustion and disorientation, making them more susceptible to collisions with windows. </div><div><br></div><div>Our partners at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and Michael Ahern Production Services respect and honor NYC Audubon’s requests to save the wildlife caught in the beams. If our volunteers count more than one thousand birds circling in the beams at one time, or if birds are observed circling and calling low in the beams, we ask for the lights to be shut off for a brief period. The moment of darkness allows birds that have been disoriented from the lights to disperse from that area and continue on their journey.</div><div><br></div><div>This year, 40 community scientists made up of NYC Audubon staff, board members, and volunteers, coupled with several representatives of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, helped our conservation team monitor the beams throughout the night.</div><div><br></div><div>Weather and migration patterns strongly influence the number of birds we see at the Tribute in Light, and this year we arrived at the garage roof apprehensive. In the days leading up to the Tribute, we kept a close eye on <a href="https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/migration-forecast-maps/">BirdCast</a>, which predicted “medium” migration intensity on the night of September 11. In addition, heavy rain through the afternoon and early evening stopped right before the lights went on, leaving a low cloud ceiling which can amplify the appearance of the beams, dispersing light and causing birds to fly lower. Although more pleasant for the humans on the garage roof who remembered <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/blog/ensuring-this-year-s-9-11-tribute-in-light-was-safe-for-birds">last year’s heavy rain</a> on September 11, 2022, the combination of these factors made us fear large numbers of birds in the beams that night. </div><div><br></div><div>The fear mounted early in the evening, as we observed several birds circling the beams soon after the lights were turned on. The number quickly increased, as the birds simultaneously moved lower in the lights, and made frequent flight calls. We hesitated, not wanting to turn the lights off when New Yorkers were still awake and admiring the beams across the City. However, just before 10pm, the earliest we’ve ever had to request in our two decades of monitoring, the volume of birds was too great and we asked for the lights to be shut off for the first time that night. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ The white dots seen in this year’s Tribute in Light memorial are hundreds of birds trapped in the beams. Photo: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdkVMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1799c789c45eade6bd8dfc41f6de78f910d06dcd/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image2.jpg' alt='The white dots seen in this year’s Tribute in Light memorial are hundreds of birds trapped in the beams. Photo: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ The white dots seen in this year’s Tribute in Light memorial are hundreds of birds trapped in the beams. Photo: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdkVMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--1799c789c45eade6bd8dfc41f6de78f910d06dcd/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image2.jpg" alt="The white dots seen in this year’s Tribute in Light memorial are hundreds of birds trapped in the beams. Photo: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><em> <br></em>Once the lights were off, we saw the birds quickly disperse. For the first time, in partnership with researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, we tested a thermal camera that allowed us to record bird movements in the dark night sky and to visually document the behavior of trapped birds after the Tribute lights go out. (We have begun more in-depth analysis of the video and expect the results will provide insights into dispersal of birds related to artificial light.) </div><div><br></div><div>After twenty minutes, per our agreement with the memorial producers, the lights turned back on. Our scientists saw that the birds immediately returned, congregating in the beams. Less than half an hour later, at 10:39pm, we requested another lights-off period. A twenty-minute dark pause, and once again, upon relighting, the birds quickly returned. The lights were turned off for a third time at 11:41pm, and then again at 2:52am. Shutting off the lights four times made for one of the busiest nights we have had on the roof since we started monitoring in 2001. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally, the number of circling birds began to decrease around 5am; dawn broke at 6am, and the lights were powered off for good. As we broke down camp, a resident pigeon greeted us “good morning,” passing through—but not staying in—the lights. </div><div><br></div><div>In addition to observing birds stuck in the beams, our scientists were concerned about collisions. A relatively new building has gone up at 50 West Street, with windows dangerously near the Tribute’s North beam. We observed several collisions with those windows throughout the night. One of them, a Black-and-white Warbler, was rescued by NYC Audubon’s Board President Karen Benfield, who brought it to our partners at the Wild Bird Fund, where it was treated for a likely concussion and then, fortunately, released two days later. </div><div><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ A Black-and-White Warbler rescued after colliding with a nearby building during the Tribute in Light. Photo: Karen Benfield'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdklMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--af20efb65604a4d2466a40bb9b2c8c4d67171e92/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg' alt='A Black-and-White Warbler rescued after colliding with a nearby building during the Tribute in Light. Photo: Karen Benfield' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ A Black-and-White Warbler rescued after colliding with a nearby building during the Tribute in Light. Photo: Karen Benfield"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdklMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--af20efb65604a4d2466a40bb9b2c8c4d67171e92/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/image3.jpg" alt="A Black-and-White Warbler rescued after colliding with a nearby building during the Tribute in Light. Photo: Karen Benfield"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><em><br></em>In addition to Black-and-white Warblers, NYC Audubon’s volunteers identified Common Nighthawks, Connecticut Warblers, Northern Parulas, and American Kestrels, as well as bats, katydids, Spotted Lanternflies, and other insects. </div><div><br></div><div>The 9/11 Tribute in Light Memorial is a stark reminder of the effects of artificial light at night on birds. What happens at Ground Zero on September 11 happens all over the city during spring and fall migration as a result of the City’s lit buildings. It is estimated that nearly a quarter million birds die every year in New York City as a result of collisions with buildings. </div><div><br></div><div>NYC Audubon is actively and energetically involved in the fight to curb artificial light at night in New York City to protect migratory birds. Working with our partners at the Lights Out Coalition, we are championing a new Lights Out bill, Intro 1039 in City Council, that will require privately owned commercial and industrial buildings to turn lights off at night. </div><div><br></div><div>Learn more about the bill and how you can help get it passed on our <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/lights-out-legislation#:~:text=The%20bill%2C%20Intro%201039%2C%20would,law%2C%20rule%20or%20zoning%20resolution.">Lights Out Legislation</a> page.</div><div><br></div><div><em>-Katherine Chen, Community Science & Outreach Manager</em></div><div><strong><br></strong><br></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27232023-09-19T20:54:00Z2023-12-07T15:45:03ZThe Haunting Songs of the Wood Thrush<div><strong><em><sup>The night-migrating Wood Thrush is a frequent victim of collisions with buildings. Photo: Will Stuart<br></sup></em></strong><br><strong><em>This article appears in the fall 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong><strong><em> publication.<br><br></em></strong><strong>By Don Riepe</strong><strong><em><br></em></strong><br>Thrushes are perhaps the most beautiful songsters of the northeast woods, and the song of the Wood Thrush is memorable and haunting for both birders and poets. I often hear Wood Thrushes singing at dusk in the forested areas of the <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-queens/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge">Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge</a>, announcing that darkness is about to descend:<br><br></div><blockquote><em>“The last of the light of the sun / That had died in the west / Still lived for one song more / In a thrush’s breast.” (Robert Frost)</em></blockquote><div><br></div><div>The Wood Thrush also sings around daybreak, evoking a different, more optimistic emotion. The sweet sounds are produced by a double voice box, which gives the bird two pipes to blend sound harmoniously:</div><div><br></div><blockquote><em>“I admire the moderation of this master. There is nothing tumultuous in his song. He launches forth one strain with all his heart and life and soul; a pure and unmatchable melody and then he pauses and gives the hearer and himself time to digest this. And then another and another at suitable intervals.” (Henry David Thoreau)</em></blockquote><div><br>Similar to the Hermit Thrush, the Wood Thrush can be identified by a reddish-brown head and back, with well-defined spots on its breast, while the Hermit Thrush has a reddish-brown tail and lighter breast spots.</div><div><br>A denizen of deciduous woodlands, especially those with tall trees near damp areas, the Wood Thrush can be seen in many wooded NYC parks. However, population declines threaten this gorgeous singer. Human actions such as forest fragmentation (leading to increased parasitic predation by Brown-headed Cowbirds), <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/artificial-light">light pollution</a>, and <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/collision-monitoring">collisions with glass windows</a> put Wood Thrushes and other songbirds at risk in the Northeast, while continued habitat loss both here and in thrushes’ tropical lowland wintering areas also take their toll. NYC Audubon’s work to <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight">reduce bird collisions</a> and <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/habitat-protection">restore habitat</a> is critical so that the Wood Thrush will continue to delight present and future generations with its haunting and ethereal song.<br><br><strong><em>Learn more about how you can help pass artificial light legislation to help songbirds like the Wood Thrush migrate safely through our city by visiting our </em></strong><a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/lights-out-legislation"><strong><em>Lights Out Legislation</em></strong></a><strong><em> page. <br><br></em></strong><strong><em><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ The Wood Thrush’s double voice box is the secret behind its ethereal, flute-like song. The two halves of its syrinx can produce notes independently, allowing the bird to create a symphony of sounds that blend together perfectly. Photo: Adobe Stock'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdGdMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a340488e835a34bad568f8077d08ad9ad4a0d5e3/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/AdobeStock_603673412_cropped.jpeg' alt='The Wood Thrush’s double voice box is the secret behind its ethereal, flute-like song. The two halves of its syrinx can produce notes independently, allowing the bird to create a symphony of sounds that blend together perfectly. Photo: Adobe Stock' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" data-trix-attributes="{"bold":true,"italic":true}" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ The Wood Thrush’s double voice box is the secret behind its ethereal, flute-like song. The two halves of its syrinx can produce notes independently, allowing the bird to create a symphony of sounds that blend together perfectly. Photo: Adobe Stock"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdGdMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a340488e835a34bad568f8077d08ad9ad4a0d5e3/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/AdobeStock_603673412_cropped.jpeg" alt="The Wood Thrush’s double voice box is the secret behind its ethereal, flute-like song. The two halves of its syrinx can produce notes independently, allowing the bird to create a symphony of sounds that blend together perfectly. Photo: Adobe Stock"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></em></strong></div>Andrew Maastag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27222023-09-19T20:27:07Z2023-12-07T15:44:52ZFind More Birds: Recipes for Birding Success<div><strong><sup>Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are </sup></strong><strong><em><sup>by Heather Wolf </sup></em></strong></div><h1><em>FIND MORE BIRDS: </em>RECIPES FOR BIRDING SUCCESS</h1><div><br><strong><em>A review of </em></strong><a href="https://theexperimentpublishing.com/catalogs/summer-2023/find-more-birds/"><strong>Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are</strong></a><strong><em> by Heather Wolf (The Experiment Publishing, 2023). This review is a digital-only story from the Fall 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong><strong><em>. </em></strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong>By Suzanne Charlé<br></strong><br></div><div>Just in time for the heights of fall migration comes this fine road map for birders—newbies or experienced. Writer Heather Wolf, who works for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, offers up many bird-finding “recipes” for birding success, organized by different levels of birding skill. She covers 111 “ingredients” ranging from “Bird-Finding Basics” to “Advanced Bird-Finding.” </div><div><br></div><div>Here’s one recipe she offers:<br><br></div><ul><li>Head out after a storm (#104)</li><li>Change your route (#14)</li><li>Check freshwater sources, even drips (#3)</li><li>Look for movement (#2)</li></ul><div>In Chapter 1, Wolf begins with the basic ingredients—30 of them, to be exact. Sound, she underscores, is the single most important cue to finding birds, whether it be their songs or screams, like the cheerful tune of a Song Sparrow or the mobbing calls of grackles. She suggests we “Scan the Sky” or “Take a Seat”—which is how she once spotted a secretive Lincoln’s Sparrow on a lawn’s edge—and to equally be on the lookout while “Doing Something Else,” like watching your step on a beach, practicing yoga, or taking a ferry ride. New birds can also be discovered “Through the Community,” with a special shoutout to “Join a local Audubon chapter”! </div><div><br></div><div>You can find birds “At Their Favorite Restaurants,” hopping and scratching in leaves, or searching for seeds in tall, dried grasses, where migrating sparrows and buntings stop for a meal. Or they may visit berry buffets: trees and shrubs full of berries that attract waxwings, catbirds, thrushes, and many more. </div><div><br></div><div>Moving towards more advanced techniques, Wolf notes that birds leave many “Clues”: cavities in trees and buildings, just right for nests of tree swallows, woodpecker, owls, and others. Bird Poop is a dead giveaway for herons, egrets, and cormorants. </div><div><br></div><div>“I never thought I’d be spending time trying to get the perfect photograph of bird poop,” Wolf admits. “But birding changes you.” </div><div><br></div><div>Wolf’s engaging writing is supported by her handsome photographs, which reveal what her clever tips can deliver: a Hooded Merganser surfacing with a crustacean in the Central Park reservoir; a silhouette of a Belted Kingfisher with the background of a Manhattan skyscraper; even the digested artwork of a Double-crested Cormorant left behind on a tennis court. </div><div><br></div><div>Wolf ends her book with a wish: “As your bird story unfolds, I hope new dreams surface…. One of mine was to see a Resplendent Quetzal, and it came true in the winter of 2023 in Costa Rica.” But there is no need to go so far: much of the thrill is “that we never know what might come next… finding a mega-rare bird in our backyard [or] seeing a crow clamming when all the trash cans are covered in snow.” </div><div><br></div><div>Wolf, who lives in Brooklyn, notes that she frequently visits <a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-brooklyn/west-brooklyn-coast">Brooklyn Bridge Park</a>; it’s her “patch,” close to home—as well as the subject of her first book, <a href="https://theexperimentpublishing.com/catalogs/spring-2016/birding-at-the-bridge/"><em>Birding at the Bridge</em></a>. While Wolf’s <em>Find More Birds</em> is for <em>all</em> birders, we New Yorkers are especially privileged since many of her suggestions for spotting birds come from sites right here in the city. Read, enjoy, and discover.</div><div><br></div><div><strong><em>Join Heather Wolf at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where she leads </em></strong><a href="https://classes.bbg.org/ShowSchedule.awp?&Mode=GROUP&Group=:FULL&Title=Classes+and+Workshops&Order=begins"><strong><em>birding walks and classes</em></strong></a><strong><em>, and refer to our “</em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-brooklyn/prospect-park-and-brooklyn-botanic-garden"><strong><em>Birding in Brooklyn Botanic Garden</em></strong></a><strong><em>” guide for extra tips and tricks! </em></strong></div><div><br></div><div><strong><em>Support local bookstores and buy your copy of </em></strong><strong>Find More Birds</strong><strong><em> at </em></strong><a href="https://shop.loftypigeonbooks.com/item/xrhm07PSjJSKGxEyta6ueg"><strong><em>Lofty Pigeon</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://www.booksaremagic.net/item/xrhm07PSjJSKGxEyta6ueg"><strong><em>Books Are Magic</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://www.strandbooks.com/product/9781615199402?title=find_more_birds_111_surprising_ways_to_spot_birds_wherever_you_are"><strong><em>Strand Book Store</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://www.bookculture.com/book/9781615199402"><strong><em>Book Culture</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/103-ways-to-find-more-birds-heather-wolf/18424189?ean=9781615199402"><strong><em>Bookshop.org</em></strong></a><strong><em>, or visit your local library. </em></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27212023-09-19T19:10:27Z2023-12-07T15:44:47ZBrooklyn Arcadia: A Lush Book to Inspire Nature and Culture Lovers Alike<div><strong><sup>Brooklyn Arcadia: Art, History, and Nature at Majestic Green-Wood</sup></strong><strong><em><sup> by Andrew Garn<br></sup></em></strong><br></div><h1><em>BROOKLYN ARCADIA: </em>A LUSH BOOK TO INSPIRE NATURE AND CULTURE LOVERS ALIKE </h1><div><br><strong><em>A review of</em></strong><strong> </strong><a href="https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847873241/"><strong>Brooklyn Arcadia: Art, History, and Nature at Majestic Green-Wood</strong></a><strong><em> by Andrew Garn (Rizzoli 2023). This review is a digital-only story from the Fall 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong><strong><em>.<br><br></em></strong><strong>By Carol Peace Robins<br> <br></strong>This is not just a bird book, but a celebration of <a href="https://www.green-wood.com/">Green-Wood Cemetery</a>. This grand National Historic Landmark in Brooklyn is home to<strong> </strong>deceased<strong> </strong>Americans, magnificent architecture, and stately statuary, all nestled into 478 acres of thousands of trees and shrubs, flowers of every hue—and, yes, birds. Nearly 250 species of birds have been observed here. </div><div><br></div><div>Photographer and writer Andrew Garn’s <em>Brooklyn Arcadia</em> is filled with informative essays, historic photos, and superb new photographs of this unique green space in every season, at all times of day, in all kinds of weather. </div><div><br></div><div>The words of Garn and others illuminate how Green-Wood was conceived in the 1830s as New York’s first rural cemetery. Its earliest resident was interred in 1839, followed by 26,000 neighbors in the next decade. But it was the cemetery’s inviting pastoral landscape that became a popular attraction—and lovely distraction from urban life. By the 1860s, it was second only to Niagara Falls as the nation’s greatest tourist attraction. At a time when welcoming green spaces didn’t exist in New York, Green-Wood became the inspiration for Central and Prospect Parks. </div><div><br></div><div>Featured are the oak, maple, hickory, tulip, and sassafras trees; lilies, roses, and wildflowers that attract bees and butterflies; and equally beguiling flowers exquisitely carved on headstones, mausoleums, and vaults. And the birds? Our own <a href="https://www.gabrielwillow.com/">Gabriel Willow</a> contributed his take on such favorites as Hooded Warblers, Wood Ducks, and Bald Eagles.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the hundreds of thousands buried at the cemetery lie Henry Ward Beecher, Peter Cooper, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Boss Tweed, Leonard Bernstein, and Jean-Michael Basquiat, as well as the less heralded.</div><div><br></div><div>This book will acquaint fans of Green-Wood’s unique artifacts with the nature surrounding them. And birders who know Green-Wood’s amazing cast of flying denizens will discover its majestic human-made creations.</div><div><br></div><div><strong><em>Be sure to check the </em></strong><a href="https://nycaudubon.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nycaudubon/publicaccess/eventCalendarBig.jsp"><strong><em>NYC Audubon event calendar</em></strong></a><strong><em> for upcoming outings in Green-Wood Cemetery and refer to our “</em></strong><a href="https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-brooklyn/green-wood-cemetery"><strong><em>Birding in Green-Wood Cemetery</em></strong></a><strong><em>” guide when you visit! <br></em></strong><br></div><div><strong><em>Support local bookstores and buy your copy of </em></strong><strong>Brooklyn Arcadia</strong><strong><em> at </em></strong><a href="https://shop.loftypigeonbooks.com/item/1RXUx69EpY0TgCCfynSkOw"><strong><em>Lofty Pigeon</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://www.booksaremagic.net/item/1RXUx69EpY0TgCCfynSkOw"><strong><em>Books Are Magic</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://strandbooks.com/product/9780847873241?title=brooklyn_arcadia_art_history_and_nature_at_majestic_greenwood"><strong><em>Strand Book Store</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://www.bookculture.com/book/9780847873241"><strong><em>Book Culture</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/brooklyn-arcadia-art-history-and-nature-at-majestic-green-wood-andrew-garn/19821459?ean=9780847873241"><strong><em>Bookshop.org</em></strong></a><strong><em>, or visit your local library.</em></strong></div><div><strong><br></strong><br></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27242023-09-19T12:28:00Z2023-09-22T16:39:47ZNext Big Steps for Lights Out Legislation in New York City<div><strong><em><sup>The bright lights of New York City's downtown captured by a camera that NYC Audubon and the University of Delaware installed on the Durst Organization building in Manhattan's Midtown. Photo: NYC Audubon/University of Delaware/The Durst Organization<br></sup></em></strong><br><strong><em>This article appears in the fall 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon</strong><strong><em> publication. <br></em></strong><br><strong>By Suzanne Charlé</strong><br><br>In late 2021, NYC Audubon and the Lights Out Coalition celebrated the passage of Lights Out bills Int. 274 and 271, requiring City-owned and -managed buildings to turn off non-essential outdoor lights at night during peak avian migration periods. This was a big step in making the City safer for the millions of birds that pass through during fall and spring migration.<br><br>Now, NYC Audubon and its partners are encouraging the New York City Council to consider expanding the “Lights Out” program to privately owned commercial and industrial buildings, as well as other buildings such as U.S. post offices, labs, and outpatient clinics.<br><br>“I strongly believe in legislation that not only benefits our environment but our wildlife as well,” said Councilmember Francisco Moya (Queens District 21), who introduced <a href="https://nyc.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6203111&GUID=D371C0A1-CBB9-401D-B547-429757E2E0E1#:~:text=This%20bill%20would%20prohibit%20nighttime%20illumination%20of%20the,may%20apply%20for%20a%20waiver%20of%20this%20requirement.">Int. 1039</a> in May. “We see a huge number of bird deaths in New York City each year. Why walk past these dead birds on the sidewalk, when we can do something as simple as flick a light switch to prevent it? This is a no-brainer.”<br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson speaks at a rally outside City Hall in support of Lights Out legislation, Int. 1039, on May 11, 2023. Photo: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdDRMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--cf4e105dddc9a2007e4d2bed8bcd23061ccfb417/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/light_out_rally_5-11-23_anne_schwartz-1_52909921041_o.jpg' alt='NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson speaks at a rally outside City Hall in support of Lights Out legislation, Int. 1039, on May 11, 2023. Photo: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson speaks at a rally outside City Hall in support of Lights Out legislation, Int. 1039, on May 11, 2023. Photo: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdDRMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--cf4e105dddc9a2007e4d2bed8bcd23061ccfb417/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/light_out_rally_5-11-23_anne_schwartz-1_52909921041_o.jpg" alt="NYC Audubon Executive Director Jessica Wilson speaks at a rally outside City Hall in support of Lights Out legislation, Int. 1039, on May 11, 2023. Photo: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>Int. 1039 would require buildings to limit non-essential interior and exterior lights from sunset to sunrise year-round. If passed, this would be landmark legislation, first of its kind in the country, with the potential to save thousands of birds. According to NYC Audubon Director of Conservation and Science Dustin Partridge, PhD, more than 100 species, including most songbirds, migrate at night. <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/artificial-light">Bright artificial lights act like a trap, pulling the birds to the City, where they become disoriented and exhausted</a>. It’s estimated that nearly a quarter of a million birds die annually as a result of collisions in New York City.<br><br>Kathy Nizzari, the founder of the Lights Out Coalition, a consortium of local conservation and animal welfare organizations, was instrumental in convincing Councilmember Moya to introduce the legislation. Nizzari stresses that many other animals, including humans, are affected by bright lights; organizations including the American Medical Association support efforts to control light pollution. Limiting light will also help reduce the City’s carbon footprint and save money for building owners. As of the time of writing, in August 2023, 10 council members are sponsoring Int. 1039 and NYC Audubon, with the Lights Out Coalition, is working to secure additional co-sponsors.<br><br>Int. 1039 answers many complaints that the real estate industry has had about “Lights Out” proposals in the past: small businesses that occupy less than 4,000 square feet are exempted, as are landmarked buildings; those that are 20 stories or more may apply to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for relief. Also, buildings that have significant security risks without nighttime lighting—such as those that need to be visible to aircraft—may apply for exemption. Another concern from the real estate industry has been public safety: large stores and offices would be allowed to keep their interior and exterior lights on as long as employees are working in the buildings.<br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ The urban glow of our city can draw in night-migrating birds to our city, disorienting and exhausting them, and making them more likely to collide with windows. Photo: '> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBb2dMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--e0e05188a816c2a72f7d98272c31560b896e4e91/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/unnamed%20(1).jpg' alt='The urban glow of our city can draw in night-migrating birds to our city, disorienting and exhausting them, and making them more likely to collide with windows. Photo: ' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ The urban glow of our city can draw in night-migrating birds to our city, disorienting and exhausting them, and making them more likely to collide with windows. Photo: "> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBb2dMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--e0e05188a816c2a72f7d98272c31560b896e4e91/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/unnamed%20(1).jpg" alt="The urban glow of our city can draw in night-migrating birds to our city, disorienting and exhausting them, and making them more likely to collide with windows. Photo: "> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br>Just how many buildings fall under the rule is unclear, but it’s a lot. According to the Department of Buildings, there are approximately 21,000 so-called Class B and M buildings in the categories in question. (This does not include buildings built 40 years ago, for which there were no records given.)<br><br>That leaves the remainder of the City’s million-plus buildings. However, Dr. Partridge maintains that passing Int. 1039 will be a major step if buildings go dark, “especially since many of the buildings impacted are in lower and midtown Manhattan, which have recorded the most bird kills in the City.”<br><br>“The bill will benefit both birds and people,” stresses Jessica Wilson, NYC Audubon’s executive director. “Turning off lights at night doesn’t just help birds—it will make the City more sustainable and resilient for all New Yorkers.”<br><br>Even as NYC Audubon and its partners work to further this landmark legislation, the organization’s scientists continue to collect the data that fuels NYC Audubon’s advocacy efforts. On the night of September 11, as has been the case for over 20 years, <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/project-safe-flight/tribute-in-light-monitoring">NYC Audubon community scientists will be at the Tribute in Light</a> memorial lighting site with binoculars trained on the towering twin beams of light, looking for birds trapped in them. When more than 1,000 birds are counted in the lights, NYC Audubon asks the memorial producers to turn the lights off for 20 minutes to allow the birds to disperse. As Dr. Partridge notes, “the Tribute in Light is a powerful memorial for New Yorkers, but it is also a powerful demonstration of light’s impact on birds, and how we can help.”<br><br>Learn more about how you can help NYC Audubon pass Lights Out legislation Int. 1039 on our <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/our-work/advocacy/current-advocacy-priorities/lights-out-legislation">Lights Out Legislation</a> page. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ NYC Audubon volunteer monitors the 9/11 Tribute in Light for birds that are ’caught\" in the light beams on September 11, 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbHdLIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--83c465d42205d11d8be36c7732b481bcbf6ba32c/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/ec8da045-27dc-4662-afb2-9670ec71f245_edited.jpg' alt='NYC Audubon volunteer monitors the 9/11 Tribute in Light for birds that are ’caught\" in the light beams on September 11, 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ NYC Audubon volunteer monitors the 9/11 Tribute in Light for birds that are ’caught" in the light beams on September 11, 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbHdLIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--83c465d42205d11d8be36c7732b481bcbf6ba32c/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/ec8da045-27dc-4662-afb2-9670ec71f245_edited.jpg" alt="NYC Audubon volunteer monitors the 9/11 Tribute in Light for birds that are ’caught" in the light beams on September 11, 2022. Photo: NYC Audubon"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure><br><br></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27192023-08-07T18:13:00Z2023-12-07T15:44:06ZHorseshoe Crab Monitoring 2023 Season Recap<div><strong><em><sup>Volunteers document a recently tagged Horseshoe Crab at Plumb Beach East. Photo: NYC Audubon</sup></em></strong><sup><br></sup><br><strong>Katherine Chen</strong> | August 7, 2023<br><br>For nearly 15 years, NYC Audubon has been organizing a special opportunity for community scientists of all ages and backgrounds to come out to the beaches of Jamaica Bay in May and June on 12 nights around the full and new moon.<br><br>The purpose of this activity? To monitor and tag Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs. During these special nights, thousands of horseshoe crabs come ashore along Plumb Beach and Big Egg Marsh in Jamaica Bay to spawn. A single female can lay over 100,000 eggs in a single season! <br><br>And why do we care so much about these horseshoe crabs and their mating habits? Well, it is an amazing spectacle to see so many horseshoe crabs—a species that actually dates back to prehistoric times—populate our city beaches in droves on these nights. But more importantly, from a conservation perspective, the million-plus eggs laid by horseshoe crabs provide a critical food source for migrating shorebirds, which fly through our area at exactly the same time as horseshoe crab spawning season. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Don Riepe'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBck1MIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--41b7abe303048e144e63422dd801c4311c063d40/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Red_Knots_horseshoe_crabs_Don%20Riepe%20(1).jpg' alt='Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Don Riepe' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Don Riepe"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBck1MIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--41b7abe303048e144e63422dd801c4311c063d40/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Red_Knots_horseshoe_crabs_Don%20Riepe%20(1).jpg" alt="Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Don Riepe"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h3>Horseshoe Crabs Eggs Are a Critical Food Source for Shorebirds</h3><div>Without these horseshoe crab eggs to feed on, many shorebirds, including the threatened <em>Rufa</em> Red Knot, would not have enough fuel for their incredibly long journeys, which can be as far as 9,300 miles each spring and fall between wintering grounds in Tierra del Fuego and nesting territory above the Arctic Circle.<br><br>It’s not just the Red Knot that is of concern: most of our North American shorebird species have suffered marked population declines in the past 50 years. These declines may be due to multiple factors including habitat loss, environmental contaminants, and over-harvesting of shorebird food sources like horseshoe crabs.<br><br>To make sure there are enough horseshoe crabs coming to our beaches and providing enough food for our grateful shorebirds on tight “energy budgets,” NYC Audubon enlists hundreds of volunteers to flock to our beaches, clipboards in hand, to count how many crabs are coming to our shore each year. This is part of a statewide project led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. <br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ A volunteer holds up a Horseshoe Crab for documentation. Photo: Bianca Otero'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBclFMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0637a863ce9e6991b9d4993afb1c60cff12ab7d9/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/audubonsend0142.JPG' alt='A volunteer holds up a Horseshoe Crab for documentation. Photo: Bianca Otero' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ A volunteer holds up a Horseshoe Crab for documentation. Photo: Bianca Otero"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBclFMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0637a863ce9e6991b9d4993afb1c60cff12ab7d9/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/audubonsend0142.JPG" alt="A volunteer holds up a Horseshoe Crab for documentation. Photo: Bianca Otero"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>Horseshoe Crab Monitoring and Tagging Numbers at Jamaica Bay This Year</strong></h3><div>It was a fantastic season of horseshoe crab monitoring! We <strong>counted 2,579 horseshoe crabs during the 2023 season, 1,842 male and 737 female</strong>. This is approximately 700 more than what was counted last year. Due to the count method employed, some of the horseshoe crabs may have been counted multiple times; nonetheless, this is an encouraging number and shows populations were stable this year. And it seemed to be a productive mating season as well: we saw several cavities in the sand with thousands of eggs each. It was a good year of feasting for shorebirds.<br><br>In addition, we <strong>tagged 623 horseshoe crabs</strong>. By tracking their movements with tags, we gain valuable insights into their behavior and migration patterns. Furthermore, these findings help identify beaches in need of protection and conservation efforts. Last but not least, we recovered and reported several tags, including some from previous years like the one spotted on May 21 that was originally tagged in 2016 at Raritan Bay, NJ.<br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Horseshoe Crab Monitors walk along the beach at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Bianca Otero'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBclVMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--040c76ea0d7e7aedcdf897f272b7172e0e83ee13/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/audubonsend0124.JPG' alt='Horseshoe Crab Monitors walk along the beach at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Bianca Otero' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Horseshoe Crab Monitors walk along the beach at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Bianca Otero"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBclVMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--040c76ea0d7e7aedcdf897f272b7172e0e83ee13/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/audubonsend0124.JPG" alt="Horseshoe Crab Monitors walk along the beach at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Bianca Otero"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>Other Highlights from Our Monitoring Season</strong></h3><div>Our Horseshoe Crab Monitoring program always provides a memorable experience for volunteers. It is really cool to be out on these beaches during nightfall! This year, in addition to all the great sunsets volunteers always get to see, we got to witness the beautiful Strawberry Moon on June 3.<br><br>We had a heartwarming story too! A site coordinator lost their thermometer, only to be reunited with it after an amazing volunteer spotted it on the beach with their eagle eyes. Gestures like these demonstrate the incredible commitment and care our volunteers bring to the program and each other. Most of all, we were incredibly lucky to have<strong> hundreds of volunteers joining us on the beaches this year</strong>, including many budding scientists!<br><br>It was a truly outstanding year, with many new and returning faces. <strong>We send a huge thank you to our wonderful site coordinators: Ann Seligman, Nancy Liang, and Dottie Werkmeister!</strong> And of course, a big thank you to all of our volunteers. We cannot stress how important our volunteers’ contributions are: without you, this work, as well as other community science initiatives like our Project Safe Flight collision monitoring, would not be possible. Thanks again and we look forward to seeing community scientists again on our beaches next year.<br><br><figure data-trix-attachment="{"content":"<span class='trix-attachment-spina-image' data-label='✍️ Red Knots and Laughing Gulls with Horseshoe Crabs at New Jersey Beach. Photo: milehightraveler / Getty Signature Images'> <img src='/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcllMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--6b0047cda1ff2262d647c05be82c6f3e843c0939/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Untitled%20design%20(3).jpg' alt='Red Knots and Laughing Gulls with Horseshoe Crabs at New Jersey Beach. Photo: milehightraveler / Getty Signature Images' /> </span>"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"><span class="trix-attachment-spina-image" data-label="✍️ Red Knots and Laughing Gulls with Horseshoe Crabs at New Jersey Beach. Photo: milehightraveler / Getty Signature Images"> <img src="/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcllMIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--6b0047cda1ff2262d647c05be82c6f3e843c0939/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MY21WemFYcGxNQT09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--bf75e24ee8174b83b78ca4bb506d559016506a16/Untitled%20design%20(3).jpg" alt="Red Knots and Laughing Gulls with Horseshoe Crabs at New Jersey Beach. Photo: milehightraveler / Getty Signature Images"> </span><figcaption class="attachment__caption"></figcaption></figure></div><h3>Other Opportunities to See Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds</h3><div>We monitor horseshoe crabs every year and would love for you to join us again in 2024. Please keep an eye on the <a href="https://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/uhEku8iaJtBQNhlwy53RkfRJA4GSptR3L4KtjbCuFIM=/O_5N2cIA-ZlpXpgVsC4AGb5jgUYftMYFuv0x8-4qvck=">NYC Audubon website</a> for the call for horseshoe crab monitors in March/April 2024. <br><br>You can also <a href="https://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/uhEku8iaJtBQNhlwy53RkfRJA4GSptR3L4KtjbCuFIM=/O_5N2cIA-ZlpXpgVsC4AGZy5r_YEMYickt3vZwe1xp8=">subscribe to our eGret newsletter</a> to receive email notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Or follow us on <a href="http://instagram.com/nycaudubon">Instagram</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/nycaudubon">Twitter</a>. <br><br>Want to see the birds that rely so heavily on these horseshoe crabs for food? We invite you to witness the great spectacle of shorebird migration in our city at the 18th Annual Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay on August 19. There will be free and fun activities throughout the day, in partnership with the American Littoral Society, Jamaica-Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Gateway National Park Service! <a href="https://www.littoralsociety.org/jamaica-bay-shorebird-festival.html">Learn more on American Littoral Society's webpage here</a>. </div>Katherine Chentag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27162023-06-01T10:06:00Z2023-12-07T15:44:27ZThe Christian Cooper Chronicles<div><em><sup>Christian Cooper bands a Herring Gull with NYC Audubon scientists atop the Javits network of green roofs as National Geographic documents it for an episode on Christian's </sup></em><sup>Extraordinary Birder </sup><em><sup>show.<br></sup></em><br></div><h1>The Christian Cooper Chronicles</h1><div><br><strong><em>This article appears in the summer 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon </strong><strong><em>publication.<br><br></em></strong><strong>By Carol Peace Robins<br></strong><br></div><div>Longtime birder and NYC Audubon Board Member Christian Cooper became more widely known in 2020 as the target of the infamous “Central Park Birdwatching Incident” involving a white woman dialing 911 to report an African American man threatening her. That incident, coupled with George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis the same day, sparked conversations and protests across the country about racial justice and equity.<br><br>Now no stranger to the limelight, Chris will soon be more happily celebrated for his poignant memoir about the joys and healing powers of birding, as well as an illuminating National Geographic television series.<br><br>I recently spoke with Chris, who was in Palm Springs for the winter partly to be closer to his sister in L.A.—and partly because he hates the cold. He assured me he would be back to New York City and his Central Park birds this spring for prime-time migration.<br><br>We talked about his new book, <em>Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World</em>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671722/better-living-through-birding-by-christian-cooper/">arriving on June 13 from Penguin Random House</a>. It’s the story of how a nine-year-old boy’s birding passion was sparked by a Red-winged Blackbird, a passion that helped him make it through high school as a closeted gay and self-described “openly nerdy” Black boy. Readers see the Marvel Comics-reading kid blossom into Marvel’s first openly gay writer and the creator of the first gay character in the Star Trek universe. Chris includes us in his travels around the world from Buenos Aires to Kathmandu, discovering new and exciting species. And flitting gracefully throughout the tale are Chris’s wise, been-there-done-that “Birding Tips” and his “Seven Pleasures of Birding.”<br><br>June also brings the first episode of <em>Extraordinary Birder</em>, National Geographic’s six-part documentary premiering June 17, on Nat Geo Wild and streaming on Disney+ starting June 21, starring Chris as host and guide through some of his favorite birding haunts in New York (of course), as well as Palm Springs, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alabama. As for the title, Chris is emphatic that it’s not all about him, explaining that “extraordinary birders are the ones who mentored me on Long Island when I was a kid, and the real experts in Central Park who welcomed me.” Though episodes were not available at the time of writing for preview, Chris noted they’re not just about beautiful birds in scenic places, but also an exploration of the interactions between birds and “the farmers, biologists, and the truly extraordinary folks dedicated to birds’ conservation.”<br><br>Upon leaving Long Island after high school, Chris graduated from Harvard and went to work for Marvel Comics. Following his time at Marvel, Chris worked as a copy editor for a pharma-related medical education company for 20 years. He credits Jeff Kimball for his involvement with NYC Audubon and his eventual election to the board of directors in 2016. Kimball, a NYC Audubon Board Member and past president, is also the director of the 2012 film <em>Birders: The Central Park Effect</em> featuring Chris as one of the members of Central Park’s cozy group of “Regulars.” Kimball recognized a kindred spirit.<br><br>Chris’s home on Manhattan’s Lower East Side is not exactly convenient to Central Park, but it’s closer than Palm Springs. Every morning during spring migration, Chris heads for the park at daybreak. His excursions are usually without further “incidents”—unless you count getting to see a Kirtland’s Warbler a few years ago, a rare first-timer in the park. It was “a unicorn come alive before my own eyes.” An awe-inspiring incident indeed.</div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27152023-06-01T08:06:00Z2023-12-07T15:43:07ZWhat's in a Name? Dropping “Audubon”<div><em><sub>We will continue to dedicate ourselves to making our city safer for birds like the Common Yellowthroat, a frequent collision victim in New York City. Photo: Rumen Raykov / Getty Images</sub></em><em><br><br></em><br><strong><em>A condensed version of this article appears in the Summer 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon </strong><strong><em>publication.</em></strong><br><br><strong>By Karen Benfield, NYC Audubon Board President</strong><br><br>At a time when birds are threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and the risks of built infrastructure in urban environments, it is vital to enlist support from all the communities across New York City. The more people who hear our message and help us save bird populations, the better. <br><br>It is because of this mission that our Board of Directors decided to change the organization’s name, dropping the “Audubon” that has been part of our identity for 44 years. By taking this difficult but crucial action, we will enhance our efforts to conserve the city’s birds and their habitat.<br><br>Over eight months, our board and staff thoroughly examined how the “Audubon” name affects our mission, values, and work. We weighed the impact of the name on our conservation, engagement, and advocacy goals, and considered complex factors including brand recognition; alignment with our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility; our partnerships and credibility; and the time and cost involved in a name change. We spoke with members, supporters, partners, volunteers, scientists, and historians who provided helpful feedback and insights. We are sharing a selection of them in this newsletter. <br><br>We value John James Audubon’s contributions to art and ornithology. Our assessment also explored how his work helped spark the country’s conservation movement. It is important to note, however, that he was not directly involved in bird protection efforts, nor did he found the many Audubon Societies which bear his name. Most important, the more we learned about John James Audubon’s actions and views towards people of color and Indigenous people—including his ownership, purchase and sale of enslaved people and his writings defending slavery against the abolitionist movement—and the more that racist past became publicly known, the more we became convinced that the negative consequences of continuing to use his name outweighed the positive.<br><br>Our assessment ultimately concluded that continued association of our organization with the Audubon name not only raised deeply troubling ethical issues, but also would increasingly harm our vital efforts to extend our work and support across all communities of the city. In short, we concluded that the negative connotations attached to the Audubon name now outweigh the positives. In order for us to promote our mission of bird conservation, advocacy, and engagement as widely as possible, we determined that the name must change.<br><br>We are not alone in making this change. Many other chapters, especially in large cities, have made the same decision, though the National Audubon Society intends to keep its name. Despite a different name, we will remain a chapter of the national organization and continue our partnerships to protect birds across the flyways.<br><br>We don’t yet know what our new name will be. Time is needed to collect input and to identify a name that feels inclusive and welcoming to all New Yorkers. We invite your suggestions, and for you to learn more about our process here and on our website at nycaudubon.org/audubon-name.<br><br>I am proud to be part of an organization that is unafraid of reflection and evolution. Our name will change, but our mission won’t. We will keep protecting wild birds and their habitat across the five boroughs, and engaging all New Yorkers in those efforts, to shape a healthier and more sustainable city for birds and people. This is an important time for bird conservation. We step forward with great excitement and purpose. <br><br><br></div><h1>What’s in a name? Voices from the community</h1><blockquote>As an African American and lifelong birder, I stand firmly in the camp that the Audubon name must go—because such a change will help save more birds. If we as advocates for the wild want to guarantee a future with a healthy diversity of birds, then we must foster a healthy diversity of people who value them. Instead of letting our name be a barrier to reaching more people, we’re seizing this opportunity to tell ever-wider audiences who we are and what we do: protect birds and their habitats, to the benefit of all New Yorkers.<br> <br><strong>– </strong><strong><em>Christian Cooper, Vice President, Board of Directors</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>If you have ever looked at the John James Audubon watercolors at the New-York Historical Society, you are awe struck by the artist’s clear and beautiful representation of birds and their habitat. What genius! However, his artistry cannot negate or erase his racist mindset. I am no longer comfortable wearing a t-shirt with his name nor referring to my chapter as New York City “Audubon.” I support the board, staff, and community members’ carefully considered decision to remove his name. Now there is an extraordinary opportunity to re-invent a name that celebrates the diversity of life in New York City.<br><br><strong>– </strong><strong><em>Marcia Fowle, NYC Audubon Advisory Council; past Board Member and the organization’s first Executive Director</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Our work with NYC Audubon is focused not just on habitat restoration, but on shared goals of introducing and engaging communities with core concepts of urban ecology through place-based learning. For this education work to be successful it has to be inclusive. This means addressing what restoration looks like in hyper-developed areas like NYC, and how it relates to people's day-to-day lives, but it also means confronting the problematic legacies tied to most large-scale conservation movements. Social justice, environmental justice, and environmental protection are tied together, and we can not afford to ignore these connections. We commend NYC Audubon in taking steps to address these issues and work towards inclusivity that will ultimately benefit both the wildlife and human communities that call NYC home.<br><br><strong><em>– Willis Elkins, Executive Director, Newtown Creek Alliance</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Though we'll have a new name, our work with chapters along the Atlantic Flyway and across the country will continue, and we remain committed to our partnership with National Audubon. The critical issues facing birds require everyone to work together.<br> <br><strong><em>– Mike Yuan, Executive Vice President, Board of Directors</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I support the change to ensure a warm welcome to the organization for bird-lovers of all races. That said, let’s not forget the great contributions John James Audubon made to science and art. On appropriate occasions, those contributions should still be recognized in the organization’s lectures and other programs.<br><br><strong><em>– Jai Chandrashekhar, NYC Audubon member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>here has always been a level of prestige attributed to the Audubon brand. Nearly everyone has heard and knows of the Audubon Society; “Audubon” is synonymous with birding. For nearly thirty years I have facilitated an experience with birds in the natural world for thousands of Staten Islanders and not one of them ever shared disdain for the deplorable aspects of the life of John James Audubon. Changing the name of NYC Audubon is a performative stunt. The NYC Audubon organization remains a charter of the National Audubon Society and each member of the organization remains intrinsically tied to the name of John James Audubon. One can change the name, but one cannot change that relationship. So, let us be reminded of the powerful proverb, a bird does not change feathers because the weather is bad.<br><br><strong><em>– Cliff Hagen, bird guide and naturalist/educator</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Our founding members wanted to protect bird habitat and share birding with others, and equity and inclusion have long been central in our pursuit of those goals. But as we dug into the history of John James Audubon, we realized the negative impact that the Audubon name had on our ability to welcome everyone into that work. And once you know the history, you can’t unknow it. The next inclusive step for our mission is changing our name.<br><br><strong><em>– Angie Co, NYC Audubon Board of Directors and Co-Chair, EDIA Committee</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I never associated NYC Audubon or its mission with Audubon himself, since my primary interest in joining (many years ago) was environmental conservation—not something I identified with John James and his delight in shooting birds. Only later did I became a birder. For me, the name represents a long, happy relationship with kindred spirits and a sense of community with fellow birders. <br><br>So I have a sentimental attachment to the name “NYC Audubon.” <br><br>However—if indeed “the use of ‘Audubon’ in the name affects our ability to retain and attract staff, board members, supporters, volunteers, and organization members,” as stated on the website—then the name must be changed, both for those who object to the bad vibes the name holds for them, and for those that have little idea of who Audubon was and for whom the name means nothing. We want everyone to share our goals and our enjoyment of birds and nature.<br><br><strong><em>– Mary Jane Kaplan, NYC Audubon Advisory Council and past Board Member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I think dropping the Audubon name is a faulty decision. The name, as it has been associated with the birding association over the last 100+ years, does not bring to mind John James Audubon, the man with opinions once common, but no longer respectable. Instead, it brings to mind the conservation organization that has done so much to save bird species in the past and is doing so in the present. <br><br>Changing the name does nothing except virtue signal. I can understand some reluctance to identify with the man and his opinions. However, censorship of the opinions of the dead is foolish. The time will likely come when our current opinions will be held to be scandalously offensive. Do we really want to begin a cycle of posthumous censorship?<br><br>It’s particularly faulty if this is not the decision of the National Audubon Society. Those local groups that drop the name risk becoming second-tier organizations with considerably less clout than they had. At a minimum they risk losing the immediate name recognition that the general public has around the Audubon name. Moreover, the lack of name recognition may result in diminished funding.<br><br><strong><em>– Margaret Duffy, NYC Audubon member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I was very excited to hear about NYC Audubon’s decision to change its name. This organization does impressive work towards bird conservation, but it does so within a diverse city and through the work of a diverse group of people, and it’s important that its choices indicate awareness of that. As someone who reflects that diversity and works with the organization, it is very meaningful to me that they are willing to rethink the historical choice to celebrate an extremely racist man, and to adapt to changing landscapes. To me, that is reflective of an organization that will be able to endure and continue to do the important work of protecting birds and wildlife.<br><br><strong><em>– Efua Peterson, bird guide and Young Conservationist Council member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I am someone whose family is negatively impacted by the aftermath of colonization. I’ve struggled to see myself as part of a conservation legacy when many of its great figures enacted harm that reaches across generations. While it’s easy to be dismissive of something that doesn’t impact you, it’s also a reminder that empathy is a muscle we all could do better to exercise. There are so many people I’ve spoken to (well before 2020) that have a deep distrust for conservation organizations who haven’t acknowledged the nuanced, and often painful, legacies of their forefathers—as a result, choosing not to join these efforts. Meanwhile, our planet is in crisis, and we need as many people working together as possible. <br><br>A new name won’t absolve all ills, nor will it erase the positive contributions of any individual—but it will shift focus to the importance of the cause, which is most effectively addressed by collective action. As a volunteer, I witness the effectiveness of this daily. When we stop centering one person or the other, we can get things done! <br><br><strong><em>– Divya Anantharaman, NYC Audubon volunteer</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>In my childhood home, Audubon’s Pileated Woodpeckers greeted visitors inside the front door. I grew up attending meetings of our local Audubon Society with my birdwatcher father. And over the past 15 years, my work with NYC Audubon and National Audubon has reconnected me to the great gift of birds my father gave me. You’d think I might cling to the Audubon name. My father was also a Quaker, however. The Quakers urged us to “put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.” That simple call for empathy has echoed in my mind, as a White man, as I’ve understood the feelings of Black birders who recoil from continuing to honor an unrepentant slaveholder and anti-abolitionist. Audubon’s paintings are beautiful. They will not be forgotten. But our organization need not honor the man. We must not, if we truly wish to welcome all into the fight to protect the birds we love.<br><br><strong><em>– Tod Winston, NYC Audubon Urban Biodiversity Specialist and bird guide</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I feel strongly that the name change is really meaningless. When you study American history and see the milieu that John Audubon had around him, he surely was not a great exception. Many others had similar points of view. One cannot change history by simply changing names or removing statues! In my opinion, changing our name solves few if any problems related to inclusion; it may even create new ones. I am and have always been a very liberal-minded person in all phases of my life, and totally support our focus to a more inclusive organization (and society). However without the well-known NYC Audubon name, our organization will lose important recognition, and will therefore lose clout.<br> <br><strong><em>– Claude Bloch, MD, NYC Audubon Advisory Council and past Board Member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>As NYC Audubon’s Director of Development from 2015 to 2021, I have lived and breathed our reputation and our brand. My work included communications, and I talked with a lot of people at festivals and outreach events. I also continue to work as a bird walk leader for NYC Audubon, with a focus on welcoming new and young birders. In my experience, “Audubon” means very little to people younger than myself (a youngish baby boomer) and to people who are not yet birders. Far from being something like a household name, it’s not readily recognized. I’ve had to explain so many times to people why we have this name, and, now that John James’s history has been daylighted, apologize for that legacy. Believe it or not, “What does the Audubon society seek to protect?” was a question during a trivia game I played at a bar recently. <br><br>The name has always been hard to spell and there is no clear understanding—even among birders—that each Audubon Society has its own mission and board and priorities. A perfect case study in brand confusion. Dropping “Audubon” is not throwing away gold, and our embrace of change gives credibility to our leading-edge approach to conservation practices and to our equity, diversity, and inclusion values.<br><br><strong><em>– Kellye Rosenheim, staff alumna and bird guide</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I must register my dismay at your changing the name of the Audubon. George Washington had slaves. Are we to rename the GW Bridge? Should everything named after Thomas Jefferson be renamed? Yes, it's horrific that Audubon had slaves. And his brilliant contributions to ornithology don't excuse that. But dropping his name and the recognition it brings to the NYC Audubon will only hurt our fine feathered friends.<br><br><strong><em>– Patricia Volk, NYC Audubon member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>As an Afro-Latina birder, I’m proud to be part of an organization that values marginalized voices. Our bird outings, lectures, and festivals are intrinsically tied with inclusivity and belonging. Everyone, especially Black and Indigenous people of color who’ve been historically excluded from the conservation movement, should feel like our community is a place where they are welcome and valued.<br><br><strong><em>– Roslyn Rivas, NYC Audubon Public Programs Manager</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I’m deeply impressed by the courageousness of New York City Audubon’s decision to rename the chapter based on recognition of John James Audubon’s actions and values which were profoundly flawed and more than troubling. NYC Audubon’s achievements on behalf of birds since its founding in 1979 are enormous. It would be deeply sad, and a profound disservice to birds and conservation, to hinder the organization’s work due to a lack of interest in its ongoing and future stewardship because younger generations find the name anachronistic and a barrier to their involvement. Instead, a new name will be far more welcoming to, and therefore will allow the organization to enlist, a broader range of members, volunteers, program participants, staff and donors. New York City has one of the most diverse populations of any city in the world. A new more inclusive name is a thoughtful, brave, and necessary step to ensure the organization’s future and effectiveness.<br><br><strong><em>– Jamie Johnson, NYC Audubon member and volunteer</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Names and language matter. I am proud to be a collaborator and member of the organization soon-to-be formerly known as NYC Audubon as they take this step to create a more welcoming and inclusive organization. When our very language perpetuates a history of racism and colonialism, it is hard to imagine that we can make meaningful progress toward repairing these broken legacies—and since the subjugation of nature and people are intimately linked, without such repair we cannot achieve our missions. A greener world is a more just world. In every facet of the conservation and environmental movement, we need to make sure our language, programs, advocacy, and organizations fully represent the incredible diversity of our world and communities—and I applaud steps to create this greener and more just future.<br><br><strong><em>– Emily Noble Maxwell, Director, Cities Program, The Nature Conservancy</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Our name will change, but we remain committed to the conservation and advocacy work which has been our mission and focus for more than 40 years. We must ensure that we reach out to a diverse audience including people of all ages and racial identity. The Audubon name has become a barrier to that goal. We owe it to the long history of the organization to face this reality. We must broaden both our membership and our credibility with a larger constituency in order to be effective in meeting the daunting challenges facing birds and our environment in the years ahead.<br><br><strong><em>– Marsilia Boyle, NYC Audubon Board of Directors and Co-Chair, Conservation Committee</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>It takes courage to change your name—courage, and confidence that your core values make you what you are, that you won’t somehow disappear. When the controversy over the Audubon name began, American Bird Conservancy discussed the issue seriously: what would we do, how would we respond to either decision, made by our partner organizations? <br><br>While we have to respect the decision made by National Audubon, we applaud New York City Audubon for choosing a path that is both more challenging but more in keeping with the demands of today’s world—recognizing the implications of associations with a past that we must reject, living up to the complexities of strongly felt ethics and awareness of implied injustice. New York City Audubon will continue to function as a successful and important force for bird conservation, under whatever name they choose, because it is their actions that make them what they are.<br><br><strong><em>– Christine Sheppard, PhD, Director - Glass Collisions Program, American Bird Conservancy</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>The board made an excellent decision to change the name of NYC Audubon in order to detach the organization from the ugly parts of John James Audubon's legacy.<br><br>There is another reason to change the name. The name Audubon says nothing about the mission of the organization. Surely a bird preservation organization should have the word "bird" in its title! Bird Names for Birds is a movement that endorses naming birds, not after people, but rather after a characteristic of the bird. How about applying that principle to bird organizations too? As I look at other organizations with missions related to nature and the environment, they have names that are revealing: Earthjustice, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, etc. Let’s pick a name that tells the world what we are about!<br><br><strong><em>– Leigh Hallingby, Audubon Mural Project tour guide</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>As a member of the board of NYC Audubon, my central aim and goal is bird conservation.<br> <br>One of NYC Audubon’s strategic goals is to market itself to the widest possible audience, recognizing that future aims and goals in bird conservation have the greatest chance of success when the widest plurality of society is mobilized for the cause. Accepting this line of reasoning, I believe we must provide the easiest path to entry for anyone with an interest in our organization and its conservation goals—particularly goals aimed at increasing representation from marginalized people who have historically been actively kept out of the conservation movement.<br><br><strong><em>– Shawn Cargil, NYC Audubon Board of Directors and Co-Chair, Education and Public Programs Committee</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>I applaud NYC Audubon’s decision to change its name in order to make the organization more welcoming and inclusive. I imagine it was a difficult decision, but it was absolutely the right thing to do. There may be naysayers who complain that the organization is giving up the legacy and recognition that comes with the name, but for me, this is the start of something much brighter and more beautiful. While John James Audubon clearly added to the early conservation movement, his record as an anti-abolitionist overshadows everything else and leaves a pall on organizations bearing his name. How can a group dedicated to the joys of nature, for all, identify itself by the name of someone who championed oppression? I say good riddance. It’s time for a fresh start and a new name that welcomes everyone—and I am proud to volunteer with an organization that has the desire and vision to look ahead.<br><br><strong><em>– Melissa Breyer, NYC Audubon volunteer</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Many have reacted to our name change with concern about losing what has been our automatic name recognition and/or what is our current level of support from those who may feel an attachment to the Audubon name, but we have an additional and unique duty to the future. Our name cannot be a barrier to anyone now or in the future inspired to help us work toward realizing our vision of becoming an inclusive community of New Yorkers working toward a day when all wild birds and all people in the five boroughs enjoy a healthy, liveable environment. <br><strong><em>– Linda Freeman, NYC Audubon Board of Directors</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>The NYC Plover Project is very excited to learn of NYC Audubon's decision to adopt a new name, and we look forward to continuing to partner in the mission of protecting New York City’s birds and their habitats. Diversity, equity, and community are as important to us as they are to NYC Audubon. This is a promising new chapter, and we're hopeful of the positive changes this decision will bring.<br><br><strong><em>– Chris Allieri & Mel Julien, NYC Plover Project</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Bird and habitat conservation is often thought of as wildlife work. However, while the tools we use to understand trends and ecological connections examine biota, it is the people who perform conservation actions. For conservation to be successful in our city, all New Yorkers need to be involved—but the Audubon name has been a barrier that actively excludes the people whom birds need most. Yes, the Audubon name is recognized by many as a force for bird conservation, but our next name will be as well. And that next name will not be a symbol that says “participation in conservation is for a select few.” I am thrilled with the decision to move forward with a new name, both personally and professionally. We have correctly lifted a barrier to people engaging in conservation, and birds will be the beneficiaries.<br><br><strong><em>– Dustin Partridge, PhD, NYC Audubon Director of Conservation and Science</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>The rise in popularity of bird watching the past few years has been incredibly exciting, and this organization should do what it can to capitalize on it. This means making all current, new, and potential birders feel welcome and safe. It means growing the ranks of future conservationists and future donors who can make this organization an even more formidable force protecting our city’s habitats. We can't let this opportunity slip by!<br><br><strong><em>– Simon Keyes, Young Conservationist Council member</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>Many NYC school children, including myself, were taught about the legacy of John James Audubon and the importance of protecting our precious native birds. However, learning about the other aspects of Audubon's life soured these memories, revealing Audubon not to be the familiar nature lover we once thought. We are thrilled that NYC Audubon has chosen to acknowledge and reject this harmful legacy while continuing the critical work of protecting and advocating for our birds and natural spaces. This name change matters to us at Bronx River Alliance because, although we have always served Environmental Justice communities in the Bronx, we are constantly learning how to be more inclusive. NYC Audubon is leading by example. We are proud of this monumental decision, and proud to continue our partnership.<br><br><strong><em>– Christian Murphy, Ecology Coordinator, The Bronx River Alliance</em></strong></blockquote><div><br><br></div><blockquote>NYC Audubon is dedicated to the conservation and protection of birds and their habitats. However, its name celebrates a man who was a slave owner, anti-abolitionist, and white supremacist. When we continue to use John James Audubon’s name, we ignore his racist past. We now have a chance to make things right. Changing our name is an opportunity to say that we are rejecting Audubon’s legacy, that everyone is welcome, and that our commitment to diversity and inclusion is real.<br><br><strong><em>– Jack Rothman, bird guide and naturalist/educator</em></strong></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><blockquote>Located in an underserved community in northern Manhattan, the waters and wetlands of the Harlem River and Sherman Creek were unsafe and inaccessible for many years. As New York Restoration Project restored the landscape in partnership with NYC Parks, the remarkable bird habitat has increasingly been recognized and appreciated. However, we have a long way to go in fully engaging the diverse communities of Northern Manhattan with the natural resources of the park, as there is no guarantee that the habitat will be protected. Particularly as the shoreline is modified to adapt to sea-level rise, we need a broad and motivated coalition to advocate for the conservation of bird habitat. NYC Audubon is an invaluable partner in helping NYRP document the birds of Sherman Creek. The decision to change the name of the organization signals an effort to build a more inclusive movement to protect birds throughout NYC, an effort that is timely, just and critical.<br><br><strong><em>– Jason Smith, Director - Northern Manhattan Parks, New York Restoration Project</em></strong></blockquote><div><br></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27172023-05-31T01:35:00Z2023-12-07T15:43:29ZBarn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)<div><em><sup>Barn Swallows often nest in areas with human development. The tethered rope pictured here makes for a perfect perch spot for them. Photo: Don Riepe</sup></em><br><br></div><h1>BARN SWALLOW (<em>HIRUNDO RUSTICA</em>)</h1><div><br><strong><em>This article appears in the summer 2023 issue of </em></strong><strong>The Urban Audubon </strong><strong><em>publication.<br><br></em></strong><strong>By Don Riepe</strong></div><div><br>Barn Swallows are one of New York City’s most ubiquitous summer birds and a frequent sight from my dock at Jamaica Bay. This small, beautiful bird is one of the world’s most numerous and widespread. They have a large distribution across almost the entire North and South American continents, and also breed in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and northern Africa. Barn Swallows are often found in areas of human development; while old or open barns are a preferred nesting site, swallows also nest in boat sheds, under bridges, on building<br>rafters, and other structures that provide a covered overhang. <br><br>While not a conservation concern, these birds are great fun to watch. They arrive in New York in late May or early April from their Mexican, Central and South American wintering grounds, and many stay through August. New Yorkers can help find good nesting spots for them, too. A few years ago I built a little L-shaped ledge under my neighbor’s dock (with his permission) at a site high enough that it wouldn’t be inundated by a spring tide. Within a few days, the swallows began constructing their little cup nest made of mud and lined with grass and feathers. They fledged four young the first year and have returned to the same site every year since. The young leave the nest about 14-23 days after hatching and sit on the dock railing or ropes while being fed by the parents. Both parents feed the young and are sometimes helped by older offspring.<br><br>These aerial acrobats are a joy to behold as they zoom around and catch insects, and occasionally mate and drink on the wing. Barn Swallows live about four years on average, although records of up to 11 years have been documented. <br><br>Other swallows nest on my dock: Tree Swallows have nested on a pole in a bluebird box, with Purple Martins in a large multiple-dwelling martin house above them. These species help the Barn Swallows in putting a dent in the number of mosquitoes and deer flies that occasionally plague us in summer. Barn Swallows are easily distinguishable from other swallows by their deeply forked tail, rust-colored throat, and pale orange breast. It’s a delight to have them as neighbors. </div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27182023-05-30T11:26:00Z2023-12-07T15:43:36ZBird's Eye View: Summer 2023<div><sup>NYCHA in Nature bird outing on the Lower East Side’s Wald and Riis Houses on April 16, a new initiative launched in spring 2023 in partnership with the Public Housing Community Fund. This outing was led by NYC Audubon bird guide Efua Peterson. Photo: NYC Audubon</sup><br><br></div><h1>Bird's Eye View: Summer 2023</h1><div><br><strong><em>This article appears in the summer 2023 issue of The Urban Audubon publication.<br></em></strong><br><strong>By Jessica G. Wilson, NYC Audubon Executive Director<br></strong><br>Since I joined NYC Audubon last year, I’ve been inspired by the organization’s legacy of conservation success, and by its forward-looking perspective on protecting the future’s birds of tomorrow and engaging tomorrow’s New Yorkers.<br><br>And so the decision of the NYC Audubon Board of Directors in March to change the organization’s name, dropping “Audubon” and beginning a process to develop a new name to better represent our work and our values, was the logical next step in that effort. This challenging but important change will strengthen our work to protect wild birds and their habitat throughout the city. There’s much more about the board’s decision, as well as stories about the change from across the organization, <a href="https://nycaudubon.org/blog/what-s-in-a-name-dropping-audubon">on our <em>Syrinx</em> blog</a>.<br><br>Changing the organization’s name is a visible representation of our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA)—but it is only one of many steps we are taking. For several years, the organization has centered EDIA in our conservation and science work, engagement and education programs, and advocacy efforts as we have worked to engage all New Yorkers in taking action to protect wild birds. This spring, we’re leading multilingual bird outings, launching a program on public housing campuses, publishing the city’s first Spanish-English field guide to birds, surveying wildlife along the Bronx River, and advocating for green roofs in environmentally-vulnerable communities. Read more about these programs online at <a href="nycaudubon.org/edia">nycaudubon.org/EDIA.</a><br><br>Our vision to create a more sustainable city for wildlife and people requires us to be a conservation organization for the future, one that relies on the voices of many to achieve powerful change for birds. We recognize there will be those who disagree with our decision to change the organization’s name. But we hope that our unswerving commitment to this mission and our shared joy for birds will keep us moving forward together in this important work.<br><br><em>--Jessica G. Wilson, <br>NYC Audubon Executive Director</em></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27142023-04-05T10:50:00Z2023-12-07T15:42:55ZCésar Andrés Castillo, 1980-2023: A Remembrance<div><em><sup>César A. Castillo with one of his many natural history projects. Photo: Wendy Castillo<br></sup></em><br></div><h3>César Andrés Castillo, 1980-2023</h3><h4>A Remembrance</h4><div><br><strong>By Donna L. Schulman, Queens County Bird Club member<br><br></strong><strong><em>César A. Castillo, a beloved member of the City's birding community and an adjunct professor of biology and senior laboratory technician at Queens College, passed away from an illness on March 1, 2023. César was a passionate naturalist and a valued member of NYC Audubon's board of directors who generously shared his love of nature with others. We are grateful to be able to share this tribute to César, penned by fellow Queens County Bird Club member Donna L. Schulman.<br></em></strong><br></div><div> </div><div>César Andrés Castillo first came to the attention of the Queens birding community through his eBird checklists. <em>Someone</em> was birding Kissena Park—a park plop in the middle of busy Flushing—and finding good birds. And sometimes, great birds: Swallow-tailed Kite on May 10, 2013. Golden Eagle on September 30, 2013. The list went on: Red-headed Woodpecker, Lark Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, and more warblers than we ever knew stopped there… and all well-documented records that had all of us supposedly-more-experienced birders standing with our mouths open, looking at the sky, trying to see what César was seeing. </div><div> </div><div>A member of the Queens County Bird Club, César also became a sector leader on the Queens County Christmas Bird Count—a new sector pieced together from areas he himself proved were worth the work. He was always welcome at twitches for rare birds, because he would be able to spot the target bird, no matter how skulky. (My first memory of César is that of a tall, soft-spoken guy standing next to me in a long line of birders, searching for a Virginia’s Warbler—a “mega” find—in Alley Pond Park. César patiently pointed out the tiny bird in dense shrubbery, over and over.)</div><div> </div><div>But César was more than a finder of “good birds.” He was a kind, generous, smart soul, a caring participant in our birding community who happily shared his finds and always greeted you in the field with a smile and had a good bird, insect, or blooming tree to point out. He was a member of the board of NYC Audubon, where he advocated for diversity and inclusion. </div><div> </div><div>Occasionally, I would see César with his Queens College biology students. In fact, that’s how I last saw him, at Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, surrounded by young people. He was showing them something on the shore, probably not a bird because it was a not-very-birdy November afternoon, and then a bird nest in a small tree near the boathouse. The students were engaged and happy, and so was César. It was an all-too-brief glimpse into a side of his life most of his fellow birders didn’t get to see: César in a more formal teaching role, which obviously fit him as well as birding did.</div><div> </div><div>César was a scientist. His bird sightings were precisely recorded in eBird (with notes!) and in iNaturalist, where he documented at the research-grade level 3,693 species of birds, insects, herps, moss, and plants: 1,929 species in Queens County, 2,122 species in New York City, and 2,488 species in New York State. These are significant contributions to both community-science databases, particularly to iNaturalist. There are many people out there observing birds, but how many have also identified 28 species of lichen in their home county? </div><div> </div><div>César was an excellent photographer, and a look at the albums on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/14667149@N00/albums/with/72157631528178563">his Flickr site</a> gives another glimpse into his broad nature interests: warblers (534 photos and 1 video); frogs; mosses and liverworts; heaths; UBOs (Unidentified Botanical Objects); birds of Ethiopia—this is just a small sample of his subjects. Many of his New York City bird photos illustrate NYC Audubon’s soon-to-be-published bilingual Spanish-English field guide, <em>Las Aves de la Ciudad de Nueva York / The Birds of New York City</em>. His Yellow Warbler is featured on the cover.</div><div> </div><div>Ironically, perhaps, César did not identify himself as an expert. On <a href="https://ebird.org/profile/MTc5NDgx/world">his eBird personal page</a>, he wrote, “<em>I can't seem to focus on any one type of life form. Fish, plants (living and fossil, tropical or temperate), algae, Amphibians, Insects, Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, Protists. I guess I know a little about a lot of things</em>.” On <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/people/cesarcastillo">his iNaturalist page</a> he wrote, “<em>Trained in botany as a grad student, and consider myself a Naturalist in training for the rest of my life</em>.” </div><div> </div><div>The birding and nature communities lost a wealth of knowledge when César passed away, and a good person. It is our fortune that he leaves us with some of that knowledge, good memories, and an inspiring life. <br><br></div><div> </div><div><strong><em>NYC Audubon extends its sympathies to César’s wife, Wendy Castillo, and their three young children, Giselle, Elyse, and Santiago. We hope you’ll consider donating to </em></strong><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-wendy-a-sudden-widow-and-mother-of-3"><strong><em>this GoFundMe set up to support César’s family</em></strong></a><strong><em> through this difficult time.</em></strong></div>New York City Audubontag:nycaudubon.org,2005:Spina::Blog::Post/27132023-03-22T05:00:00Z2023-12-07T15:42:44ZNYC Audubon to Change Name<div><em><sub><sup>American Kestrel. Photo: David Zieg / Audubon Photography Awards</sup></sub></em></div><div><br></div><h2><strong>NYC Audubon to Change Name to Better Reflect Its Values, Mission, and Work</strong></h2><div><em>After months-long deliberation and discussion, organization concluded that a new name would better fulfill its mission to engage all New Yorkers in a love of birds and in taking conservation action.</em><strong> </strong></div><div><br></div><div>NEW YORK, NY – The board of directors of New York City Audubon, a leading urban conservation organization, announced today that it will change its name as part of its continuing commitment to being an inclusive organization that is welcoming to all New Yorkers. The organization, which was founded by grassroots activists in 1979 and is now one of the largest independent local chapters in the Audubon network, wants to better reflect its values and mission of promoting bird conservation and habitat protection to New Yorkers and others of all backgrounds.</div><div><br></div><div>The organization undertook a deliberate and thoughtful assessment over eight months and considered how the Audubon name impacts its strategic goals, mission, and values. The nonprofit acknowledged that John James Audubon’s contributions to art and ornithology are significant and laid a foundation for an appreciation of nature and a conservation ethos in this country, but decided his views and actions toward Black people and Indigenous people were harmful and offensive. After communication with hundreds of its supporters, members, and partners, the organization found that the Audubon name created a barrier to entry for many into the organization and its work protecting urban biodiversity in New York City.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are an urban conservation organization and we need to reflect the diversity of the City and the values of the community, which we share. We feel this is the moment to do so,” said Karen Benfield, board president of NYC Audubon. "North American bird populations have dropped by nearly a third since 1970 and that is a crisis. To protect them we need wide support, as many voices as possible, and that is not served by having a name that is divisive and has such deeply negative connotations for so many, both within and outside of our organization.”</div><div><br></div><div>NYC Audubon has made equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) a central part of its work. “This is a thrilling moment for our organization,” said board member Angie Co, co-chair of the organization’s EDIA board committee. “Our founding members wanted to protect bird habitat and share birding with others. Now we have the chance to take the next inclusive step by changing our name."</div><div><br></div><div>The organization is increasing its efforts to ensure every New Yorker has access to the natural world, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, ability, or socioeconomic status. Alongside hundreds of free bird outings across the five boroughs, the organization's new initiatives this spring include outings in partnership with New York City Housing Authority at public housing developments around the City, and the publication of a Spanish-English bird guide.</div><div> </div><div>“Names may be symbolic, but symbols matter,” said Jessica Wilson, NYC Audubon executive director. “They matter to staff, to volunteers, to members, and to the larger conservation community. We collaborate widely with our partners across the five boroughs, and want this name change to signal how much we value and seek broadly cooperative efforts to save wild birds.”</div><div><br></div><div>The organization’s conservation efforts focus on making New York City safer for migratory birds. They include reducing bird/building collisions and leading in the passage of laws that require the use of bird-safe glass in new construction, protecting the waterbirds that depend on the coastal habitat and islands of New York Harbor, and creating habitat for urban wildlife including with green roofs.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our name will change, but our conservation and advocacy work is the same. It has been our mission and focus for more than 40 years and we are excited to build our audience for such critical endeavors,” said board member Marsilia Boyle, co-chair of NYC Audubon’s Conservation committee. </div><div><br></div><div>“New York is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world," said Kyu Lee, chair of NYC Audubon’s Engagement committee. “If we're serious about our conservation efforts, then changing our name is one step towards meaningfully engaging with a younger, wider, and more diverse group of people that will help get us there."</div><div><br></div><div>NYC Audubon is part of a national network of local, independent chapters affiliated with the National Audubon Society, which recently announced its plan to keep the Audubon name after a year-long deliberation. Many chapters around the country have undergone similar processes to assess the Audubon name; several other chapters, including those in Seattle, Madison, Portland, Chicago, and Washington DC, have announced their intentions to change. Despite bearing a different name, the former NYC Audubon will remain a chapter of National Audubon and continue its essential, longstanding collaborations with Audubon organizations throughout the country to effectively conserve birds and their habitats amid a global climate crisis and widespread habitat degradation.</div><div> </div><div>“Our work with chapters along the Atlantic Flyway and across the country will continue,” said Mike Yuan, board executive vice president of NYC Audubon, and the board’s representative to the NY/CT Audubon chapter council. “The critical issues facing birds require everyone to work together.”<br><br></div><div>“A diversity of birds depends on a diversity of people,” said Christian Cooper, a vice president of the organization’s board of directors who sits on the EDIA committee. “Instead of letting our name be a barrier to reaching more people, we’re seizing this opportunity to tell ever-wider audiences who we are and what we do: protect birds and their habitats, to the benefit of all New Yorkers.”</div><div><br></div><div>The organization has not yet announced its new name, but says that it will be chosen through a robust process that involves input from a wide group of stakeholders. For more information, please visit nycaudubon.org/audubon-name </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.nycaudubon.org/"><em>NYC Audubon</em></a><em> champions nature in the city’s five boroughs through a combination of engaging programs and innovative conservation campaigns. An independent non-profit organization affiliated with the National Audubon Society, NYC Audubon protects over 350 species of birds living in or passing through the 30,000 acres of wetlands, forests, and grasslands of New York City. Find us on</em><a href="http://www.nycaudubon.org/"><em> nycaudubon.org</em></a><em>, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@nycaudubon)</em></div><div><em> </em></div><div><strong>###</strong></div><div><br><br></div><h4><strong>CONTACT: </strong></h4><div><strong>Andrew Maas<br>Associate Director, Communications<br>917-907-4355<br>comms@nycaudubon.org</strong></div>Andrew Maas