Fieldnotes
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Spiny Gall
Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a good gall-tree. One species of aphid, Hormaphis hamamelidis, forces the tree to make cone-shaped galls on the leaves. The young aphid grows up inside this, protected from its enemies. Another species of aphid, the Spiny Witch Hazel Gall maker, Hamamelistes spinosus, makes the tree make these hard, spiny galls that…
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Together
A herd of Monk Parakeets eating grass. I did not know they do this. Myiopsitta monachus generally go for fruit and nuts, but of course this time of year the former is in short supply. But boy, give them a backyard Brooklyn apple tree in the fall and they will be there. Some suggestions for…
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House Sparrow
At a slide show I did for 4th and 5th graders recently, the kids recognized a lot of animals I showed them. Just that morning, in fact, they had talked about Humpback Whales, because of the one in the harbor and Hudson. But this bird presented a bit of a problem. I think it’s because…
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Central Park Flora
Recently, we got to join Regina Alvarez, Daniel Atha, and Ken Chaya for one of their Central Park flora expeditions. For three years, the trio have been searching for wild — that is, not planted by the park — plants in Central Park.Atha, who has travelled the world over collecting plants, uses an elegantly simple…
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Raptor Wednesday
Male American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, on a regular Green-Wood perch. Other recent sightings include Kestrel on the local antenna yesterday afternoon; a beautiful mature Red-Tail right over the apartment earlier Tuesday; two Peregrine at Borough Hall (Friday) and the nearby House of Detention (Monday), site of a long-time nest; Cooper’s here there and everywhere. Actually,…
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Sunset Park Elm
Five Practical Principles to Guide Our Work Under Trump.
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Aix sponsa
The Valley Water was the sole preserve of a Pied-billed Grebe recently, until this male Wood Duck came in for a landing. He paddled back and forth a few times as if the pond was a fashion runway and then flew off.What a show-stopper! Those eyes! * The public lands of this nation are a marvel,…
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Patterns of Wood
Trump’s entire proposed cabinet is made up of enemies of science, experts in “the dark arts of misinformation.” EPA-bound Pruitt, for instance, is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the oil and gas industry.
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Podilymbus podiceps
When I first spotted this Pied-bill Grebe in the Valley Water, it was amidst a flotilla of Canada Geese.A week later it was the sole bird on the water.You can see why it’s sticking around. * Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor is a real piece of work: ignorant, power-mad, and conspiratorially deranged. I wrote…
Backyard and Beyond 