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In Praise of Prospect Park
Today is officially “It’s My Park Day.” But it isn’t mine, or yours; it’s not even ours. After all, we’re justing passing through this life, this borough. If we do our job, the park will long survive us. This is a reminder that Prospect Park, indeed, all our urban parks, are combinations of the natural…
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Limulus Polyphemus
Spring, the new moon: The littoral of the city is filling with mating Atlantic horseshoe crabs. The males of Limulus polyphemus, sometimes several at a time, are clamoring aboard the larger females, who come ashore at high tide to lay their eggs at the wrack line. A female may lay 90,000 eggs in a season.…
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Field Notes: Nesting
It’s breeding season. Canada geese in Green-Wood and Jamaica Bay have made their nests right next to paths and roads; they are becoming entirely too familiar with the most dangerous biped. In Prospect Park, red tailed hawks, mourning doves and robins are already feeding their hungry babies. Young robins waiting their next mouthful. Double-decker. Last…
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Field Trip: Doodletown
American carrion beetle, Necrophila americana. The name “Doodletown” usually gets a quizzical look, but it’s real, or was once. Nestled between Bear Mountain, West Mountain, and Dunderberg Mountain in Bear Mountain State Park, Doodletown was a village founded in the late 18th century. Iron mining, logging, and tanning (using hemlock bark) were local industries early…
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Random Arthropods
A jumping spider of some kind; it was hanging on to one of the Wolfe’s Pond Park crew on Sunday. Insects will often use leaves to hide in, make nests, and lay their eggs. So I looked closer at this curled leaf and, instead of caterpillars or other bugs, found a couple of spiders. This…
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Field Notes: Tuliptrees bloom
The tuliptrees are blooming. Liriodendron tulipifera, also known as the yellow-popular, is one of the tallest tree in North America, and definitely in our area. These two blooms are from Elizabeth’s Tuliptree in Nelly’s Lawn in Prospect Park. I think this is the only named tree in the park. It’s been much battered, losing major…
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Field Notes: Snapping Turtle
I was looking at the new lily pads in the Lullwater in Prospect Park when: Ol’ Snap appeared. Not the kind of turtle to run when you approach. Chelydra serpentina has a fearsome reputation, but that’s probably just bad PR. (Duckling-centric PR, since they are in legend supposed to decimate baby ducks.) Still, you don’t…
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Field Notes: ‘Possum
The Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, in Prospect Park. Doesn’t look a thing like Pogo. I know they have been seen in the Park, surrounding neighborhoods, and even further afield in the borough, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen one with my own two eyes. I was surprised by the size: up there…
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Specifically Abstract
Detail of a red-winged black bird’s shoulder patch.
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Abstract Specificity
The side of a female mallard by the Upper Pool in Prospect Park. The patch of blue with white edge is called a speculum (that’s Latin for “mirror,” ladies). A number of our ducks have these, but I think this blue/white combo is unique to the mallards (of course, ducks are great hybridizers, so hybrids…
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Backyard and Beyond 