Prospect Park
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Wren Revisions
One of my favorite scientific names has long been that of the winter wren: Troglodytes troglodytes. “Troglodyte” means cave-dweller. When the binomial system uses the same word for genus and species, it’s considered the purest manifestation of the genus; all other species within the genus are compared to it. It’s the wren’s wren, so to…
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On the geese
Back in Brooklyn and controversy: uproar over the gassing of 290 Canada geese in Prospect Park. I believe in a personal, emotional connection to wildness; I think this is profoundly important, but, like most things emotional, it can be carried too far. Into the realm of obsession, of people who think they are the caretakers…
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Black-Crowned Night heron
Scene at the Lake in Prospect Park. Although the black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, will eat just about anything it can swallow, these red eared sliders look a tad too large. (Still, the tableau does give the impression of a vulture waiting for the cowpokes to die.) The most widely spread of the herons, N.…
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Shhh…
Is there a color more beautiful than robin’s egg blue? This is the nest I posted a picture of last week. It was, after all, a brand new nest. So in the park now, you can see young fledged robins, hopping and flying about; you can see nestling robins, all mouth, gaping for food above…
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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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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.
Backyard and Beyond 