Winter 2016-2017 1

The newsletter of New York City Audubon Win t er Win 2016-2017ter 2014 / Volume/ Volume XXXV XXXVII N No.o. 4 4

THE URBAN AUDUBON

TwoTwo Beams,Beams, TwoTwo TributesTributes OfOf RaptorsRaptors andand RatsRats TheThe FallFall RoostRoost TheThe 117th117th ChristmasChristmas BirdBird CountCount

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 1 11/8/16 8:41 AM NYC AUDUBON MISSION & VISION Mission: NYC Audubon is a grassroots community that works for the protection of Bird’s-Eye View Kathryn Heintz wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. s 2016 draws to a close and 2017 looms large on our minds, we take stock of Vision: NYC Audubon envisions a day when NYC Audubon’s accomplishments to best prepare us for the challenges ahead. birds and people in the five boroughs enjoy a healthy, livable habitat. AWe have achieved a great deal, yet there is so much more to do. Isn’t that always the case—and as it should be? THE URBAN AUDUBON I took a look back at the past year’s activities and made a list of just some of the ways Editors Lauren Klingsberg & Marcia T. Fowle NYC Audubon’s science-based approach has bolstered our commitment to protect and Managing Editor Andrew Maas advocate for the over 350 species of birds that share our incredibly diverse urban landscape: Newsletter Committee Ellen Azorin, conservation programs like Project Safe Flight, Lights Out New York, and D-Bird; efforts Lucienne Bloch, Ned Boyajian, Suzanne Charlé, Diane Darrow, Meryl Greenblatt, for bird-friendly building design, injured bird transport, and rodenticide reduction; Catherine Schragis Heller, Mary Jane habitat initiatives for green roofs, grasslands, clean water, and wildlife monitoring; and Kaplan, Abby McBride, Sarah McGullam, legacy surveys of wading birds, shorebirds, passerines, and horseshoe crabs. It’s a lot, yet Hillarie O’Toole, Don Riepe, Carol Peace Robins there is so much more. Blessed with a stellar system of urban parks to explore—with new additions like Freshkills Park and The Hills on Governors Island just becoming Printing & Mailing Kase Printing, Inc. accessible to the public—and an ever-growing crop of green roofs—with the Jacob K. Design Whitehouse & Company Art Director Christina Rubin Javits Convention Center and now “Kingsland Wildflowers” atop Broadway Stages in Publisher NYC Audubon Greenpoint leading the way—NYC Audubon is growing the footprint through which we offer a host of bird-centric walks, trips, classes, festivals, and community engagements THE URBAN AUDUBON is published four times per year (spring, summer, fall, and that enhance our enjoyment of wild birds and connect us with the natural, avian world in winter) by New York City Audubon Society, our midst. Inc. Just this October, we saw the groundbreaking for a new, bird-friendly Statue of Liberty BOARD OF directors Museum, which will offer the millions of people who visit the Statue of Liberty a teachable President Jeffrey Kimball moment in environmentally sensitive design. October also marked a leap forward with Executive Vice President David Speiser NYC Audubon embarking on a pilot after-school program at a Bronx school near Van Vice President Catherine Schragis Heller Treasurer Fredric Spar Cortlandt Park. And a new edition of our “Birding by Subway” brochure is set to guide us Secretary Alexander Ewing all to the City’s best birding locations. In short, NYC Audubon is getting the word out, Immediate Past President Harrison D. Maas spreading the joys of birding and the importance of urban environmental conservation to Directors Robert Bate; Karen Benfield; Drianne Benner; Christian Cooper; all ages, all communities, and all across the City. Richard H. Fried, VMD; Sarah Jeffords; We could not have come so far without you. NYC Audubon’s work does not happen Lauren Klingsberg; Deborah Laurel; without its dedicated and loyal members and friends. Now is your opportunity to assure Lawrence Levine; Eugene Nardelli; Rachel Quiñones; John Shemilt; Alan Steel; success in the year ahead. Please consider renewing your support by making a year-end Tom Stephenson; Michael Tannen financial gift in the enclosed envelope, or at www.nycaudubon.org. Every gift of every size matters—but it is your participation that matters most. Make a gift in 2016 and make a ADVISORY COUNCIL Co-Chair Marcia T. Fowle; Co-Chair James R. difference for our beloved birds today. Sheffield;O akes Ames; Richard T. Andrias; Thank you. And here’s to happy birding in 2017. Sarah Grimké Aucoin; Claude Bloch, MD; Marsilia A. Boyle; David Burg; Albert K. Butzel; Clifford Case; Rebekah Creshkoff; Andrew Darrell; Joseph H. Ellis; Andrew Farnsworth, PhD; Lynne Hertzog; Mary Jane Kaplan; Robert J. Kimtis; Kimberly Remember the Birds Kriger; Janice Laneve; Pamela Manice; Peter Rhoades Mott; Dorothy M. Peteet, PhD; ake sure that New York City remains a haven for the birds and Don Riepe; Lewis Rosenberg wildlife you love. A bequest is a generous and straightforward way to EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Msafeguard birds and their habitat in New York City’s five boroughs. Kathryn Heintz It can be expressed as, “I bequeath [a sum of money or a percentage of my estate]

DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND to New York City Audubon Society, Inc., a not-for-profit organization with SCIENCE offices at 71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1523, New York, NY 10010.” To learn Susan Elbin, PhD more, contact Director of Development Kellye Rosenheim at krosenheim@ nycaudubon.org or 646-502-9611.

RECYCLED 2 www.nycaudubon.org Supporting responsible use of forest resources

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 2 11/8/16 8:41 AM In This Issue Winter 2016-2017 © F rançois Portmann NYC AUDUBON 71 West 23rd Street Suite 1523 New York, NY 10010 Tel: 212-691-7483 Fax: 646-606-3301 www.nycaudubon.org

Cover Photograph: Barn Owlets, Don Riepe Small Banner Photographs: Susan Elbin, Steve Nanz, and Don Riepe *This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 6 Attribution License.

Features © D

avid 6 Of Raptors and Rats R

odgers by Hillarie O’Toole

7 Two Beams, Two Tributes by Carol Peace Robins

8 The Fall Roost: Seeing Solutions in a New Light by Ellen Azorin 8 11 Birding Cemeteries in the Five Boroughs: Evergreens by Mary Jane Kaplan

16 Epic Maine Trip 2016 by Nora Benoliel

16 In Memorium: Sarah McCarn Elliott by Eric Reubel

12 17 Owls of New York City by Don Riepe © F rançois Portmann 19 Holiday Books for Children by Suzanne Charlé

20 Logos for the Birds: An Urban History by Suzanne Charlé

Departments 18 Book Reviews 15 4 Conservation Notes 20 News & Notes 5 Volunteer! 21 Volunteer Acknowledgments 11 Winter 2016-2017 Lecture Series 23 Support NYC Audubon’s Mission 12 Events and Adventures 24 Holiday Gifts for the Birds

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 3 11/8/16 8:41 AM Conservation Notes Susan Elbin, PhD

his fall our conservation efforts layer on a Geographic Information Systems heart of industrial Greenpoint. Phase two focused on providing safe passage analysis of bird collisions in the City. Cameras is scheduled to start this spring, offering an Tthrough New York City for have been installed and will be collecting additional 10,000 square feet of green roof. migratory land birds through Project Safe spring migration data. Our conservation team will be surveying the Flight and expanding our studies of waterbird This fall, Project Safe Flight volunteers roof for birds, bats, and arthropods that make populations through our Harbor Herons continued to monitor several buildings use of the new habitat. program. Our primary accomplishments are of concern for birds injured or killed by highlighted below: collisions with glass. We are still collecting Waterbirds of the NY Harbor: data on bird collisions from fall migration, Harbor Herons PROJECT SAFE FLIGHT but so far we have received many reports of Our conservation team presented two Threats to migratory landbirds from blackpoll warblers, common yellowthroats, posters at the 40th Annual Waterbird Society artificial light continue to be a major focus and northern parulas colliding with glass meeting in New Bern, North Carolina. First, for our conservation team. Once again on windows and buildings around the City. Also, Field Biologist Emilio Tobón and NYC September 11, our dedicated volunteers we have been able to identify new risk sites Audubon reported on the latest findings from spent the night with staff and board for migratory birds from maps generated by our American oystercatcher monitoring and members to monitor the Tribute in Light NYC Audubon’s D-Bird, our online crowd- banding efforts at Breezy Point, Queens. We memorial for migratory birds “caught” in the sourced data collection tool (www.d-bird. have been studying this bird of New York

R its 200th entry of 2016, so thank you to all for six years. Our studies show nesting pairs iepe who have logged in sightings of dead and have ranged from 24 to 33 per season. Colony injured birds this year. productivity has ranged from a low this year Our biodiversity work on the greenroof of 0.26 chicks per nest to a high of 1.33 in of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center 2012. And although productivity was at an has catapulted NYC Audubon’s habitat all-time low this year, fledging success was work to new heights. Thanks to a major high at 55%. grant from the Greenpoint Community Next, Port Authority of NY/NJ Biologist Environmental Fund and support from our Jeff Kolodzinski and NYC Audubon presented partners Broadway Stages, Newtown Creek an overview of our collaborative work with Alliance, and Alive Structures, we have roof-nesting herring gulls around New York Migratory Birds Caught in the added a new greenroof to our portfolio: 520 City. Since 2014, we have monitored rooftop Tribute in Light Beams Kingsland Avenue in Greenpoint. The first colonies at Jacob K. Javits Convention phase of roof planting by Alive Structures Center, NYPD Tow Pound, James A. Farley light beams. With the continued cooperation has been completed, providing over 10,000 Post Office Building, and Rikers Island of our partners National September 11 square feet of new stopover habitat in the Prison Complex to determine if rooftops are ©

Memorial and Museum and Michael Ahern N Production Services, we were able to turn YC Audubon off the lights three times for brief periods between midnight and 3am to allow birds the opportunity to rest or continue their journey. (See page 7 for more detailed information.) To advance our scientific investigations on artificial light, we are working with Dr. Greg Dobler’s scientific team from New York University. We will analyze ‘big data’ collected by cameras installed on the Durst Organization’s One Bryant Park building for the quality of light emissions over the New York City landscape. These data will be one Visitors Enjoying the New Green Rooftop of 520 Kingsland Avenue

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 4 11/8/16 8:41 AM Conservation Notes Susan Elbin, PhD © F

important nesting habitats for gulls in the rançois Portmann AND ONWARD TO WINTER City. In addition, we have banded 103 roof- CONSERVATION nesting herring gulls to evaluate nest site There is no “off season” when doing fidelity, roof substrate preference, and quality conservation work in New York City. As of rooftop types as nesting habitat. Resulting fall migratory bird work has started to data will help us analyze the role of rooftops wind down, our efforts are now focused on as habitat in an urban landscape. We will evaluating risks posed to birds by off-shore expand rooftop monitoring as more colonies wind energy projects proposed for the New are reported. York Bight. We are also analyzing migration On September 3, NYC Audubon con- data, organizing meetings, writing grants, ducted the first-ever NYC Fall Shorebird and preparing for the 117th Christmas Bird Blitz, a new initiative organized by Conser- Count. See page 15 for information about vation Biologist Debra Kriensky. During the Semipalmated Sandpipers the Christmas Bird Count and the Great 24-hour period, 23 volunteers from all five Backyard Bird Count. boroughs went out to count shorebirds at over Citizen science surveys such as these help You can find the latest conservation 35 locations, providing us with a snapshot of us understand how migratory shorebird spe- project updates by visiting our blog, Syrinx, shorebird activity throughout the City. We cies are distributed across the City in a short or following @nycaudubon on Facebook, recorded 3,161 individual shorebirds of 17 window of time, what they are doing, and how Instagram, and Twitter. species, with semipalmated sandpiper being urbanization is affecting them. Stay tuned for If you would like to get involved with the most numerous species and Jamaica Bay’s information about the second NYC Shorebird our citizen science efforts, please contact us at East Pond having the highest concentration Blitz, which will take place in May 2017. [email protected]. of birds sighted.

Volunteer!

ake a difference for New research, data entry, photocopy- tion through the city safer. Jamaica BIRD TRANSPORTERS MYork City’s wildlife by vol- ing, and filing. Word-processing Bay program volunteers monitor We often receive phone calls unteering with NYC Audubon. skills and knowledge of birds are migratory shorebirds and horse- from concerned citizens who To register for any of the projects helpful, but not required. This is a shoe crabs so that we may better have found injured birds, but listed below, contact the office at great opportunity to learn the ins understand if populations of these are unable to transport them to [email protected]. For and outs of a small nonprofit. species are changing and how we medical facilities. We need caring up-to-date information on early can work to conserve them. Harbor and compassionate volunteers to spring volunteer events such as CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS Herons Great Egret Foraging Study transport injured birds to licensed beach clean-ups and native tree If you are interested in contribut- volunteers collect data on forag- wildlife rehabilitators and veteri- plantings, please visit www. ing to NYC Audubon’s conserva- ing long-legged waders around narians. nycaudubon.org/volunteer-events. tion and science work, there are a the New York Harbor to help us variety of projects to choose from. better understand how these birds THE URBAN AUDUBON OFFICE VOLUNTEERS Project Safe Flight volunteers use our wetlands. All of these Join the newsletter committee and Help answer inquiries about monitor buildings in the City to programs can use your help in the contribute your writing skills to wildlife and about our field trips, help us learn what effect they have spring, summer, and fall. four seasonal issues. Meetings are classes, events, and conservation on migratory birds; data collected bi-monthly in the early evening. work. Also help with mailings, support our work to make migra-

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 5 11/8/16 8:41 AM Of Raptors and Rats By Hillarie O’Toole

ome find rats revolting; ©Jeff officials are attempting to curb the K others praise them for their ollbrunner rat population in a number of ways, intelligence—or even find including methods that pose less risk them endearing. One thing to our local raptors. The Department we can all agree upon is that of Health holds a series of tuition- Snumerous rats in the city are potential free half-day “Rat Academy” training carriers of serious disease and cause courses, encouraging best practices significant damage to property. Still, in rat prevention for homeowners, they play an important role within our superintendents, business owners, and urban ecosystem, as a readily available concerned tenants. Other initiatives food source for some of our most include inserting “dry ice” into rat beloved raptors that make their home Red-tailed Hawk Feeding Her Young nests in city parks. As the product in New York City, the red-tailed hawks. melts, it releases carbon dioxide and While once believed to greatly outnumber the humans of New suffocates the rats. This method allegedly does not alter the acidity of York City, Columbia University statistician Jonathan Auerbach the soil and does not harm unintended mammals. While this method estimates that the ratio is approximately one rat to every four humans. works well in soil, it is not effective in porous concrete (subway tunnels, We make it very easy for rats to thrive, providing them with food and buildings). shelter: uncontained garbage, vacant lots, subway tunnels, and unsealed In Berkeley, CA, a non-profit organization called Raptors are the openings in buildings. As they thrive, so do the animals that prey upon Solution (RATS) is working to educate the public about the danger to them. Depending on the time of year, a red-tailed hawk may eat the raptors from the widespread use of rat poison. Their mission is to “see equivalent of more than four rodents per day. And so, the odds are quite all anticoagulant and other poisonous rodenticides taken off the market high that one of their meals will have been a contaminated rat. and no longer used by pest control companies due to their dangers One heart-breaking example occurred just this past spring when to children, pets, and wildlife.” While their campaign is focused a female red-tailed hawk in lower Manhattan died after ingesting prey primarily in California, where they have issued a petition to ban that had consumed rodenticide containing an anticoagulant. These rodenticides statewide, they have also taken to social media channels types of baited poisons, which include brodifacoum and difethialone, nationwide with clever videos and memes. NYC Audubon and can cause a slow and painful death brought on by internal bleeding. colleagues from American Bird Conservancy continue to campaign Special care should be for similar measures in New York City. NYC Audubon also advises Jan. Feb. Mar. April taken to avoid using them, there are some simple steps to help control the rat population, such as particularly from March keeping food and garbage in tightly sealed containers and removing through August when clutter. Learn more by downloading the NYC Audubon brochure, May June July Aug. hawks and owls are nesting “Protecting Raptors,” online at nycaudubon.org/issues-of-concern/ and raising their young. protecting-raptors. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. New York City health

Rat Poisons Most Rat Poisons Dangerous to to Use Hawks and Owls Sparingly: 1.Brodifacoum 1.Bromadiolone (e.g. WeatherBlok XT™, (e.g. Contrac™; Maki™ ) D-Con Mouse Pruf II™). 2.Difenacoum 2.Difethialone (Multi-Kill™) (e.g. Generation ™, 3.Bromethalin First Strike™) (Fastrac™, Top Gun™)

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 6 11/8/16 8:41 AM Two Beams, Two Tributes Carol Peace Robins ©Annie N ovak

his year marked the fifteenth anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. In the annual event known as the Tribute in Light, two skyscraping beams of light rose upward to honor the lost lives of September 11, 2001. We all know where we were on that day. And on September 11,T 2016, we also know where distinct assemblages of concerned observers spent the night together: on the roof of the seven-story Battery Park Parking Garage in respectful partnership. This space is home base for the light installation, where representatives of NYC Audubon gathered alongside Michael Ahern Production Services, creator of the Tribute; the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Foundation; Creative Time, which co-founded the installation with the Municipal Art Society; and even some of the artists who envisioned the Tribute—John Bennett, Gustavo Bonevardi, Richard Nash Gould, Julian Laverdiere, and Paul Myoda with lighting consultant Paul Marantz. In the Tribute’s early years, it became clear that the light beams (88 lights in all) were creating confusion for thousands of fall migrating birds. NYC Audubon approached founder Michael Ahern to register its concerns. They found a sympathetic ear. Ahern understood the danger involved, and agreed to the suggestion that when the number of birds caught in the beams was significantly high, the lights would be turned off for roughly 30 minutes.D uring those periods of darkness, the birds would disperse and continue on their migration route. And that’s been happening ever since. This year, our Director of Conservation and Science Susan Elbin, PhD; Executive Director Kathryn Heintz; Conservation Biologist Debra Kriensky; Cornell ornithologist and NYC Audubon Advisory Council member Andrew Farnsworth, PhD; and citizen science volunteers headed for the roof alongside Ahern employees. Lying in sleeping bags, binoculars trained on the light, they worked in shifts to count birds. When the numbers became dangerously high, Susan spoke to an Ahern staffer and the lights were turned off, three times in all. Debra reports that the species seen in the 2016 event included American redstarts, Baltimore orioles, and cuckoos. “We even saw a peregrine falcon that was taking advantage of the birds caught in the lights,” she notes. A bat detector helped the group detect six different species of bats. Sadly, Michael Ahern passed away in November 2015. “He loved nature,” recalls Kathryn. “He didn’t want an uplifting tribute honoring the dead to result in more deaths.” And so, at the 2016 Fall Roost, NYC Audubon honored Michael Ahern (see page 8 for details). We lost a close friend and partner. Up on the roof on September 11, his legacy lives on.

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 7 11/8/16 8:41 AM The Fall Roost: Seeing Solutions in a New Light Ellen Azorin

hat would you do if you learned that the beautiful, emotionally powerful 9/11 Tribute in Light memorial 2 Wwas causing disruption and even death for thousands of nocturnal migrating birds? Michael Ahern—one of the three honorees of 2017 in the island’s Nolan Park area. A “group raise” pledge at this year’s Fall Roost—had the inspiration and the rare combination drive was preceded by a gorgeous film (thanks to filmmaker Cathy of people skills and technical savvy to negotiate a solution that Weiner) showing some of the more than 150 species of birds found respected the memorial and saved the birds: In 2007, Michael Ahern on the island. More than $10,000 was pledged to fund staffing and Production Services, which annually produces the Tribute, and NYC activities, including bird walks, programming designed to interest Audubon established a protocol for turning off the lights when high more people—adults and kids—in the magical world of birds, as well volumes of birds were observed circling the beams—allowing NYC as expansion of NYC Audubon’s conservation efforts on the island. Audubon to shut the lights off for brief periods of time so the birds The other initiative was “Feathered Friends,” a pilot after-school can clear out of the beams and continue safely on their way. Michael’s program at an elementary school near Van Cortlandt Park. More than award was accepted posthumously by his widow, Mady, who attended $2,000 was raised, and NYC Audubon hopes to be able to offer more with the amazing crew from Michael Ahern Production Services. such programs in the future, encouraging and fostering environmental Also honored was longtime Board Member and Past President conservation and stewardship in the younger generation. Harry Maas, stepping down from that post this year with more than Our thanks to the many people who worked hard to make 25 years of conservation efforts under his still trim belt. (Could that the Roost the special evening it was, including Executive Director be partly the result of his relentless activity during the efforts to Kathryn Heintz, Director of Development Kellye Rosenheim, Co- restore Jamaica Bay’s West Pond following Hurricane Sandy?) Chairs Karen Benfield, Marcia T. Fowle, and Catherine Heller—and The “Volunteer of the Year” Award went to Phil Cusimano, for the many species of extraordinary people who devote their time and his weather-defying efforts and countless hours as site coordinator love to NYC Audubon. We give an extra thank you to Karen, whose for NYC Audubon horseshoe crab monitoring at Plumb Beach, an work on the video presentations and silent auction were critical to initiative designed to help provide data about the role played by making the night such a great success. the crabs and Jamaica Bay itself in providing food and habitat to shorebirds. Two new initiatives will be funded as a result of the Roost. The first is an exciting opportunity for outreach, education, and conservation via a four-month residency offered to us through the Trust for Governors Island, which has granted NYC Audubon an entire house for the summer 4 3

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 8 11/8/16 8:41 AM The Fall Roost: Seeing Solutions in a New Light Ellen Azorin

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9. Jared Abramson, Mady Ahern, Manuel LaTorre 10. Eric Majorelle, Pamela Hogan at Silence Auction Table 11. Mike Tannen, Mary Tannen, Chris 15 Cooper 16 12. Winnie and Fred Spar 13. Janice Laneve, John Shemilt 1. Michael Ahern Production Services This Page 14. Marcia T. Fowle (Page 8, top left) 5. Lucienne and Claude Bloch 15. Gina Argento, Monica Holowacz, 2. Michael, Harry, Andrew, and Kevin 6. Young Birder Raffle Team: Adam Rudt, Christine Holowacz Maas (Page 8, top right) Jordan Spindel, Ryan Zucker 16 . Deborah Jones 3. Phil Cusimano, Susan Elbin 7. Brigitte Mooney, Doreen Guerin, (Page 8, bottom left) Frank Neufeld 4. Kathryn Heintz, Jeffrey Kimball, Cathy 8. Nancy Hager, Janet Mishkin All Fall Roost Photos: David Rodgers Heller (Page 8, bottom right) Winter 2016-2017 9

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 9 11/8/16 8:41 AM Fall Roost Acknowledgments

CO-CHAIRS David Speiser and Kimberly CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CONTRIBUTORS Inn on the Wharf, Lubec Karen Benfield Kriger GOVERNORS ISLAND TO FEATHERED Deborah Jones Marcia T. Fowle Scott and Dhuane Stephens CAMPAIGN FRIENDS Debra Kriensky Catherine Heller Leslie Sternlieb Anthony Argento Rob Bate Machias River Inn Michael and Mary Tannen Marcia T. Fowle Elise Boeger Patagonia HOST COMMITTEE Laura Whitman and Thomas Pamela Hogan Susan Bynum Don Riepe Karen Benfield and John Danziger Fredric and Winnie Spar Virginia Carter Alexis Rockman Zucker D. Bruce Yolton Mike and Mary Tannen Sandy Ewing Roland Food Catherine and Lloyd Heller Marcia T. Fowle Jeff Rosenheim Jeffrey Kimball and Pamela CONTRIBUTORS Richard H. Fried and Stella Kellye Rosenheim Hogan Richard T. Andrias Kim Jeanne and Robert Savitt Marian Bach Rob Bate and Tracy Meade Kathryn Heintz Nancy Shamban Catherine Barron Christian Cooper Catherine Heller Tom Stephenson Marco Botarelli Richard H. Fried and Stella Jeffrey Kimball Paul Sweet Bloomberg Philanthropies Ronald Bourque Kim Susan McFeatters Tarquin Broadway Stages Barbara Bristol Nancy Hager Tracy Meade Sperone Westwater Marcia and Bruce Fowle Albert K. Butzel John Shemilt Will Papp Gabriel Willow Philip Fried and Bruce Clifford Case Leslie Sternlieb Cristina Profumo Wildlife Conservation Society Patterson John and Judy Day Rachel Quiñones Tod Winston Sarah Jeffords Alan Drogin Wynn Senning Heather Wolf Michael Ahern Production Margot Ernst Scott Stephens Carl Zeiss Sports Optics Services Kate French MaryJane Boland Nancy Ward Alan Steel, Jacob K. Javits Rainer Gerbatsch Virginia Carter SPECIAL THANKS Convention Center Miriam Gross Sandy Ewing YOUNG BIRDER RAFFLE Karen Benfield, Lark Song Virginia K. Stowe Meryl Greenblatt A. Caroline Greenleaf TEAM Media: video program Edward and Diana Greene Kathryn Heintz Adam Rudt Gala Productions: Mary Hanson Cristina Profumo Jordan Spindel audiovisual Betty Hamilton David Speiser Ryan Zucker Guastavino’s: catering Ann Brownell Bailey Lynne Hertzog Marian Heiskell and The New Robert Bate and Tracy Meade Mary Jane Kaplan SILENT AUCTION AND York Times: Tribute in Light Drianne Benner and Kevin Michael Katin RAFFLE DONORS video Perry Jane Kendall Karen Benfield Annie Barry Deborah Jones: storyboards Priscilla Bijur and Gerald Michael Klein Drianne Benner Nora Benoliel David Rodgers: event Kane Andrea Krantz and Harvey Sybil Costello Christine Burgin and William photography Lucienne and Claude Bloch Sawikin Alan Drogin Wegman Scott Perrin and the Event MaryJane Boland Robert D. Krinsky Susan Elbin Virginia Carter Office: silent auction Marsilia A. Boyle Anne Lee Kate French Christian Cooper Gareth Smit and Soo-Jeong Drs. Linda and Stephen Allen Levantin Yungie Hahn Sybil Costello Kang: Tribute in Light video Breskin Kevin Maas Michael and Caroline Mason Gary and Ellen Davis studiokat/Kat Nemec: Susan W. Bynum and Robert Timothy and Karen Jennifer Mazzanti John Derian graphic design J. Kimtis Macdonald Alice McInerney Susan Elbin Sviba Floral Decorators: table Virginia Carter Laure Moutet Manheimer Janet Mishkin Fishs Eddy decorations Central Park Conservancy Jennifer Mathews David Rodgers Joe Giunta Tattly Designy Tattoos Alexander Ewing and Wynn Hope Matthiessen and David Nancy Shamban Great Performances Cathy Weiner: Governors Senning Boorstin Scott Stephens Hugo Guinness Island video Richard H. Fried and Stella E.J. McAdams Tod Winston Kathryn Heintz Wildtones: sound effects Kim Alice McInerney FXFOWLE Melinda Papp Ronnie and Richard Grosbard Mona Payton Nancy Hager Dr. Dorothy M. Peteet Laura T. and David Harris Jean Pettibone Kathryn and Vincent G. Cristina Profumo Heintz Holly S. Kennedy Romano Peter Joost Deborah Rivel Janice Laneve Jeff Rosenheim Deborah Laurel Phoebe Rosenheim Eugene Nardelli James and Jill Sheffield Cheryl Reich and David John Shemilt Dewhurst Tom Stephenson Genie and Donald Rice Virginia Stotz Don Riepe Nancy Ward Lew Rosenberg Bonnie Williams Donna and Steven Schragis Frederic Withington Fredric and Winnie Spar

Silent Auction Display Created by Deborah Jones

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 10 11/8/16 8:41 AM Birding Cemeteries in the Five Boroughs: Evergreens Mary Jane Kaplan © D

hen your goal is to see the most avid No complete bird list exists for the cemetery. S

species possible per hour of effort, peiser Postings on ebird.org, while rare, include a Wthen New York City’s better- variety of warblers; both kinglets; red-bellied, known areas, like Central Park, may be your hairy, and downy woodpeckers as well as yellow- best bet. But to combine birding with a bit of bellied sapsuckers and northern flickers; and adventure, try one of the cemeteries that offer several raptors: Cooper’s, red-tailed, and sharp- beautiful, quiet, green spaces. shinned hawks, merlins (frequent visitors), and The Cemetery of the Evergreens, as it American kestrels. Mr. Daddario has flushed is officially called, was established in 1849 American woodcocks concealed in fallen leaves; on a high ridge formed 15,000 years ago by and E.J. McAdams, previously executive director the terminal glacial moraine. Straddling the of NYC Audubon, once experienced a spine- Queens-Brooklyn border, it was one of the first Merlin tingling, Hitchcockian moment, with “300-400 “rural” cemeteries created in the United States crows gathering in trees, on the ground, and to relieve severe overcrowding in urban cemeteries and provide perched on tombstones.” retreats where fast-growing city populations could enjoy “nature” Unfortunately, the seven pre-settlement kettle ponds left in the days before public parks existed. (Central Park was not behind by the glacier have been filled in, leaving Evergreens with opened until 1859, and Prospect Park in 1867.) Even now, Donato no water feature to attract birds. However, the cemetery lies next Daddario, Evergreens’ historian, remembers the cemetery in his to Highland Park, home of the Ridgewood Reservoir. And green childhood as a place for picnics and play. space continues northeast through Forest Park, giving migrating Evergreens’ grounds are linked to the American Revolution by birds a much larger green space to look down on than Evergreens’ the “Rockaway Path.” Running through what is now the cemetery 225 acres. site, it was a trail used by Native Americans to climb to the top of In addition to its birding possibilities, the cemetery’s mature the moraine on their way north from Jamaica Bay to Long Island trees, some of spectacular size, and the views that extend from Sound. In August of 1776, it was followed by several thousand Manhattan to Jamaica Bay to the Verrazano Bridge, make Evergreens British forces on their way to Brooklyn Heights, where they helped an excellent candidate for exploration, perhaps on a spring walk rout George Washington’s fledgling army in the Battle of Brooklyn. with NYC Audubon.

Winter 2016-2017 Lecture Series All lectures are free and open to the public. This series has been made possible by the support of Claude and Lucienne Bloch.

BIRDWATCHING IN NEW YORK CITY AND GREEN METROPOLIS: THE EXTRAORDINARY BIRDING AT THE BRIDGE: IN SEARCH ON LONG ISLAND LANDSCAPES OF NEW YORK CITY AS NATURE, OF EVERY BIRD ON THE BROOKLYN By Deborah Rivel and Kellye Rosenheim HISTORY, AND DESIGN WATERFRONT Thursday, December 8, 7pm By Elizabeth Barlow Rogers by Heather Wolf Deborah Rivel and Kellye Rosenheim are the Wednesday, January 25, 7pm Tuesday, February 28, 7pm authors of a new guide to birdwatching in the Note: This Lecture Was Originally Scheduled to When avid birder Heather Wolf moved from five boroughs and on Long Island, designed to Take Place on November 17 tropical Florida to an apartment near Brooklyn be easy to use in the field and provide seasonal In her new book Green Metropolis, Betsy Barlow Bridge Park, she wondered how many species information and precise directions to the area’s Rogers introduces us to seven remarkable New she might see there, and soon came to a sur- best birdwatching locations (see the summer York City green spaces and to the people who prising realization: Not only is the park filled 2016 issue of The Urban Audubon for a book have been instrumental in their design and pro- with an astonishing variety of birds, but the excerpt). The authors will share what they learned tection. As a founder of the Central Park Con- challenges that come with urban birding make researching and writing the book. Deborah is servancy and current president of the Founda- them even more fun—and rewarding—to find. an avid bird photographer and award-winning tion for Landscape Studies, the author is well Join us as Ms. Wolf discusses her book, Birding independent wildlife film producer/director. positioned to take us through the history—both at the Bridge (see review on page 18) and talks Kellye leads local bird walks and is currently natural and human—of how these places were about patch birding, its delights, and how it director of development for NYC Audubon. created and how they have been transformed. informs an overall picture of environmental health and conservation. Note: our lectures now begin at 7pm. also, our series has moved! Our new venue is Reidy Hall at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, located on Lexington Avenue between 79th and 80th Streets in Manhattan

Winter 2016-2017 11

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 11 11/8/16 8:41 AM Events and Adventures

• NYC Audubon Events • WINTER BIRDING ALONG mix of dabbling ducks, bay ducks, and snowy owls. Enjoy champagne, • Partnership Events THE HUDSON: WAVE HILL, THE sea ducks, grebes, loons, and coffee, and cookies afterward at the Overnight Trips BRONX cormorants to be found in New York Rockaway Artists Alliance. For more Sundays, December 11, January 8, Harbor from Battery Park. Limited to information, contact Don Riepe at February 12, and March 12, 12. $65 (45) 718-474-0896 or donriepe@gmail. • WINTER BIRDS AT JAMAICA BAY 9:30-11:30am com. No reservations necessary. No Saturday, December 3, 10am-1pm Guide: Gabriel Willow • THE FRESHWATER PONDS limit. Free Guide: Don Riepe With Wave Hill OF LONG ISLAND'S SOUTH With American Littoral Society and Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center. SHORE, NY • WINTER BIRDING ON THE Gateway National Recreation Area The Hudson River Valley hosts an Saturday, December 17, 9am-4pm SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife impressive diversity of bird species, Guide: Tod Winston Saturday, January 7, 9am-6pm Refuge for a slide program and a hike even during the winter months. Visit up to seven South Shore Guide: Gabriel Willow around the pond and gardens to look Explore the beautiful gardens and freshwater ponds that provide Winter in New York brings the for late migrants and winter birds woodlands of Wave Hill and observe refuge to a surprising variety of excitement of possibility: Will snowy arriving. Learn how birds and other the hardy birds that spend the winter wintering waterfowl—and great owls appear in the dunes? Will wildlife survive winter, and how to in this urban oasis. Walks run rain viewing opportunities to birders. harlequin ducks move westward identify many species. For info and or shine. Ages 10 and up welcome Possible sightings include hooded from Cape Cod and Montauk, and reservations, contact Don Riepe at with an adult. See www.wavehill.org mergansers, green-winged teal, appear in closer waters? Will irruptive 718-474-0896 or donriepe@gmail. for admission rates. NYC Audubon ring-necked ducks, northern pintail, northern finches and bohemian com. No limit. Free members enjoy two-for-one and redhead. We’ll also make a waxwings move south from Canada? admission short stop or two by the bay to All of these species and more are • MEMBERS-ONLY look for loons, grebes, and sea possible on Long Island in the winter, December Walk in Central Park • WINTER WATERFOWL ID ducks. Transport by passenger van along with expected species such as Wednesday, December 7, WORKSHOP included. Limited to 12. $93 (65) loons, grebes, scaup, eider, northern 8-10am Thursday, December 15, 6-7:30pm harriers, purple sandpiper, and Meet at Central Park West (class) and Saturday, December 17, • CENTRAL PARK WINTER WALKS more. Bundle up and brave the cold and 72nd Street for a walk 10am-1pm (trip) Sundays, December 18, January 15, for some of the best winter birding with former NYC Audubon Guide: Gabriel Willow February 19, and March 19, our area has to offer. Transport by Communications Manager Tod If it walks like a duck, and quacks 8:30-10:30am passenger van included. Limited to Winston. Come brave the chilly like a duck, it's probably a duck... Guide: Gabriel Willow 12. $93 (65) weather as we search for some but is it a dabbling duck or a diving Meet at Central Park West and 72nd of Central Park's best wintering duck? Or could it be a grebe? This Street. Some of the best sightings • WINTER SEALS AND birds. Free for Contributing class will help you distinguish await hardy nature-lovers willing WATERBIRDS OF NY HARBOR NYC Audubon members at the among ducks, geese, loons, grebes, to venture out in winter. Several Sundays, January 8-March 12, 12-2pm Student/Senior level and up and more. Following our class, species of owls are found in Central (no cruise on Sunday, February 5) THIS WALK IS FULL we'll put our newfound skills to Park in the colder months, along Guide: NYC Audubon work as we seek out the diverse with "winter finches" such as pine Meet at South Street Seaport’s siskins, redpolls, and crossbills. Pier 17 and come aboard NY Water © L

loyd Observing the adaptations for cold- Taxi’s eco-friendly vessel for a winter S

pitalnik weather survival among blue jays, adventure in New York Harbor. Look titmice, and other resident species for harbor seals on the rocky shores is fascinating as well. Warm up after of Governors Island and the more the walk with a hot chocolate by the remote Hoffman and Swinburne fireplace at theL oeb Boathouse. Islands. Learn about the surprisingly Limited to 15. $36 (25) per walk diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, • NEW YEAR'S DAY BEACH WALK, and sandpipers, many of which FORT TILDEN, QUEENS migrate south from the Arctic. See Sunday, January 1, 11am-2pm the Statue of Liberty and pass under Guides: Don Riepe, Mickey Cohen the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly. With American Littoral Society and Limited to 90. To register, contact Gateway National Recreation Area New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 Meet at Fort Tilden in Breezy Point or www.nywatertaxi.com. $35 for for a brisk hike along the beach, adults; $25 for children under 12; Hooded Merganser dunes, and woods to welcome in $105 for family pack for 2 adults and the New Year. Look for saw-whet 2 children 12 www.nycaudubon.org

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 12 11/8/16 8:41 AM © L

aura owls, snow buntings, horned larks, hooded mergansers. And we'll

M and others. The walk is about two scan the skies for hunting raptors eyers miles over easy terrain. Limited to including rough-legged and Cooper’s 20. Round-trip Metro-North fare hawks, northern harriers, and ($20.50) not included in trip price. perhaps even a snowy or short- $53 (37) eared owl. We can warm up at the environmental center and learn • WINTER WATERFOWL OF THE about the Meadowlands' ecology. BROOKLYN COAST Transport by passenger van included. Saturday, February 4, 9am-3pm Limited to 12. $86 (60) Guide: Kellye Rosenheim Join Kellye Rosenheim on a tour • WINTER BIRDS OF THE BARRIER of Brooklyn’s most productive ISLANDS, LI coastal winter waterfowl sites. We’ll Saturday, February 25, 9am-5pm White-throated Sparrow visit Bush Terminal Piers Park, Guide: Tod Winston Gravesend, and Calvert Vaux in Several bird species that nest in sparrows, and rough-legged hawks, search of saltwater species such the far north spend the winter at • BIRDING GEMS OF STATEN as well as wintering ducks, grebes, as common goldeneye, long-tailed Jones Beach, in a habitat similar ISLAND: WINTER AT FRESHKILLS and loons. Transport by passenger ducks, loons, and horned and to their summer breeding homes. PARK van included. Limited to 12. $86 (60) red-necked grebes. Transport by We’ll visit Point Lookout and Jones Sunday, January 8, 8am-3pm per trip passenger van included. Limited to Beach in search of harlequin ducks, Guide: Cliff Hagen 12. $86 (60) common eider, scoters, horned larks, With NYC Parks • EAGLE WATCH AND BIRD and snow buntings. Transport by Meet at the Manhattan terminal WALK AT INWOOD HILL PARK, • SOARING RAPTORS: EAGLES passenger van included. Limited to of the Staten Island Ferry. Winter MANHATTAN AND OWLS OF THE HUDSON 12. $93 ($65) at Freshkills Park is an exciting Saturday, January 21, 8:30-10:30am RIVER VALLEY, NY time for birding. The grass-covered Guide: Annie Barry Saturday, February 11, Noon-7pm • WINTER THAW BIRD WALK AT slopes offer birds plenty of seed Meet at the western end of Dyckman Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers JAMAICA BAY and shelter to huddled flocks of Street in front of La Marina LLC Saturday, February 25, 10am-1pm horned larks, snow buntings, and restaurant and join Annie Barry for You don’t have to travel to Alaska to Guide: Don Riepe sparrow species, as rough-legged a winter hike through the various see our country’s emblem, the bald With American Littoral Society and hawks soar overhead. Down below habitats of Inwood Hill Park. Located eagle. Thanks to one of the most Gateway National Recreation Area the mounds are a crisscross of at the northern tip of Manhattan successful reintroduction programs Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife tidal creeks filled with a variety where the Harlem River meets the on record, many eagles now soar Refuge for a hike around the ponds of waterfowl. Grebes, geese, and Hudson, Inwood Hill Park offers over the nearby Hudson Valley. Travel and gardens to look for early signs coots swim alongside over a dozen shoreline vistas, mature forest, with us to see this spectacular raptor, of spring as well as late winter birds. species of ducks including teal, and the last natural salt marsh in as well as spot the secretive short- For more information and to register, mergansers, and pintails. Transport Manhattan. We will begin on the eared owl. Transport by passenger contact Don Riepe at 718-474-0896 by passenger van on S.I. included. Hudson shore in search of the bald van included. Limited to 12. $93 (65) or [email protected]. No limit. Limited to 12. $57 (40) eagles that have been sighted there Free frequently in recent winters, then • WINTER BIRDS OF DEKORTE move into the forest to search for • SNOW BIRDS OF FLOYD PARK, NJ • WINTER BIRDS OF BARNEGAT, wintering and year-round birds, and BENNETT FIELD AND FORT Saturday, February 18, 9am-2pm NJ finally to the salt marsh to look for TILDEN, QUEENS Guide: Gabriel Willow Saturday, March 4, 9am-4pm Saturdays, January 14 and February wintering ducks. Some hilly walking Come explore the wilds of the New Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers 11, 10:30am-4pm required. Limited to 15 $36 (25) Jersey Meadowlands at DeKorte LLC Guide: Gabriel Willow Park. Here, the Hackensack River Explore Barnegat Inlet’s expansive Winter brings many rare birds to • WINTER EAGLES ON THE meets extensive coastal marshes, beach to view the winter birds that the City that can’t be found here HUDSON RIVER creating a rich habitat for wildlife— gather where land, bay, and sea meet. at any other time. Perhaps most Sunday, January 22, 9am-4pm especially wintering waterfowl and Search for harlequin ducks, horned exciting are the “snow birds” of Guide: Gabriel Willow raptors. We'll be on the lookout for larks, Lapland longspurs, snow the Arctic tundra such as snow Meet at Grand Central Terminal to large flocks of canvasback, ruddy buntings, and snowy and short-eared buntings and snowy owls. Look travel in comfort by Metro-North ducks, green-winged teal, northern owls. Transport by passenger van for these and other winter visitors to Croton Point Park, where we will pintail, bufflehead, and northern included. Limited to 12. $115 (80) such as horned larks, American tree look for eagles before hiking to seek shoveler, along with common and …continued on page 14 out wintering short-eared and snowy Winter 2016-2017 13

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 13 11/8/16 8:41 AM Events and Adventures (continued) ©

D WINTER BIRDS OF SANDY INTRO TO BIRDING: BIRD EARLY SPRING BIRD WALK AT avid • • •

S HOOK, NJ WALK IN CENTRAL PARK JAMAICA BAY peiser Saturday, March 11, 10am-5pm Sunday, March 19, 8-10:30am Saturday, April 1, 10am-1pm Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers Guide: Tod Winston Guide: Don Riepe LLC Meet at Central Park West and With American Littoral Society and Sandy Hook, a spectacular barrier 72nd Street. Are you curious about Gateway National Recreation Area island at the northernmost point "birding" but don’t have much (or Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife of the NJ coast, hosts a variety of any) experience? Come on a relaxed Refuge for a slide program and species including Arctic-bound avian walk to some of Central Park’s walk to look for eastern phoebes, migrants and harbor seals that lie hotspots to go over birding basics American oystercatchers, osprey, on the beach to warm up in the sun. and see sparrows, finches, warblers, and other early migrants. For more Other possible sightings include ducks, and more. Binoculars information and to register, contact loons, sea ducks, snow buntings, and available. Limited to 15. $36 (25) Don Riepe at 718-474-0896 or White-breasted Nuthatch horned larks. Transport by passenger [email protected]. No limit. Free van included. Limited to 12. $103 (72)

EARLY MEMBER vernight rips REGISTRATION FOR SPRING O T EVENTS Spring and early summer MONTAUK WINTER WEEKEND: come to feed on the Point’s rich birding festivals. We begin our events will be posted at www. SEALS, SURF, AND SEABIRDS kelp and mussel beds include exploration in Bangor, visiting nycaudubon.org and available Friday, January 13-Sunday, common and red-throated loon, forests and a bog trail before for registration for Contributing January 15 common eider, all three scoter heading to the fishing village of NYC Audubon members Guide: Don Riepe species, bufflehead, common Lubec, the easternmost town starting on Monday, February 6. With American Littoral Society goldeneye, great cormorant, in the U.S. We will participate (Registration will open to all on Spend a weekend at the luxurious and red-breasted merganser. in the Down East Spring Monday, February 20.) Manor House during peak winter Harlequin duck and king eider Birding Festival, joining them birding time at Montauk Point. also occur here regularly during for lectures, hikes in search of TO REGISTER FOR ALL NYC See seals, scoters, loons, eiders, the winter. Accommodations at spruce grouse, boreal chickadee, • AUDUBON EVENTS and for goldeneye, and much more. Daunt's Albatross in Montauk. gray jay, breeding warblers, and more information, visit www. Trip includes 2 nights lodging, 5 Transport by passenger van other songbirds. We will take nycaudubon.org or call Darren meals, 5 guided hikes, 2 evening included. Limited to 12. $295 ($55 a chartered boat to Machias Klein at 212-691-7483 x304 unless programs, a star watch, and free single supplement) Seal Island, home to the largest otherwise specified. pickup at the LIRR station in nesting colony of Atlantic Montauk. For reservations and DOWN EAST MAINE & ACADIA: puffins in theU .S., with over important information details, contact Don Riepe at 718- A BIRDER'S PARADISE 5,000 breeding there, alongside • Classes meet at 71 West 23rd 474-0896 or donriepe@gmail. Friday, May 26-Saturday, June 3 razorbills, murres, and other Street, Suite 1523. com. No limit. $395 ($180 single Guide: Gabriel Willow seabirds. While on the water, we'll • Contributing Members (Student/ supplement) Join Maine native Gabriel keep our eyes open for whales Senior level and up) receive a 30% Willow in exploring Maine’s and porpoises. After thoroughly discount on most local trips and WINTER WATERFOWL “Country of the Pointed Firs”: exploring this rugged Down East classes (on discounted events, WEEKEND AT MONTAUK, LI a land of lighthouses, quaint region, we will head down the the discounted price appears in Saturday, January 28, 9am- villages, and lobster pounds...all coast to the world-famous Acadia parentheses after the nonmember Sunday, January 29, 7pm nestled in a setting of primeval National Park, a national treasure price). See membership form on Guide: Gabriel Willow pine forests, bogs, and bucolic of forests, rocky coasts, and page 23. The gatherings of sea ducks islands. This landscape has been mountains. We will participate in • For all coach and van trips, the around Montauk Point are the an inspiration to artists and the Acadia Birding Festival, with meeting location is in front of largest winter concentrations in naturalists for generations. keynote speakers Pete Dunne, 71 West 23rd Street in Manhattan unless otherwise specified. New York State; the Christmas This year’s new itinerary includes Laura Erickson, and Luke Seitz. • We depart promptly at the stated Bird Count on Montauk Point the "real Maine" of Down East, Limited to 10. $2,075 ($380 single start time. consistently tallies from 125 to from Acadia National Park supplement) • For all overnight trips, member- 135 species, one of the best totals up to the Canadian border, ship in nyc audubon at the in the Northeast. Species that and participation in two Student/Senior level and up is required. See membership form on page 23. 14 www.nycaudubon.org

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 14 11/8/16 8:41 AM It’s About Numbers and Community Meryl Greenblatt

The 117th Christmas Bird Count December 17-26, 2016

ed by the National Audubon Society, the Christmas Bird I’m proud to say “we,” having joined my first CBC in 2015. Count (CBC) is the nation’s longest running citizen science Curiosity and a sense of missing out on something important Lbird project. brought me to Kellye Rosenheim’s southwest Central Park count NYC Audubon is part of the New Jersey/Lower Hudson “Count circle last December. While our species count of 19 was modest, our Circle,” one of over 2,100 across the Western Hemisphere. Director total bird tally was second highest for the park at 684. Kellye’s eagle of Conservation and Science Susan Elbin leads this circle, with Con- eye identified a brown thrasher in a distant haystack of branches—a servation Biologist Debra Kriensky coordinating NYC Audubon’s lifer for my list. We also spotted the day’s lone black-and-white war- local efforts. “Taking part in the Central Park count circle is special,” bler. And while crossing the Ramble to get to our site, we paused says Kriensky. “This is where ornithologist Frank Chapman led the to watch a great horned owl posing for a rapt audience. Others later first CBC, and we’re proud to be following in his footsteps.” Debra cooed about sighting an orange-crowned warbler. submits regional results to National Audubon’s site, as well as on Afterward, as we gathered at the Arsenal for hot cider, snacks, eBird. “Posting our lists on eBird gives people immediate access to and the day’s tally, the sheer joy of communing with fellow birders the day’s results—it’s what puts the ‘citizen’ in citizen science.” reinforced for all the value of citizen science. Last year, 174 regional participants identified 96 species and Check out the results of previous counts at www.nycaudubon. more than 27,000 birds. In Central Park alone, we identified 55 org/christmas-bird-count. species and 4,264 total birds.

CB Count Date Contact eMail Brooklyn Saturday, 12/17 Bobbi Manian [email protected] Staten Island Saturday, 12/17 Cliff Hagen [email protected] Manhattan Sunday, 12/18 Debra Kriensky [email protected] Queens Sunday, 12/18 Corey Finger [email protected] The Bronx Monday, 12/26 Michael Bochnik [email protected]

The 20th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 17-20, 2017 count of a different feather, the GBBC is driven by the same location if you counted at a different time of day. individual volunteers around the world. Led by the Then submit your results. With eBird, it’s easier than

Cornell Lab of Ornithology and © ever. If you already have an account, just E A llen

National Audubon Society, this online M submit your results. Otherwise, register citizen science avian project displays ichaels for an account beforehand at www.gbbc. submitted data in near real-time. birdcount.org/get-started/. It’s easy to participate. Walk down In 2016, New York City participants the street, head to your local park, or logged 166 species through 7,460 gaze out your back window. Count the checklists. Let’s bring our NYC Audubon number and species of birds you see, for spirit to the 2017 GBBC by contributing at least 15 minutes. Submit a separate at least one count each. checklist for each new day and location, or Tufted Titmouse

Winter 2016-2017 15

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 15 11/8/16 8:41 AM Epic Maine Trip 2016 Nora Benoliel

ast May’s NYC Audubon birdwatching the way, we saw two great horned owlets at We also spent time admiring the view from trip to the coast of Maine was simply Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery—one ignored Mount Battie and the Rockland Breakwater, Lmagical. Eight of us joined Maine us by sleeping while the other eyeballed us where we observed common eiders near the native Gabriel Willow, a seasoned birdwatcher attentively. A fried clam lunch at Two Points shore scarfing down crabs. and passionate naturalist, on a week-long Park was memorable. Later we stopped by Next we were ferried 10 miles from the adventure. We had good weather and Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm, where we mainland to idyllic Monhegan Island for a witnessed a diverse abundance of birds. Add saw an “off-course” little egret. These birds three-day stay. The apple trees were loaded this special NYC Audubon experience to your breed in Asia and are hardly ever seen in the with blackburnian, Tennessee, yellow, and bucket list; it occurs every May. (See page 14 United States. That evening we enjoyed the magnolia warblers and many other birds. for details about the 2017 trip.) picturesque town of Camden. Seasoned birders visiting the island that week We started in Portland, and on our The next morning, we saw singing said that this spring brought an extraordinary first full day together, we traveled to Cape bobolinks in a farmer’s field at Clary Hill, a carnival of birds, one not seen in many decades. Elizabeth, where we observed various stunning place with its flowering blueberries, We visited Monhegan’s Cathedral Woods waterfowl, marsh birds, and shorebirds. On many species of sparrows, and a baby killdeer. and its fairy houses made of sticks, moss, bark, ©

D and mushrooms. From the cliffs we watched a avid humpback whale at sea and saw an American N unn

* woodcock displaying by the lighthouse. On an early morning a chartered boat took us further out to sea to Eastern Egg Rock, where we saw nesting Atlantic puffins, a pair of endangered roseate terns, and many arctic terns. Back on Monhegan we celebrated our birding successes with a feast of fresh-caught lobster and blueberry crisp à la mode. Accommodations in Portland, Camden, and Monhegan Island were outstanding. Bird sightings of 154 different species were memorable. And scrumptious breakfasts each morning were the perfect way to start our epic Atlantic Puffins birdwatching days.

In Memorium: Sarah McCarn Elliott Eric Reubel

ecause I am a birder, life is punctuated by indelible life- telling them that Sarah had taught me everything I knew about bird moments, like the Eastport black-tailed godwit birds. Her marvelous smile was infectious to a young boy with a Bseen the day after I chatted up my (now) wife at the bar giant case of bird fever, as was her wit and turn of phrase to those of the Corner Bistro. The day Sarah Elliott took me, only eleven who loved her self-illustrated newsletter, The Elliott Newsletter: years old, under her wing, a Kentucky warbler was briefly seen, Nature Notes from Central Park, where topics travelled the unusual skulking under a bench opposite a willow. Miraculously, the intersection of Beatrix Potter and Aldo Leopold. With her death, following spring, and for several more to follow, my grandmother the last whispers of the old guard—the first wave of non-academic would drive me up First Avenue to pick up Sarah on 34th Street New Yorkers who took a Peterson Field Guide and binoculars to and drop us off at Central Park. Anything was possible. Coaching hand—are gone. She, along with the those who recorded sightings began with: “Now, raise your glasses to find that plastic bag in her boathouse birdlog, helped me see a world that is bigger tangled in those branches at three o’clock,” and in relatively short than myself and for that I will always remember her. Sarah order I could identify a bird or two. Years later, weekends were for will be remembered fondly by the entire Central Park birding her groups, and I would delight her small, but regular troupe by community.

16 www.nycaudubon.org

on recorded on the Christmas Bird Count. (See page 15 for details about R iepe joining this year’s CBC.) Short-eared owls are somewhat diurnal in that they may be seen around twilight or even before on cloudy days. Once fairly common on Long Island, the 2000–2005 New York State Breeding Bird Survey listed only one nesting pair. They are now on the State’s endangered list. The best places to see them are in grasslands, landfills, and other open field areas where there is abundant prey, such as meadow voles and other small mammals. The largest and most powerful owl is the great horned owl. Known as the “Tiger of the Woods,” it currently nests in every borough of New York City. This owl preys on rabbits, skunks, and muskrats. Good places to look for them are in the large City parks. In 2015, one nested along a trail at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens. Perhaps the ‘cutest’ owls are the diminutive northern saw-whet owls and eastern screech-owls. By day, saw-whet owls roost in dense clusters of conifers such as cedar and pine trees, while screech-owls are found mostly in tree cavities at forest edges. In past years, saw- whet owls were a fairly common winter visitor to New York City, but nowadays they seem to be harder to find, due to human disturbance and the loss of many Japanese black pines, killed by bark beetle infestations. The long-eared owl has also been declining as a winter visitor, most likely due to loss of habitat, such as grasslands and riparian woods. Of all the owl species, the barn owl is perhaps the most beautiful with golden- brown wings flecked with gray and pure white underparts. Their nesting in NYC is primarily restricted to nest boxes placed in remote areas of Jamaica Bay and old abandoned buildings or water towers. If you’re lucky you may find one roosting in a pine tree at Northern Saw-whet Owl Pelham Bay Park or other City parks where there are dense clusters of white pine. ecretive and mysterious, with large, front-facing eyes that some If you find an owl roost it is recommended that you are discreet in say give them an appearance of having wisdom, owls are a favorite disclosing its location to protect the bird from disturbance. See pages 12- Ssighting of birders and the general public. Eight owl species 14 for listing of walks that emphasize owl sightings. regularly visit New York City’s parks and natural areas. The most common species are barn owl, great horned owl, and eastern screech- owl; all nest within the five boroughs. Others such as snowy owl, short- eared owl, long-eared owl, barred owl, and northern saw-whet owl are Seeking Suggestions primarily winter visitors. On one or two occasions a boreal owl has been recorded in Central Park. for Board of Directors Most owls are nocturnal and roost hidden in trees during the day. They all are well adapted for silent hunting in the dark; their NYC Audubon is seeking suggestions for new members wing feathers have fringed edges which muffle the sound of the owl’s of the board of directors for three-year terms beginning flight through air. Their remarkable ability to hear comes from their in June 2017. Please submit your suggestions for asymmetrically-placed ear openings and sound-catching facial disks. consideration by the nominating committee to However, snowy owls are diurnal. They nest in the Arctic where Alexander Ewing, chair of the nominating committee, at summer days are long. During the winter of 2013, there was a huge [email protected] irruption of snowy owls and many were found in the City’s open areas, dunes, and (unfortunately) at airports. That year a total of 20 were

Winter 2016-2017 17

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 17 11/8/16 8:41 AM Book Reviews Mary Jane Kaplan, Rob Bate, and Meryl Greenblatt

Bird Brain: An Exploration of prospection (planning for an expected fu- tions upon which Cat Wars’ claims are based, Avian Intelligence ture)—and of experiments done with rooks don’t appear until page 65, with the state- and scrub jays that demonstrate their strengths ment that cats, both free roaming house cats By Nathan Emery, with a in each. His rather astounding assertion— and truly feral ones, kill between 1.3 and 4 Foreword by Frans de Waal “rooks, jays, and New Caledonian crows are at billion birds each year. This is a staggering Ivy Press, 2016 least as competent and, in some cases, more number, but the authors do not indicate the competent than children younger than eight percentage of the bird population this number years old in tasks requiring tool innovation represents. Marra and Santella also paint their and causal reasoning”—provides a strong ar- picture with a broad brush, lumping threats gument against ever again using “birdbrain” to birds of truly threatened species, such as as a derogative epithet for humans. the piping plover, in with birds that could be This is a large-format, beautifully called pests, such as European starlings, house designed book, suitable for keeping on the sparrows, and pigeons. cocktail table and occasionally dipping into as Scarce attention is paid to real solutions well as reading straight through. MJK beyond advocating for the use of the cat tar- geting poison “Curiosity” for feral cat populations, and not until the late stages of the book do the authors add any nuance or context for he title of this book alludes to its dual Cat Wars: The Devastating their call for the eradication of free roaming goals. On the one hand, “Bird Brain” cats within the larger scheme of conservation refers to the technical discussions and Consequences of a Cuddly Killer T efforts. Cat Wars is sure to be popular among graphics that illustrate the structure of birds’ By Peter P. Marra and much of the birding community, and it does brains and the sites where the behaviors they Chris Santella do a good job of highlighting some of the is- demonstrate in cognitive research likely origi- Princeton University Press, 2016 sues surrounding the problem of cat predation nate. At the same time, by describing many on migratory bird species. Should the authors laboratory experiments and examining their generate enough public interest around this results, the author aims to discredit the be- issue, it may be possible to make headway, re- lief in avian stupidity implied by our use of ducing the threat free roaming cats pose to our “birdbrain” to portray dull-witted humans. many endangered bird species. Scientifically disinclined readers can skip the For more in-depth reviews of Cat Wars sections on comparative brain structure and please note: evolution, however fascinating, and still enjoy Natalie Angier, who publicized the origi- the surveys of current theories (and disagree- nal study in a New York Times article, reviewed ments) about what birds know and what they the book for the New York Review of Books http:// can do, as presented in five categories: naviga- www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/09/29/kill- tion, communication, memory, tool use, social er-cats-are-winning/ n their new book, interaction, and the sense of self. Cat Wars: The Devastating Author Colin Dickey reviewed the book The book provides little justification for Consequences of a Cuddly Killer, Peter Marra, for the Los Angeles Review of Books and is less director of the Smithsonian Migratory broad generalizations about bird cognition, I sanguine than Angier regarding the book Bird Center, and Chris Santella, make a case since most studies in the laboratory as well as in https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-case- for the reframing of the common housecat the field have been species-specific. The author against-cats/#! from one of “cuddly” to one of “killer.” It is tells us that although pigeons are among the Jerry Coyne, evolutionary biologist, least intelligent of species, they have histori- regrettable that the authors have an obvious author of Why Evolution Is True and a cat- bias against cats and use anecdotes to cally been the most frequent subjects of experi- lover of sorts, examines both reviews on his marginalize animal rights advocates. No one mentation. Beginning in the 1990s, however, blog, https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress. can seriously doubt that free roaming cats pose scientific interest focussed on corvids and par- com/2016/09/13/two-reviews-of-a-book-on- rots, generally thought to be the most intelli- a persistent threat to birds and other wildlife, killer-cats/ RB gent avian groups. In summing up his review sometimes with catastrophic results. As a of recent experiments, Emery gives examples result, this book is unlikely to change minds of four essentials of complex cognition— on any side of the debate. causal reasoning, flexibility, imagination, and The central story, the statistical calcula-

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 18 11/8/16 8:41 AM oliday ooks for Book Reviews Mary Jane Kaplan, Rob Bate, and Meryl Greenblatt H B Children Suzanne Charlé

Birding at the Bridge: udding naturalists and ornithologists will have a field day with three “books+” In Search of Every Bird on the series, published by Downtown Bookworks (New York, NY). Filled with curious facts about birds and other creatures, these guides and accompanying Brooklyn Waterfront B tools are just the thing to lure kids away from video games to the outdoors. By Heather Wolf Workman Publishing, 2016 Into the Field Guide: A Walk in the Woods, Treasure Box An informative and entertaining introduction to birds, animals, trees, and flowers, across the country and throughout the year. Author Emily Laber- Warren offers tips on how to spot denizens of the forest (“Hear a musical, whistling call? There could be a cardinal right above you”), and facts that will engage and amuse children of all ages: “Owls have twice as many neck bones as people do. That means they can turn their heads all the way around to look behind their backs!” All is illustrated with sharp, atch birding” is a pretty self- colorful photos. For those heading to sunnier climes descriptive term: find a spot or longing for summer, A Walk on the Beach, by “P that appeals to you, and start Laurie Goldman, brims with beachcombing tips birdwatching there on a regular basis. Get to and notes about everything from flotsam and jetsam to the dance of seals to warnings know the regular birders and greet the visitors about mama terns: “If you get too close to a nest, look out!....They’ll dive bomb you!” during seasonal migrations. You can catalog Both guides come in a “treasure box” with a mesh bag and a magnifier box, to collect, your sightings meticulously, offer bird walks observe, and store small treasures. Ages 5 and up, $19.99 to share your newfound slice of heaven, and maybe take up photography to communicate PBS Kids Look and Learn: Birds your feathered discoveries on your new blog. The kit comes with binoculars, a handsome And, if you’re really determined, you might activity poster and a laminated list of common even publish a book. Heather Wolf has done all of the above. birds in North America. In the 64-page guide, In four short, busy years, she has taken patch Sarah Parvis gives tips for identifying birds, in birding to the extreme, specifically in Brooklyn the city or country, on the coast or inland. Photos Bridge Park. Her new book, Birding at the accompany winsome suggestions: by zooming in Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn on bird’s bill, you can know what the bird eats. (The house finch’s cone-shaped bill Waterfront, relates stories about the 134 species is great for cracking open seeds.) Also in the series is Look and Learn: Insects, with a she identified during this period, and is a magnifier jar. Ages 4 and up, $19.99 loving tribute to the feathered residents and visitors to the Brooklyn waterfront. Science with Stuff: Bird-acious According to Heather, “Two big goals for The cover sets the tone: “Yuck! Owl Puke with Bones in It!” Sure enough, in its own the book were to document as many species plastic case, there is a real owl pellet that kids can dissect and, following instructions, in the park as possible, and to obtain a book- find bones from former meals. Melissa Stewart takes worthy photo (taken in the park) of as many kids on a quick tour through the bird kingdom, species as possible (102). Some days I would starting with the archaeopteryx (“ancient wing”) in be out there for nine hours, determined to find Chapter 1: Birdasaurus, through Biggest Birds, alive a new park species. It was a true adventure in (8-foot, 300 pound ostrich) and extinct (10 foot, 600 patch birding.” pound elephant bird), to the tricks of “Brainy Birds.” On a sunny Saturday in September, about Ages 6 and up, $11.99 25 people turned out for one of Heather’s walks. While most of the fall warblers eluded …continued on page 20

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us, many of the locals were on display, including laughing and herring gulls, double- crested cormorants, Canada geese, rock pigeons, house sparrows, and European starlings. A News & Notes group of American robins occupied the Harbor View Lawn, and we were treated to a palm warbler among them. Warbler sightings on other walks included American redstart, magnolia, blackpoll, northern parula, common yellowthroat, black-and-white, and ovenbird. Heather’s enthusiasm is infectious—by the end of the walk those who attended were VHF RADIO TOWER INSTALLED IN inspired by the experience. JAMAICA BAY While her count has risen to 138 with a few new gull species (black-headed, Iceland, The U.S Fish & Wildlife Service recently and Bonaparte’s) and a lesser scaup, Heather’s time is also taken up serving as a web devel- installed a VHF radio tower at Jamaica oper for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Check out her latest posts at brooklynbridgebirds. Bay Wildlife Refuge, joining towers com. Join us on February 28 to hear Heather’s lecture about her book. See page 11 for previously installed at Coney Island’s details. MG New York Aquarium and at Sandy Hook, NJ, to provide a more complete picture of bird migration through New York City. NYC Audubon is one of several organizations starting Logos for the Birds: to use nanotag technology on birds. An Urban History Suzanne Charlé Each nonotag emits a unique signal (frequency) that can be picked up by any installed VHF tower up to 15 n its first incarnation in 1979, NYC Audubon’s kilometers away. As part of a pilot The Urban Audubon was in sepia offset, according program this fall and summer, we to Advisory Council Member Lewis Rosenberg, its I attached nanotags to three common inaugural editor. To lend it a bit of class, he said, his terns and five semipalmated sandpipers. co-editor, “Sallye Ellyson thought we should have a mascot.” The house finch Carpodacus( mexicanus) was Now with three towers installed, we chosen “as epitomizing an adaptation to urban life—and will be able to know when any of these for its ubiquitous, cheerful presence in all five boroughs.” birds—as well as other birds nanotagged The house finch was popular and frequently mentioned in the pages ofThe New York by organizations around the world— Times, when, for instance, one decided to take up residence in the Central Park tennis migrate through the City, helping us center and/or made a point of protecting bluebirds. (Reporters often noted house finches to understand shorebird migration were originally from the western United States. Readers—many of whom weren’t native better and to evaluate New York City’s New Yorkers either—shrugged.) shorebird habitat. In 2002, NYC Audubon Board Member Ned Boyajian sent out a request for “a stronger, more dynamic, more inspirational emblem.” The American kestrel ( Falco NYC AUDUBON STAFF NEWS sparverius), with its blue crown and hooked beak, was chosen for all the right reasons: “an Many thanks to Tod Winston for his urban raptor, an elusive nester on buildings” wrote then Executive Director E.J. McAdams. outstanding contributions to NYC Roger Whitehouse was tapped to create the logo. The award-winning designer, whose environmental graphic designs graced everything from The Metropolitan Museum to Audubon as our communications Times Square subway entrances, was particularly well suited to the project. He knew the manager. In 2007, Tod started out with bird intimately: A pair had nested outside one of his office windows. Whitehouse also our organization as a member of The generously offered to work pro bono. Urban Audubon Newsletter Committee. Like other New York City denizens, the kestrel can be found just about everywhere: Later he joined the staff and served as On TV antennas (where one pair was seen mating), hunting in the Floyd Bennett Field the “voice” of NYC Audubon in all grasslands (observing them there is a NYC Audubon project), sitting six abreast on the of its communications. Tod’s presence fence outside the New York Police Department’s runway, or hanging out on the Javits will be missed around the office, but Center green roof. Kestrels also favor city parks—over 125 were sighted one September he will continue with us as a birding day in Central Park. Now, noted The Urban Audubon editor guide (see pages 12-14 for tours he is Marcia Fowle, “with our expanded offices, and windows leading this winter) and conservation facing north, south, and west, we can see them flying research assistant. We wish him the best around building tops.” “I love the kestrel,” said Rosenberg, though the feeling in his new role as program associate at has not always been returned. He recalled the first time he National Audubon for their new Plants observed a kestrel, when he was camping in the Back Cove for Birds program. of Portland, Maine. He was trying to sight a female kestrel across the marsh. “Suddenly, I feel a sharp thunderbolt on the side of my head. Zeus! That dive—very aerodynamic!” 20 www.nycaudubon.org

69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 20 11/8/16 8:42 AM Volunteer Acknowledgments

New York City Audubon’s conservation and education work would not Mike Feller HH Tim Hettler MP Sally Feng JB Chinami Hikita-Dwork JB be possible without the help of hundreds of volunteers who donate Sandy Fiebelkorn IBT Jana Hippeli EO thousands of hours each year. If you volunteered during the period Cait Field JB Christina Hippeli EO Alex Filipek PSF David Hoffman CBC from October 2015 to September 2016 and your name is not on this list, Adam Fischmann JB Cynthia Holden CBC please let us know. We strive to keep accurate records for our funders Mary FitzGerald EO Marcel Holyoak WE Kerry Fitzgerald TIL Don Hooker JB and want to make sure you receive the recognition you deserve. Kathy Flores IBT Bobby Horvath IBT Arthur Flynn JB Cathy Horvath IBT Frederick Fogelson JB Eniko Horvath JB LEGEND Charlotte Bell MP Yvonne Collery JB bC = birders Coalition for Carol Foil WE Robert Houston PSF Karen Benfield CBC, FR, OA, Nicholas Comparato PSF Marcia T. Fowle FR, OA, UA Claire Huang PSF Gateway TIL, WE Christian Cooper EO, OA CBC = Christmas Bird Susan Freytes HH, JB Ulysses Ifill EO Drianne Benner OA Jules Corkery IBT Richard H. Fried OA Carol Inamdar CBC Count Katherine Bennett JB Sunny Corrao CBC, JB CON = Conservation Anita Friedman OA Angie Ioannidis CBC Kevin Bennett PSF Karen Coughlin EO Samantha Friend PSF Michael Jakubowicz JB eo = education and Nora Benoliel UA Liz Craig CON Outreach Nancy Funke IBT Janet and Phil* WE Kristen Berger JB Rebekah Creshkoff OA Ana Livia Furtado JB Sarah Jeffords FR, OA fr = 2015 Fall Roost Mika Berger Wills JB Erika Crispo JB hh = harbor Herons Doug Futuyma BC Rob Jett IBT Sharon Berlan CBC Sara Crosby PSF, TIL Fyn Kynd Photography UA Lynn Johnson IBT ibT = injured Bird Amanda Bielskas PSF Marie-Claire Cunningham CBC Transporters and Ed Gaillard CBC Rachel Johnstone JB Billtacular* UA Monica Cuoco PSF Dennis Galcik JB William Johnstone JB Raptors NYC Group James Bleakney EO Shannon Curley JB JB = Jamaica Bay Andrew Garn IBT, WE Deborah Jones FR Bridget Bleckman JB Phil Cusimano JB Kathy Garofalo CON Peter Joost EO (includes Horseshoe Frederick Bleckman JB Constance Dalvito JB Crab and Shorebird Jose Garofalo IBT Beryl Kahn JB Una Bleckman JB Jamie Dalvito JB Evan Gever JB Tatiana Kaletsch EO Surveys) Lucienne Bloch UA Andrew Darrell OA kW = kingsland Chris Girgenti HH, JB Bryan Kao PSF Dr. Claude Bloch CBC, OA Diane Darrow PSF, UA Joe Giunta FR Mary Jane Kaplan OA, UA Wildflowers Project Rebecca Block JB Andrea Dash EO oA = office Lisa Glass EO Laura Karol IBT MaryJane Boland IBT Leslie Day FR, IBT Jessica Glass EO Karen Karp PSF Administration Ardith Bondi IBT Martha de Jong-Lantink UA mP = mcGolrick Park Yekaterina Gluzberg PSF, TIL Jessica Karr JB Avi Bonime TIL Titia De Lange EO Richard Gold IBT Bonnie Kassel IBT PSF = Project Safe Flight Conrad Booker JB Deborah de Winter CBC TIL = Tribute in Light Beryl Goldberg TIL Ellen Kastel EO Lisa Booker JB Peter de Wit WE Kathi Goldman CBC Owen Katz JB uA = The Urban Audubon Victoria Booth HH, IBT, WE Gina DeCesare PSF WE = Website and The Abby Goldstein CBC Melly Kay WE Ron Bourque JB, UA Melanie del Rosario HH Max Goldstein CBC Brendan Keogh JB eGret eNewsletter Ned Boyajian UA Christine DeMauro JB * = flickr Account Rob Goldstein CBC Jennifer Kepler JB Marsilia A. Boyle FR, MP, OA Wolfgang Demisch CBC Sadie Goldstein CBC Timothy Kepler JB Elizabeth Bradley CBC Martin Dessejour JB Louise Gouck CBC Angie Keyser EO, JB Patricia M Aakre EO Alvin Brayy JB Meelan Dessejour JB Isaac Grant JB Argo Kiernan-Paadre TIL Chuck Abbe WE Maya Brayy JB Alice Deutsch CBC Kate Greathead JB Hyo Kim JB Faisal Abdel-Qadar PSF Donegal Browne IBT Ariel Devine JB Alexis Grecki PSF Jeffrey Kimball CBC, EO, OA, Irina Adam IBT Becky Burcham TIL dfaulder* WE Victoria Grecki PSF UA Cheryl Adams EO David Burg EO, OA Brigitte Diamond EO Michael Green PSF Robert J. Kimtis OA Molly Adams JB Albert K. Butzel OA April Dimola CBC Meryl Greenblatt CBC, EO, UA Galina Kirman JB Fran Agnone MP Claire Cammarata TIL Audrey Dimola CBC A. Caroline Greenleaf CBC Shaye Kirman JB Lauren Alleman UA Brandi Cannon JB Ben Dobson JB Natalie Gregorio UA Sarah Kleinman JB Deborah Allen CBC Carolyn Cantor JB Jane Dowling JB Renata Grieco PSF Lauren Klingsberg OA, UA Michael Allen CON Liza-Mae Carlin IBT Kathy Drake CBC Jen Griffith JB Pete Klosterman TIL Barbara Alpert EO Jessica Carrero CBC Alan Drogin CBC Stefan Guelly HH Michelle Knoernschild IBT Myles Amend JB Vivian Carter JB Andrew Dwork JB Linda Gui JB Stefan Knust TIL Ashley Amend-Thomas JB Keith Carver WE Bianca Dwork JB Cynthia Guile CBC, EO, PSF Jeff Kollbrunner IBT Oakes Ames OA Clifford Case OA Greg Elbin CON Cliff Hagen BC, EO, UA Stella Korins JB Whit Andrews WE Rebecca Chalmers JB Susan Elbin FR Nancy Hager OA Anna Koskol JB Richard T. Andrias OA Eva Chan JB Mary Elder PSF Jennifer Hamilton PSF Heather Kramer JB Felicity Arengo CON, TIL Suzanne Charlé UA Willis Elkins HH Karen Hammonds PSF Jeff Kraus HH, IBT, JB Sarah Grimké Aucoin OA Esmeralda Connors Chauca TIL Joseph H. Ellis OA Ahrong Han EO Lynn Kraus HH, JB Seth Ausubel BC Franci Chauca TIL Eric Engen MP Eric Handy CBC David Krauss CBC Ellen Azorin UA Ken Chaya CBC Peter Erikssen JB Gabie Hannays EO Chris Kreussling WE Cathy Bagat HH Steve Chesler MP Margot Ernst CBC Adelia Harrison JB Debra Kriensky FR Sarah Bai PSF Helen Christopher JB Blake Evans CBC Mitchell Hart JB Kimberly Kriger OA Teddy Bailey CBC Michael Christopher JB Clementine Evans CBC Matthew Hasday JB Laura Krug CBC Ann Bailey FR Arthur Christy IBT Noa Evans CBC Janice Hawke JB Alex Kudeyar EO, JB Mike Baird WE Anthony Ciancimino JB Christina L. Evans UA Michael Hawke JB Jessica Kuhn PSF Svetlana Bakhmatova JB Robert Ciardullo PSF Alexander Ewing OA Kathryn Heintz FR Joseph Kulhanek HH Andrew Baksh BC, CON Diane Cimine UA Kate Faehling HH Sarah Heintz OA Kalindi Patel Kumar JB Kristen Bannister FR Richard Cino IBT Dorthy Fang PSF Catherine Schragis Heller David Kunstler HH Annie Barry EO, HH, JB Andrew Clapper HH Andrew Farnsworth EO, OA, fr, OA, UA Benedict Kupstas JB Rob Bate BC, OA Robin Clugston CBC TIL, UA Jeff Hellerbach CBC Melissa Kussman JB Erica Baum EO Joanne Coco CBC Suzanne Fava JB Neddie Hernandez CBC Janice Laneve OA Barbara Becker EO Fred Cohen WE Allan Feibelman CBC Peggy Heron JB Florence Lapidus OA George Beckwith PSF Jared Cole CBC Hannah Feibelman CBC Lynne Hertzog CBC, OA Karen Larsen EO

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 21 11/8/16 8:42 AM Volunteer Acknowledgments (continued)

Deborah Laurel OA, TIL Lisa Manne JB Ben Mirin CON Joseph O’Sullivan EO Andrew Rubenfeld BC Bryan Lawrence JB Janet Marinelli EO, JB Ursula Mitra CBC Hillarie O’Toole UA Christina Rubin EO, OA, WE Khara Ledonne JB Mary Ivy Martin EO Elizabeth Mooney JB Steven “Otto” Ottogalli PSF, Corey Rubin JB Pete Ledwith IBT Vivek Masson JB Thomas Mooney JB TIL Laurel Rubin JB Kathy Lee IBT Rob Mastrianni CBC, IBT Joseph Morales JB Kenny P.* WE Marat Rubin JB Cameron Lefevre WE Lily Mastrodimos PSF Michael J. Morel WE Taimi Paadre TIL Adam Rudt FR Jon Leland JB Virginia Matney IBT Malcolm Morris CBC Sara Pace IBT Caitlin Ruggero EO Christine Leotta JB Laura Mauldin JB Lauren Morse CBC Adriana Palmer OA Elizabeth Ruiz JB Jesse Lerer JB Kelly Maxwell OA Anne Mortimer-Maddox EO, Dan Pancamo UA Mabel Runyon CBC Lawrence Levine OA Abby McBride UA OA Woo Sung Park CBC Neil Runyon CBC Daniel Levy JB Robert McGinn IBT Peter Rhoades Mott OA Harald Parzer JB Kelli S. CBC Samantha Levy JB Rosemary McGinn JB Felicia Muratori JB Daisy Paul JB Sarah Safford MP Richard Li PSF Mary McGlynn EO Honora Muratori JB Peter Paul JB Tatiana Samoylova CBC Richard Lieberman CBC Sarah McGullam CBC, UA Lisa Muratori JB Paul* UA, WE Urslula Sanders EO Allegra Lief JB Jacob McIntosh KW, UA, WE Steve Nanz UA, WE Cheryl Payer CON Jed Sandoval IBT Dahlia Lief JB Ro McIntyre FR, OA Katie Naplatarski MP Ellen Pehek HH Diane SanRoman JB Michael Lief JB Sandra McKee JB Gunda Narang CBC, PSF Jose Luis Pelaez JB Stepanie Sardelis JB Michelle Locke CBC Henry T. McLin WE Eugene Nardelli OA Karen Pelaez JB Barbara Saunders CON, IBT, Heather Loebner OA Rita McMahon HH, IBT Rohan Narine WE Nathaniel Pelaez JB WE Nico Lopez IBT Joe McManus EO, JB Christine Nealy JB Anders Peltomaa CBC, WE Robert Schmunk IBT Greg Lowder JB Bernadette McMurray EO Virginia Newman CBC Mara Pendergrass CBC Aaron Schock JB Alexandra Lowe CBC, JB Alyssa Mei EO Nigel* WE Chang Peng WE Elias Schock JB Bill Lyver EO Nacho Mena EO Annie Novak TIL Christina Pennoyer JB Alison Schuettinger MP Harrison D. Maas BC, CBC, Debra Merino CBC Jeff Nulle BC Tracy Pennoyer JB Kimberly Scottaline IBT, JB, PSF EO, OA, UA Alan Messer EO Nick Nyhan EO Tom Perlman CBC Vicki Seabrook CBC, IBT Ali MacDonald CBC Stephen Messina JB Luke T. O’Brien CBC, MP Zena Pesta JB Ann Seligman EO, IBT, JB, MP, Marisa Mace IBT Laura Meyers UA, WE James O’Brien IBT Dorothy Peteet OA OA, UA Bill Majoros WE Matthew Meyers JB Lisa Ochs EO, JB Jean Pettibone CBC Nancy Shamban PSF Joshua Malbin JB Ellen Michaels UA, WE Jonathan Ogbomo JB Angela Phillips CBC Lavina Shamdasani JB Konstancja Malezynska MP R. Mickens WE Tosa Ogbomo JB Sharon Phillips IBT Shiv Shamdasani JB Laura J. Mandel WE Brandon Mikolaski JB Victoria Olmstead HH Alyxandra Pikus JB Susan Shapiro TIL Pamela Manice EO, OA Emily Miller UA Gail Orr CBC Jane Pirone IBT Geri Shatz CBC Verna Manion CBC Keelin Miller CBC Edwin Ortiz IBT Steve Pontillo CBC James Sheffield OA Sarah Porter EO, JB John Shemilt FR, OA François Portmann IBT, UA, Dominic Sherony WE WE Jennifer Shieh JB Give a Gift Membership Melissa Posen FR Kaitlyn Shim EO Show that you care by giving a gift that makes a difference. Peter Post BC Isaiah Sigman CBC Chrystal Prather HH Elaine Silber CBC, OA Help protect wild birds and habitat in New York City with a gift membership to NYC Alixandra Prybyla PSF Richard Simon IBT Audubon. Members receive The Urban Audubon newsletter and The eGret enewsletter; Rachel Quiñones CBC, EO, Shay Singh JB enjoy discounts on field trips and classes; and make a difference in the City’s wildlife JB, OA Jason Smith JB and natural areas. Nesa Rampersad IBT Olivia Snarski JB Shannon Randall CBC Samantha Snowden PSF, TIL [ ] American Kestrel Circle $2,500 [ ] Conservationist $250 [ ] Supporter $100 Anita Randolfi CBC Ben Solotaire JB [ ] Family $75 [ ] Dual $50 [ ] Friend $25 [ ] Student/Senior(65+)$15 Jennifer Rauch UA Fredric Spar OA [ ] Dual/Senior (65+) $30 [ ] New [ ] Renewal Ricki Ravitts JB Jennie Spector EO, JB Ginger Ray EO David Speiser BC, OA, UA, WE Additionally, I would like to make a donation to NYC Audubon in Heath Redenbach JB Jordan Spindel CBC, FR Karl Redenbach JB Lloyd Spitalnik BC, UA, WE the amount of $ _____. Stephanie Redenbach JB Cathy St. Pierre IBT Thomas Redenbach JB Jagger Stachtiaris JB Zara Redenbach JB Theodore Stachtiaris JB Name: ______Andrew A. Reding WE George Stanley CON Esther Regelson TIL Susan Stanley CON, HH Address: ______Alexandrea Reitzes IBT Alan Steel OA Declan Rexer CBC Alec Steele JB Stuart Richel EO, JB Michael Steele JB Phone: H: ______C: ______Email: ______Peter Richter IBT Martha Steinmetz CBC Hailey Riechelson PSF Tom Stephenson EO, FR, OA Don Riepe BC, FR, HH, JB, OA, Caroline Stern PSF [ ] Enclosed is my check payable to NYC Audubon UA, WE Margaret Stevens EO Deborah Rivel FR, IBT, UA Mari Stoner JB [ ] Charge my credit card: [ ] Visa [ ] MC [ ] Amex [ ] DSC Carol Peace Robins UA Virginia Stotz TIL Carrie Roble JB Walter Strachowsky JB Card #______Exp. Date:______Security Code:______Steve Roffman JB Louise Stracke PSF Geneva Rojas JB Alva Strand EO Lewis Rosenberg CBC, OA Robinson Strauss CBC Mail this form with your payment to: Jeff Rosenheim FR T.M. Stuart WE Kellye Rosenheim EO, FR Alex Summers HH NYC Audubon • 71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1523 • New York, NY 10010 Phoebe Rosenheim EO, FR, OA Debbie Swanback CBC Jack Rothman JB Lauren Swank PSF Membership in NYC Audubon does not include National Audubon membership or Audubon Magazine. Donations to NYC Audubon are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. NYC Audubon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Marguerite Royo EO Alicia Tait JB Linda Rozowicz CBC Michael Tannen OA

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 22 11/8/16 8:42 AM Support NYC Audubon’s Mission

Jeanne Tao PSF, TIL VOLUNTEERING There Are Many Ways to Protect New York City’s Wild BIRDS Denise Taylor TIL ORGANIZATIONS John Thieroff PSF Alive Structures KW n addition to becoming a member or Give a Matching Gift Maggie Tiwarie EO American Littoral Nancy Tognan HH Society CON, EO making a one-time donation, there Supporters can double or triple the value of Celeste Torello CBC ArcheWild KW are several ways to play a larger role donations through their employers’ matching Hannah Torok JB Audubon New York KW I Nora Torok JB Broadway Stages KW in supporting NYC Audubon’s mission to gift programs. Contact your company’s Ronald Torok JB Bryant Park protect wild birds and their habitat in the five personnel office to learn how. Be sure to specify Dzung Tran WE Corporation EO Clare Trapsaso EO Central Park boroughs of New York City: New York City Audubon as the designee. 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For more information on a bequest, Sara Varon MP Newtown Creek Montana Vasquez- Alliance KW Become a Member of the American see the Remember the Birds box on page 2. Grinnell PSF NYC Department Dick Veit JB of Environmental Kestrel Circle Yael Visser PSF Protection KW Soar above the rest by making a donation of To learn more about any of the above, contact Victoria Voytek JB NYC Department of Tina Walsh JB Parks and Recreation $2,500 or more. American Kestrel Circle Director of Development Kellye Rosenheim Steve Walter WE EO Patrons enjoy special access and exclusive at [email protected] or 646- Nancy Ward EO, FR, NYC Department of OA Sanitation KW tours. See the membership form below or 502-9611. Save paper, time, and money by Mark Watson UA NYC Soil & Water donate online at www.nycaudubon.org/donate. making your contribution online 24/7 at www. Martynka Wawrzyniak Conservation District KW KW Contact us to learn more. nycaudubon.org/support-us. Deborah M. Waxenberg Open Space Alliance EO KW Derek Wayne JB Peace Corps EO Sally Weiner CBC Queens Botanical Dottie Werkmeister JB Garden KW MAKE A DIFFERENCE Contributing members are essential to our education and conservation Penny White TIL Randall’s Island Park work. Help protect birds and habitat in the five boroughs by joining our flock. As a member of Angell Williams WE Alliance EO NYC Audubon you will receive The Urban Audubon newsletter and The eGret enewsletter; enjoy Alicia Williams CBC Riverkeeper KW Luke Willoughby EO Sadhana CON, EO discounts on field trips and classes; and make a difference in the City’s wildlife and natural areas. Gabriel Willow EO, FR, The Fortune Society [ ] American Kestrel Circle $2,500 [ ] Conservationist $250 [ ] Supporter $100 UA, WE KW [ ] Family $75 [ ] Dual $50 [ ] Friend $25 [ ] Student/Senior(65+)$15 Simon Wills JB The Friends of Tod Winston EO, FR, Governors Island EO [ ] Dual Senior (65+) $30 [ ] New [ ] Renewal UA The Trust for John Wittenberg CBC Governors Island EO [ ] I would like become a member by making a recurring donation in the amount Louise Woehrle JB The Voelker Orth of $_____ each month. Heather Wolf KW Museum EO Ava Wong JB The Wild Bird Fund Additionally, I would like to make a donation to NYC Audubon in the amount of $ ______. Ethan Wong JB EO, PSF I’m already a member but would like to make a gift in the amount of $ ______. James Wong JB Urban Park Rangers EO Xiao-Xiao Wong JB Van Cortlandt Park Julia Wood JB Conservancy EO Name: ______Amy Yee IBT Waterfront Alliance EO Sergey Yeliseev WE Wave Hill EO Address: ______Bruce Yolton CBC, IBT, WE Phone: H: ______C: ______Email: ______Chee Wok Yong WE Linda Yuen EO, PSF Chris Zavelo OA [ ] Enclosed is my check payable to NYC Audubon Julia Zeh PSF [ ] Charge my credit card: [ ] Visa [ ] MC [ ] Amex [ ] DSC Lisa Zheng EO Clare Zierhut JB Card #______Exp. Date:______Sec.Code______John Zucker CBC Mail this form with your payment to: Ryan Zucker CBC, FR rd Divya Anantharaman NYC Audubon • 71 West 23 Street, Suite 1523 • New York, NY 10010 Zweigart HH, JB Membership in NYC Audubon does not include National Audubon membership or Audubon Magazine. Donations to NYC Audubon are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. NYC Audubon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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69617_NYC Audubon_UA_Winter_.indd 23 11/8/16 8:42 AM New York City Audubon NONPROFIT ORG. 71 West 23rd Street US POSTAGE Suite 1523 PAID New York, NY 10010 HUDSON NH PERMIT No. 82

Dated Material: Winter 2016-2017 Newsletter

Holiday Gifts for the Birds

Give a Gift That Travels the Hemisphere his holiday, give the gift of a banded bird or tagged horseshoe crab! Threatened American oystercatchers and common terns have headed Tsouth for the winter, but they’ll be returning soon to nest in New York City. NYC Audubon can track these and other birds throughout the year thanks to generous support of our bird-banding research, conducted each spring during nesting season. When you give the gift of an adopted tern, oystercatcher, egret, snowy owl, or horseshoe crab, you’ll be helping to fund valuable ongoing research—and the “adoptive parent” will receive a beautiful photo of his or her adopted animal, a field update, and the tracking number of the actual banded bird or horseshoe crab sponsored. Price varies according to animal selected. Gifts may be ordered at www.nycaudubon.org/support-us or by calling the NYC Audubon office at 212-691-7483. Give the Gift of Membership hare your love of New York City’s birds with a NYC Audubon Gift Membership. Includes all regular membership benefits Splus a set of eight holiday gift cards. See page 22 for details. Happy Holidays!

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