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Results from the 112th Annual Christmas Bird Count are starting to roll in from coordinators in all five boroughs. Thanks to all of the dedicated citizen scientists who contributed to this important annual tradition. Click below to see what we've learned so far.
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Salt-Marsh Sparrow, © Steve Nanz
We are happy to report that commercial development plans proposed for land adjacent to Brooklyn's Four Sparrow Marsh have been withdrawn. Named for the four sparrow species that nest there (salt-marsh, song, swamp, and savannah), this 63-acre wetland habitat is one of the few remaining salt marshes on the shores of Jamaica Bay. Over sixteen bird species are known to breed in the marsh, including clapper rail and Wilson's snipe--and the site provides important stop-over habitat for many more species during migration.
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Over 250 guests enjoyed dinner and a silent auction. Photo © Titus Kana
The seventh annual Fall Roost, held on Tuesday, October 18 at the Boathouse in Central Park, honored Peter Joost, the late George J. Mullen and Maria Torres. A spectacular evening, the event raised over $150,000 for NYC Audubon’s conservation and education programs. For pictures from the event and more, click here. NYC Audubon gratefully acknowledges the underwriting support of Fiduciary Trust Company International.
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The endangered piping plover is among those species
that may be preyed upon by feral cats. Photo © Steve Nanz.
On July 27 the Mayor's Office, the New York City Council, the NYC Department of Health, and other city agencies announced plans to enhance services for animals in shelters across the city, a noble cause. But a key component to the legislation is a Trap-Neuter-Return program, called TNR for short, which will actively maintain the city's feral cat colonies. TNR programs, which are unfortunately being adopted nationwide, are disastrous for birds and other small wildlife. They are strongly frowned upon by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In a video created by the American Bird Conservancy, Dr. Paul Barrows, a former Army veterinarian, refers to TNR programs as "an ecological disaster."
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The Beautiful yet Perilous Manhattan Skyline
This autumn, buildings all over the city will be turning out their lights during peak fall migration. Why? To provide safe passage to the thousands of night-flying migrants that pass through and over New York City on their way south. Night-time migrants navigate using cues which include moon-light and star position, and may become confused by the glare of tall building lights. Read more about this danger to our migrating birds, and how NYC Audubon's Lights Out New York program aims to help, in a recent interview with our Director of Conservation Susan Elbin, below.
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Become a fan of NYC Audubon on Facebook. Our Facebook page highlights up-to-the-minute efforts to protect birds and their habitat across the five boroughs with pictures, notes from program staff and volunteers, and more. Beome a fan today by visiting NYC Audubon on Facebook.
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New York City Audubon has published Bird-Safe Building Guidelines, a 55-page manual for architects, landscape designers, engineers, glass technicians, developers, building managers, city, state, and federal officials, and the general public.
For a PDF copy of the Guidelines, click on the "Read More" button below. If you would like a complimentary hard copy (or up to five, to share with your colleagues), please contact us! Or if you would like more than 5 copies, you can place an order with us online here.
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