The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
By Kevin Kubik
This past weekend was the 5th year in a row that I have participated in the Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the national Audubon Society and it’s a four-day event held every year on Presidents Day Weekend. The goal of the bird count project is simple – to get a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. Participation is open to everyone – from beginners to expert birders. You can spend as little or as much time as you like counting the numbers of each species of bird at your location during the weekend and recording them on the GBBC website (http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc).
Red-bellied woodpecker (photo courtesy Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Why Count Birds?
Here’s how GBBC explains the event: “Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document and understand the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.
Scientists use the GBBC information, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations. The longer these data are collected, the more meaningful they become in helping scientists investigate far-reaching questions, like these:
• How will the weather influence bird populations?
• Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?
• How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
• How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?
• What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?”
Downy woodpecker (Photo courtesy Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
While the weather didn’t cooperate this year (it was too cold and windy for much bird activity in my neighborhood on Sunday and Monday), I still managed to see some of my favorite local birds. Most notably were: a red-bellied woodpecker in a nearby tree, a downy woodpecker pecking away on some fragmites, and a Coopers Hawk soaring high above my house.
Hopefully next year’s contest will have better bird watching weather in NJ and I look forward to the coming spring migration along the coast.
About the Author: Kevin Kubik serves as the region’s Deputy Director for the Division of Environmental Science and Assessment out of EPA’s Edison Environmental Center. He has worked as a chemist for the Region for more than 29 years in the laboratory and in the quality assurance program.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Sustainable Weekend Activities: NYC
Check out our top eco-friendly weekend recommendations and feel free to share your own in the comments section.
Canstruction Design Competition: Twenty-five teams of architects, engineers, contractors and the students they mentor will compete to build enormous structures made entirely out of unopened cans of food, which are then on view to the public until they are dismantled and donated to City Harvest for distribution to those in need. Admission is free, but visitors are asked to bring a can of high quality food to the exhibition’s collection station to reach their goal of collecting over 50,000 pounds of non-perishable edibles. Saturday, February 9 and Sunday February 10, 10:00 a.m. –6:00 p.m.
Clothing and Textile Recycling: Textiles can be dropped off weekly at eight select Greenmarkets: 97th Street, Union Square (Monday and Saturday only), Grand Army Plaza, Fort Greene, McCarren Park, Inwood, Tompkins Square and Jackson Heights. Collections accept clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, bedding, linens, hats, handbags, belts, fabric scraps 36″ x 36″ or larger and other textiles. Click here for the full schedule of textile recycling stations.
Free Music Fridays at the American Folk Art Museum: Enjoy live music every Friday from 5:30 –7:30 p.m. Admission is always free.
Health & Race Walking in Central Park— Still looking to turn over a new leaf in 2013? Join other New Yorkers as you get fit and enjoy Central Park’s winter landscapes. Saturday, February 9, 9:30 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Lunar New Year Firecracker Celebration: Join the Better Chinatown Society for the 14th Annual New Year firecracker ceremony and cultural festival at Sara Roosevelt Park this Sunday, February 10 at 11:00 a.m.
Rechargeable Battery and Cell Phone Recycling: Here at EPA, eCycling is one of our favorite topics. If you’re interested in diverting e-waste from landfills, check out GrowNYC’s collection boxes for rechargeable batteries and cell phones, stationed at Greenmarkets across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. For a complete list of hours and locations, click here.
Volunteer: Find volunteer opportunities in your area as an easy way to shake up your weekend plans (while also lending a hand).
ea as an easy way to shake up your weekend plans (while also lending a hand).
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Vacation in Jamaica – Being Part of the Community
By Linda Longo
Every February we vacation in rural Jamaica. This year will be our fifth time staying at the same place. You’d think we’d want to try a different vacation destination, but the community of Treasure Beach, in Saint Elizabeth Perish, has a genuine welcome to visitors that makes me feel like I’m part of the community. Each day around 3:00 I take a walk along the dirt road to meet kids playing with sticks or hanging out under shade trees. I wave to women hanging laundry to dry, I say “hi” to men walking past with heavy packages. I step inside a local store and see the bare necessities on the shelf. It amazes me on how little they get by on.
As a guest to Treasure Beach, it’s customary to bring gifts. So I prepare for the gift giving by asking my family to donate unwanted clothing and shop at the local discount store to catch end of summer sales. In September I got shorts and tank tops for $1.99 each! The friends we vacation with usually bring drug store gifts like tooth brushes, paste, aspirin, bug itch ointment, etc. We also like to give a special gift to the two women who cook and clean for us, Ms. Jenny and Ms. Laura. Now I’m sewing them each a handbag from colorful reused fabrics. My bags are made out of fabric from old shirts, jeans, wool slacks and other items that can’t be worn again. It’s fun to create something pretty out of something that was destined for a landfill. Zippers are still good, buttons are usable, and the worn jean material is quite fashionable.
The community works hard to help each other. Some families have small businesses, but I get the feeling most folks are low income and work as cooks for vacationers like us. A community support network exists through the Treasure Beach Women’s Group (TBWG). They work on job development, healthcare and physical abuse issues. This year I’m making handbags to sell at their gift shop and TBWG will keep 100% to support their efforts. I wanted to make a dozen bags, but as of today I only have 5. I’ll make a few more this weekend.
The next time you go on vacation consider bringing a little something from your community to give as a gift. Even if you never go back to that same place, you will leave a cultural footprint that I imagine will be cherished and remembered.
About the author: Linda started her career with EPA in 1998 working in the water quality program. For the past 7 years she’s helped regulated facilities understand how to be in compliance with EPA enforcement requirements. Outside of work Linda enjoys exploring neighborhoods of NYC, photographing people in their everyday world, and sewing handbags made from recycled materials that she gives to her friends.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Super Storm Sandy Restores Habitat in Sunken Meadow Park
By Mark Tedesco
The storm surge associated with Super Storm Sandy wreaked havoc on coastal communities, altering both human and natural structures. However, coastal ecosystems have evolved with, and have been shaped by, the forces of coastal storms over the centuries. Periodic storms can even have beneficial effects on certain aspects of the natural ecosystem. One such example is the restoration of intertidal flow and habitat in Sunken Meadow Creek at Sunken Meadow State Park, New York.
The storm surge associated with Hurricane Sandy destroyed a man-made berm across Sunken Meadow Creek that was constructed as part of the development of Sunken Meadow State Park in the early 1950s. The berm created a road and walkway to nearby woodland for park visitors, but the undersized culverts that were installed restricted the natural tidal flow to the creek from Long Island Sound. As a result, saltwater fish were prevented from swimming and spawning upstream, and an invasive form of the common reed, Phragmites, proliferated along the now freshwater creek. Using EPA funding provided through the Long Island Sound Study, New York State Parks was planning to remove the berm to restore tidal flushing to the creek.
But on October 29-30, 2012, Hurricane Sandy decided that Mother Nature knows best, impatiently breaching and eroding away portions of the berm. As a result, Sunken Meadow Creek has returned to its natural state, an estuary where fresh and salt water mix. The fresh water common reed, Phragmites, will most likely die back and be replaced by saltmarsh grasses. Saltwater species cut off from the creek, including alewife, striped bass, juvenile bluefish, winter flounder, weakfish, silverside, killifish, American eel and various shellfish, waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds will all benefit. Although intertidal exchange has been restored by the force of Sandy, planning is now underway to control bank erosion and restore access to the other side of the creek for park visitors.
About the author: Mark Tedesco is director of EPA’s Long Island Sound Office. The office coordinates the Long Island Sound Study, administered by EPA as part of the National Estuary Program under the Clean Water Act. Mr. Tedesco has worked for EPA for 25 years. He received his M.S. in marine environmental science in 1986 and a B.S in biology in 1982 from Stony Brook University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Cooking and Being Green
By Nora Lopez
Brrrr … It’s cold! I want to eat things that warm up my belly once I get home from work. But my schedule is pretty hectic. I am lucky, I only work 10 minutes from the office, but when I get home it is around 5:30 pm and I usually cook a real meal every night as we are not into picking up food on the way home… there is nothing like a home cooked meal! However, I do need to be out of the house by 6:30 pm to go to the gym, every night … a commitment I set for myself once the kids were out of the house 
Dinner needs to be ready in one hour….oh and by the way, I just started a Paleo diet this week (if you do not know what it is Google it… and it will open your eyes to a new way of cooking!).
So what does my ordeal have anything to do with cooking and being green? Let me introduce you to my solution to the rat race: The CROCKPOT! I just put it on early in the morning, before I leave to go to work, and when I come in I have a meal ready, add a salad and voila! Yummy food I am so much into it that I was trying to convince my sister to get one, but she was very hesitant … she lives in Puerto Rico and electricity is extremely expensive there. So she was concerned that having a Crockpot on all day would increase her electric bill.
So the scientist in me was turned on and went digging for information on the energy efficiency of this pot. What I found was great information that says that it depends on your stove and type of fuel. The following table I found the most helpful because it was simple to understand. Obviously you need to adjust per your watt costs, but it gives you an idea of the energy consumption:
What I also found is that there are so many web sites for people who are concerned about the energy consumption issue; what is better or not; weighing the pros and cons, that it really made me feel good that so many people think about how our behavior can influence how we can save in energy resources.
As for my sister, once she saw all the information I gathered on how she would be saving money in electrical … she ran to the department store and got an energy efficient Crockpot and she invited me over to delicious pulled pork the next time I was in Puerto Rico.
My first convert! …. Anyone else?
About the Author: Nora works out of EPA’s Edison, New Jersey facility, where she manages the Region’s Toxics Release Inventory Program. After work she can often be found channeling her inner chef.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Eco-friendly Weekend Activities
Cross Central Park Promenade Tour – You will see many surprises: a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water. These are just some of the sites on this east-to-west walk through the Park. Sunday, February 3, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Family Art Project at Wave Hill: March Out The Mardi Gras! Join visiting native New Orleans artist and instructor Paul Deo to make a colorful parasol, hat, nature mask or funky bead necklace. Then join an imaginative indoor parade as we create the sights, colors and sounds of the Mardi Gras at the Ecology Building in Wave Hill. Sunday, February 3, 10:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.
Fix Your Bike Workshop: Come learn how to fix bikes, do simple maintenance and tune-ups at the Time’s Up bike mechanic skill share. Sunday, February 3, 6:00 p.m.
NYC Audubon Winter EcoCruise: Step aboard the New York Water Taxi for a winter adventure in New York Harbor! Look for harbor seals on the rocky shores of Governors Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers – many of which migrate south from the Arctic Circle. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars because there will be plenty to see! Departs Pier 17, South Street Seaport. Sunday, February 3, 2:00 –4:00 p.m.
The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter – Ready for summer? Stop by the American Museum of Natural History this weekend to frolic with 500 butterfly specimens in a balmy 80 degree vivarium. Saturday-Sunday, February 2-3, 10:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Sea Farming Shellfish and Seaweed in Long Island Sound
Local students, through a program with Rocking the Boat a nonprofit community development organization, helping to set up the shellfish and seaweed raft off of Hunts Point in the Bronx.
By Mark Tedesco
The theory behind the martial art of Jiu Jitsu is to use an attacker’s force against him or herself. What if the same theory can be applied to pollutants that degrade coastal water quality? An innovative project just offshore of where the Bronx River empties into western Long Island Sound is doing just that.
Shellfish and seaweed suspension raft off the Bronx River
There on a raft anchored about 20 meters offshore, not far from the Hunts Point market, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the University of Connecticut, and Purchase College are studying a pilot sea farm of shellfish and seaweed. Students from the South Bronx community are maintaining the sea farm through involvement of Rocking the Boat, a nonprofit community development organization. The seaweed and shellfish (ribbed mussels) grow by absorbing and filtering nutrients from the water. When harvested, the nutrients they contain are taken out of the water. As a result, sea farming of shellfish and seaweed could be a powerful tool in cleaning up nutrient-enriched waters.
While nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for the growth of plants and animals, in excess they can overwhelm coastal waters, resulting in poor visibility, low oxygen levels, and loss of healthy wetlands and sea grasses. Through the Long Island Sound Study, EPA and the states of New York and Connecticut are taking action to improve the water quality of Long Island Sound by reducing the amount of nitrogen entering Long Island Sound by 60 percent, mainly by upgrading wastewater treatment plants and controlling fertilizer-laden stormwater runoff. Enhancing sea farming of shellfish and seaweeds in Long Island Sound can complement nutrient control strategies as part of a comprehensive clean water strategy. The pilot study is evaluating a range of potential markets for the harvest, from seafood for human consumption to agricultural feeds, from biofuels to pharmaceutical products.
The project has caught the interest of the CNN and the New York Times. If successful, the expansion of sea farming of shellfish and seaweed can mean more jobs, cleaner water, and local quality products.
About the author: Mark Tedesco is director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Office. The office coordinates the Long Island Sound Study, administered by EPA as part of the National Estuary Program under the Clean Water Act. Mr. Tedesco is responsible for supporting implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Long Island Sound, approved in 1994 by the by the Governors of New York and Connecticut and the EPA Administrator, in cooperation with federal, state, and local government, private organizations, and the public. Mr. Tedesco has worked for EPA for 25 years. He received his M.S. in marine environmental science in 1986 and a B.S in biology in 1982 from Stony Brook University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Free Newspapers Saved From Becoming Litter
By Linda Longo
"I thought to take the photo after I picked up the papers, but notice the green NYC recycling box in the background."
On many New York City street corners you’ll see those free newspaper boxes. There’s one on my block in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. Every so often I’ll notice our box is tipped over and the wind has scattered the free papers and everyone walks past oblivious. I’ve done it too. I’ll walk past thinking “well, I should pick it all up because a garbage can is right there”, then I’m two blocks past and figure someone else will do the good deed. This Sunday on my way to the local farmer’s market on 5th avenue and 4th street I saw that the wind was really enjoying the free papers. The entire box was tipped over and the flimsy lid was open. I placed my grocery cart off to the side and began to pick up the heaps of newspapers. I quickly noticed the papers were not badly damaged so I righted the tipped over box and proceeded to place the papers back inside. The few that were muddy I conveniently placed in the green NYC newspaper recycling box just feet away. No one pointed and laughed at me like I secretly imagined they would. People kept to their business, but I hope they noticed me because maybe the next time they see spilled free papers they’ll do the same.
I don’t go around picking up trash on a regular basis because I don’t want to get dirty, but that’s my hang up. We need to understand that trash makes it way to the streets and into the sewer openings where it clogs our drainage system. And when as little as 2” of rain happens our NYC sewers can get overwhelmed and sometimes this trash ends up in our waterways. So if we all take a little effort to think about putting our gum wrappers in our pockets till we pass a trash can, or picking up the spilled newspapers, we’ll all contribute just a little to the welfare of our city. And by the way, on the way home from the market I saw a lady open the free newspaper box and take one. That made my day.
About the author: Linda started her career with EPA in 1998 working in the water quality program. For the past 7 years she’s helped regulated facilities understand how to be in compliance with EPA enforcement requirements. Outside of work Linda enjoys exploring neighborhoods of NYC, photographing people in their everyday world, and sewing handbags made from recycled materials that she gives to her friends.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Sustainable Weekend Activities to Keep you Warm!
It may be cold, but there’s no need to hibernate! We’ve got suggestions to help you brave the temps while still staying sustainable and eco-friendly.
Animal Autographs – Head to Staten Island to learn how to identify Greenbelt inhabitants by their footprints. Walk and crafting geared to ages 4-8. Sunday, January 27, 1 p.m.
Eco-Crafting Competition – Teams will compete to create crafts out of discarded materials in this Iron Chef-style competition. Come out and cheer for your favorite up-cyclers! Friday, January 25, 6 p.m.
Family Art Project: Give a Winter Bird a Home – Learn how to make a birdhouse or feeder with recycled materials. Entrance is free at Wave Hill Gardens until noon on Saturday. January 26, 10 a.m.
Light Show at Winter Garden – Check out the opening weekend of the LED-light installation at the World Financial Center Winter Garden. Daily from sunset to 12 a.m.
Winter Jam – It’s time for the annual winter sports festival in Central Park! Get out and explore some of the winter activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, animal tracking and more. This year there is even a doggie snow zone! Saturday, January 26, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Woodlands Discovery in Central Park – Explore the North Woods with a Discovery Kit geared toward kids ages 8-12. Binoculars, a hand lens and flora/fauna guides provided help inspire woodland adventures in the wilds of Central Park. Friday-Sunday, January 25-27, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Winter is a Great Time to Test your Home for Radon!
By Larainne Koehler
January is National Radon Action Month.
The hustle and bustle of the holidays is over and, here in New York City, we are having some of the coldest weather in years. Our doors and windows are closed against the cold, and that’s one of the first steps in getting a good results from a radon test.
By now some of you are asking – “What is radon and why do you need a test for it?” Others are remembering that they have heard about it, but haven’t taken action yet – what are you waiting for?
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the decay of naturally occurring radium and uranium in the earth. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall and the LEADING cause in non-smokers. The EPA estimates that as many as 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year are caused by radon. Radon is colorless and odorless, so the only way to know if your home has a problem is to test for it.
The EPA and the US Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon and if the levels are high, take steps to lower them. Now you may be thinking – “How do I find a test?” Ready for that one – New Yorkers can get a test kit from the New York State Radon Program by going to their website and downloading an application. The cost is only $8.50 per test kit. Follow the instructions and send the kit back to the lab for analysis. If you are a New Yorker at heart, but not actually living in New York State, you can also get test kits for $15 through the National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University at http://sosradon.org/test-kits
So take a step to protect your health and order a test kit today. Get more information at www.epa.gov/radon.
About the author: Larainne Koehler is the Radon and Indoor Air Coordinator for EPA Region 2 and has been working on issues associated with indoor air and radon since she joined the agency in 1984.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
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