Have you ever seen a groundhog in Central Park? Or any other urban park? https://twitter.com/DiveArtist/status/1683549457999175680 According to @BirdCentralPark, these adorable rodents are not a common sight in Central Park, but there have been known individuals in the northern parts of the park. The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a very widespread North American species. Their range... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation: Winter Neighbors 2: Red-eared Slider
As this tepid winter sweeps through NYC, a few careful eyes may spot a peculiar sight lounging in the mid-afternoon sun of our urban park spaces. Turtles, out and about in the middle of December! This Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) was found on December 9, 2022, at 2:06 pm; it was one of nearly... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation: Winter Neighbors 1: Canada Goose
Ever notice these long-necked denizens of NYC? Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are a familiar sight in many parks and open spaces within the city, leading complex lives. New York City boasts 3 of the 7 subspecies of the Canada Goose, and it may come as a shock to know that the one subspecies we observe... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation: A Furry Climber
One of the last things many people expect to see at 2:13 pm is a rat in a tree! Popular belief holds that rodents are nocturnal, but as we see here with this Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), they can and will be active during daylight hours. Brought to the United States by European ships, the... Continue Reading →