Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Sadly, plastics and litter have become part of the urban and often rural environment. It can be found almost everywhere and in any form – ranging from plastic bags to broken traffic cones. We consider it trash, however, for some birds, it is a jackpot. Often, litter is creatively included during nest building by these... Continue Reading →
While I was out birding on Governor's Island, My friends and I came across this old traffic cone. It stood out to me as a sore thumb, a bright red monolith in a lawn of green grass. My curiosity led me to peek inside, and lo and behold! There was a Common House Spider (Parasteatoda... Continue Reading →
Check out this Red-Tailed Hawk going dumpster diving in Morningside Park on Wednesday. This resourceful hawk didn't hesitate to dive in and search for an afternoon snack, along with a shopping receipt! The hawk appeared very comfortable hopping in and out of the trashcan without injuring its wings. Perhaps this is a new behavior to... Continue Reading →
As cities continue to encroach on natural landscapes, bear sightings have become more frequent. If you've ever been camping where there's bears, you know that they have to design special trash bins to keep bears out. So what do we do when they are in the city? We have to design ways to keep bears... Continue Reading →
Elephants have become a metropolitan species in several countries. Some are domesticated work animals, while others others pass through the city looking for food. Today's observation is brought to us by Alfons Lopez Tena, a sad reality of elephants foraging in a dump. Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing... Continue Reading →
New Orleans is a great city — good food, good people, good drinks. But the best part about New Orleans? LIZARDS! Keep your eyes open and you're likely to see lizards crawling on the trees, fences, buildings, and trashcans. Two species are common to the city: Anolis carolinensis, which are native to the Southeast USA,... Continue Reading →
Did you know that all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads? Frogs are found in and near water while true toads are found on land. This toad was found on a pile of trash, still on land though! Thanks to Julia Riley for this great urban observation. Julia was also a co-author... Continue Reading →
It can be super scary to see a wasp nest in your neighborhood. Wasps can cause a very painful sting. Sometimes their nests can cause damage to your property too. But these critters also provide important ecosystem services - they help control pest insects and pollinate flowers! You may have heard of birds making nests... Continue Reading →
Raccoons are really smart and prolific in urban areas. They have been found to eat "people" food, cat food, dog food, trash, etc. In fact, they may be getting fatter in urban areas compared to non-urban areas. Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde is working on finding out if this is really the case. Do you have a... Continue Reading →
If you spend a lot of time in cities you’re probably used to seeing animals feeding on garbage. From city-dwellers who intentionally place stale bread crumbs outside for birds to the pesky raccoons that seem to be able to get into every type of garbage can, there is no doubt that urban animals take advantage... Continue Reading →
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