Evolution in an Urbanizing World
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 →
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 →
If you're reading this blog you probably enjoy watching wildlife. There is a thrill that comes with seeing a wild animal sharing space with you. However, in my time researching urban wildlife I've come across dozens of people who seem to think that urban wildlife need humans to survive. In his book, The Global Pigeon,... Continue Reading →
It's turtle hatchling emergence time in Massachusetts, as this recent article in The Boston Globe pointed out! And right on cue, this week I came across two tiny hatchling turtles running the gauntlet across the bike path in Boston's Emerald Necklace to get to the water. Both turtles are native species to Massachusetts: the Painted... Continue Reading →
When you think of urban birds, you probably don't think of a flock of 20 lb wild turkeys. A friend of mine shared his recent encounter with a group of these modern dinosaurs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo credits: Louis Neidorf Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something unusual? What... Continue Reading →
Although we need to social distance and wear masks for safety, wild animals (even domestic ones) are exempt from these during the pandemic. So a bunch of corvids get together and have a nice little party on your power lines. I'm thinking our observer may have tasted a hint of jealousy? Stay safe and healthy!... Continue Reading →
https://twitter.com/brown_birds/status/1276523670530224128?s=20 I was recently browsing through Twitter and came across this fantastic tweet by Rafael Marcondes showing a flock of white-eyed parakeets (Psittacara leucophthalmus) gathering on a building in the Tatuapé neighborhood of São Paulo. Maisa Infante wrote the original post and explains that the parakeets eat the clay off the building's facade. White-eyed Parakeets... Continue Reading →
Back in the quarantine, we could go for walks or gaze out of our windows. This cardinal could be seen on a walk or out the window! The red cardinal is perched on a blooming Magnolia tree. Now that's a great sight! Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something... Continue Reading →
Cat TV is a great way to keep your feline friend entertained. What is cat TV? It is a window that your cat can look out and watch the local flora and fauna. Cats in high rise buildings rarely get to see birds up close, but this one got a special treat. A woodpecker flew... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago I got a text from my mom, "Can you talk now?" A Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginians) had taken up residence in her planter box, and one of the joeys (baby opossum) was not moving. Being the family wildlife "expert" I was called in. We got on a video chat and... Continue Reading →
Bird feeders are a great way to attract birds to your backyard, but what happens when your bird feeder also attracts unwanted pests? The Helsinki Urban Rat Project recently tweeted out a video showing a rat feasting on the spilled grain from a bird feeder. Check out our other posts on urban rats here and... Continue Reading →
A medium-sized mammalian predator seems like an odd find in cities, but around the world sightings of urban coyotes, bobcats, and even mountain lions are becoming more common. Setting up a camera trap also known as a trail camera is a great way to spot these urban animals. A camera trap is a camera that... Continue Reading →
Last year I saw this tweet that so deeply resonated with me: https://twitter.com/rodger/status/1075094981193265154?lang=en Squirrels are abundant across my own campus in New York City and I have heard numerous students remark that our squirrels are somehow better/different than the squirrels in the rest of the city. We've even had our fair share of squirrels in... Continue Reading →
Most of the time we expect pigeons or other common birds to be spotted on the power lines and poles. Sometimes, we get a rare gem, the bald eagle! We have shown you a number of birds in these "Urban Observation" posts. This one is super majestic for sure. But sadly, many birds have... Continue Reading →
This week our observation comes from Dr. Christy Zolnik who spotted this Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) on the southern edge of Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, New York City. We've posted about Red-tailed Hawks before as part of our Urban Observation of the Week, but seeing hawks in the city never ceases to amaze me.... Continue Reading →
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