be so seal-ious right now
February was another brutal month politically and emotionally, with even more horrors yet to come. But this month also marked the first time I’ve ever seen seals in New York City. When I saw them, I remember thinking: I’ve never needed seals more. Looking back, I still can’t believe I saw them. Seals! Bobbing and barking in waters not so far from the various office buildings where I have had a good long cry in the stairwell!
I saw the seals on a special new Classic Harbor Line cruise, “Seals, Seabirds, and Winter Wildlife.” The tours, hosted by the fantastic urban naturalist Russell Jacobs, take you out from Chelsea Piers and into the harbor. The tours do not guarantee seal sightings, and so the boat bristled with our anxious anticipation. Many of us glued our faces to the windows as soon as we set off, despite the fact that the abandoned islands where the seals are known to haul out were still miles away. And yet, within the first hour of the cruise, some of us saw the dark gray snout of a seal bobbing in the waves. With one seal down, the rest of the day suddenly had less to prove.
Eventually we reached Swinburne Island, an artificial island once used for cholera quarantine and now is a beloved hangout for seals. At a distance, the island appeared to be a heap of large rocks. But some of the rocks were moving! As we drew closer, it became clear that the shores of this island were teeming with big, fat, and blubbery harbor and grey seals. This, I knew then, was more beautiful than any skyline.
I brought my new binoculars on the boat, which helped me see the faces of each individual seal and realize every single seal was staring at us drift by on the boat. Perhaps the seals were a bit wary, a bit fascinated, or even a bit aware of how obsessed we were with them. Soon, two seals hopped off the sand and began swimming toward us. We squealed!
For the half-hour we spent watching the seal-covered rocks, the delights did not stop. We watched as a seal leapt out of the water repeatedly. Were they feeding on a school of fish or battling a shark? The answers lurked underwater, obscured to us. But we reveled in this performance, as if the seal was putting on a show just for us.
As our boat returned to Manhattan, the seals vanishing into the horizon, I was reeling. Seals, in New York City! Could you believe it? I wasn’t sure I could.
Sadly, the season is now over for seal cruises. But with spring peeking out on the horizon, creatures everywhere are stirring. March promises the end of winter birding and the beginnings of spring migration, as well as beach cleanups and some stargazing. If you’re also more generally wallowing in despair, here are some actions you can take:
— If you have time today, sign this message asking congress to remove medical debt from credit reports and stop credit reporting companies from sharing medical debts with lenders and prohibiting lenders from making lending decisions based on existing medical debt.
— Donate to the Sameer Project, which provides essential aid to families in Gaza and only has enough funds to continue operating in North Gaza for a few more days.
— Donate to the campaign of Zohran Mamdani, a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist running for Mayor. What if we had a mayor who didn’t suck? Let us dare to dream!
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March
🐦🏳️🌈 Queer Birders 5th Bird-iversary: Sat March 1 @ 8pm. This is a celebration (no actual birds here) of Queer Birders, ft. drag show and live DJ. Tickets sliding scale, $15-30.
🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at the Ridgewood Reservoir: Sun March 2 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir! Registration required.
🐦 Spring Migration in Central Park: Sun March 2 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Central Park to look for spring migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
🦉 All About Owls in Clove Lakes Park: Sun March 2 @ 5pm. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best bird viewing spots in Staten Island. Learn more about the various species of owls found in our parks and their diets. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to spot an owl in the wild.
🌃 Stargazing with Amateur Astronomers Association in Floyd Bennett Field: Fri March 7 @ 6:30pm. Join the Amateur Astronomers Association at historic Floyd Bennett Field for free monthly observing sessions, open to the public! Note: all events are 30 minutes after sunset.
🐦 Winter Birding at Inwood Hill Park with Andrew Reiter: Sat March 8 @ 8am. Inwood Hill Park is a jewel of New York City. Nestled between the Hudson River, Dyckman Street, and Seaman Avenue, this last tract of largely old-growth oak and tulip forest transports you to another world and another time.
🦆 Winter Birding at Floyd Bennett Field with Heydi Lopes: Sat March 8 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance at Floyd Bennett Field, one of NYC's top spots for spotting winter wildlife. This former airfield-turned-natural haven offers a variety of habitats, making it the perfect place to spot winter visitors like shovelers, scoters, and mergansers. Registration required, capped at 30.
🐦 Beginner Birding at Van Cortlandt Nature Center: Sat March 8 @ 10am. Come explore Van Cortlandt Park and learn how to ID common birds found throughout the city.
🦆 Spring Clean at Brant Point Wildlife Sanctuary: Sat March 8 @ 10am. Join the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy for a "Spring Clean" at Brant Point Wildlife Sanctuary!
🏖️ Canarsie Beach Cleanup: Sat March 8 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O for a volunteer cleanup at Canarsie Beach in Brooklyn. Located within the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, Canarsie Beach and salt marsh also remain hotspots for marine wildlife and birds.
🦉 Park Pals at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: Sat March 8 @ 10:30am. In light of the upcoming equinox, when day and night become the same length, we will learn about nocturnal animals at Jamaica Bay, such as bats, owls, moths, and horseshoe crabs. Registration details TBD. This event is for kids.
🐦 Beginner Birding in Springfield Park: Sat March 8 @ 12am. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Springfield Park to learn the basics of birding how to identify common species in our parks.
🌾 Maintaining Marine Park's Forever Wild Natural Areas: Sat March 8 @ 1:30pm. Nature’s complexity is highlighted by Marine Park’s different ecosystems. Find out the when, where and why of the park’s many restoration projects. Discover how you can become involved and help care for your park.
🦆 Winter Birding at Alley Pond Park with Woo Sung Park: Sun March 9 @ 8am. Alley Pond Park is an ecological treasure. Containing both fresh and saltwater wetlands, forests, tidal flats, meadows, and glacier-formed landscape, it's a prime spot for winter visitors like waterfowl, sparrows, and hawks. Join NYC Bird to discover this green space for yourself!
🐦 Winter Birding at Pelham Bay Park with Jack Rothman: Sun March 9 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore New York City's largest park! Pelham Bay Park's forested areas, salt marshes, and grassy meadows offer rich habitat for a variety of migrating birds.
🐦 Spring Birding at Wave Hill: Sun March 9 @ 9:30am. Explore the gardens and woodlands with birder Hannah Kirshenbaum from Queerbirders to look for resident and rare birds as they pass through on their northern journey or settle down for the season. Advance registration encouraged.
🐦 Winter Bird Walk 2.0 with NYC Plover Project: Sun March 9 @ 10am. Join RISE for a winter birding tour of Edgemere! Come see sea ducks, grebes, common and red-throated loons, Northern gannets, and other winter birds on the shoreline. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, all levels of birder are welcome.
🐞 Bug Buddies at the Queens County Farm Museum: Sun March 9 @ 11am. Calling all bug enthusiasts for a monthly Bug Buddies program with our STEM Coordinator and resident bug expert, Keith McManus! All classes are hands-on, exploratory, and include a related activity. This month focuses on silkworms and metamorphosis. Best for kids.
🍄 The New York Mycological Society at Pioneer Works: Sun March 9 @ 12-4pm. Join the NYMS for a mini-foray in the Pioneerworks garden, fungal microscopy and a fungal ID room, observational mushroom drawing and watercoloring, and mushroom perfumes, and more. RSVP here.
🍄 VIRTUAL: Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian – Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms: Thurs March 13 @ 7pm. This talk will celebrate the contributions of Mary Elizabeth Banning, one of the first American mycologists, to science and mycology through an exploration of her illustrations, taxonomic work, and story-telling, drawing from the collections at the New York State Museum. Virtual event.
🐦 Prospect Park Birding with the Ronnie Almonte: Sat March 15 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and explore the “Brooklyn's Backyard,” beautiful Prospect Park. Come see the winter residents that call the meadows, forests, and waterways of Prospect Park home.
🌱 Winter Vine Sweep at Forest Park: Sat March 15 @ 9:30am. Join NYC Parks and The Forest Park Trust for a winter vine sweep in Forest Park's natural areas. Volunteers will hike on our trails and remove harmful vines from our trees and shrubs before they leaf out this spring.
🐦 Rockaway Beach Coastal Cleanup and Bird Walk: Sat March 15 @ 10am. Volunteer with the NYC Parks Stewardship Team to protect coastal areas at Rockaway Beach! Volunteers will help us remove the debris from the coastline creating a healthier ecosystem. Immediately following the cleanup, the NYC Parks Wildlife Unit will host a bird walk showcasing migratory shorebirds! Registration required.
🌳 Nature Exploration at Willow Lake: Sat March 15 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk through the Pat Dolan trail and find out what plants and animals call his Forever Wild site home.
🦆 Winter Birding on Governors Island: Sat March 15 @ 2pm. Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on the island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the bird life the island has to offer this winter.
🦆 Birding at Mount Loretto Unique Area with Anthony Ciancimino: Sun March 16 @ 8am. Join Staten Island resident and longtime birder, Anthony Ciancimino, as we explore the diverse habitats found at Conference House Park. Look for resident winter birds!
🦜 First Day of Spring Bird Walk at Green-Wood Cemetery with Tod Winston: Thurs March 20 @ 8am. Enjoy the first day of spring at the beautiful and birdy Green-Wood Cemetery. We'll look and listen for lingering winter residents as well as early migrant songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl—plus the cemetery's famous Monk Parakeets! Registration required, $28 for NYC Bird Alliance members and $42 for non-members. Capped at 15.
🏖️ Pelham Bay Shoreline Cleanup: Sat March 22 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O for a shoreline cleanup at Pelham Bay! Registration required.
🐸 Vernal Pools in Alley Pond Park: Sat March 22 @ 10am. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk through the Pat Dolan trail and find out what plants and animals call his Forever Wild site home.
🐦 Early Spring Migration at Central Park: Sat March 22 @ 11am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see spring migratory birds. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Central Park to look for spring migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
🌳 Nature Exploration - Seton Falls Park: Sat March 22 @ 11am. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike through a park full of natural wonders and is often referred as the “Grand Canyon” of the Bronx!
🌃 Marine Park Alliance Presents Nature's Workshop Crafting the Night Sky: Sat March 22 @ 7:30pm. Celebrate the spring equinox by joining the Urban Park Rangers to map the NYC night sky. Make an embroidery hoop of stars and constellations and learn about our place in the fabric of the solar system! Best for kids.
🦆 Bilingual Birding at Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Sun March 23 @ 8am. Join NYC Bird Alliance led by naturalist Oliver Lopez along Flushing Meadows Corona Park's Willow Lake. See sparrows, finches, ducks, wading birds, and more. Beginning birders are more than welcome!
🦅 Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park with Alex Wang: Sun March 23 @ 11am. Beautiful Fort Tryon Park commands sweeping views of the Palisades and the Hudson River. Past encounters include a variety of birds such as Bald Eagles and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Birding guide and educator Alexandra Wang (Avian Alex), M.S. Ed., offers an inclusive tour with specialized resources.
🌳 Histor-tree ID Walk in Astoria Park: Sun March 23 @ 11am. Ever wondered what your neighborhood trees could say if they could talk? Have you ever found yourself curious about the life your local leafy friend has led? Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hands-on exploration of the life and times of your neighborhood trees.
🦆 Bilingual Birding at Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Sun March 23 @ 8am. Join NYC Bird Alliance led by naturalist Oliver Lopez along Flushing Meadows Corona Park's Willow Lake. See sparrows, finches, ducks, wading birds, and more. Beginning birders are more than welcome!
🌷 Signs of Spring Hike in Central Park: Sun March 23 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers in appreciating the early flowers of spring! Learn about some of the flowers as well as the history of this little gem of a garden in the famous Central Park.
🐦 Spring Migration at Marine Park: Sat March 29 @ 11am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see spring migratory birds. Binoculars and guides will be provided.
🪲 Insect Exploration Hunt in Riverside Park: Sat March 29 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the park’s looking for insects such as ants, wasps, beetles, butterflies, mantids and many more. Learn more about how insects are great for the environment.
🐦 American Woodcocks in Pelham Bay Park: Sat March 29 @ 7pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers on an evening nature walk at Pelham Bay Park to learn all about the wacky world of woodcocks Also known as the Timberdoodle; Woodcocks take the skies at night with dazzling corkscrew flight patterns and charming vocalizations.
🐦 Spring Migration in Highland Park: Sun March 30 @ 11am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see spring migratory birds. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
🍀 Disturbed Habitat and Invasive Plant Ecologies: Sun March 30 @ 11am. Come to Kissena Park, Queens to learn about non-native species and the effects they have on our natural environment. Join Urban Park Rangers for useful tips on non-native plant ID and non-native plant removal activities.
🌳 Early Spring Tree ID Hike in Crotona Park: Sun March 30 @ 2pm. Trees have a special place in our environment. Join us for a hike of Crotona Park in search of different tree species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the changing season.
🐦 Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger Birding Walk: Sun March 30 @ 11am. Calling all Junior Rangers! Explore the trails of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and learn about birds with a park ranger. The program will be followed by a special Junior Ranger “swearing-in” ceremony. This program is recommended for ages 6-10 but Junior Rangers of all ages and their families are welcome to join.
Ongoing:
🪼 Open Hours at the Environmental Education Center at Brooklyn Bridge Park: Get to know Brooklyn Bridge Park with monthly educational themes, a 250 gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, a 10’ scale model of Brooklyn Bridge Park, crafts, a reading corner, and much more. Open weekly on Thursdays 3-5 PM, Fridays 3-5 PM, and Saturdays 1-5 PM.
🦪 Shoreline Cleanup with the Billion Oyster Project: On Thursdays at 2pm, loin us in collecting debris from New York City's shorelines to prevent it from re-entering the waterways when the tide returns. This is important in achieving our goal of protecting the biodiversity that lives near our reef sites.
🌹 New York Restoration Project: Everyone deserves access to high-quality public green space. If you’re interested in forest stewardship, volunteer with the NYRP in the parks of northern Manhattan clearing invasive plants, mulching, and clearing litter. Volunteer dates listed in the link above. Registration required.