horseshoe crab szn
Spring could not have come at a better time, because I’m kind of falling apart mentally and everyone I know and love is struggling in some way. So I have been grateful for all the life flocking, scuttling, and crawling into the city. I’ve loved going out for morning walks amid spring migration. I recently downloaded the Merlin app for the first time, and it’s made a huge difference in my abilities as a true beginner birder. It’s so helpful to watch as the calls I’m hearing in real life light up on the app next to a photo of the bird, which allows me to walk closer to those calls and actually find the bird in the tree. This is how I saw my first Magnolia warbler! They’re really freaking small!
But while many birders define this season as the peak of spring migration, to me, late May belongs to the crabs. I’m talking, of course, about horseshoe crabs — the helmet-like arthropods that scoot around in the shallows during May and June and lay their eggs on the beach during high tide. I’ve seen the crabs twice now, once on a volunteer tagging night with the NYC Bird Alliance and again at the 9th Annual Horseshoe Crab Festival. I never tire of picking up the crabs by the side of their shell and watching their many legs unfurl like a beautiful, chitinous flower. I love watching them relentlessly mount each other, as well as my shoes!
In years past, the horseshoe crab festival happened in June, which I considered an unofficial pride event. So the vibe was slightly different in May — a little colder, a little windier, but the crabs came, the people cooed (and gasped), and someone pointed out a clutch of squid eggs attached to some seaweed, which was pretty cool.
If you want to get your horseshoe crab fix, it’s not too late. There are some horseshoe crab events happening in June, including a walk with sociologist Lisa Jean Moore who will probably share some tidbits from her wonderful and deeply thoughtful book, Catch and Release: The Enduring Yet Vulnerable Horseshoe Crab. I just read it, and appreciated all the ways Moore is thinking about how we might be better neighbors to the crabs, which is something I think about, too. There’s plenty of other excellent events awaiting you next month, with some queer birding walks, a shorebird festival, and an event I am truly intrigued by and sad to miss, “Father's Day Aquatic Insects Exploration.” Enjoy!
Before I go, I want to ask all of you to get out there and vote in the mayoral election on June 24! This is a crucial election that could give us a mayor who actually cares about making the city better and more affordable for New Yorkers or a mayor that has multiple sexual harassment claims filed against him, covered up the deaths of people in nursing homes during the early pandemic, and used ChatGPT for his housing plan. We have ranked-choice voting, so remember to rank five progressive candidates who are not Andrew Cuomo.
If you’re not familiar with the candidates and their policies, I enjoyed this candidate matching quiz from The City and Gothamist. I personally will be ranking 🌟Zohran Mamdani🌟 first, and also Brad Lander, Adrienne Adams, Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos. Take the quiz and determine your own order! Just remember to rank five non-Cuomo candidates and we could actually have a mayor who doesn’t suck absolute shit! Can you imagine?
Lastly, a quick programming note: I will be out of town and without wifi through mid-July, so I’ve stacked this edition with events happening through July. Undoubtedly there will be many beautiful events that will be announced during that time that will not be recorded here. Take care til then!
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June:
🏳️🌈 🐦 LGBTQ+ History and Birding in the Vale: June 1 @ 10am. Join NYC Bird Alliance for a history and birdwatching tour of the Prospect Park Vale. This nature walk explores the Vale’s significance as a queer gathering space and important wildlife habitat. Register here.
🌻 Botanical Plant Walk at the Ridgewood Reservoir: June 1 @ 12:30am. Join NYC H2O and Sophie Cozine for a botanical journey around the Ridgewood Reservoir! Register here.
🐝 Plants and Pollinators Walk: June 1 @ 11am. June is National Pollinators Month! Take a walk with the Urban Park Rangers through Prospect Park to learn and appreciate our local plants and pollinators.
🐦 Morning Birding in Washington Square Park: June 2 @ 8am. Join us for a early morning of birding at Washington Square Park, one of NYC’s most iconic green spaces. Although only 10 acres, Washington Square Park is rich in history and serves as a vibrant hub for New Yorkers.
🐦 Wednesday Evening Spring Migration Walk in Central Park: June 4 @ 5:30pm. Witness the spectacle of spring migration on this six-week series of walks as a songbirds and other species follow the Atlantic Flyway northwards. Look for orioles, tanagers, warblers, vireos, and other migrants in the wilds of Central Park, and learn about the finer points of their identification and ecology. Registration required, $33.85.
🐦 Bilingual Birding at Flushing Meadows Corona Park: June 7 @ 9am. Join naturalist Oliver Lopez along Flushing Meadows Corona Park's Willow Lake. Willow Lake is the perfect place to spot both local and migratory birds. Únase al naturalista Oliver López a lo largo del lago Willow en Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Willow Lake es el lugar perfecto para observar aves locales y migratorias, ya que atrae a una gran variedad de especies de aves.
🪼 Community Science Seining at Brooklyn Bridge Park: June 7 @ 10am. Discover the East River’s amazing biodiversity as our trained staff, volunteers and marine biologists use a seine net to humanely catch-and-release organisms, including fish, jellyfish, crabs, and more. All ages are welcome, register here.
🐟 Summer on the Hudson - World Fish Migration Day: June 7 @ 10am. Wade into the Hudson River for World Fish Migration Day! Collect and count species of fish in partnership with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.
🐦 Birding Poetry and Power with Field Meridians: June 7 @ 10am. In this community bird outing, participants will become familiar with our local “backyard birds” and migratory birds and be able to identify them with sight and sound. This walking workshop will allow us to discuss community and bird behavior across themes of migration, symbolism, and more. Each workshop will end with a moment of reflection and journaling in response to a writing prompt provided by the artist. $15 suggested donation, pay what you wish.
🐟 World Oceans Day: June 7 @ 12pm. Join RIPA’s Natural Areas team for a fun-filled and educational afternoon exploring the unique organisms that call the greater NYC Harbor Estuary home.Drop-in to observe the team conduct seining in the Harlem River and assist in counting and ID’ing fish and other aquatic organisms.
🦪 Summer on the Hudson - Billion Oyster Project Presentation: June 7 @ 12pm. Come see and learn about the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. It’s the latest effort to restore our harbor!
🐦 Kissena Park Birding with Woo Sung Park: June 8 @ 9am. Join Woo Sung Park to explore the beautiful Kissena Park in Queens! This green space contains a wide variety of trees as well as a lake that make great habitat for migrating and resident birds alike. Registration encouraged.
🐦 Birding in Pelham Bay Park with Jack Rothman: June 8 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore New York City's largest park this spring. Pelham Bay Park's forested areas, salt marshes, and grassy meadows offer rich habitat for a variety of migrating birds. Registration encouraged.
🌳 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: June 8 @ 10am. Join Field Meridians and get to know your tree neighbors. We’ll be checking in on our neighborhood street trees with a stroll up Nostrand Avenue to identify the trees that provide shade, ecologies, and homes for species of all kinds. We’ll be learning how to identify and care for trees, sharing stories of their cultural histories, and discussing our shared future with them in a time of unprecedented global ecosystems change. Registration required, $15.
🪰 Bug Buddies: June 8 @ 11am. Calling all bug enthusiasts for a monthly Bug Buddies program with our STEM Coordinator and resident bug expert, Keith McManus! Classes will take place both outdoors (weather permitting) and indoors. June 8: Exploring lesser known pollinators and camouflage
🦭 Discovery Hike - Marine Mammals: June 8 @ 11am. Today, reminders of our city’s whaling past can be found in local communities, preserving the memory of an era when the pursuit of whales played a crucial role in shaping the economic and cultural landscape of the region. Learn more about the different types of marine mammals that can be seen off the shores
🐴👠🦀 Community Science - Horseshoe Crab Monitoring: June 9 @ 7pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers for an evening on the shore engaging in a community science project as we collect scientific data and learn the importance of protecting horseshoe crabs. Registration required.
🐴👠🦀 Horseshoe Crab Discovery Walk at Plumb Beach: June 14 @ 6pm. Join sociology professor Lisa Jean Moore to observe horseshoe crabs during their mating rituals and meet some of the other marsh inhabitants. No experience required. We will observe and discuss changes that have occurred at Plumb Beach since hurricane Sandy and discuss their significance on Horseshoe crabs and on the sustainability of the site. Register here.
🐦 Intro to Birding in Marine Park with Russell Jacobs: June 15 @ 9am. Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest green space, Marine Park! Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds.
🐦 Intro to Birding Walk: June 15 @ 9am. Learn how to use binoculars and spot the fascinating birds that live in Marine Park's salt marsh together with an expert from NYC Bird Alliance. Families are welcome. Meet outside the Salt Marsh Nature Center.
🪲 Father's Day Aquatic Insects Exploration: June 15 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore our pond for fun aquatic insects and invertebrates that help keep our NYC ponds and lakes healthy. Learn some fun facts about why some species are the best dads of the insect world.
🦋 Juneteenth Food Forest Tour: June 19 @ 12pm AND 2:30pm. Join Field Meridians with Friends of Brower Park for a special Juneteenth tour of Brower Park’s edible canopy and pollinator garden, and learn more about the local community’s efforts to establish a food forest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Registration required, $10 suggested donation.
🎥 🌳 Black Nature Films in the Park - Eve’s Bayou: June 19 @ 6:30pm. Alfreda’s Cinema and Field Meridians return for another presentation of Black Nature Films in the Park. Join us on Juneteenth at Prospect Park Boathouse! Kasi Lemmons’ richly atmospheric drama Eve’s Bayou is set in the Louisiana bayou. The film follows 10-year-old Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) as she uncovers painful family secrets, with nature mirroring her emotional journey. The lush, mystical wetlands serve as both refuge and revelation, much like Prospect Park itself—a space where history and the natural world intertwine. Pay what you wish, $15 suggested donation.
🏜️ Collage for Kids - Landscapes with Etel Adnan in Brower Park: June 21 @ 1pm. This workshop invites children, adults & families alike into a vibrant journey through the life and art of the celebrated artist, Etel Adnan. Through a hands-on activity, children will be encouraged to recreate their own landscapes using colored construction paper and glue, drawing inspiration from Etel’s bold, expressive use of color. Our hope is that, through this creative exploration, the children will embrace a world brimming with infinite beauty and endless possibilities. Registration required, $15 suggested donation.
🐦 🏳️🌈: Let's Go Birding Together in Central Park: June 22 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and QueerBirders for a Let's Go Birding Together event. Let’s Go Birding Together walks welcome the LGBTQ+ community, allies, families, and anyone looking for a fun, inclusive birding experience. Registration encouraged.
🐦 🏳️🌈: Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) in Staten Island's Greenbelt: June 22 @ 10am. Join NYC Bird Alliance, Greenbelt Conservancy, and Pride Center of Staten Island for a Let's Go Birding Together walk. Let’s Go Birding Together walks welcome the LGBTQ+ community, allies, families, and anyone looking for a fun, inclusive birding experience.
🌾 LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Come OUTside: June 22 @ 1pm. Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with NYC Parks! Join the Urban Park Rangers and friends for a celebration of the rich diversity of nature and the people who have shaped and relied on NYC Parks for generations!
🐦 Intro to Birding Walk: June 28 @ 9am. Learn how to use binoculars and spot the fascinating birds that live in Marine Park's salt marsh together with an expert from NYC Bird Alliance. Families are welcome. Meet outside the Salt Marsh Nature Center.
🐦 Riverside Park Birding Club: June 28 @ 9am. Monthly walks through birding hotspots in Riverside Park, led by Riverside Park Conservancy Field Staff. Learn and build a birding community! Open to birders of all ages and experience.
🎣 Summer on the Hudson - Hudson River Fishing Clinic: June 28 @ 10am. Celebrate Free Fishing Weekend with a catch and- release fishing session in partnership with the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association. Gear provided.
🎣 Community Science Fishing: June 28 @ 11am. Learn the basics of catch-and-release line fishing from the Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Education team own expert anglers. During this clinic, participants of all ages will learn how to tie knots, bait a hook, drop a line, and (with some luck) reel up a fish. Register here.
🐦 Celebrate Rockaway Shorebirds Festival: June 29 @ 12pm. Tiny shorebirds called piping plovers fly over 700 miles to nest at Rockaway Beach every year. Join NYC Park’s Piping Plover Team and other community partners for a day of educational activities and crafts. Event is for all ages, with activities geared to younger audiences.
July:
🦪 Summer on the Hudson - Billion Oyster Project Presentation: July 5 @ 12pm. Come see and learn about the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. It’s the latest effort to restore our harbor!
🐦 Summer on the Hudson - Birding Walk: July 11 @ 5:30pm. Explore Riverside Park on a family-friendly bird walk in partnership with NYC Bird Alliance. Bring binoculars if you have them!
🐦 Intro to Birding Walk: July 12 @ 9am. Learn how to use binoculars and spot the fascinating birds that live in Marine Park's salt marsh together with an expert from NYC Bird Alliance. Families are welcome. Meet outside the Salt Marsh Nature Center.
🪼 Summer on the Hudson - City of Water Day: July 12 @ 12:30pm. Educators from Hudson River Sloop Clearwater lead an interactive seining event as part of City of Water Day. Learn about our watery neighbors and the health of the Hudson River estuary.
🪼 Community Science Seining at Brooklyn Bridge Park: July 12 @ 3pm. Discover the East River’s amazing biodiversity as our trained staff, volunteers and marine biologists use a seine net to humanely catch-and-release organisms, including fish, jellyfish, crabs, and more. All ages are welcome, register here.
Ongoing:
⛵ Classic Harbor Line Eco Tours: Classic Harbor Line is once again offering its wonderful 3-hour Urban Naturalist tour, hosted by Gabriel Willow, offers sweeping vistas of the abandoned islands of the East River and the many birds that roost on them. The last eco cruise I went on featured a whole island studded with majestic egrets and sulky night herons. (This is an affiliate link, so if you buy a ticket I will receive a commission.)
🏳️🌈 🐦 Weekday Morning Migration Birding Walks with Queer Birders: From April 22-May 28, join Queer Birders for 7am walks. Tuesdays in Central Park with Leo Wexler Mann. Wednesdays in Prospect Park with Megan Thornton.
🐦 New York Botanical Garden Bird Tour: Join us and the New York Botanical Garden for Bird Tours throughout the year on Saturdays! Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. This tour is included in your admission to the Garden.
🪐 Star Gaze on the Hudson: Every second Saturday between May and August from 8-11pm, join expert stargazers from the Amateur Astronomers Association to observe stars and planets on Pier 1 in Riverside Park.
🪼 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.