I just moved into a new apartment. I’m living by myself for the first time, which is both amazing and overwhelming, in part because I live above the BQE. I have felt guilty that I haven’t properly ventured out into the wide and wonderful world of NYC wildlife lately—though, to be fair, it’s been cold! But fortunately, I’ve gotten a chance to meet some of my new neighbors, who I can hear drilling most mornings outside my window.

I don’t mind this at all, of course, because my neighbors are woodpeckers! When I first saw a male downy woodpecker hammering away at the mostly barren tree in front of my kitchen window, I marveled at the sight. Such a tiny, precious bird! Such a rare sighting in the city, at least for me! I have mostly seen woodpeckers in Prospect and Central Parks, and assumed such vaunted little birds would not dare venture so near the BQE, which seems to stand in opposition of all that is natural and peaceful in the city. But here one was, slamming his little precious head into the bark, his small red stripe zigging and zagging, and I felt that his presence marked something auspicious, either about this new chapter of my life or my apartment.

But then I saw a male downy woodpecker again later that week, and then two at once the week after, and soon I stopped counting. That’s when I realized that these little guys simply must hang out here a lot. My friend Barry suggested that they might live in these trees, which now feels very obvious, but I suppose I assumed woodpeckers a nomadic bird, roaming from bark to bark in search of caterpillars and beetles. So these woodpeckers are literally my neighbors! Magnificent!

I felt this to be an unseemly stroke of good luck, to have found an apartment I love in this cesspit of a housing market that also comes with a merry band of woodpeckers. I saw other birds, sure, mourning doves and blue days and a few cardinals — all excellent birds — but the downy woodpeckers were my new favorites. Then, last week, summoned by that familiar drilling sound, I looked out my window to see another woodpecker!

It was a female red-bellied woodpecker, which is a larger sort of woodpecker with a red cap and a lovely belly that, despite its name, is not red. I watched this red-bellied woodpecker peck peck peck away at this branch and just felt lucky — to be in her presence, in this apartment, in this city that I love so much.

OK that’s enough of being corny on main. Let’s get to it! The events are certainly slowing down this time of year, but if you can brave the cold, there are still creatures galore to behold. Tis the season for winter waterfowl, leafless tree ID walks, and the first seal cruise of the season is happening on Dec. 15, led by Gabriel Willow. If you’d rather stay inside, don’t miss the virtual Bat Conservation 101 talk.

Other things of note: I recently led a Workshop4Gaza about writing alongside the non-human, and I think it went really well! I talked about some of my favorite books that center animals and led some generative writing exercises. If this sparks your interest, you can request the recording of the workshop with a $40 donation to Sameer Project. Also, I wrote a sad story about a leopard seal named Nora who refuses to abandon her dead pups — very grateful to all the researchers who spoke with me for this piece. Thanks for subscribing, and see you all in the new year!

December

🌠 Stargazing with Amateur Astronomers Association — Supermoon Thursday: Dec 4 @ 5pm. 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.

🐦 Birding at Wolfe's Pond Park, Staten Island with Anthony Ciancimino: Dec 6 @ 8am. Explore the park’s diverse habitats and spot wintering birds like Northern Pintails, American Black Ducks, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Staten Island resident and birder, Anthony Ciancimino will led us through the space. Registration not required but encouraged.

🐦 Fall Birding in Van Cortlandt Park with Rich Aracil: Dec 6 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance on a bird tour in one of the Bronx's largest green spaces. Participants will look for various species of resident and migrant birds and discuss a wide range of avian topics. This event is held in partnership with Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. Registration required, limited to 20.

🦆 Birding in Baisley Pond Park, Queens with Woo Sung Park: Dec 6 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance in Queens at Baisley Pond Park. With wetlands, native plants, and lush greenery all around, the park provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of bird species. Its the ideal time to spot the last of fall migrants and start spotting winter waterfowl. Registration not required but encouraged.

🌲 Inwood Hill Park Winter ID Walk: Dec 6 @ 10am. Natural Areas Conservancy will host a guided hike on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Inwood Hill Park. We will explore the nature trails and identify plants using their winter buds and bark.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl in Brookville Park: Dec 6 @ 11am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see winter waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.

🌲 Forest Park Super Hike: Dec 6 @ 11am. Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. Explore nature, discover our city's urban forests, and unplug from the world to clear your head. Join the Urban Park Rangers on this lengthy hike of Forest Park. Dress warmly & put on your hiking shoes!

🌱 Nature’s Workshop — Nature Tea Party: Dec 6 @ 12pm. Bring a thermos of your favorite tea and join the Urban Park Rangers for a tea party in the Amersfort Park gazebo in Amersfort Park. Learn about local plants that have historic and modern medicinal uses.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl at Van Cortlandt Park: Dec 6 @ 1pm. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season. Beginner friendly.

🐦 Fall Birding at Floyd Bennett Field with Heydi Lopes: Dec 7 @ 9:30am. 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, from marshes to meadows, perfect for spotting everything from raptors and warblers to shorebirds. 

🐦 Winter Waterfowl at Manhattan Beach Park: Dec 7 @ 11am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see winter waterfowl. Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Join us as we spot some of the migratory waterfowl that spend the winter with us.

🐛 Bug Buddies at the Queens County Farm Museum: Dec 7 @ 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. All classes are hands-on, exploratory, and include a related activity. December 7: Bagworms (the caterpillar stage of moths)

🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at Ridgewood Reservoir: Dec 7 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir!

🐿️ Discovery Hike — Animal Adaptations in Idlewild Park: Dec 7 @ 11am. Hibernation? Migration? Brumation? Torpor? Hundreds of animal species spend their winters in New York City parks. Learn how animals such as birds, squirrels, chipmunks and others survive the cold and the snow in this educational wildlife viewing adventure.

🌲 Nature Exploration Hike in Fort Tryon Park: Dec 7 @ 1pm. On nature exploration hikes, we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest. To enhance your experience, please bring your own binoculars and field guides. Rangers will introduce you to the many species of living nature found within Fort Tryon Park.

🦇 Bat Conservation 101 (VIRTUAL): Dec 11 @ 10am-12pm. New to bat conservation? Join us virtually on December 11, 2025 from 2 pm ET - 4 pm ET for this beginner-friendly workshop that covers the basics of bat ecology, the threats they face, and how you can get involved in protecting these important creatures. It’s perfect for those looking to learn more about bats and how to support conservation efforts in their community. Registration required, donation based.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl at Baisley Pond Park: Dec 13 @ 10am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.

🦭 Seal Exploration in Pelham Bay Park: Dec 13 @ 1pm. The Long Island Sound is home to a vibrant harbor seal community that overwinters in the warmer waters. Join the Urban Park Rangers to witness the harbor seals in their natural habitat off the shore of Orchard Beach and learn about these incredible marine mammals and their fascinating behaviors.

❄️ Winter Wonderland Hike in Inwood Hill Park: Dec 13 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a brisk nature walk in winter where we will look for and learn about the local flora and fauna that call Inwood Hill Park home.

🐦 Christmas Bird Count in Randall’s Island Park: Dec 14 @ 9am. The 126th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count—the nation’s longest-running Community-Science bird project—will soon be underway nationwide, and in all five boroughs of New York City. Registration is required through NYC Bird Alliance and opens in early November. Lunch will not be provided, so please bring your own!

🐦 Winter Birding at Wave Hill: Dec 14 @ 9:30am. The Hudson River Valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species, even during the winter months. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with naturalist, Ryan Mandelbaum, to observe birds in their winter habitat. Birders of all levels encouraged. A limited number of binoculars, monoculars, and walking sticks are available to borrow at the Perkins Visitor Center. $10 admission to grounds.

🌲 Winter Tree ID in Crocheron Park: Dec 14 @ 1pm. Trees have a special place in our environment. Join us for a wintery tour of a certified arboretum and learn how to identify different trees after their leaves have dropped for the season.

🌲 Winter Tree ID in Lincoln Terrace: Dec 14 @ 1pm. Trees have a special place in our environment. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a winter walk around Lincoln Terrace/Arthur S. Somers Park to learn how to identify trees even after their leaves have fallen.

🌲 Winter Tree ID: The Pinetum: Dec 14 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk through the Arthur Ross Pinetum and learn about some evergreen trees! This tree walk will celebrate the cultural significance of conifers from Saturnalia to Christmas Trees as well as learning to distinguish and identify a plethora of species from around the world featured here in the Pinetum.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl in Alley Pond Park: Dec 20 @ 9am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.

🐿️ Hibernation Hike in Van Cortlandt Park: Dec 20 @ 11am. Hundreds of animal species spend their winters in New York City parks. Learn how animals such as birds, squirrels, chipmunks, reptiles and others survive the cold and the snow in this educational wildlife viewing adventure.

🌲 Winter Solstice Walk at Wave Hill: Dec 20 @ 3:30pm. Bundle up and explore the serene winter garden on the shortest day of the year, guided by Senior Horticultural Interpreter Jess Brey. As the setting sun casts long shadows across the landscape, enjoy a stroll among seasonal botanical wonders, including majestic evergreens in shades of gold and green, fiery red-twig dogwoods, and bedazzled shrubs with pink, purple, and red berries. $10 admission to grounds, advance registration encouraged online.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl — Solstice Edition: Dec 21 @ 10am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see winter waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Join the Urban Park Rangers on winter solstice to peep those rare winter birds! Fluff up your feathers and learn all about how to identify winter waterfowl.

🐿️ Winter Wildlife Hike in Kissena Park: Dec 21 @ 10am. Join the Urban Park Rangers to discover the wildlife of NYC Parks and how they are toughing through the winter months. Hibernation, migration, brumation; get ready for a hike to learn more about the processes that help wildlife endure the harsh conditions of winter weather.

🦆 Winter Waterfowl in Central Park: Dec 21 @ 1pm. Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn to identify migrating waterfowl that overwinter at the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Bring binoculars if you have them!

🌲 Winter Solstice Evergreen Tree ID Hike in Forest Park: Dec 21 @ 1pm. Come celebrate the Winter Solstice with a hike through Forest Park and learn about evergreen trees and their winter adaptations. Leave the tinsel at home and lace up your boots and stockings for this fun tour of the trees that never quit photosynthesizing, even when the days are at their shortest!

🌠 Stargazing with Amateur Astronomers Association: Dec 26 @ 5pm. 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. To calculate sunset, click here.

🐦‍⬛ All About Crows in Van Cortlandt Park: Dec 27 @ 11am. Humans and crows have had a long and complicated relationship across different cultures. But in recent years, scientists have discovered that there is an intelligence behind those eyes that is matched by few. Join the Urban Park Rangers to learn more about crows, a highly intelligent and sociable bird species.

🪨 Geology — Glacial Landscapes of Cunningham Park: Dec 27 @ 1pm. New York City is the site of ancient earth-shaking and earth-shaping events. The bedrock that anchors the city’s buildings and skyscrapers tells a story of a place going back more than a billion years. Explore the intricate rock formations, hilly terrain and kettle ponds formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

🐦 Winter Birds at Silver Lake Park: Dec 28 @ 10am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see migratory birds. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Join us on this Ranger led walk along the trails identifying various woodland birds and winter waterfowl.

🪨 Geology — New York's Last Ice Age in Highland Park: Dec 28 @ 1pm. New York City is the site of ancient earth-shaking and earth-shaping events. The bedrock that anchors the city’s buildings and skyscrapers tells a story of a place going back more than a billion years. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk along part of Long Island’s terminal moraine, bulldozed up during our most recent ice age.

🌲 Winter Tree ID in Inwood Hill Park: Dec 28 @ 1pm. Trees have a special place in our environment. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a winter walk around Inwood Hill Park to learn how to identify trees even after their leaves have fallen.

🐍 Kids Week — Meet the Nature Center Critters at Inwood Hill Park: Dec 29 @ 1pm. With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. From stick bugs to snakes, meet the animals that call the center their home.

🦉 Kids Week — All About Owls Hike and Craft in Staten Island: Dec 30 @ 11am. Learn about all about many species of owls that you can find on Staten Island. End the afternoon with an owl nature craft. Registration is required. Registration opens Monday December 22

🐦 Kids Week — Winter Birding for Kids in Central Park: Dec 30 @ 1pm. With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. Bird watching can be fun, especially during the winter season. Learn all about different ways to identify birds in our parks.

🦇 Bat Cafe — Cave Ecology and Bats: Dec 30 @ 7-9pm. Join us in person for our live discussion series, Bat Cafe, on December 30, 2025 from 7 pm ET - 9 pm ET. We will explore cave ecology and hibernation ecology in northeastern bat species. Discuss how environmental stressors impact these delicate systems. Enjoy a short film on cave ecology! Tickets $10, location TBD.

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Ongoing:

🦭⛵ Classic Harbor Line Seals, Seabirds, and Winter Wildlife Ecocruise: On this NYC boat ride, our expert tour guides and renowned Urban Naturalists, Gabriel Willow or Russell Jacobs, will regale you with fascinating tales of these iconic islands and historic waterways. They'll illuminate the stories of the migrating birds who inhabit the harbor this time of year. Once used as islands for quarantining immigrants with contagious diseases in the 19th century, Swinburne and Hoffman are modern day 'abandoned islands', reclaimed by nature as a breeding ground for birds, and a winter 'haul out' destination for Gray Seals and Harbor Seals. (This is an affiliate link, so if you buy a ticket I will receive a commission.)

🪼 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.