it's bat time, babes
Apologies for the lateness of this month’s Creatures! I just got back from a blissful month in the Adirondacks without wifi and am now reluctantly returning to the internet. I have only been back in the city for a morning and thus have no real creature report from NYC to share besides the dead cockroach on my stairwell that I think was there when I left. Instead, I will share some photos of the moths I saw in the Adirondacks, and will return in August with some actual critters in this city.
There’s a lot to look forward to this month, with a bounty of bat walks (which also spotlight the many other creatures of the night that grace our skies). I really can’t recommend the bat walks, or nighttime ecology walks, enough. They illuminate so many amazing creatures we rarely get a chance to see or interact with, as their dark worlds are so different from our lighted one. Hearing a bat hunt a moth through an echolocating device is an amazing experience. Intrigued? You’re in luck — there’s a nighttime ecology walk tonight!
The next few weeks also features one last horseshoe crab walk and plenty of coastal ecology events, from shorebird walks to tidepool adventures. On really hot days, the best place to be is by the ocean! Hope you’re all taking care during these horrible times. Okay, on to the moths.
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July
🦇 The Hidden Ecology of Prospect Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies, & More: July 12 @ 8pm. Join urban naturalist Gabriel Willow on a starlit stroll through Prospect Park. He’ll teach you how to find and identify bats using a special echolocation-listening device, and will point out numerous other natural wonders along the way, bringing you a safe distance to all the diverse creatures of the city night. Registration required, tickets $39.19.
🍄 Fantastic Fungi Mushroom ID Hike in Alley Pond Park: July 13 @ 12pm. Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of the forest and the incredible diversity of fungi waiting to be discovered. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with nature, expand your knowledge, and make lasting memories. Join us for this adventure you won't want to miss!
🔥 🌾 Fire Ecology Hike | Caminata ecología del fuego: July 13 @ 12pm. Join Inwood Hill Park in a series of bilingual nature hikes happening monthly from June to September. These hikes aim to teach some of our youngest Friends about fire safety in forests, the growing field of fire ecology, and climate change resiliency. We look forward to seeing you in the forest!
🪴 Summer on the Hudson - Huellas De Vida (Bilingual Horticulture Tour): July 13 @ 12pm. Ven a celebrar la vida, fomentar conexiones con la naturaleza y honrar los ecosistemas que nos sustentan. Foster connections with nature on this guided bilingual horticulture tour.
🌱 Salt Marsh Ecology in Inwood Hill Park: July 13 @ 1pm. Explore the last standing natural forest and salt marsh in Manhattan to understand the impacts, human dimensions and effects of climate change. Learn about the efforts made to mitigate climate change, conserve natural resources and ecosystem services.
🦪 Oysters Monitoring and Stewardship: July 16 @ 10am. Oysters and other bivalves act as natural filters for our shores. Learn more about these phenomenal creatures and other marine life at this Billion Oyster Project site along The Narrows. Participants will also learn how to record relevant data used for scientific study.
🌱 Natural Plant Medicines from the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans Tribe on the Homelands: July 17 @ 1pm. Join Misty Cook Davids—herbalist, cultural consultant, and member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community—for a guided walk through the historic grounds of the Van Cortlandt House Museum. Learn to identify natural medicines growing in the landscape around us and explore the plants cultivated in our garden. Misty will share the traditional knowledge behind these medicines, including their history, methods of gathering, drying, preservation, and use. Registration recommended.
🐦 Shorebirds - Ecology & Identification Workshop: July 17 @ 6:30-8:30pm. Shorebirds are a fascinating and declining group of birds that includes sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers, avocets, and more. They can be extremely challenging to identify, but their great diversity, social nature, and potential for rarities can enliven any trip to a beach or marsh. Learn about their ecology, behavior, conservation challenges, and the finer points of ID in this Zoom workshop with naturalist Gabriel Willow. Registration required, tickets $20.
🦇 The Hidden Ecology of Central Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies & More: July 18 @ 8pm. Join urban naturalist Gabriel Willow on a starlit stroll through Central Park. He’ll teach you how to find and identify bats using a special echolocation-listening device and will point out numerous other natural wonders along the way, bringing you safely through the park to all the diverse creatures of the city night. Registration required, tickets $39.19.
🦇 Wild at Night - Evening Nature Encounters at Wave Hill: July 18 @ 8pm. After the sun sets, Wave Hill belongs to the creatures of the night. Bats, fireflies, katydids, and more emerge from their daytime slumber to animate the grounds far from human eyes and ears. On these exclusive evenings, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature after dark with a series of indoor and outdoor nature experiences. Space is limited! Tickets to Wave Hill required.
🐦 Summer Birds at Van Cortlandt Park: July 19 @ 9am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see birds. Learn a new skill and take up a new hobby as we help you identify some of the most common and colorful birds found in our parks during the summer. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
🪱 Farmhouse Family Day - Creative Critters at Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum: July 19 @ 11am. Bugs that creep and crawl, zip and fly are crucial to making our farm and our planet healthy and green! Visit us as we show off some of the amazing insects that call the Wyckoff farm home! Create different bug themed crafts and meet some of our worms from our worm bin that help with our composting, go on a scavenger hunt to find rollie pollies and more! This event is for kids.
🐦 Field Sketching with Sam Philbert at Governors Island: July 19 @ 12:30pm. Join bird guide and artist Sam Philbert for a field sketching workshop in Governors Island! Learn tips to record and draw species in your environment to fill your own nature journal. Bring a drawing book or paper and something to write/draw to document your findings. Then join our weekly Governors Island Birding Tours from 2:15 - 3:45pm to practice your skills! Registration required. Limited to 25.
🦠 Microorganisms Exploration at Roy Wilkins Recreation Center: July 19 @ 1pm. View the natural world with your own eyes and through microscopes, as we zoom in on micro-organisms that are a vital part of our pond ecosystem.
🎣 Community Science Fishing: July 19 @ 4-6pm. 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! Contribute to the our community science efforts as we collect data from our catch to assess the health of the East River.
🏳️🌈 🐦 Central Park Bird Walk with Queer Birders: July 19 @ 6-7pm. Join German artist Matthias Garff and birder Hannah Kirshenbaum (@queerbirders ) for a special walk through @centralparknyc . Together, they will guide you through the park—spotting both bird sculptures and real birds—while sharing insights about urban wildlife and biodiversity.
🐦 Summer Birding in Pelham Bay Park: July 20 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore New York City's largest park this summer! Pelham Bay Park's forested areas, salt marshes, and grassy meadows offer rich habitat making it a great place to bird all year around!
🐦 Rockaway Birding with Russell Jacobs: July 20 @ 9:30am. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways - a vital habitat for shorebirds. In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. Registration encouraged.
🐦 Family Birding in the Midtown Greenway with EsplanadeFriends: July 20 @ 10am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and EsplanadeFriends for a family-friendly walk along the East River Esplanade! This green corridor spans from 53rd to 61st Street. This walk will be open to families to join us and discover the birds that can be found on the esplanade and flying over the East River. Registration required.
🌳 Nature Exploration - The North Woods: July 20 @ 2pm. On Nature Exploration hikes, we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest.. Join the Rangers on a nature walk into the North Woods of Central Park to learn about the ecology and wildlife that inhabits this magical woodlands habitat. Tour will stop at the Block House, The Ravine, the Loch and exiting through the Glen Span Arch to the Pool.
🐴 👠 🦀 Horseshoe Crab Discovery Walk at Plumb Beach: July 20 @ 6:30pm. 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. Dress casually. Old sneakers recommended. You will be walking approximately ¾ mile round trip. Limited facilities at site. Sold out, waitlist only.
🦇 Bat Spotting at Prospect Park with Nic Comparato: July 23 @ 8:30pm. Did you know that several bat species can be found in New York City? Join NYC Bird Alliance and wildlife scientist Nic Comparato for a bat walk! Nic specializes in the bioacoustic study of bats and birds and supports NYC Bird Alliance conservation efforts as one of our seasonal associate field biologists. Registration required, capped at 25. Participants will need closed-toed shoes, bug spray, and a flashlight or headlamp.
🐢 🐍 Hanging with the Herps at Wave Hill: July 25 @ 8-10pm. “Herps” (reptiles and amphibians) are among the most under-appreciated and misunderstood species of the animal world, and many of them live right here in the Bronx! Environmental educators from Tenafly Nature Center highlight the characteristics that distinguish reptiles from amphibians using animal ambassadors as living examples. Expect up-close encounters with live snakes, frogs, salamanders, and turtles in this fun and engaging nature program for adults and older kids. $ Tickets required.
🦇 Wild at Night - Evening Nature Encounters at Wave Hill: July 25 @ 8pm. After the sun sets, Wave Hill belongs to the creatures of the night. Bats, fireflies, katydids, and more emerge from their daytime slumber to animate the grounds far from human eyes and ears. On these exclusive evenings, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature after dark with a series of indoor and outdoor nature experiences. Space is limited! Tickets to Wave Hill required.
🐦 Intro to Birding in Marine Park: July 26 @ 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. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
🐦 Riverside Park Birding Club: July 26 @ 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.
🦅 Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park for National Disability Independence Day: July 26 @ 11am. The beautiful Fort Tryon Park commands views of the Palisades and the Hudson River. Fort Tryon Park’s 67 acres feature many well-paved walkways suitable for birders with strollers and carriages, as well as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. In honor of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, join us for a celebratory outing to recognize the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and equal rights for all. Registration encouraged.
🌻 Kingsland Wildflowers Festival: July 26 @ 2-7pm. Kingsland Wildflowers is a 25,000 sqft native pollinator garden nestled in Greenpoint, Brooklyn’s industrial business zone. This free family-friendly event will include exciting activities and the chance to eplore our rooftop wildflower meadows, learn about native wildlife & ecology, including Newtown Creek, and experience art, performance, and live music, plus buy native plants for your garden.
🦆 Birding in Fort Totten and Little Bay Parks with Woo Sung Park: July 27 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance's Woo Sung Park to explore the northern-most tip of Queens at Fort Totten Park and Little Bay Park! This area sports historical, Civil War-era structures and is an excellent birding location. Expect to see a plethora of waterfowl. Registration encouraged.
🐦 All About Pigeons in Astoria Park: July 27 @ 10am. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see birds. Pigeons are among some of the most abundant species of birds in our city. Learn more about what makes these birds so unique and interesting.
🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at the Ridgewood Reservoir: July 27 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir! Registration required.
🐟 Seining in Canarsie Park: July 27 @ 12pm. Our experienced Urban Park Rangers teach the ecology of our waterways on every seining program. Get ready to get your hands wet; seining programs use nets to catch fish. All equipment is provided; this program is recommended for ages 8 years and older.
🦇 Bats! Night Walk in Marine Park: July 31 @ 7:30pm. Gotham Bat Conservancy demonstrates tracking of acoustic radar that informs bats where to find food and direction. Bring your best bug repellent!
August
🦇 The Hidden Ecology of Prospect Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies, & More: August 1 @ 8pm. Join urban naturalist Gabriel Willow on a starlit stroll through Prospect Park. He’ll teach you how to find and identify bats using a special echolocation-listening device, and will point out numerous other natural wonders along the way, bringing you a safe distance to all the diverse creatures of the city night. Registration required, tickets $39.19.
🦇 Wild at Night - Evening Nature Encounters at Wave Hill: August 1 @ 8pm. After the sun sets, Wave Hill belongs to the creatures of the night. Bats, fireflies, katydids, and more emerge from their daytime slumber to animate the grounds far from human eyes and ears. On these exclusive evenings, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature after dark with a series of indoor and outdoor nature experiences. Space is limited! Tickets to Wave Hill required.
🐦 Canarsie Park Birding: August 2 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and visit the coastal woodlands, tidal channel, and one of the only freshwater ponds in Brooklyn. Expect to see herons, shorebirds, flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and sparrows. All birding levels welcome!
🪼 Community Science Seining: August 2 @ 10am. Join us for a special seining session celebrating the Great Hudson River Fish Count! 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! Learn how these organisms contribute to the estuary, what they tell us about the river’s health. Registration recommended.
🐍 All That Slithers in Marine Park: August 2 @ 1:30pm. Discover the importance and beauty of the snakes found in NY and Marine Park. What role do they play in the complex ecosystem of the Salt Marsh? How do they survive harsh winters? Dr. Leroy Núñez, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University explains how snakes fit in. Take the opportunity to admire the native snake species living at the Salt Marsh Nature Center
🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at the Ridgewood Reservoir: August 3 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir! Registration required.
🐸 Urban Wildlife - Reptiles and Amphibians of Flushing Meadows: August 3 @ 12pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the park, looking for and learning about the turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders that call New York City home.
🦀 Discovery Hike - Tide Pools of Pelham Bay Park: August 3 @ 1pm. Explore the shore with the Urban Park Rangers as we take a closer look at these temporary habitats and find out the many creatures that call tide pools home.
🦇 Bat Walk at the Ridgewood Reservoir: August 9 @ 7pm. Join naturalist Gabriel Willow to observe and learn about bats at the Ridgewood Reservoir. There are over 1,400 species of these winged mammals worldwide. Come discover which ones live at the Reservoir as well as learn about other nocturnal animals.
🪲 Insects of the Night of Alley Pond Park: August 9 @ 8pm. Rangers will show you how to attract and identify the diverse menagerie of friendly nocturnal insects that fill the night skies of your local park.
🐦 Summer Birding at Wave Hill: August 10 @ 9:30am. Naturalist Gabriel Willow leads this walk through the gardens and woodlands to seek out summer birds. Observe the plants, insects, and habitats at Wave Hill that make it so appealing for such a wide variety of birds. Advance registration is encouraged online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.
🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at the Ridgewood Reservoir: August 10 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir! Registration required.
🐸 Amphibian Exploration in Van Cortlandt Park: August 10 @ 11am. Join the Urban Park Rangers for an exploration of the amphibian species that call the park home! Good shoes are recommended.
🪴 Summer on the Hudson - Huellas De Vida (Bilingual Horticulture Tour): August 10 @ 12pm. Ven a celebrar la vida, fomentar conexiones con la naturaleza y honrar los ecosistemas que nos sustentan. Foster connections with nature on this guided bilingual horticulture tour.
🦪 Wetland Wednesdays at Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh: August 13 @ 2:30pm. The salt marsh is a vital ecosystem that protects nearby areas from flooding and erosion and creates habitats for many different species of animals. From 2:30-4:30PM on the second Wednesday of every month, the marsh pathway gates on the boardwalk will be open and members of RIPA’s Natural Areas Team will be on site to answer questions, share interesting facts and show off some of the unique species of plants and animals that call this amazing and dynamic ecosystem home!
🐦 Rockaway Birding with Russell Jacobs: August 13 @ 6pm. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways - a vital habitat for shorebirds. In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. Registration encouraged.
🐦 Field Sketching with Sam Philbert at Governors Island: August 16 @ 10am. Join bird guide and artist Sam Philbert for a field sketching workshop in Marine Park! Learn tips to record and draw species in your environment to fill your own nature journal. Bring a drawing book or paper and something to write/draw to document your findings. Registration required. Limited to 30.
🎣 Community Science Fishing: August 16 3-5pm. 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! Contribute to the our community science efforts as we collect data from our catch to assess the health of the East River.
🐦 Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay: August 17 @ 9am-1pm. Join us for the 20th Annual Shorebird Festival!August is the perfect time to explore the diversity of New York City’s shorebirds. Join us in learning all about these beautiful birds and explore the natural habitat of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, filled with marshland, fresh and brackish water ponds, and grassy fields.
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.)
🐦 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.