I think I can speak for all of us when I say that 2026 sucked absolute shit for a long time. As I plowed on through an unrelenting winter and spring, I kept telling myself: Summer will be better. I believed this to be true, at least a little, but I could not have anticipated how amazing summer would actually feel in Mamdanistan. The combination Knicks win + Pride + socialist sweep in the primaries + a freaking rent freeze has made me feel delirious with joy on top of my regularly programmed sadness and ongoing grief. Anyway this is how I was feeling and then, two weeks ago at the beach, I saw dolphins for the first time in New York City.

I know for many people seeing dolphins is old hat. They swim by our beaches quite frequently, passing in jubilant pods dipping in and out of the waves. But even though I go to the beach quite a lot, I had never seen them. I had been at the beach when friends saw dolphins, but I missed them, probably packed between several beach tents at the extremely overstimulating stretch of sand that is (gay) Riis. But this time around, standing in the waves on the sandbar during low tide at Riis, I saw the dolphins. They were just out there, glossy and powerful as Toyotas, swimming so close to me! Everyone screamed. How can you not be moved to elation by a dolphin, let alone a whole pod of them?

You may be wondering: How did you get such crisp, high-resolution, perfectly composed shots (this is satire) of the dolphins if you were standing in the waves?

Good question. These are actually the dolphins I saw the very next weekend at Far Rockaway. It was a beautiful clear day at the beach. The waves were small and the sun was out. These were the exact conditions under which I saw the Riis dolphins. I told the other beach-goers that I had a feeling we would see dolphins. And then! And then we did! Look at them! At least four dolphins just traipsing in the waves!

Apologies for getting corny, but there’s an analogy here, I think, about hope. My coping strategy has always been to expect the worse so that you couldn’t possibly be disappointed. The Sabrina from a year ago would not have predicted seeing dolphins for fear of getting their hopes up and then having them be dashed. When Zohran was first running, it felt emotionally foolish to imagine a timeline in which he actually won. When my ex was knocking doors for Eon Huntley when he first ran for state assembly in 2024, I steeled myself for a loss. Even Zohran’s promise of a rent freeze felt too good to be true. Things obviously aren’t perfect, but the city feels alive and chugging towards local, material change. So this weekend, when I wanted to see dolphins, I shared my hope with the people around me. And then they came! I hope the world continues to prove old pessimistic Sabrina wrong.

This week I’ve also been thinking about Mona Khalil, a sea turtle ecologist who was killed last week by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. For Defector, I wrote about Khalil and what it means to show up for other species under the threats of bombings and military occupation, and the care she showed to human and non-human life.

We’ve got a bounty of nature events this July, with nocturnal park walks, a screening of Black Orpheus, seining, even a Gyotaku lesson at Marine Park. So get out there, stay hydrated, and happy pride!

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July

🦇 The Hidden Ecology of Central Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies & More: July 3 @ 8pm. Join 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.

🐦 Beginner Birding in Highbridge Park: July 5 @ 1pm. 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 birds found in our parks.

🌳 Trees Count at Riverside Park: July 7 @ 10am. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.

🌻 Summer on the Hudson: Horticulture Tour of Riverside Park: July 7 @ 12pm. Join the Director of Horticulture at the Riverside Park Conservancy to see what's in bloom, discuss special topics in urban horticulture, and ask questions about the plants you see in Riverside. 

🌳 Trees Count at Crotona Park: July 8 @ 10am. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.

🌳 Monthly Nature Exploration Hike Series: July 8 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a monthly hike exploring Inwood Hill Park. The hike will begin at the Inwood Hill Nature Center. This month’s hike will focus on logging local flora and fauna in a nature journal.

🛶 Basic Canoeing and Nature Exploration in Staten Island: July 9 @ 11am. Our trained Urban Park Rangers will lead you on canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. All canoe programs are for ages 8 years and older. We will also explore the flora and fauna of Willowbrook Park. Registration not required.

🐦 Rockaway Community Bird Outing with Russell Jacobs: July 9 @ 5:30pm. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways, a vital habitat for shorebirds year-round, with a FREE community bird outing. In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. Registration encouraged.

🌳 Trees Count at Starlight Park: July 8 @ 10am. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.

🐦 Summer on the Hudson: July 10 @ 5:30pm. Join NYC Bird Alliance and Riverside Park Conservancy for this year's Summer on the Hudson series. Who knows what birds we'll discover while taking in views of the Hudson River? All levels of birders welcomed!

🐦 Intro to Birding in Marine Park: July 11 @ 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. Registration encouraged.

🏖️ Plumb Beach Clean Up: July 11 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O for a Volunteer Cleanup at Plumb Beach! Plumb Beach is located to the east of Sheepshead Bay just off the Belt Parkway. Gloves, garbage bags and pickers will be provided. Registration required.

🌳 Trees Count at Calvert Vaux Park: July 8 @ 10am. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.

🍄 Summer on the Hudson - Mushroom Walk: July 11 @ 11am. Discover and document the hidden world of fungi with the New York Mycological Society. 

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: July 11 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration highly encouraged.

🎥 Black Nature Films in the Park - Black Orpheus: July 11 @ 7pm. The Office of Councilmember Chi Osse, Field Meridians, and Ashley Clark celebrate the publication of The World of Black Film: A Journey Through Cinematic Blackness in 100 Films, a thought-provoking survey of important and influential Black films from around the globe, with a sunset screening of Black Orpheus (1959) in Brower Park. Registration required, $10 suggested donation.

🌾 Volunteer Landscaping and Cleanup at Ridgewood Reservoir: July 12 @ 10am. Join NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department as we remove invasive plants and plant native plants at Ridgewood Reservoir!

🌳 Trees Count at Flushing Meadows Corona Park: July 12 @ 10am. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.

🐟 Seining at Marine Park: July 12 @ 11am. 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. Participation is first-come, first-served.

🕷️ Tick Talk: July 12 @ 11am. As the temperature rises, the ticks begin to emerge. Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about the ticks found in NYC parks and how to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. We will also learn about tick identification, habitats and their role within the ecosystem.

🐢 Reptiles and Amphibians in Alley Pond Park: July 12 @ 1pm. 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.

🎣 Angling for a Fish in Marine Park: July 16 @ 4pm. Join Marine Park Alliance and NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation to learn to fish. All supplies provided! 

🐝 Nature Talks at Bryant Park Reading Room - Native Bees of NYC: July 17 @ 12pm. New York City is wilder than you might think. This new lecture series, featuring ecologists, naturalists, and other nature enthusiasts, will give you a new perspective on the surprisingly abundant living things all around you. Guest speaker Sarah Kornbluth is a Invertebrate Zoology Field Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.

🦇 Bat Walk at the Ridgewood Reservoir: July 17 @ 7pm. Join wildlife scientist Nic Comparato 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. Registration required.

🌱 Invasive Species Removal in Inwood Hill Park: July 18 @ 10am. In partnership with the Parks Department, New York Restoration Project, and Friends of Inwood Hill Park, ICC will be hosting an invasive species removal event along the greenway south of our boathouse. It will be a great opportunity to learn to identify invasive and native plants, use new tools, and get a say in how our greenway will look in the future as we replant.

🗑️ Soundview Park Microplastics Workshop with New York Sea Grant: July 18 @ 10am. Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect coastal areas in Soundview Park! Volunteers will help us remove plastic and debris from the shoreline, creating a healthier ecosystem. This plastic will then be examined with the help of NY Sea Grant for a workshop on microplastics and overall water quality.

🌳 A Historical Ecology Walk at Green-Wood: July 18 @ 11am. Join NYBG’s Dr. Eric W. Sanderson and GWC’s Director of Living Collections and Curator, Sara Evans, for a conversational walking tour that brings Brooklyn’s past and present landscapes into dialogue. Together, they’ll explore the historical ecology of Green‑Wood—what native species once thrived here and how the Cemetery’s restoration work is reintroducing many of these plants to create a living landscape that can regenerate, adapt, and support life in a changing city. Free, registration required.

🦪 Summer on the Hudson - Billion Oyster Project Presentation: July 18 @ 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!

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: July 18 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration highly encouraged.

🐦 Bird Watching/ Observación de Aves at Ridgewood Reservoir: July 19 @ 8am. Join NYC H2O and Heather Wolf for bird watching at RR ¡Únase a NYC H2O y Heather Wolf para la observación de aves en Ridgewood Reservoir!

🐟 🖌️ Gyotaku Printmaking at Marine Park: July 19 @ 2pm. Learn about fish anatomy while making Japanese fish prints in this engrossing demo.

🪼 🌙 Nocturnal Seining and Shore Exploration in Queens: July 19 @ 7pm. 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. Join the Urban Park Rangers and explore what creatures live below the waves at night in the intertidal zone of the East River.

🎣 Catch-and-Release Fishing: July 19 @ 1pm. Have you ever gone fishing in NYC? Join Brooklyn Bridge Park staff to learn about the ecology of the East River as you participate in a free catch-and-release fishing lesson at the Pier 5 fishing stations (at the end of the pier). All equipment provided. Registration required.

🐦 Rockaway Community Bird Outing with Russell Jacob: July 23 @ 5:30pm. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways, a vital habitat for shorebirds year-round.  In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. Registration highly encouraged.

🐛 Bugging Out At Night At Green-Wood: July 24 @ 8:30pm. Celebrate National Moth Week with an after-hours exploration of Green-Wood’s nocturnal insects. Using special ultraviolet lights, we’ll attract and observe moths, often called the “jewels of the night,” which far outnumber their day-flying cousins, the butterflies. Tickets $25.

🌾 Salt Marsh Saturday at Little Hell Gate: July 25 @ 9am. Drop in to explore the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh during Salt Marsh Saturdays! From 9 AM – 12 PM, 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!

🐦 City of Water Day - Birding at Sherman Creek: July 25 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and the New York Restoration Project in celebrating City of Water Day with a free bird outing along Harlem River! Registration highly encouraged.

🐦 City of Water Day - Intro to Birding in Marine Park: July 25 @ 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. Registration highly encouraged.

🌾 Soundview Park Guided Walk: July 25 @ 10am. The Natural Areas Conservancy will host a guided walk on the trails at Soundview Park as part of City of Water Day in order to explore the trail and learn about our local ecosystem. Attendees will learn about plant id, maritime woodlands, and aquatic plants. Registration required.

🐦 Celebrate Shorebirds Festival - Rockaway Community Bird Outing: July 25 @ 11am. Join NYC Bird Alliance to explore the Rockaways, a vital habitat for shorebirds year-round, with a FREE community bird outing.  In the summer, these beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for shorebirds like Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers.

🪼 What Lives in the East River?: July 25 @ 12pm. Discover the amazing biodiversity of the East River as you get hands-on and up close with our marine life touch tank. Participants 14 years of age or older can learn how to use a seine net to humanely catch and release organisms in the river. Protective waders and all equipment will be provided. Registration required.

🪱 Worms at Work - Compost Sifting & Soil Discovery: July 25 @ 2pm. Get your hands in the soil and meet the tiny workers helping our farm grow! Participants will sift compost, explore worm bins, and learn how food scraps turn into rich, healthy soil. Perfect for curious kids, families, and anyone who loves a little garden science. Registration required.

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: July 25 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration highly encouraged.

🐦 Beginner Birding at Crotona Park: July 26 @ 1pm. 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 birds found in our parks.

🛶 Basic Canoeing and Nature Exploration in Staten Island: July 30 @ 11am. Our trained Urban Park Rangers will lead you on canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. All canoe programs are for ages 8 years and older. We will also explore the flora and fauna of Willowbrook Park. Registration not required.

🌳 Greenbelt Adult Hike – Acme Pond in Staten Island: July 30 @ 11am. Join us for a hike in the mature forest of Acme Pond. We will see marshmallow flowers and perhaps soaring ospreys (fish hawks) in the sky. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.  Closest restrooms across the street at Wolfe’s Pond.

Ongoing:

🛳️ Urban Naturalist Tour: Abandoned Islands of the East River at Sunset: Join Classic Harbor Line Join aboard a cozy, elegant, 1920s-style Manhattan yacht -- as we travel past abandoned islands rich with history and modern day wildlife! Throughout the journey, our knowledgeable naturalist-guide (Gabriel Willow or Russell Jacobs) will share insights into the conservation efforts aimed at preserving these precious ecosystems. Bring binoculars! (This is an affiliate link!)

🦪 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.