People-ing on the UWS!

 

Check out a European starling doing some people watching (or people-ing) on the UWS of Manhattan.

This bird type is featured in my new book, BIRD TALES and has a story within the third volume of Words In Our Beak.

What a differnce a week makes!

One week ago on May 23rd 2021, the “real feel” temperatures climbed into the 90's and in my last Tuesday's Truths segment, I mentioned how these conditions are very hard on our avian community. 

Today — one week later — the temperature is no where near those which occurred in that mini heat wave. They have been hovering at 52 degrees with real feel temps around 44 degrees, accompanied by a third day of steady, heavy rainfalls (which can be seen in the photograph atop this entry featuring a partial view of my rain-soaked garden.

A Bird's Form of Panting (to cool down) Tuesday's Truths WK 217

The “real feel” temperatures climbed into the 90's this past weekend and weather conditions like this are very hard on our avian community. I am very mindful of having fresh water for them but it is still very difficult for them to cool down in situations like this. One thing birds do to cool off is to open their beaks ever so slightly as the young European starling is doing in the picture atop this entry.

European starlings contine to enjoy my garden. (Saturday's Sentiment)

European starlings the bird type featured in the image atop this entry (visiting my roof extension garden) were brought to NYC from England 131 years and one month ago yesterday (3-16-1890).

Mockingbirds and starlings have common behaviors! Tuesday's Truths WK 208

For this 208th segement of my Tuesday's Truths series, I'd like to tell you a behavior that the bird types (European starlings and Northern mockingbirds) featured in the photos atop this entry have in common.

Little stars or little snowflakes?

We have been having wintery weather here  in NYC and as you can see in the set of four pictures atop this entry, European starling visited my snowy garden during a snowfall. In winter, starlings are duller overall, covered with white spots (which are sometimes called little stars, or “starlings”). However during our wintery mix, one could easily call  these white spots liitle snowflakes.

European starlings are one of many bird types featured in my three volume hard cover book series, series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

The books make a perfect gift for someone who may be in quarantine or lockdown due to consequences of the coronavirus because the stories in them can bring the outdoors into the homes of those who cannot go out and about.

Squirrel Appreciation Day 2021

Today, January 21st, is the annual day to celebrate Squirrel Apppreciation Day. I've written about this holiday within a number of venues including entires on this blog.

These animals can provide a lot of entertainment when you observe them as I've done in both Central Park and Riverside Park over the years when I've encountered various types including Cinnamon Variant squirrels, Black squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels.

On July 8th 2020, shortly after NYC started to begin easing up on lockdown restrictions (many of which were subsequently put back in place) which had been in effect since March due  to the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, I had the chance to watch squirrels from my window for they began to visit the Ailanthus Trees in my buildings courtyard and as you might surmise from the photo-ops atop this entry, their antics gave me many reaons to smile during those isolating times.

Splish Splash

EUROPEAN STARLINGS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 3

In yesterday's (6-17-2020) blog post, I mentioned that a European starling who had stopped by my place for a dip (on Tuesday, June 16th)) seemed miffed by a hovering low-flying helicopter that was flying within the vicinity and  over my garden.

Thankfully he/she  didn't let the helicopter's disruption deter him/her (unless the creature was another one), from returning to my place.

A Bath Interrupted

On Sunday evening (June 14 2020) into the early portion of the night, NYPD helicopters were flying low in the immediate vicinity of where I live. Their noise was deafening and I referenced this incident in an entry on my personal FB Page. Presumably, they showed up because protests were taking place in the area.

The presence and noise of the NYPD helicopters agitated me as well as others in the area, and yesterday (June 16 2020) into the early portion of the night, helicopters were flying low in the immediate vicinity once again; and once again, their presence was nerve-racking to me, and apparently it was nerve-racking to a lone European starling who had stopped by my garden for an evening bath.

Photo-Ops from #ClapBecauseWeCare 65 & A Protest (Plus a return to pre-COVID topics)

PROTEST RE GEORGE FLOYD

PROTEST RE GEORGE FLOYD

PROTEST RE GEORGE FLOYD

PROTEST RE GEORGE FLOYD

As I said in this past Tuesday's blog post, I've been very distracted by the ramifications of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and now by the demonstrations/curfews taking place in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

I also confessed it is high time (and even past high time) to think about the beauty of my garden's flora as well as in the birds who visit it. However, in spite of my intention, here I am "reporting" on last evening's (June 3rd 2020) sixty-fifth session of #ClapBecauseWeCare, as well as on an event concerning the killing of George Floyd, for just as the clapping tribute was scheduled to take place, throngs of protestors re the murder of George Floyd marched against traffic up an avenue close to where I live, and a few photo-ops can be seen atop this entry.

European starlings got this: The Importance of Washing! Tuesday's Truths WK 179

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL 3 

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL 3

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL 3 

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL 3 

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL 3

Welcome to my 179th segment in my Tuesday's Truths series. This evening I was blessed to witness an avian creature adhering to the on going request/plea during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, which is to wash one's hands: A European starling visiting my garden seemingly understood the importance of washing too, as evidenced by these photo-ops (directly above) of this creature taking a bath in my garden.

Monday's Musings 2: Session 35 & N'tl Bird Day

A #CLAPBECAUSEWECAREPARTICIPANT

The photo-op directly above is from tonight's (May the fourth) #ClapBecauseWeCare session, where many participants announced: "May the fourth* be with you, first responders, health care professionals and essential workers. BRAVO! BRAVO!"

*"May the Fourth be with you," is the catchphrase of Star Wars Day on May 4th, the unofficial holiday celebrating the Star Wars franchise. It is a pun on a famous line from Star Wars, May the Force be with you.

A European Starling's Healing Power

EUROPEAN STARLINGS HAVE A STORY IN VOL3

Earlier this morning, I published an entry here on Blogger which documented day seventh of the Clapping/Cheering Sessions (that has been dubbed #ClapBecauseWeCare) being held to commemorate and encourage health care professionals, first responders and essential workers who are taking  care of NYC during this pandemic. All we have ben asked to do is to stay at home and shelter in place.

I've been doing this since the night of March 21, 2020, the eve of the day when the mayor and governor's mandate went into effect. This lock down is a concerted effort to slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Admittedly, it is easier for me to shelter in place because I have a garden right outside my door. It is atop a roof extension. One of the European starlings visiting my rooftop garden the other day kept me company as he mesmerized me while I watched him during a "battle" he was having with a grape as seen in the picture directly above.

Engaging Conversations

An engaging phone conversation is something yours truly has always appreciated, as evidenced by this photo of yours truly taken in bygone (way bygone years).

In a recent FB post on my personal FB Page,  I mentioned how grateful I was that Jenny from Santa Barbara had phoned me to see how I was faring in the lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic while still dealing with the aftermath of my broken greater tuberosity.

As I stated in that entry, it was such a blessing to speak with someone who didn't set their phone down and walk away from it while still talking to me, making it so difficult for me to hear.

I am mortified at myself for wasting precious moments of life struggling to hear someone who is doing so many things while talking to me.

I guess that's the point. People who do this are talking TO me NOT talking WITH me and I've gotten so used to it I hadn't realized how it made me feel...

Until....

Until I had A REAL conversation with Jenny last week.

AND MUCH TO MY DELIGHT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN!

This past Friday, I had a real and wonderful conversation with an out of NY state a woman named MH, who I only know through Facebook and she phoned me for the same reason that Jenny had: To see how I was faring in the lockdowns brought on by the pandemic while still dealing with the aftermath of my broken greater tuberosity.

I have often phoned people who I know are alone to see how they are doing and I hope it means as much to them as it does to me.

In any event, in the aftermath of my loving with conversation MH, I felt a sense of mourning for all the time lost straining to hear those who are talking away from afar while I hang on their every word and I could not even sleep.

SO...

Rather than fight the tossing and turning, I got up, and for the first time since living in my place, I went into my garden when it was still dark and uttered my own types of prayers while birds waking from their slumber chirped away, engaging with each other in their lyric conversation.

Eventually I went back inside to work on my column submission and heard a bird singing at the top of his/her beak and was thrilled (understatement) to see an American robin had stopped by!

AMERICAN ROBINS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 3

I was not the only one to enjoy the red-breasted songster.

Another Surprise Visit Tuesday's Truths WK 167

MOCKINGBIRDS ARE FEATURED IN VOLUME THREE

Yesterday as part of due diligence re the authorities request for folks to stay in as much as possible in order to minimize the amount of people outside during this frightening Coronavirus spread, I was rewarded for my efforts as my garden was visited by a few bird varieties whom I could observe from my windows.

My Encounter With a Superb Starling (Monday's Musings)

The photograph atop this entry feature a Superb Starling (Spreo Superbus) spending time in his home which is within the zoo in Central Park.

A View From The Triplets's Bridge

THESE BIRD TYPES ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

I had some very sweet moments witnessing a House sparrow eavesdropping on a convo between an adult and fledgeling American robin who were spending time in a brook that runs under The Triplets Bridge in Central Park (as seen in the image directly above).

Very near to this scene, a family of House sparrows were bonding...

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

... and another American robin seemed to be enjoying his/her reflection while taking a drink, evidenced in the following pictures.

ROBINS ARE FEATURED IN VOLUME 3

ROBINS ARE FEATURED IN VOLUME 3

The American robin bird variety was not the only one enjoying the brook's water, a lone blue jay fledging was making discoveries as you can see in the next series of photos.

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

Additionally, a lone Mourning dove as well as a pair of European starlings took advantage of this lovely spot, as you might surmise from the two photographs posted below.

THESE BIRD TYPES ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

THESE BIRD TYPES ARE FEATURED IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

By the way,  all of these this bird types are featured in my book series, Words In Our Beak.

THE WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

Yellow Coloration in Nature

I came upon the Silver-Spotted Skipper (seen in the image atop this entry) when I took a walk in Central Park twith CF his past Saturday and I included facts re him/her in my blog post for that day. This creature is on my mind today because I've been thinking about his/her yellow markings as well as elements of nature who have yellow in their coloring.

MEMORIAL DAY 2019

A BRAMHALL CARTOON

I have written about Memorial Day many times here on Blogger; but none of my musings come close to Bramhall's (seen above) and on this Memorial lDay for 2019, l am thinking of how those who lost their lives through war made it possible for me to enjoy the simple pleasures and so-called “little things” in life.

Friday in the Octave of Easter & Arbor Day

Today is Friday in The Octave of Easter; and because it is the last Friday in April, it is also Arbor Day. I've always appreciated Patrick McDonnell's (creator of the Mutts comic strip) "take" re this event and have posted a copy of it atop this entry. As you can see, McDonnell's characters Earl and Mooch seem to know how much birds appreciate trees as evidenced in their planting one, which is appreciated by an avian creature.

I have also planted trees in containers that are in my rooftop garden and have not only been blessed by the beauty they bring to my place; as well as by their often unspoken help to our environment; many birds have come to visit because of them...