Macaulay Bioblitz
Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a taxon leader for birds for Macaulay's Bioblitz at Van Cortlandt Park. I took my group on the path towards the Van Cortlandt mansion where we observed Ruby-throated Hummingbirds drinking nectar from jewelweed and along the pond where we saw (3) herons! The other group was led by Ken Chaya, a renowned naturalist and a president (well the former president of the Linnaean society). I had first met Chaya by the pool in Central Park when we were both birding; turns out he is the guy responsible for all the tree plaques in that park. Chaya let me tag along his afternoon walk and I got to see a prime class in facilitating. There was an elusive hooded warbler in the jewelweed that Merlin picked up. My friend Julia who I had met at CNC was also there as an assistant; we had great fun. Somehow wildlifenyshow was also there, in the nature center. Quite a day to run into all these familiar faces. Special thanks to Dr. O'Donnell and Lisa Brundage for letting me tag along.