Trees

It is blossom time! The Yoshino cherry and magnolias are putting on a stunning show right now. The cornelian cherry, a dogwood, has already flowered, but look out for the flowering dogwood. The maples and elms flowered and are now putting out leaves (red maple) or fruit (silver maple and elms). The next cherry to flower will be the Kwanzan. The florets of the crabapple are elongating so we will be in more floral treats soon. If you’d like to learn more about the study of seasonal changes (aka phenology) in the park’s trees, email us. We can train you to be a phenology monitor.

Birds

The red-tailed hawks are brooding but we don’t know how many eggs are in the nest. New York University (NYU) has operated the hawk cameras since 2011, the first year a pair nested on the university’s main library. The hawk cameras have provided the public with a safe view of the wonders of hawk life in the city. NYU has refused individual requests to enable the hawk cameras this year. Let’s raise our voices to save this valuable science learning and engagement opportunity. Please sign this petition: NYU, Turn on the Hawk Cam.

We are happy to be busy again! Check out our spring calendar below.
 

SAVE THE DATES

March for Science – Earth Day 2021, April 19th (online) We will have a virtual booth this year. Stop by for guided drawing, Bird ID by ear, specimen study, share your bird story, and more. RSVP here.
Park-by-Park Challenge (City Nature Challenge 2021), Friday, April 30th – Monday, May 3rd Download the iNaturalist app and upload photographs of the nature you see in the park.
Eco Projects at the Naval Cemetery Landscape, May 2nd Meet you at this Brooklyn greenspace for a bird walk and specimen study as well as complete a birdy craft to take home.
World Migratory Bird Day, May 8th (online) Join Loyan Beausoleil, our Bird Program Manager, for a photo and video presentation of a lesser known urban bird, the Chimney Swift! Register here.

Georgia is on a lecture circuit this year. Her next public talk, “Floodplain Forest, Farmland, Public Park: The Human and Non-human Lives of Washington Square Park,” will be hosted by Holden Forests & Gardens on May 12th at 7pm ET. Bookmark this page to register after April 14th.