New York City Audubon
Encyclopedia
New York City Audubon is an American
non-profit environmental organization
incorporated in 1979. The group’s mission reads in part: “New York City Audubon is a grassroots
community that works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers.” With nearly 10,000 members, it is one of the largest organizations in the Audubon movement
. It is named in honor of John James Audubon
, an ornithologist and naturalist who shot, painted, catalogued, and described the Birds of North America
.
In recent years, New York City Audubon has exercised particular influence in two areas: the restoration of the Red-tailed Hawk
Pale Male's
nest and the fatal effects of light pollution
and glass windows on migratory birds.
’s nest in December, 2004 and played a major role in negotiating a solution with the co-op board of 927 Fifth Avenue
.
s, Common Yellowthroat
s, and Ovenbird
s. Project Safe Flight works with building owners and managers to address site-specific threats to migratory birds and is working with politicians, architects, glass manufacturers and others to seek long-term solutions. Prior to 9/11 the management of the World Trade Center
gained a good deal of notice when, at New York City Audubon’s request, they placed protective netting around the lower flowers of 1 WTC and 2 WTC. The netting acted somewhat like a trampoline — instead of striking the glass, the birds just bounced off, unharmed.
In September, 2006, Project Safe Flight began a comprehensive study aimed at quantifying the magnitude of the bird collision problem in New York City as well as identifying the main factors involved in such collisions. Dr. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College
, a national authority on the bird collision topic, is leading the study. The project, funded by a grant from US Fish and Wildlife Service with matching funds from corporations and individuals, relies on local citizen scientists
to monitor nearly 80 sites in Manhattan
over the course of two migration seasons. Over 20 volunteers are involved in the monitoring effort
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
’s administration endorsed a voluntary New York City Audubon program that encourages tall buildings to turn out external lights between midnight and 6 AM and shield interior lights as well. The Empire State Building
is a program participant.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-profit environmental organization
Environmental organization
An environmental organization is an organization that seeks to protect, analyze or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation or lobby for these goals....
incorporated in 1979. The group’s mission reads in part: “New York City Audubon is a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
community that works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers.” With nearly 10,000 members, it is one of the largest organizations in the Audubon movement
Audubon movement
The Audubon movement is a collective name for the more than 500 Audubon clubs, societies, and organizations in North America, all of which take their name from the famous bird artist John James Audubon.- Origins :...
. It is named in honor of John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
, an ornithologist and naturalist who shot, painted, catalogued, and described the Birds of North America
Birds of North America
Birds of North America is a comprehensive encyclopedia with substantial articles about each individual bird species.It was first published as a series of 716 printed booklets, prepared by over 5000 individual researchers, and made available in no particular order from 1992 through 2003...
.
In recent years, New York City Audubon has exercised particular influence in two areas: the restoration of the Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
Pale Male's
Pale Male
Pale Male is a well known New York City Red-tailed Hawk who has made his home since the early 1990s near Central Park. Birdwatcher and author Marie Winn gave him his name because of the unusually light coloring of his head...
nest and the fatal effects of light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
and glass windows on migratory birds.
Pale Male
New York City Audubon organized the protests that followed the removal of Pale MalePale Male
Pale Male is a well known New York City Red-tailed Hawk who has made his home since the early 1990s near Central Park. Birdwatcher and author Marie Winn gave him his name because of the unusually light coloring of his head...
’s nest in December, 2004 and played a major role in negotiating a solution with the co-op board of 927 Fifth Avenue
927 Fifth Avenue
927 Fifth Avenue is an upscale residential apartment building in Manhattan, New York City. It is located on Fifth Avenue at the corner of East 74th Street opposite the Model Sailboat Pond in Central Park...
.
Project Safe Flight
Each year, at least many tens of thousands of birds are killed in North America by flying into windows. In 1997 New York City Audubon launched Project Safe Flight, modeled after Toronto’s Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), to work toward long-term solutions for the bird collision problem. From the program’s inception through 2005, field volunteers have found more than 4,000 dead or injured birds of more than 100 species. The most frequently harmed species include White-throated SparrowWhite-throated Sparrow
The White-throated Sparrow is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family Emberizidae.-Description:The White-throated Sparrow is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family Emberizidae...
s, Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
The Common Yellowthroat is a New World warbler. They are abundant breeders in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico....
s, and Ovenbird
Ovenbird
The Ovenbird is a small songbird of the New World warbler family . This migratory bird breeds in eastern North America and moves south in winter.-Taxonomy:...
s. Project Safe Flight works with building owners and managers to address site-specific threats to migratory birds and is working with politicians, architects, glass manufacturers and others to seek long-term solutions. Prior to 9/11 the management of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
gained a good deal of notice when, at New York City Audubon’s request, they placed protective netting around the lower flowers of 1 WTC and 2 WTC. The netting acted somewhat like a trampoline — instead of striking the glass, the birds just bounced off, unharmed.
In September, 2006, Project Safe Flight began a comprehensive study aimed at quantifying the magnitude of the bird collision problem in New York City as well as identifying the main factors involved in such collisions. Dr. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
, a national authority on the bird collision topic, is leading the study. The project, funded by a grant from US Fish and Wildlife Service with matching funds from corporations and individuals, relies on local citizen scientists
Citizen science
Citizen science is a term used for the systematic collection and analysis of data; development of technology; testing of natural phenomena; and the dissemination of these activities by researchers on a primarily avocational basis...
to monitor nearly 80 sites in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
over the course of two migration seasons. Over 20 volunteers are involved in the monitoring effort
Lights Out New York
Light pollution contributes to bird collisions. In 2005 New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
’s administration endorsed a voluntary New York City Audubon program that encourages tall buildings to turn out external lights between midnight and 6 AM and shield interior lights as well. The Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
is a program participant.
Harbor Herons Project
Unknown to most, even to many birdwatchers, the small islands of the highly commercialized and heavily developed New York/New Jersey Estuary are home to one of the Atlantic Coast’s largest colonies of nesting herons – with more than 3,000 individuals. Since 1985, New York City Audubon has managed the nesting sites.See also
- Geography and environment of New York CityGeography and environment of New York CityThe geography of New York City is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor. The city's geography, with its scarce availability of land, is a contributing factor in making New York City the most densely populated...
- Environmental issues in New York CityEnvironmental issues in New York CityEnvironmental issues in New York City are affected by the city's size, density, abundant public transportation infrastructure, and location at the mouth of the Hudson River....
- Jamaica BayJamaica BayJamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
- Central ParkCentral ParkCentral Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
- Prospect ParkProspect Park (Brooklyn)Prospect Park is a 585-acre public park in the New York City borough of Brooklyn located between Park Slope, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden...
- Pelham Bay ParkPelham Bay ParkPelham Bay Park, located in the northeast corner of the New York City borough of The Bronx and extending partially into Westchester County, is at the largest public park in New York City. The section of the park within New York City's borders is more than three times the size of Manhattan's...
- Forest ParkForest Park (Queens)Forest Park is a park in the New York City borough of Queens. It has an area of 538 acres . The park is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.-History:...
- Staten Island GreenbeltStaten Island GreenbeltThe Staten Island Greenbelt is a system of contiguous public parkland and natural areas in the central hills of the New York City borough of Staten Island...