April 29, 2023

Week 14- Wolfe’s Pond Park, Staten Island

On April 27, 2023 at 9:38 am, I visited Wolfe's Pond Park, on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 52 degrees fahrenheit and it was cloudy with winds going 15 mph and this was before a rainstorm. This picture was taken on the beach part of the park and it shows an American Oystercatcher, also known as Haematopus palliatus. They are large, conspicuous birds, easily recognizable by their black and white plumage and bright orange-red beaks .American oystercatchers are primarily found in coastal areas, including sandy beaches, mudflats, and salt marshes. They are named for their preferred food source, oysters, which they open by hammering their bills into the shell. They also eat other bivalves, crabs, and other small invertebrates found in intertidal areas. Due to habitat loss and human disturbance, American oystercatchers are considered a species of conservation concern in many areas

Posted on April 29, 2023 08:33 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Week 13- Fresh Kills Landfill, Staten Island

On April 27, 2023 at 9:38 am, I visited the Fresh Kills Landfill, on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 53 degrees fahrenheit and it was cloudy with some sun and previously raining in the early morning. This picture was taken in the mound transects located in the middle of the landfill. This picture shows a brown lipped snail, also known as Cepaea nemoralis. The brown-lipped snails have a brownish-yellow lip around the opening of their shell, which is usually lighter in color than the rest of the shell. The coloration of their shells can vary widely, however, and may range from light yellow to dark brown or even black. Brown-lipped snails are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, fields, forests, and other wooded areas. They are herbivorous, feeding on a variety of plant materials, including leaves, stems, and flowers. Brown-lipped snails are also known to be an intermediate host for several parasitic organisms, including some species of trematode and nematode worms.

Posted on April 29, 2023 08:28 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Week 13- Fresh Kills Landfill, Staten Island

On April 27, 2023 at 9:38 am, I visited the Fresh Kills Landfill, on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 53 degrees fahrenheit and it was cloudy with some sun and previously raining in the early morning. This picture was taken in the mound transects located in the middle of the landfill. This picture shows a Seven spotted lady beetle, also known as Coccinella septempunctata. Like their names says, seven-spotted lady beetles have seven black spots on their bright red or orange wing covers. They are small, rounded beetles that typically measure around 7 mm in length. The coloration and spotting pattern of seven-spotted lady beetles can vary, however, and some individuals may have fewer or more spots. Seven-spotted lady beetles are beneficial insects that are often used as a natural pest control method in gardens and agricultural settings. The seven-spotted lady beetles are also considered to be a symbol of good luck and are often featured in children's stories and folklore.

Posted on April 29, 2023 08:24 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Week 12- Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

On April 21, 2023 at 9:47 am, I visited Cloves Lake Park, on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 55 degrees fahrenheit and it was cloudy with some sun. This picture was taken on the trails of the lake located in the middle of the park. This picture shows two Killdeers, also known as Charadrius vociferus, which are medium-sized birds, with a brown and white plumage that helps them blend in with their surroundings. They have a distinctive black band around their necks and a bright orange beak. Killdeers are known for their distinctive calls, which are often described as a loud, sharp "kill-deer" or "dee-dee-dee." They have this unique behavior of displaying a broken wing in order to distract predators from getting to their nests or their offsprings.

Posted on April 29, 2023 08:08 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

April 15, 2023

Week 11- Port Monmouth, NJ

On April 9, 2023 at 12:43 pm, I visited Cloves Lake Park, on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 59 degrees fahrenheit and it was cloudy with some sun. This picture was taken in the beginning of the park near the bus station. This picture shows Japanese cherry trees, also known as cherry blossoms or Sakura in Japanese, refer to several species of cherry trees that are native to Japan and are known for their beautiful and iconic flowers. Cherry blossoms are typically pink or white, although there are also varieties with yellow or greenish flowers. The flowers are usually small, with five petals arranged in clusters called umbels. They bloom in the spring, usually for a short period of time, depending on the species and weather conditions, and create a stunning display of delicate flowers covering the branches of the trees.

Posted on April 15, 2023 11:50 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Week 10- Port Monmouth, NJ

On April 11, 2023 at 2:21 pm, I visited Port Monmouth, New Jersey. On this day, the weather was 68 degrees fahrenheit and it was very sunny. This picture was taken in the residential area of NJ. Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), is a species of bird that belongs to the family Icteridae. They are large, black birds with iridescent feathers and are known for their bold and gregarious behavior. They have black feathers with an iridescent blue or purple sheen, especially on their head, neck, and shoulders. Their eyes are bright yellow, and they have a long, pointed bill. Common grackles are opportunistic feeders and have a diverse diet that includes insects, fruits, seeds, small mammals, and even other birds' eggs and nestlings.

Posted on April 15, 2023 11:44 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Week 9- Conference House Park, Staten Island

On April 14, 2023 at 10:57 am, I visited Conference House Park on Staten Island. On this day, the weather was 79 degrees fahrenheit with a clear sky and it was very sunny. This picture was taken around an area where there were many trees. Red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) are a species of bird of prey that belong to the family Accipitridae. They are medium-sized hawks and are known for their striking appearance, with distinct coloration on their wings and shoulders. In this picture, it is visible that this hawk is carrying sticks from a tree. They build large stick nests high in trees, and females lay 2-4 eggs per clutch. They are typically monogamous and form long-term pairs, often returning to the same nesting site each year. Red-shouldered hawks play an important role in controlling populations of rodents and other small animals, and they are considered beneficial to ecosystems.

Posted on April 15, 2023 11:38 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

March 26, 2023

Week 8- Toms River, NJ

On March 4th, 2023, at 4:17 pm, I visited Toms River, New Jersey. On this day, in NJ, the weather was 43 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky. This picture was taken in the streets of Toms River and in this neighborhood, there were many houses that had Yellow Groove Bamboo around the houses. Yellow Groove Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) is a species of bamboo that is native to China and widely cultivated in other parts of the world. It is a clumping bamboo with distinctive yellow grooves or stripes on its green culms (stems), which can grow up to 40 feet tall and 3 inches in diameter. The leaves are long and slender, and the plant produces small, edible shoots in the spring. Yellow Groove Bamboo is often used for landscaping and as a privacy screen due to its fast growth rate and dense foliage.

Posted on March 26, 2023 05:47 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

March 18, 2023

Week 7- Willowbrook Park

On March 17, 2023, at 1:53 pm, I visited Willbrook Park on Staten island. On this day, the weather was 57 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky and winds about 6 mph. This picture was taken by the woody area that is further away from the park. In this picture it shows a White-breasted Nuthatch. The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small bird found in North America. It is known for its distinctive appearance, with a blue-gray back and wings, a white face and underparts, and a black cap and bib. It is named after its habit of using its strong bill to pry open or "hatch" nuts and seeds. White-breasted Nuthatches are common in mixed forests and can also be found in parks and suburban areas with mature trees, just like Willowbrook Park. They are non-migratory and can be seen throughout the year.

Posted on March 18, 2023 05:37 PM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

March 12, 2023

Week 6- Willowbrook Park

On February 3rd, 2023, at 11:30 am, I visited Willbrook Park on Staten island. On this day, the weather was 11 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky and winds about 10 mph. Around the pond area there was minimal disturbances, about 3 people in the park, but there was a high amount of construction and traffic noises that came from outside of the park, which is not far from the pond area. On this day, I was able to observe Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) which are a type of duck commonly found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. They are known for their distinctive green head, white neck ring, and chestnut-colored chest. Male mallards have a glossy green head, while females have a mottled brown plumage. Overall, female mallards are less colorful and less flashy than males, but they are still beautiful birds in their own right. Mallards are adaptable birds and can be found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, lakes, ponds, and rivers. They are omnivorous and feed on a range of foods, including aquatic plants, insects, seeds, and small animals.

Posted on March 12, 2023 05:25 AM by mariamg710 mariamg710 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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