For the first time in my 16-plus years of New York City living, I saw a baby pigeon on the street. It was sitting — and cheeping loudly — near an adult pigeon on the sidewalk, just outside a popular pizzeria in my neighborhood. Susan Elbin, director of conservation and science at NYC Audubon, said [...]

Originally posted at Urban Science Adventures! © I took these photos at Litszinger Road Ecology Center (an Urban Nature Reserve) spring 2006. Two Tom Turkeys (males) facing off. Two Tom Turkeys trying to impress a Hen Turkey (female). Can you see her? She’s much smaller and to the right of the males. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In all of the excitement and concern in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, many people’s attentions have turned to rats? So What Happened to All of the Subway Rats? The Ratpocalypse Has Been Canceled Did NYC rats survive hurricane Sandy? And one that hits a little closer to home: It spurred some comments, mostly tongue-in-cheek [...]

I get this question a lot? Whenever friends some across a plant, animal, a footprint, or even a pile a poop, it’s not uncommon for me to get a text message, a phone call or even a tag on Facebook asking me to identity (or come get) this thing.  I even joked about it in [...]

This book was a graduation present when I got my PhD in biology. I was very happy to receive it. It is a great gift. Perhaps when at the end of my postdoc I’ll get a Smithsonian Book on African Mammals. I the meantime I’ll leave you this video of me doing mammalogists do, getting [...]

In celebration of Pollination Week, June 18-24, I wanted to give everyone a few ideas for a great Urban Science Adventure Activity you can do this weekend.  Today, June 21st is also Summer Learning Day. Join communities across the country in celebrating the importance of summer learning. Summer Learning Day is widely supported by educators, [...]

June 18-24, 2012 is Pollinator Week. Join me is raising awareness of the importance of pollinators our ecosystems.   How well do you know your bees? Take this quick and see: Bee Identification.    

The older I get and the more ‘seasoned’ I become in this science outreach arena, I come to believe more and more that role models matter. In each person there is the capacity to grow and prosper and for many people, this tenacity to thrive cannot be denied, no matter the circumstances presented to them. [...]

I was an only child until I was eleven years old.  As a result I spent quite a bit of time entertaining myself –reading, playing solitary games, creating imaginary friends.  I was envious of other children from larger families because they seemed to have these pre-established friendships with real people.  As an adult I can [...]

I’m teaching Foraging Behavior in my Animal Behavior Class this week.  I was searching for some information in my files to share with my students to illustrate the concepts discussed in class: optimal foraging, foraging decisions.  I then came across this blog post I wrote but never published. I attended the 12 Biennial Conference of [...]