In April ‘24 we mentioned experimenting with The Noticer’s scope and cadence. Current thinking is we’ll drop quick, weekly-ish dispatches among longer-form monthlies. The better to help you notice the real world’s goings on with, my dear.
Another inspiration: Japanese micro-seasons. The 72 (!) of them. Unlike the slavish quarters of labor hours so feted by corporate humanoids, micro-seasons are straight from source, the great unity, the god-babe herself: Mama Natura.
Current Japanese micro-season? 鴻雁北, or Wild geese fly north. (Shoutout M. Oliver and soft bodies.) As for McGolrick, New York City and perhaps even larger swathes of the eastern US, we notice—
MICRO-SEASONINGS
Bumblebees appear · Northern Flickers laugh · First warblers visit · Siberian Elms: red to green · Flowering trees · First push of Hermit Thrushes · First push of migrating sparrows · Baby squirrels play · Canada Geese fly north (just like in Japan 🤘😭)
Pretty sweet, no? And did we miss anything? We’ll declare this micro-season’s “official” name at year’s end.
Chipping and Field Sparrows were this micro-seasons’s migrating sparrows.
By “push” we just meant days when a species is findable en masse after being absent since fall. The deal is flocks are migrating—then alighting on McGolrick Park—together. #squad
Palm and Pine were this micro-season’s visiting warblers. These species are the proverbial early birds when it comes to spring warbling. Don’t forget to review the remaining 20 warblers we expect to visit McGolrick Park this spring here.
APRIL 13, 2024 — SATURDAY
Conditions: Windy · Attendance: 84 hotties at peak · Vibes: Very, very good
Saturday birds: Pine Warbler · Eastern Towhee · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker · White-throated Sparrow · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Laughing Gull · Hermit Thrush · Northern Cardinal · Northern Flicker · American Crow … And the virtually always present in urban parks: Rock Pigeon, European Starling, American Robin, House Sparrow, Mourning Dove — learn these last 5 birds and you’ll be set to notice less-commoners.
Shoutout: Lil’ Millie and Big Pat for spotting the Pine Warbler — a Saturday first seen.
MICRO-LESSON: THRUSHES
Knowing types of birds by sight can be a solid foothold from which new bird-noticers achieve species-level familiarity.
Chickadees, nuthatches, thrashers, jays … you’re perhaps vaguely familiar with these words. They’re bird types, hot stuff.
A primo bird type to know: thrush. American Robins, one of the most common birds in the US, are thrushes. You’ve seen ‘em: plump, big-eyed, medium-sized, often seen feeding on the ground. Let’s take that shape, that lük, that MO, then check for these four migrating thrushes who’ll pass through NYC from April to early June. Here we go:
NYC’s four most common migrating thrushes are: Hermit Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, and Wood Thrush. Hello, handsomes!
Firstly, do you see how these birds, in shape and feature, kinda look like discolored Robins? (They’re slightly smaller than Robins in-person.)
Secondly, you may notice that while the light + cinnamon Veery and the rusty + spotted Wood Thrush are pretty distinctive, the Hermit and Swainson’s ain’t. Those two trickier-to-tell-apart species’ diagnostic differences are:
Hermits have, relative to their light brown backs, reddish tails
Swainson’s have brows that, combined with their eye-rings, form a vague spectacles shape. Their tail color does not contrast with their backs
Cool? Bird type thing make sense? Yeah? PROVE IT. Q: Which look is giving Thrush?
Not making sense? Don’t fret, friend. Instead, poke around these bird type links until something clicks: chickadees, nuthatches, thrashers, jays, thrushes. And take solace in the fact that IRL learning is always easier than online. So, see you Saturday.
UPDATES, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REQS
Announcement — In May, we’ll add some weekday morning walks to the usual Saturday thing. No big intros (you’re welcome). Just quick, early bird walks designed to up your games and heart rates and pre-work spirits. Details to come.
Announcement — A few free, near-flung Sunday Walks coming up:
4/21 - Under the K Bridge (Iink)
4/28 - Cooper Park (details to come)
We need your help! You’re not one of those neck bent victims of the attention economy who walks around East Greenpoint with your eyeballs on your phone instead of your environs, are you? Since that’s an “OF COURSE NOT, HOMIE,” you’ve surely noticed buildings like these:
We’ve done some cursory googling but can’t find any info on/history of these brick puppies. Soviet vibrations, for sure. Adornments include Polish eagles, Bald Eagles, St. Michael statues, horse heads, pinecones, a bronze teddy bear, etcetera. We’d love to write more about these architectural gems. If you have any information at all, or are property records savvy, please DM us! Also: first person to message us any of the above buildings’ addresses gets a prize.
Announcement — We’re probably OOO next week. So if you enjoyed this … be patient with us <3 Have a nice Sunday!
