RISE and NYC Plover Project Lead a Spring Bird Walk
By Mel Julien, NYC Plover Project Community Engagement Director
Spring came early for just over a dozen attendees on Saturday, March 2, during the fourth installment of RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity) and NYC Plover Project’s bird walk series. Overcast clouds and light rain brought out curious humans and birds alike as they explored the shores of Arverne’s and Edgemere’s Rockaway Beach Endangered Species Nesting Area (RBESNA).
RBESNA is a teeming biodiversity hotspot, and there was no shortage of birds spotted: sanderlings, buffleheads, common loons, long-tailed ducks, pied-billed grebes, brants, common goldeneyes, herring gulls, ring-billed gulls, killdeers, and one of Rockaway’s first-to-arrive for spring migration, American oystercatchers. The spotting of American oystercatchers signifies that other shorebirds such as piping plovers, common terns, least terns, and black skimmers will arrive here soon for their nesting season.
RISE and NYC Plover Project will continue to cohost this bird walk series throughout the year at various locations in the Rockaways. No birding experience is needed. These free walks are intended to be open to curious nature explorers of all levels.
Be sure to follow RISE and NYC Plover Project via their respective websites, riserockaway.org and nycploverproject.org, and their social media platforms for more information on upcoming events.
