marine mammals — The Chronicler's Tales

Climate change, global warming, offshore drilling, plastics clogging our oceans, toxic dump sites, deadly fertilizers and pesticides and dangerous genetically modified seeds, fish dead zones from agricultural manure, mining in our parklands — there are so many threats to our environment and to the beautiful animals who share the Earth with us. I walk along the beaches and in the parks to photograph the birds and other critters. The threats to them are real, and the reason I get so angry at the idiots in our government who have taken over and are trying to destroy our planet. Much of this Web site is dedicated to videos and photos of feathered and furry friends. Here are some of the most recent reasons we should care.

All three of these animals were filmed on Staten Island. The residents I have met there are fighting fearlessly to protect the habitat of these magnificent creatures.

Harbor Seals

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) like to "haul out," or rest, on rocks offshore of Staten Island. I saw them hanging out near the beach at Mount Loretto Unique Area on November 8, 2017, and January 31, 2018.

I set the video to music by Alexander Borodin and Johann Strauss II.

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are amazing marine mammals (protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972) who like to visit Staten Island and "haul out" (rest) on the rocks on the south shore. I was fortunate to see some of these seals on November 8 2017, and January 31, 2018.

Below are some photos from November 8 and January 31. For many more, visit the harbor seals page.

Redheads

I am extremely fond of ducks, and, of course, my dear friend Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond in Central Park, has the greatest part of my love. I had never seen a redhead (Aythya americana) until we visited Baisley Pond Park in Queens on January 18. Given the ginger tops, these ducks quickly won a big place in my heart.

*Redhead, Baisley Pond Park, January 18*

Is there a Filming the Feathers video? Of course there is!

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. These redheads (Aythya americana) were filmed January 18, 2018, at Baisley Pond Park in Queens, New York, diving for submerged aquatic plants with other diving ducks. They are also known to dabble a bit, along with the mallards.

The photos below are from January 18 at Baisley Pond. For more photos, see the redheads page.

Groundhog

To celebrate Groundhog Day, I posted a video and photos of a woodchuck we saw at Wolfe's Pond Park on Staten Island on September 18, 2017.

Groundhog Day? No, Groundhog Minute!

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. A Groundhog Minute for Groundhog Day. Filmed September 21, 2017, at Wolfe's Pond on Staten Island, set to Tuba Waddle by Audionautix. This happy little groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, was just hanging out in the September sun, without a shadow and without chucking wood.