A Super Snow Moon Rises Over Fort Tilden

On February 19, 2019, a super snow moon occurred. I was fortunate enough to be on the beach at Breezy Point in Queens, near the Silver Gull Beach Club, when the Moon appeared at 5:49 p.m. behind the sands of the beach at Fort Tilden. We watched the moon for 10 minutes as it rose in the sky, until it disappeared behind the clouds at around 5:59.

Super snow moon over the beach at Fort Tilden, seen from near the Silver Gull Beach Club at Breezy Point.

I took video of the moon rise, which I speeded up to 125% and set to Paul Pitman’s performance of the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (sort of obvious, but it works!).

We kept walking on the Fort Tilden beach as we headed to the bus, and watched as the supermoon changed from a bright orangeish-pink ball into a bright white moon, with the flashing lights of planes landing at Kennedy Airport crossing underneath.

Time-lapse (8 seconds) photo of supermoon with lights of planes landing at Kennedy Airport.

The supermoon in all its glory, February 19

Our Celebrity Mandarin Duck at the Pond

So our fickle New York City media have decided that Mandy the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is the "most handsome" duck around and worthy of a spot on the local CBS news and in other media outlets (including The Times).

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, Central Park, October 28, 2018

Mandarin and wood ducks are the only two members of the Aix genus, which apparently denotes the most handsome ducks in the world. I agree that Mandy is very striking — one might even call him the Taylor Mac of the duck world — but I wouldn’t go so far to say he is the most handsome! As you can see from these side-by-side photos, Woody still rules the Pond!

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, October 28, 2018

Woody Woody Duck, Prince of the Pond, October 28, 2018

Now for those of you who might think that Mandy is the first Mandarin duck to appear in Central Park, here is a photo from March 18, 2016, of a Mandarin duck in the Central Park Zoo, which is just a hop and a skip away (if you have long legs or wings) from the Pond where Woody lives. I haven't visited recently, so don't know if this little duck is still in residence, but just so you know ...

Mandarin Duck, Central Park Zoo, March 18, 2016

The Filming the Feathers video shows both Mandy and the Central Park Mandarin duck, and is set to music by Keven MacLeod and Shane Ivers.

Whale-Watching on the American Princess

My birthday present for myself was a trip on the American Princess, which departed at noon on August 23 from Riis Landing on Jamaica Bay, to see humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). We had a very successful adventure, seeing at least two different whales blowing air and coming out of the water. I took video throughout, and I share with you the video compilation and stills pulled from the video.

Humpback whale, seen from the American Princess, August 23, 2018

Humpback whale seen from the American Princess, August 23, 2018

The video, very shaky because I was, after all, on a boat in the ocean and hand-holding the camera, is set to music by Audionautrix.

Gotham Whale, a whale research and advocacy organization, has become concerned about potential overfishing of the menhaden, or bunker, fish the whales love. According to Gotham Whale:

“The Omega Fleet recently has been fishing just outside the 3-mile limit of NY/NJ.  They are fishing legally, but we believe threaten the local population of bunker in the area where whales feed.”

The Gotham Whale policy:

“While supporting long term regulatory and policy changes in the actions below, we believe that influencing the Omega Company directly could have an immediate and beneficial effect.  Our strategy is to direct public attention to the problem and exert pressure in terms of public relations for Omega Protein.  We hope the Company will see fit to find other fishing grounds.  Our suggestion would be to fish at least 20 miles from the entrance of NY Harbor.  Gotham Whale has been documenting humpback feeding in this area since 2011 and we would like it to continue.  We are also appealing to the owners of Omega Protein to further persuade them to leave the bunker for the whales.”

To sign the petition, visit: https://gothamwhale.org/petition1/