Douglas Manor Environmental Association

09/30/2026

We hope everyone hasn't been too adversely affected by the inclement weather we've experienced over the last few days. It feels like autumn arrived right on schedule and summer left without a second of hesitation!

Speaking of autumn, now is the time to catch a glimpse of the migratory birds we've grown used to seeing over the last few months before they head south, alongside a few new arrivals settling in from further north.

Our beloved local ospreys have largely already migrated, with the females having left earlier in the month, males heading out around now, and those born this year will follow within the next few weeks. Black-crowned night herons, one of the most striking birds we regularly see in our local area and a species whose precise habitat we aim to protect, are also in peak migration right now, heading south for the winter.

Meanwhile, keep an eye out for juncos and Winter Wrens as they settle in our area after their summer stay in Canada.

Pictured below are just two examples of some of the birds we've seen in the Manor, an Osprey and a Black-crowned night heron. Source: Arthur Skok

08/04/2026

07/24/2026

Please slow down and watch the roads for our wildlife this summer!

As recent DMA newsletters have noted, birds and turtles have been struck and killed by vehicles and cyclists in the area. Recently a female diamondback terrapin was found dead on Memorial Field, apparently struck overnight while nesting, possibly by a car launching a boat from the ramp or by a cyclist, and all of her laid eggs were destroyed.

It is peak nesting season for these saltwater turtles, and this was the first nesting we have observed in our area. Diamondback terrapins are a protected species in New York, and these turtles take years to mature so each one matters to the long-term health of the whole population. Whenever you are driving, cycling in areas especially near watersheds, or walking late at night without a flashlight, please be careful.

The silver lining is that we now know our environment is recovering to the point that vulnerable species are nesting in the area. The Big Rock Project will reestablish the salt marsh and, as a byproduct, enlarge the area suitable for potential future nesting of many species. We will have updates on the start of the project in the coming weeks, and additional signage will be placed where turtle crossing activity has been observed.

06/23/2026

Each year, the DMEA counts on the NYC Bird Alliance, who are our partners in the Big Rock Wetland Restoration Project, to survey avian life around the restoration area. These counts began several years ago to record the presence of various bird species before the restoration, so it can be compared with what we find after the work is completed.

Tod Winston of the NYC Bird Alliance has been conducting these surveys, often starting as early as 5:30am at sunrise, when birds are most active. Using established methods like transects (walking set routes to record birds along the way) and point counts (pausing at fixed spots to tally everything seen and heard), we can gather a consistent picture of bird life at the sites observed.

The surveys cover two locations: areas along the Big Rock project, including Memorial Field and coastal areas further north to the boulder that the project is named after, and a nearby control site for comparison. This is a long-term project: by tracking both sites and counting the birds before the restoration and for many years after it's completed, we will observe how the project affects wildlife diversity. Healthier wetlands as designed by the project mean more food, shelter, and nesting habitat, and the variety of avian life is one of the best ways to see that change happening in real time.

The surveys have already turned up an amazing assortment of species, including spring migration arrivals like the Orchard Oriole, Magnolia Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, and Forster's Tern in May. During our June survey, we observed fewer migratory species but some additional birds we did not count in our May survey, like the Marsh Wren.

We would like to thank Tod and the NYC Bird Alliance for their early mornings and for graciously sharing their expertise during their surveys. We'll be sharing more of what we've found as the data comes in during later surveys, so please stay tuned as the project continues!

Included is a small sample of some of the birds observed during our surveying over the last few weeks.

WetlandRestoration

05/30/2026

If you've walked by Aurora Pond over the last few days, you may have noticed the welcome absence of floating compost bins, traffic cones, and a bit less trash along the trails.

This week, the DMEA teamed up with the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee to clear out the large amount of refuse that washed into the pond after the heavy rains earlier in the week. We even used a kayak to reel in the bigger objects that had drifted toward the center!

Thank you to everyone who pitched in to keep our shared green spaces clean. Aurora Pond is one of many gems in our neighborhood, and it takes a community to protect it. Given its importance to our local watershed, we have a few ongoing projects and partnerships focused on environmental protection and surveys of the pond.

Keep a look out for some of the data and pictures we've collected this season in the upcoming weeks!

05/18/2026

Spring migration is peaking right now over Douglas Manor.

Billions of birds are moving up the Atlantic Flyway and our neighborhood sits directly under it. This is both the best time to observe species we rarely get the chance to see other times of the year, and simultaneously the most important time to take precautions and help protect them on their journey further up north or even just to settle around here.

Great Egrets are back from their winter in the Caribbean, stalking the salt marshes at Udalls Cove. Ospreys are nesting along the bay. Red-winged Blackbirds are back with their iconic singing.

During this particular week in the middle of May, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks and most common of all, warblers like the Common Yellowthroat pictured above, who unfortunately passed away after a presumptive window collision, are passing through on their way to breeding grounds further north.

Window collisions kill an estimated 365 million to 1 billion birds in the US every year as the second-leading human cause of bird death after cats. Migrants are especially vulnerable because they fly at night, get disoriented by lit buildings, and crash into reflective glass at dawn while looking for food. If you can and it is not too inconvenient for you please:

Turn off non-essential outdoor and indoor lights from 11 PM to 6 AM during migration (now through early June, and again in September to October) or close blinds and curtains at night. Window decals or dot patterns on large glass surfaces also go a long way.

On a lighter note, for bird observers here in the Manor, the best time to look for migratory birds in decent visibility is sunrise to around 10am. A helpful tool that some of our DMEA members use is the Merlin Bird ID app.

Finally, keep an eye out for more updates on the bird survey being conducted throughout Douglas Manor in collaboration with one of our Big Rock partners, NYC Bird Alliance. We're hoping to observe avian population trends throughout areas in the Manor before, during and after the Big Rock project is concluded.

Happy birding!

05/04/2026

Happy May the 4th! Hopefully your week has started great!

For us, it's been a fascinating one: we witnessed a scene that was nearly impossible in our neighborhood only a generation ago!

One of our DMEA directors was lucky enough to witness an amazing example of the dynamics between magnificent birds of prey right here in Douglas Manor: a bald eagle perched in a tree, getting harried (no pun intended) by an osprey overhead and vocalizing right back (yes, those high pitched chirps are from the eagle!).

Both species were pushed to the brink by DDT in the mid-20th century, and the fact that we now have enough of them in our neighborhood to see them squabbling over territory is one of the great conservation success stories of our lifetime!

It's a reminder that the salt marsh, shoreline, and tree canopy we're working to protect aren't just nice to have, they're home to wildlife that's only here because the habitat is healthy enough to support them.

Some context for why this confrontation may have happened: Ospreys are North America's only true fish-specialist raptor, with fish making up about 99% of their diet, while bald eagles are notorious for stealing osprey catches. Furthermore, bald eagles are 2 to 3 times heavier than ospreys, though ospreys are much more agile in the air, and both species can hit speeds approaching 100 mph while diving.

Have you ever seen a bald eagle in the wild?

Video: .skok

04/25/2026

Good morning! Quick weather update: with sporadic rain in today's forecast, the post-cleanup picnic for the 57th Annual Udalls Cove Cleanup has been moved indoors to the Fellowship Hall on the ground floor of the Community Church of Douglaston, at 39-50 Douglaston Parkway. The entrance is from the parking lot behind the church, and food will be ready by noon.

The cleanup itself still kicks off at 10:00 AM near Aurora Pond on Sandhill Road, where the UCPC will meet briefly with volunteers and provide supplies including gloves, bags, and maps.
Hope to see you there! 🌿

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from everyone at the Douglas Manor Environmental Association. The Artemis II mission earlier this month was a great example of the big things mankind can accomplish, but as individuals the biggest impact we can make is when we act locally, in our neighborhoods, where we have the most at stake.

The DMEA undertakes local environmental projects with our incredible local partners: The Udalls Cove Preservation Committee, Save the Sound, the Alley Pond Environmental Center, the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society and many more.

You can support us by simply following us on social media, where we can advocate and inform you about our projects and work in the community, or if you would like and have the resources, please donate to the DMEA at this link: https://thedmea.org/support-us/ or on our bio.

This planet is our home and the only one we will likely know for a while.
Photo: NASA

04/19/2026

Our friends on the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee are holding their 57th Annual Cleanup this Saturday, April 25th, at 10 AM at Aurora Pond on Sandhill Road.

Keeping in mind that it is a week out, the forecast is looking okay with a 20% chance of rain and temperatures in the upper 50s. Regardless, long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes are recommended if you're planning on heading into the brush (you never know when you might meet some poison ivy or a critter or two).

The UCPC is hosting a free picnic lunch for volunteers at noon and we hope to see you there!

Scan the QR code or visit https://www.udallscove.org/annual-cleanup for more!