New York Nature Mobile

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New York Nature Mobile

NY Nature Mobile is a 501(c)3 non-profit.

New York Nature Mobile brings the wonders of New York's biodiversity to people around the city through interactive programs which instill a sense of stewardship and inspire grassroots action to preserve habitats.

06/04/2026

On Saturday, May 30th, New York Nature Mobile attended an annual conference hosted by New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA). The event, held this year at Stony Brook University's Southampton Campus, was well attended by other organizations and educators who are passionate about science and marine science. Representing both public and private schools and grades K-12, attendees could learn about programs offered to enhance their school curriculum from a number of organizations and participated in hands-on workshops with topics that covered community action, wetlands, community partnerships and oyster restoration.

New York Nature Mobile was thrilled to attend and set up a table highlighting our recently expanded program offerings. To learn more about our program offerings visit our website at www.newyorknaturemobile.org

05/28/2026

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are among the smallest birds that can be found in NY. Averaging 7-9 cm (2.8-3.5 inches) in length this tiny, but mighty bird travels from its winter in Central America to Canada to breed in summer. Adults are an iridescent green with nearly black wings above and grayish-white coloring below. Males have an iridescent red throat patch while females do not. Jewelweed, Coral Honeysuckle, and Cardinal flower are all good examples of plants that hummingbirds where prefer to find their . are particularly attracted to tubular flowers that are orange and red and are great as they transfer from flower to flower in their search for nectar.

🎥: R. Cummings -ThroatedHummingbird feeding. DYK the Ruby-throated Hummingbird can move their wings 80 times per second while hovering; moving their wings in a figure 8 pattern.

05/08/2026

The Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), aka the American Dogwood is a tree that produces beautiful each spring. Flower heads are surrounded by 4 bracts that are white, pink, or red in colour. A common sight in gardens, wild dogwoods can be found on forest edges. flowers in the northern part of its range in late April-May and the that it produces in summer is a food source for a variety of and is a host tree for a number species. However, the fruit is poisonous to humans. American Dogwood is listed as exploitably vulnerable in NYS.

📸: American Dogwood Tree

05/01/2026

The Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is a native species of bird common in NYC. It is an omnivorous bird eating bugs and earthworms and fruits, berries and nuts. Slate-grey in color with a black cap and rust colored feathers on the underside of their tails, the is known for the cat-like call it makes. They range in length from 20.5- 24cm (8.1- 9.4in) and have a wingspan span of 22- 30cm (8.7-11.8in). They can most often be observed in backyards and parks with woodland edges and areas with thick shrubs and vegetation.

Look and listen for this chatty bird this spring!

📸: Grey Catbird in clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

04/27/2026

The Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) can be found in many NYC parks and throughout NYS. Their diet can be varied eating aquatic plants, crustaceans, insect larvae and fish. Young turtles may be more carnivorous and become more herbivorous as they mature. Generally, female turtles are larger than males averaging 6-7in (14-17cm) in length. Males average 5-7in (3-17cm) in length. can look similar to the invasive Red-Ear Slider, however, Painted Turtles have yellow spots or stripes on its head, olive green to black colored (upper shell) with red coloring along the sides, and yellow plastron (bottom shell).

📸: Painted Turtle at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! On this day we celebrate this amazing planet and focus on working together to protect it and its astounding inhabitants.
We chose this day to launch New York Nature Mobile four years ago. Our mission was to bring the wonders of our local wildlife to people around the city and to inspire action to preserve habitats that are crucial to wildlife survival.

Since our founding over 7,000 people have participated in our free pop-up science programs and at community events. Participants have learned about New York’s wildlife and shared their stories of, and interest in the animals they encounter in their neighborhoods. It has been a joy to share our passion for wildlife and to continue learning about the diverse species that make New York City their home.

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated volunteers Dorothy, Nancy, Bob and Kim, our supportive Board of Directors, generous donors, and organizations including Bruce G. Geary Foundation, and Staten Island Running Association. We are forever grateful!

We are excited to start our 5th year with a generous grant from Staten Island Foundation. The grant will help us reach new audiences and move toward sustainability.

We hope on this Earth Day (and everyday) that nature surprises you, brings you joy, and inspires you to protect our amazing home.

Thank you for all of your support!

04/19/2026

The weather was beautiful this past Saturday when “popped up” at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island. While there, some of the local wildlife could be observed, like a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentine). These are some of North America’s largest turtles. Almost prehistoric looking, the has a reputation for their aggressive defensive behaviors. They will snap at almost anything they feel is a threat if escape is not an option. The snapping turtle’s sharp beak-like mouth is sharp enough and strong enough to bite a fish in half. Given sufficient space, snapping turtles can be safely observed. Just don’t try to approach or touch them! Found in lakes and ponds, the snapping turtle will eat a variety of food. , their diet includes aquatic plants, animals, and carrion.

DYK- the Common Snapping Turtle is the official reptile of NYS?

📸: Common Snapping Turtle at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island.

10/19/2025

The Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) ranges from New Jersey to Florida in the east and as far west as Missouri, south to Texas, but they have been observed further north. It was getting nectar from the white snakeroot flowers in the garden of a staff member on .

This prefers host plants that include a of sumacs and oaks. What is interesting about this species is that it will lay the eggs on the leaves that have fallen to the ground near the host plant and not directly on the plant. not only provides nutrients for the soil and protection for many small animals, it is a food source as well.

This butterfly has little hair-like projections from its hind wings and spots giving it the appearance of having two heads. It will move its wings up and down confusing a predator thinking it was the real head, thereby protecting its vital organs and a better chance of escaping.

🦋

10/14/2025

The Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia) is found throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They prefer warm weather and those that survive to the adult stage will south in the September and October. Those that make it up to Canada do not breed there.

They eat a variety of host plants, both and -native. The and Narrow-leaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) are non-native plants that are used by the 🐛. The Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) is a native plant found throughout the U.S. and the southern part of Canada. Planting native plants provides a food source for the Buckeye and for other native .

📸: Common Buckeye Butterfly visiting wildflowers on Staten Island before continuing on its fall .

🦋 🍂🍂🍂

10/08/2025

American Grass Spiders (Agelenopsis), are a genus of funnel web spiders. Funnel web spiders create webs that look like sheets with a funnel like shelter on one side. The 🕸️ of this genus aren’t sticky, instead the spider uses its ability to move quickly to overtake prey that wonder into its web.

📸: The funnel web spider pictured here is believed to be a Pennsylvania Grass Spider, also called a Pennsylvania Funnel Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica). It was found in a planter of a staff member.

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Address

Staten Island, NY
10301

Telephone

+16463891575

Website

http://www.newyorknaturemobile.org/

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