NEW YORK WILDLIFE
The ongoing New York Wildlife project celebrates the rich and diverse wildlife inhabiting urban New York and New York State. The project raises awareness of over 120 species, including vulnerable species, and raises funds for local conservation organisations.
In February 2024 and April 2025, led by artist and Drawing for the Planet (DftP) founder Jane Lee McCracken, over 350 children from Riverdale Country School and P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School were invited to learn about and create ballpoint pen drawings of local wildlife in workshops delivered by Jane and project ambassador Kaitlyn Helf.
As part of the project Jane has created montages featuring the children’s drawings. Drawing for the Planet presented printed murals of the artworks to both schools in Fall, 2024 and Summer, 2025.
Scroll down to view the page sections:
- We Love New York Campaign: NASDAQ, Times Square
- The Project: Overview and project aims
- How to Protect Wildlife: Learn how you can help protect wildlife
- The Artworks: Riverdale Country School and P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School murals
- The Wildlife: Learn about New York's epic wildlife illustrated by a selection of drawings
- The Artists: Meet some of our artists
- Meet the Project Team: Learn more about our team
- New York Conservation Organizations: Find out about the organizations Drawing for the Planet is supporting through the project
WE LOVE NEW YORK CAMPAIGN, TIMES SQUARE, NYC
The NASDAQ Marketsuite Tower and Marquee, Times Square, screened Drawing for the Planet's New York Wildlife We Love New York campaign videos during the city's Climate Week (22-29 September). The message of the campaign is that wildlife loves New York—it is their home too. Designed by Jane, the videos feature drawings by children from Riverdale Country School and P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School. They also feature a detail of a monarch butterfly from Jane's ballpoint pen drawing American Dream. The butterfly is layered with a drawing of the Wolf Conservation Center, NY's famous ambassador wolf, Atka. The design utilizes the windows of the NASDAQ Tower as perches for the animals. The background color is the exact blue used on the City of New York flag.
THE PROJECT
OVERVIEW
Jane created the New York Wildlife project in 2024 following an enquiry from Kaitlyn Helf, a high school student from Riverdale Country School, offering to support Drawing for the Planet. Kaitlyn was invited to become project ambassador and has assisted with research and the planning and execution of the workshops.
Children from Riverdale Country School and P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School participated in on-site workshops in February, 2024 and April 2025.
Jane said:
"I was overjoyed to be back in New York, a city I deeply admire, to lead the New York Wildlife project. Working with our dedicated project ambassador, Kaitlyn Helf, and such talented young artists was inspirational. The children's drawings help raise awareness of the unexpected richness and variety of the wildlife New Yorkers are fortunate to have as neighbours."
Kaitlyn said:
"I am thrilled to be part of the team, as Drawing for the Planet represents a unique intersection of my interests. Raising awareness about the importance of preserving animals in the wild and cities is essential.”
EDUCATION AND DRAWING WORKSHOPS
During the workshops children learned about local species, the biodiversity crisis, why wildlife is important to humans and our planet, and simple key actions we can all take to save Earth’s remaining wildlife.
In Jane's ballpoint pen drawing workshops she encourages each artist to imagine what the animal they are drawing has seen with its eyes and to form emotional connections with the animal while making their drawing—if we want to save wildlife, it is vital to make emotional connections with animal species; if we care, we want to conserve.
She also encourages the artists to express themselves, enjoy transporting their minds through drawing, celebrate their own unique drawing style, and embrace the fact that everyone can draw!
PROJECT AIMS
The New York Wildlife project aims to:
- Raise awareness of local species, including vulnerable species, and the importance of protecting wildlife and its habitats in New York.
- Create an artistic and educational legacy through the drawings of a generation of young New Yorkers.
- Encourage love, compassion, and respect for individual species; grow collective responsibility towards nature and conservation, both locally and globally; give children, communities, and wildlife a voice.
- Donate to local conservation organizations to support their vital work rehabilitating and protecting wildlife and habitats.
DftP has donated project funds to the following local conservation organizations:
To support our projects, give the gift of art and environmental education to children and communities, and support wildlife conservation, please DONATE via our donate page:
drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/donate
HOW TO PROTECT WILDLIFE
Want to protect wildlife but unsure how you can help? We've created a list of 10 simple actions everyone can take to make a difference to our wild neighbours. CLICK on the image and download our PDF.
THE ARTWORKS
The following New York Wildlife montages created by Jane feature drawings of New York's remarkable wildlife by every participating artist. A selection of the drawings illustrate species information in The Wildlife section—scroll down to learn about the animals children championed through their beautiful drawings.
2025
RIVERDALE COUNTRY SCHOOL
In 2024-25, the project team worked with grade 4 children, and Ms Sophia Spector, art teacher, Riverdale Lower School, and grade 7 children, and Ms. Narges Anvar, art teacher, Riverdale Upper School.
P.S.49 THE WILLIS AVENUE SCHOOL
In 2024-25, the project team worked with grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 children, and art teacher Ms Erica Jones, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School.
WILD BIRD FUND
Jane presented the Wild Bird Fund with a print featuring drawings of some of New York's avian species by children from Riverdale Country School and P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School.
2024
RIVERDALE COUNTRY SCHOOL
P.S.49 THE WILLIS AVENUE SCHOOL
THE WILDLIFE
Each of the 122 species featured inhabit New York City and/or New York State. Illustrated by drawings created for New York Wildlife by children from Riverdale Country School and P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School, each species plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Like humans, they live their lives according to their needs.
Some of these beautiful animals are threatened with extinction. It is up to all of us to protect and cherish them. Learn more about each species with information provided by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and other sources:
MAMMALS
From flying squirrels to humpback whales, learn about 28 magical mammal species:
LITTLE BROWN BAT
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Extant: Canada, USA
Drawings: Arianna, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Tyson, Grade 7, Riverdale Country Lower School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Little Brown Bat:
"The little brown myotis has been heavily impacted by white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by a fungus that grows on their nose and wing membranes. Prior to 2006, they were the most common bat in the state but became rare throughout most of the state by 2010...The little brown myotis uses a variety of forest types and they are somewhat of a habitat generalist. They occur in deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forest stands...In winter, little brown myotis hibernate in caves and mines in areas with high humidity and temperatures that are typically above freezing..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/little-brown-bat
NEW ENGLAND COTTONTAIL
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: 17,000, DECREASING
Extant: New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Drawings: Olivia and Annabelle Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/New England Cottontail:
"New England's only native rabbit, the New England cottontail looks nearly identical to the eastern cottontail, which was introduced to the region as a game species in the early 1900s. Similar in size with grayish brown fur, the two can only be distinguished with certainty by examining skulls or conducting DNA analysis. The New England cottontail began to decline during the 20th century due to a loss of its early successional forest habitat, often called thickets, compounded by competition from deer and eastern cottontail..." Read the complete description: fws.gov/species/new-england-cottontail-sylvilagus-transitionalis
EASTERN PIPISTRELLE
Perimyotis subflavus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Olivia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School; Conor, Grade 8, Riverdale Country Upper School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Tri-colored Bat:
"The tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) was formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)... Tri-colored bats were likely never common in New York. Although their northern range extends into Canada, New York is peripheral to the core of their range. Populations in New York and the eastern U.S. have plummeted since White-nose Syndrome (WNS) was first reported in 2006..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/tri-colored-bat
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Extant: Canada, Mexico, USA
Drawings: Makayla, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Katie, Grade 4, and Z, Grade 7, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/Black Bear:
"Not all black bears are black—some are brown or a rusty cinnamon color. There are also black bears with light blue-gray fur found in southeastern Alaska known as “glacier bears.” Some bears in the island archipelago in southern British Columbia even have white fur and are known as “spirit bears” by some Indigenous cultures of the region for whom these bears have cultural significance. Despite these genetic variants, most of the bears in any region are black in color...American black bears are omnivorous, meaning they will eat a variety of things, including both plants and meat. Their diet includes roots, berries, meat, fish, insects, larvae, grass, and other succulent plants. They are able to kill adult deer and other hoofed wildlife but most commonly are only able to kill deer, elk, moose, and other hoofed animals when the prey are very young..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Black-Bear
MOOSE
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Extant: Belarus; Canada; China; Croatia; Czechia; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Hungary; Kazakhstan; Latvia; Lithuania; Moldova; Mongolia; Norway; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Slovakia; Sweden; Ukraine; United States
Drawing: Sonarae, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/Moose:
"Moose are the largest members of the deer family, standing six feet (1.8 meters) tall from hoof to shoulder. Each of their light to dark brown hairs is hollow, and the air trapped inside provides insulation. A flap of skin called a dewlap hangs from the throat. Males are distinguished from females by their antlers, which grow up to six feet across...Adult moose use their antlers or hooves to defend themselves from predators like bears and wolves...Moose are herbivores. The word “moose” is an Algonquin term meaning “eater of twigs.” Moose are so tall that they have difficulty bending down to eat grasses, so they prefer to feed on leaves, bark, and twigs from trees and shrubs..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Moose
WHITE-TAILED DEER
Odocoileus virginianus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Victoria, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Luke P., Brielle and Naya, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
[The] white-tailed deer, [is a] common American deer... that covers a huge range from the Arctic Circle in western Canada to 18 degrees south of the Equator in Peru and Bolivia. The white-tailed deer get its name from the long white hair on the underside of the tail and rump. During flight the hair is flared, and the tail is held aloft like a signaling flag..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/white-tailed-deer
NORTH AMERICAN BEAVER
Castor canadensis (official New York State mammal)
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Cooper and Natasha, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School; Micah, Grade 8, Riverdale Country Upper School
National Wildlife Federation/American Beaver:
"The American beaver's most noticeable characteristic is the long, flat, black tail. A beaver’s tail not only helps it swim faster, but can also be used to make a loud alarm call when slapped against water. In addition, the large tail helps the beaver balance when carrying a heavy log or tree trunk. The American beaver is the largest rodent in the United States, growing from two to three feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) long, not including the tail. They have dark-brown waterproof fur and webbed feet. Beaver teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, and beavers must gnaw on trees to keep their teeth from getting too long... Beavers can stay underwater for 15 minutes without coming to the surface. They have transparent eyelids that act as goggles so they can see as they swim." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/American-Beaver
COYOTE
Canis latrans
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawings: Jose and Ayiana, Grade 5, and Michael, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Lily and Keira Grade 4, and Surya, Grade 8, Riverdale Country School
Central Park Conservancy/ Coyotes in Central Park:
"Coyotes have been in and around New York City since the 1930s and have been spotted in areas like the Ramble and North Woods... Like domesticated dogs and wolves, coyotes are canines. Compared to dogs, coyotes have longer legs, more pointed snouts, and sleeker profiles... You may be surprised to learn that coyotes are shy animals; they’re very good at avoiding humans..." Read the complete description: centralparknyc.org/coyotes-in-central-park
BOBCAT
Lynx rufus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Ayiana and Jaidda, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Amari, Elon and Shane, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Upper School
"The bobcat is an adaptable predator of the cat family Felidae that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semidesert, urban edge, forest edges, and swampland environments from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. The bobcat is vital for controlling pest populations. With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face, and black-tufted ears, the bobcat is about twice as large as the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name..." Read the complete description: projectcoyote.org/carnivores/bobcat/
NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE
Erethizon dorsatum
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Siena and Kingsley, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"The North American porcupine is the largest in the [porcupine] family, usually weighing less than 7 kg (15.4 pounds), though males occasionally grow significantly larger. Its body is up to 80 cm (31 inches) long, with a tail up to 30 cm (12 inches). Both [males and females] are covered with a total of 30,000 or more hollow quills. On the ground the porcupine ambles along and cannot jump, in the trees it climbs slowly but has excellent balance, and in the water it swims well. When approached, the animal presents its rear. If attacked, it will drive its powerful muscular tail against the assailant." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/porcupine#ref103934
AMERICAN BADGER
Taxidea taxus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Ayiana, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Tala and Julian, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
Pacific Forest/American Badger:
"This small, feisty mammal can be found in grasslands throughout North America. The American badger is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes other mammals such as the wolverine, ferret, and weasel. It has large, sharp fore claws, tough fur, and an aggressive nature, leaving it with few natural predators. American badgers build burrow systems underground for both shelter and the purpose of luring and trapping prey..." Read the complete description: pacificforest.org/species/american-badger
RED FOX
Vulpes vulpes
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Spencer, Luke C. and Immy, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/Red Fox:
"Red foxes have adapted well to suburban and rural communities. While other large predators have been pushed away from human development, red foxes took advantage of the changed habitat. They live in parks and woodland edges, and red foxes will readily eat whatever is available. Red foxes are solitary, so it is easy for them to hide and escape people. Red foxes have excellent hearing. They can hear low-frequency sounds and rodents digging underground..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Red-Fox
NORTHERN RACCOON
Procyon lotor
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawings: Ariana, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Shane, Dylan and Grace, Grade 4, and Liena, Grade 7, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/Raccoon:
"A raccoon's face has several markings that help it stand out. The most noticeable marking is the black "mask"—large black markings around each eye. They extend from the edge of the nose to the lower part of the cheek. In addition, raccoons have whitish patches on top of the eyes and around the nose. Raccoons have grayish-brown fur over most of their body, and their tails have four to six black rings. They are nocturnal and search for food at night. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and are well known by people for their skillful attempts at stealing food from garbage cans in parks and neighborhoods. Raccoons are able to get food that other animals cannot because they have nimble, almost handlike paws that can grasp at tree branches, nuts, fruits, and even the lids of garbage cans..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Raccoon
VIRGINIA OPOSSUM
Didelphis virginiana
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawings: Robinson, Leo and Anabella, Grade 4, and Sarah, Grade 8, Riverdale Country Upper School
The Atlantic/Virginia Opossom:
"While the opossum has become a beloved internet meme—appearing as an ugly-cute comedian or an adorable garbage monster—in real life, she remains misunderstood, provoking fear or disgust when she should inspire wonder. Because the fundamental truth about the opossum is that she is a gentle survivor—a marsupial whose early relatives once waddled across a supercontinent, who tangles with snakes but harbors no ill will toward humans. You may be forgiven for disliking the look of the opossum, but never for disrespecting her... Opossums do, in fact, play dead when threatened; they do not hang upside down by their tails. Dozens of different opossum species can be found in the Western Hemisphere, but only one lives here in America..." Read the complete article: theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/07/virginia-opossum-behavior-memes/670575
NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER
Lontra canadensis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Makayla, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Elon, Grade 4, and Derek, Grade 7, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/North American River Otter:
"The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living... Their playful snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play, and snow burrowing activities also serve other purposes—they help strengthen social bonds and let young otters practice hunting techniques... North American river otters can close their nostrils to keep water out during long dives..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/North-American-River-Otter
GROUNDHOG
Marmota monax
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Asher and Luke C., Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/Groundhog:
"Groundhogs (a.k.a. woodchucks or whistlepigs) are stout cat-sized rodents belonging to the group of large ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae. They have the nickname “whistlepig” because when alarmed, they use a high-pitched whistle to warn the colony... We can all agree that the groundhog is the world’s most famous rodent meteorologist, but who appointed them the official spring forecaster? The Pennsylvania Dutch introduced this superstition into our popular culture. The lore claims that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2nd and sees its shadow, it will retreat back underground and there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow, then spring will arrive early." Read the complete description: fws.gov/story/fun-facts-about-groundhogs
STRIPED SKUNK
Mephitis mephitis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Jaidda, Grade 5 and Caleb, Grade 3, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Vivian, Lana and Max, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Looks can be deceiving." The saying applies as much to New Yorkers as it does to the city's wildlife. Take striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) for example. From afar, their sleek black and white fur and bushy tail make them seem like cute, defenseless members of our local ecosystem. But get too close, and they'll release a spray that will help you understand why their scientific name is Latin for "double foul odor."...Striped skunks can live in a variety of habitats, but they generally avoid forested areas and prefer to live near open spaces. In New York City, open lots and grassy areas in parks provide ideal habitat. Skunks will oftentimes den in burrows created by other animals like woodchucks. They will also den under buildings and inside hollow logs. In winter they retreat to these dens and tend to be less active. However, they do not hibernate." Read the complete description: nyc.gov/site/wildlifenyc/animals/skunks.page
FISHER
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Extant: Canada; United States
Drawing: Alicia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Fishers inhabit upland and lowland forests, including coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests...They generally avoid areas with little forest cover or significant human disturbance. The Fisher is adapted for climbing but is primarily ground-dwelling. It is a generalised predator with major prey of small to medium-sized mammals and birds, and carrion..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/41651/125236220
LONG-TAILED WEASEL
Neogale frenata
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Victoria, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Hanna and Minjun, Grade 4 and Isla, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
"The Long-tailed Weasel is our state’s largest weasel, and is similar in length to a Red Squirrel when fully grown. Like its short-tailed cousin, the Long-tailed Weasel is white in the winter months, and turns a dark to cinnamon brown with lighter undersides in the warm weather. They have a black tip to their tails in both coat colors..." Read the complete description: nywildliferescue.org/2017/06/27/last-weeks-patients-6-27th-2017
RED SQUIRREL
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Alina, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/American Red Squirrel:
"The most noticeable characteristics of the American red squirrel are the tail and the eye ring. The tree squirrel's tail is bushy and dark red with hints of a white outline. The eye ring is a thick, white circle around the rodent's black eyes. American red squirrels are about 12 inches and have grayish, red, or rust-colored fur with a white belly. Sometimes a black stripe can be seen on the sides. American red squirrels can be found throughout the United States in the forests of Alaska, the east coast north of Georgia, and the Rocky Mountains. The squirrels prefer coniferous forests... To communicate, an American red squirrel makes a lengthy, descending trill and a chatter of assorted notes and chucks..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Red-Squirrel
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL
Sciurus carolinensis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawings: Ariana, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Kai and Sebastian, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
Wildlife NYC/Eastern Gray Squirrel:
"If you’ve spent any time in a New York City park, chances are you have spotted an eastern gray squirrel. These tree-dwelling animals have become something of an unofficial mascot for the city’s parks by nature of their visibility. They can often be seen leaping through wooded areas, chasing other squirrels around tree trunks, or perched on park benches nibbling on nuts and seeds. The fast pace of city living suits eastern gray squirrels. They use their long tails and sharp claws for balance while climbing, running, and leaping between tree branches—no rush hour traffic or train delays will keep them from getting where they’re going. And the wide variety of food options that New York City offers isn’t lost on them either. They will happily feast on nuts, acorns, seeds, berries, fruit, and anything else they manage to scavenge. For many New Yorkers, squirrels are as much a fixture of our parks as the grass, trees, and benches. However, their journey to become one of New York City’s most abundant wildlife species has been a long and challenging one..." Read the complete description: nyc.gov/site/wildlifenyc/animals/eastern-gray-squirrels.page
NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL
Glaucomys sabrinus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawing: Julian, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Wildlife Federation/Flying Squirrels:
"Northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) are the only two native flying squirrel species found in North America. They are both gray-brown, but the northern flying squirrel has belly fur that is gray at the base, and for the southern flying squirrel the belly fur is all white. Size is another way to tell northern and southern flying squirrels apart. The southern species is smaller, about 8 to 10 inches in length. Northern flying squirrels are 10 to 12 inches long..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Flying-Squirrels
SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL
Glaucomys volans
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Ousemahe, Grade 3, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School
National Wildlife Federation/Flying Squirrels:
"Flying squirrels might more appropriately be called “gliding squirrels” because they aren’t capable of true powered flight that a bird or a bat can do. Flying squirrels glide. They have a special membrane between their front and back legs that allows them to glide through the air between trees. When a flying squirrel wants to travel to another tree without touching the ground, it launches itself from a high branch and spreads out its limbs so the gliding membrane is exposed. It uses slight movements of the legs to steer, and the tail acts as a brake upon reaching its destination. Flying squirrels can cover more than 150 feet in a single glide..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Flying-Squirrels
EASTERN CHIPMUNK
Tamias striatus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Siena and Emilia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
Wildlife NYC/Eastern Chipmunk:
"Although our eastern gray squirrels get most of the attention, eastern chipmunks are pretty common in our parks, too. Chipmunks can be found scurrying along the ground looking for food — sometimes with their cheeks stuffed with seeds, nuts, and other snacks. As you explore our parks, keep your eyes peeled for these cute critters, especially in the fall when they gather food for winter. Chipmunks are most active during the daytime. They do not hibernate but stay mostly underground during the colder months..." Read the complete description: nycgovparks.org/learn/wildlife-in-new-york-city/chipmunks-in-new-york-city-parks
WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
IUCN Red List/Peromyscus leucopus:
"[The white-footed mouse] occupies a variety of habitats throughout its extensive range. In the eastern part of its range, it reaches highest densities in low to mid-elevation dry forests with shrubby understory and is also abundant in brushy fields. In contrast, in the southwestern U.S. it inhabits semi-desert vegetation..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/16669/115136270
BLUE WHALE
Balaenoptera musculus
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 5,000-15,000, INCREASING
Drawing: Bobby, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
Whale and Dolphin Conservation/Blue Whale:
"The blue whale is one of nature's most magnificent and graceful beings. Louder, larger, longer and heavier than any other creature, this whale's a multi-record breaker and a totem of conservation for all whales and dolphins...Commanding awe, they grow to over 33 metres long - twice as long as a T-Rex dinosaur. Even their calves are a whopping 7 metres in length, weighing in the same as an adult African Elephant...A normal life span is up to 90 years, though one famous whale lived for 110 years...Whether they are traveling or not, blue whales like to communicate with each other. Sometimes, they talk to each other over hundreds of miles producing songs and sounds of up to 188 decibels. That's louder than a jet plane!..." Read the complete description: uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/blue-whale
HUMPBACK WHALE
Megaptera novaeangliae
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: 84,000, INCREASING
Drawing: Zacharian, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
Whale and Dolphin Conservation/Humpback Whale:
"Tuneful, graceful and simply, huge, the amazing humpback whales are the virtuosos of the deep. Singing some of the longest and most complex songs in the animal kingdom, humpback whales are masters of melody. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, they also undertake some of the longest migrations of any mammal in the world. Humpback whales are massive, growing to 17 metres in length. Their huge, dark bodies are flanked by enormous pectoral flippers growing up to around a third of their body length...Well-known for their underwater lullabies, male humpback whales are particularly vocal during the mating season. Covering such huge distances, humpback whales are constantly exposed to a number of threats and must navigate a myriad of life-threatening dangers. These include whalers, fishing nets and ships..." Read the complete description:
uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/humpback-whale/
SPINNER DOLPHIN
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Whale and Dolphin Conservation/Spinner Dolphin:
Spinner dolphins are instantly recognisable due to their incredible multi-rotational aerial spinning behaviour. Spinner dolphins create huge splashes when they land back in the water. Spinner dolphins are champion spinners and well-known as skilled acrobats of the dolphin-world (other dolphins may occasionally spin but only with a couple of revolutions). They’ve been recorded fully spinning along their body length seven times during a single leap. The spinner starts to spin in the water just before emerging head first and leaping up to 3m into the air, spinning continuously before falling back into the sea...Spinner dolphins generally have a daytime and night time routine. During the day, they rest in shallower, coastal waters. At night they head for deeper waters and hunt. Their favourite spinning time is in the late afternoon and early evening after they have rested and are preparing to head off to hunt. Spinner dolphin pods range in size from fewer than fifty to thousands...Spinner dolphins live in all tropical and most subtropical waters around the world across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans..." Read the complete description: uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/spinner-dolphin
BIRDS
Over 450 bird species call New York home. Meet 38 of our avian friends—some of these species like the blue jay and the red cardinal can be spotted in Central Park:
BLACK RAIL
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 10,000-49,999, DECREASING
Drawing: Anabella, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
Department of Environmental Conservation/Black Rail:
"The smallest of North America's rail species at six inches in length; the black rail is stocky, short-billed, short-tailed, and round-winged... Their breeding season call is a three-noted "kickee-doo" or "kic-kic-ker." Black rails breed locally in California, Kansas, and along the Atlantic coast from southern New England to the Gulf coast states... Historically, the breeding range may have extended as far north as Massachusetts but today the core breeding range is from New Jersey south along the coast to Florida. In the late 1930s, breeding locations in New York were limited to just a few sites on Long Island's south shore (Oak Beach marsh, Long Beach and Lido Beach). However, from the 1940s to 1968 no breeding activity was recorded at these sites or anywhere else in the state. In 1968, black rails were once again confirmed breeding at Oak Beach marsh with the discovery of two nesting pair. During the 2nd New York State Breeding Bird Atlas (2000-2005), a single bird was heard calling from the marsh..." Read the complete description: dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/black-rail
EVENING GROSBEAK
Drawings: Asher, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Keira, Grade 7, Riverdale Country Lower School
IUCN Red List/Evening Grosbeak:
"The Evening Grosbeak occurs in northern conifer or mixed forests, but also occupies secondary growth and sometimes urban parks and orchards. Individuals in the northern part of the range migrate southward as a response to food scarcity and return to the breeding grounds by mid-May. It mainly feeds on invertebrates (spruce budworms and other larvae), but also on small fruits and seeds..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/22720702/131500502
LONG-TAILED DUCK
Drawing: Saige, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"A duck of cold northern waters. Often the most abundant bird in the high Arctic. Large flocks are often far out at sea; many spend the winter on such northern waters as Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Great Lakes. Flocks fly low over sea, with stiff shallow wingbeats, often tilting from side to side. Far more vocal than most ducks, and loud melodious calls of flocks can be heard from some distance. It was formerly called 'Oldsquaw,' not politically correct by any measure, a reference to this 'talkative' behavior -- although it is the male of this species that makes most of the noise..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/long-tailed-duck
CERULEAN WARBLER
Drawing: Grace, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"The sky-blue upperparts of the male Cerulean Warbler are difficult to observe in summer: At that season, the birds stay high in the tops of leafy trees in the eastern United States and extreme southern Canada. The bird itself has become harder to observe in recent decades, as its numbers have decreased in parts of its range. Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in the warblers' nests, may be finding their unwitting 'hosts' more easily as forest patches become smaller..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/cerulean-warbler
COMMON GRACKLE
Drawing: Lana, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Throughout the east and midwest, this big blackbird is a very familiar species on suburban lawns, striding about with deliberate steps as it searches for insects. Common Grackles often nest in small colonies, and several males may perch in adjacent treetops to sing their creaking, grating songs. Big flocks are often seen flying overhead in the evening, heading for major communal roosts, especially from late summer through winter..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-grackle
RED KNOT
Drawing: Immy, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"This chunky shorebird has a rather anonymous look in winter plumage, but is unmistakable in spring, when it wears robin-red on its chest. It nests in the far north, mostly well above the Arctic Circle (the first known nest was discovered during Admiral Peary's expedition to the North Pole in 1909); its winter range includes shorelines around the world, south to Australia and southern South America. Where it is common, the Red Knot may roost in very densely packed flocks, standing shoulder to shoulder on the sand..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-knot
PIPING PLOVER
Drawings: Lila and Hayley, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"A small plover with a very short bill. Its pale back matches the white sand beaches and alkali flats that it inhabits. While many shorebirds have wide distributions, this one is a North American specialty, barely extending into Mexico in winter. Many of its nesting areas are subject to human disturbance or other threats, and it is now considered an endangered or threatened species in all parts of its range..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/piping-plover
NORTHERN BOBWHITE
Drawing: Nicholas, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"The only native quail in the east. Its whistled bob-white! call is a familiar sound in spring in farmland and brushy pastures. The birds are heard more often than seen; although not especially shy, they often keep within dense low cover. During fall and winter, bobwhites live in coveys, averaging about a dozen birds. At night they roost on the ground in circles, tails pointed inward, heads pointed out..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-bobwhite
EASTERN MEADOWLARK
Drawings: Jesse and Grace, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"A familiar bird, known by the black 'V' on its chest when it sings from a fencepost, or by the flash of white tail feathers when it flushes from the grass. The clear whistled song of the Eastern Meadowlark can be heard in spring not only in the East but also in desert grasslands of the Southwest. Some scientists believe that the southwestern form is actually a different species. Other races of the Eastern Meadowlark are widespread in Central America and northern South America..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eastern-meadowlark
BALD EAGLE
Drawings: Leo and Nicholas, Grade 4, and Zubin, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School; Gabriel and Edward, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"The emblem bird of the United States, majestic in its appearance. It is not always so majestic in habits: it often feeds on carrion, including dead fish washed up on shore, and it steals food from Ospreys and other smaller birds. At other times, however, it is a powerful predator. Seriously declining during much of the 20th century, the Bald Eagle has made a comeback in many areas since the 1970s. Big concentrations can be found wintering along rivers or reservoirs in some areas..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bald-eagle
N.B. Bald eagles can be seen flying from the Hudson River over Riverdale Country School.
WILD TURKEY
Drawing: Lila, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Benjamin Franklin would have preferred to have the Wild Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, chosen as the national symbol of the United States... [T]he original wild form is a wary and magnificent bird. Wild Turkeys usually get around by walking or running, but they can fly strongly, and they typically roost overnight in tall trees. Turkeys were formerly considered to belong to a separate family from other chicken-like birds; there are only two species, ours in North America and the Ocellated Turkey in Central America..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/wild-turkey
EASTERN BLUEBIRD
Drawing: Franky, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"This is the most widespread of the three bluebirds. Although it is mostly 'eastern' in our area, its total range extends south to Nicaragua. A high percentage of Eastern Bluebirds in North America today nest in birdhouses put up especially for them along 'bluebird trails.' When they are not nesting, these birds roam the countryside in small flocks..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eastern-bluebird
PEREGRINE FALCON
Falco peregrinus
Drawing: Maya, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"One of the world's fastest birds; in power-diving from great heights to strike prey, the Peregrine may possibly reach 200 miles per hour. Regarded by falconers and biologists alike as one of the noblest and most spectacular of all birds of prey. Although it is found on six continents, the Peregrine is uncommon in most areas; it was seriously endangered in the mid-20th century because of the effects of DDT and other persistent pesticides..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/peregrine-falcon
NORTHERN CARDINAL
Drawings: Carlos, Grade 3, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Dylan, Bayan and Amelia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"One of our most popular birds, the Cardinal is the official state bird of no fewer than seven eastern states. Abundant in the Southeast, it has been extending its range northward for decades, and it now brightens winter days with its color and its whistled song as far north as southeastern Canada. Feeders stocked with sunflower seeds may have aided its northward spread. West of the Great Plains, the Cardinal is mostly absent, but it is locally common in the desert Southwest..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-cardinal
NORTHERN SHOVELER
Drawing: Makayla, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"Many of the dabbling ducks use their flat bills to strain food items from the water, but the big spatulate bill of the Northern Shoveler is adapted to take this habit to the extreme. Flocks of shovelers often swim along with their big bills barely submerged in front of them, straining food from the muddy soup of shallow waters. Despite their heavy-set build, shovelers are good fliers; at large gatherings, groups often are seen taking off, circling the area repeatedly, then alighting again..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-shoveler
KING EIDER
Drawing: Angel, Grade 3 and Meaghan, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School Willa, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"A big sea-duck of Arctic waters. Well adapted to frigid climates, diving and swimming underwater in seas near the freezing point, resting on ice floes. In its normal range, generally in large flocks, with the brown females and immatures outnumbering the strikingly ornate adult males. South of their main range, single King Eiders may associate with flocks of Common Eiders..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/king-eider
HOODED MERGANSER
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: 1,100,000, INCREASING
Drawing: Ava, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Mergansers are our only ducks that specialize in eating fish. The Hooded is the smallest of our three native merganser species, and often seems to be the least numerous, as it tends to live around swamps and wooded ponds where it may be overlooked. A cavity nester along wooded waterways in the temperate parts of North America, it has probably benefitted by taking advantage of nest boxes put out for Wood Ducks..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/hooded-merganser
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
Drawings: Surya, Grade 8, Lily and Leelee, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"The smallest of our bird-hunting Accipiter hawks, this one is also the most migratory, breeding north to treeline in Alaska and Canada and wintering south to Panama. It is during migration that the Sharp-shin is most likely to be seen in numbers, with dozens or even hundreds passing at some favored points on coastlines, lake shores, and mountain ridges. At other seasons the hawks lurk in the woods, ambushing songbirds and generally staying out of sight..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/sharp-shinned-hawk
GREAT HORNED OWL
Drawings: Diana, Grade 8, and Jana, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Found almost throughout North America and much of South America is this big owl. Aggressive and powerful in its hunting (sometimes known by nicknames such as 'tiger owl'), it takes prey as varied as rabbits, hawks, snakes, and even skunks, and will even attack porcupines, often with fatal results for both prey and predator. Great Horned Owls begin nesting very early in the north, and their deep hoots may be heard rolling across the forest on mid-winter nights..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-horned-owl
SHORT-EARED OWL
Drawings: Sebastian, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Dylan, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Easier to see than most owls, the Short-ear lives in open terrain, such as prairies and marshes. It is often active during daylight, especially in the evening. When hunting it flies low over the fields, with buoyant, floppy wingbeats, looking rather like a giant moth. Aside from its North American range, it also nests in South America and Eurasia, and on many oceanic islands, including Hawaii..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/short-eared-owl
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL
Drawing: Sloane, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"While the Eastern Screech-Owl does screech, usually when agitated, this small owl is far better known for its monotone trill or descending “whinny,” both of which can be given by either sex...These small owls are cavity nesters, and use old woodpecker holes, natural cavities in hollow trees, and bird boxes. They will also roost in such holes and move among several cavities in their territory after young have fledged or in response to disturbance..." Read the complete description: nhaudubon.org/bird_database/eastern-screech-owl
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
Drawing: Nora, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Audubon/Northern Saw-whet Owl:
"Birders who prowl through conifer groves in winter sometimes find this round-headed little gnome perched there, sitting still as if to avoid notice. Avoiding notice is a task at which this owl often succeeds; it is overlooked in many places where it occurs. Late at night in the breeding season, males give a rhythmic tooting song that may go on for hours with scarcely a break. The bird was named for this song, which reminded settlers of the sound of a whetstone sharpening a saw..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-saw-whet-owl
BELTED KINGFISHER
Drawing: Weston, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"The Belted Kingfisher is often first noticed by its wild rattling call as it flies over rivers or lakes. It may be seen perched on a high snag, or hovering on rapidly beating wings, then plunging headfirst into the water to grab a fish. Found almost throughout North America at one season or another, it is the only member of its family to be seen in most areas north of Mexico..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/belted-kingfisher
YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER
Drawings: Charlie, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School; Fatoumata, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"This brown woodpecker flashes bright colors under the wings and tail when it flies. Its ringing calls and short bursts of drumming can be heard in spring almost throughout North America. Two very different-looking forms -- Yellow-shafted Flicker in the east and north, and Red-shafted Flicker in the west -- were once considered separate species. They interbreed wherever their ranges come in contact. On the western Great Plains, there is a broad zone where all the flickers are intergrades between Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-flicker
AMERICAN KESTREL
Drawing: Eve and Hanna, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Our smallest falcon, the kestrel is also the most familiar and widespread in North America. In open country it is commonly seen perched on roadside wires, or hovering low over a field on rapidly beating wings, waiting to pounce on a grasshopper. Kestrels nest in cavities in trees; in places where there are few large dead snags to provide nest sites, they may rely on nesting boxes put up for them by conservationists..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-kestrel
NORTHERN HARRIER
Drawing: Brooklyn, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Parts of Europe and Asia have several kinds of harriers, but North America has only one. Harriers are very distinctive hawks, long-winged and long-tailed, usually seen quartering low over the ground in open country. At close range, the face of our Northern Harrier looks rather like that of an owl; like an owl (and unlike most other hawks) it may rely on its keen hearing to help it locate prey as it courses low over the fields..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-harrier
BLUE JAY
Drawings: Pietro and Anonymous, Grade 7 and Henry, Grade 8, Riverdale Country School
"One of the loudest and most colorful birds of eastern back yards and woodlots, the Blue Jay is unmistakable. Intelligent and adaptable, it may feed on almost anything, and it is quick to take advantage of bird feeders. Besides their raucous jay! jay! calls, Blue Jays make a variety of musical sounds, and they can do a remarkable imitation of the scream of a Red-shouldered Hawk. Not always conspicuous, they slip furtively through the trees when tending their own nest or going to rob the nest of another bird..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-jay
BROWN THRASHER
Toxostoma rufum
Drawing: Kadijah, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"The big, foxy-red Brown Thrasher is a familiar bird over much of the east. Sometimes it forages boldly on open lawns; more often it scoots into dense cover at any disturbance, hiding among the briar tangles and making loud crackling callnotes. Although the species spends most of its time close to the ground, the male Brown Thrasher sometimes will deliver its rich, melodious song of doubled phrases from the top of a tall tree..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/brown-thrasher
AMERICAN ROBIN
Drawings: Eli, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School; Ariana, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"A very familiar bird over most of North America, running and hopping on lawns with upright stance, often nesting on porches and windowsills. The Robin's rich caroling is among the earliest bird songs heard at dawn in spring and summer, often beginning just before first light. In fall and winter, robins may gather by the hundreds in roaming flocks, concentrating at sources of food..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-robin
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
Agelaius phoeniceus
Drawing: Lara, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Among our most familiar birds, Red-wings seem to sing their nasal songs in every marsh and wet field from coast to coast. They are notably bold, and several will often attack a larger bird, such as a hawk or crow, that flies over their nesting area. The red shoulder patches of the male, hidden under body feathers much of the time, are brilliantly displayed when he is singing. Outside the nesting season, Red-wings sometimes roost in huge concentrations..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-winged-blackbird
HENSLOW’S SPARROW
Passerculus henslowii
Drawings: Alaia and Weston, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"In weedy eastern fields in summer, this little sparrow climbs to the top of a weed stalk, throws its head back, and delivers one of the least impressive of all bird songs, a short tsilick. When not singing it becomes extremely hard to observe, hiding in dense grass. If flushed, it flies away low for a short distance before dropping into the weeds. Despite its lack of vocal prowess, Henslow's Sparrow is a beautifully marked bird if seen well. Local populations vary from year to year; overall, the species is becoming quite scarce over most of its range..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/henslows-sparrow
WOOD DUCK
Aix sponsa
Drawings: Neah, Grade 4, and Wilke, Grade 8, Riverdale Country School
"Beautiful and unique, this duck of woodland ponds and river swamps has no close relatives, except for the Mandarin Duck of eastern Asia. Abundant in eastern North America in Audubon's time, the Wood Duck population declined seriously during the late 19th century because of hunting and loss of nesting sites. Its recovery to healthy numbers was an early triumph of wildlife management..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/wood-duck
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Drawing: Dylan, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Until the 1970s, this big blackbird was considered to be the same species as the Great-tailed Grackle, but the two forms overlap on the coasts of Texas and Louisiana without interbreeding. The Boat-tail is a more aquatic creature, nesting in marshes, scavenging on beaches. Except in Florida, it is seldom found far away from tidewater. Boat-tailed Grackles nest in noisy colonies, the males displaying conspicuously with much wing-fluttering and harsh repeated calls..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/boat-tailed-grackle
TURKEY VULTURE
Drawing: Jesse, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
BLACK SKIMMER
Drawing: Grayson, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"The strange, uneven bill of the skimmer has a purpose: the bird flies low, with the long lower mandible plowing the water, snapping the bill shut when it contacts a fish. Strictly coastal in most areas of North America, Black Skimmers are often seen resting on sandbars and beaches. Unlike most birds, their eyes have vertical pupils, narrowed to slits to cut the glare of water and white sand. Flocks in flight may turn in unison, with synchronized beats of their long wings. The world's three species of skimmers are sometimes placed in their own separate family, although they are clearly related to the terns..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-skimmer
AMERICAN AVOCET
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: 460,000, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawing: Hadley, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Around lake shores and tidal flats, especially in the wide-open spaces of the west, flocks of elegant American Avocets wade in the shallows. They often feed while leaning forward, with the tips of their bills in the water and slightly open, filtering tiny food items from just below the surface. Sometimes a flock will feed this way in unison, walking forward, swinging their heads rhythmically from side to side..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-avocet
BLUE GROSBEAK
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawing: Colette, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"The husky warbling song of the Blue Grosbeak is a common sound in summer around thickets and hedgerows in the southern states. Often the bird hides in those thickets; sometimes it perches up in the open, looking like an overgrown Indigo Bunting, flicking and spreading its tail in a nervous action. During migration, and in winter in the tropics, Blue Grosbeaks may gather in flocks to feed in open weedy fields..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-grosbeak
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: 14,000,000-17,000,000, INCREASING
Drawing: Juni, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Audubon/Red-bellied Woodpecker:
"Primarily a bird of the southeast, where its rolling calls are familiar sounds in swamps and riverside woods. Omnivorous and adaptable, this woodpecker has also adjusted to life in suburbs and city parks, and in recent years it has been expanding its range to the north. Despite the name, the red on the belly is not often visible in the field..." Read the complete description: audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-bellied-woodpecker
REPTILES
New York state is home to 38 species of reptiles. Explore 14 species including some incredible turtles threatened with extinction:
SPOTTED TURTLE
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Justin, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Audrey, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Department of Environmental Conservation/Spotted Turtle:
"The "polka-dot" turtle has yellow spots on the head, neck, legs, and upper shell or carapace... The number and arrangement of spots is extremely variable and changes with age. Hatchling turtles usually have one spot on each plate, while older individuals are well sprinkled with 100 or more. Occasionally, individuals without any spots on the shells may be found, but they still have yellow and orange markings on the face... Loss of habitat has been largely responsible for the major decline of the spotted turtle throughout its entire New York range. In the early 1900's, it was reported to be the most common turtle in the vicinity of New York City. This turtle is very sensitive to pollution and toxicants and disappears rapidly with declining water quality. To further stress the species, pet collecting is currently responsible for the annual loss of significant numbers. Much concern has been expressed for this small reptile as local populations disappear..." Read the complete description: dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/spotted-turtle
WOOD TURTLE
Glyptemys insculpta
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Miles, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Wood Turtle:
"Some wood turtles are accomplished "worm stompers"; turtles stomp the ground with their front feet or the front of their shell, which can cause earthworms to move to the surface. Any worm that surfaces is a meal for the turtle... Wood turtles occur throughout eastern North America. Populations exist from Nova Scotia, Quebec, and New Brunswick south to Virginia and west to eastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa (Ernst and Lovich 2009)... The yellow, orange, or red coloration under the chin, throat, tail, and under the forelimbs is a useful characteristic for identification (Gibbs et al. 2007). The highly sculptured shell is also a good diagnostic characteristic...Wood turtles are mostly diurnal, and often enter the water or seek shelter on land under grass, leaves, or brush at night (Ernst and Lovich 2009). These turtles hibernate in the winter between approximately October and March, and may estivate during the warmest days in the summer..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/wood-turtle/
BLANDLING’S TURTLE
Emydoidea blandingii
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Ariana, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
The Nature Conservancy/Blandling's Turtle:
"Sometimes confused with box turtles, the Blanding’s turtle is recognizable by the bright yellow on its chin and throat and the light dots across its high-domed shell. Medium-sized, it averages 5-7 inches in length. The Blanding’s turtle is mostly aquatic, dwelling in relatively quiet waters of bogs, marshes, small streams, sedge meadows and in the shallow portions of lakes from Nebraska to Nova Scotia, though populations east of Ohio are discontinuous. The turtle is named for William Blanding, an early naturalist in Pennsylvania, where is it now ironically extirpated..." Read the complete description: nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/blanding-s-turtle
GREEN TURTLE
Drawings: Kate, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School; Veetzally, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
The Nature Conservancy/Green Sea Turtle:
"The graceful green sea turtle glides through waters anywhere in the world where sea temperatures do not dip below 68 Fahrenheit. They can be found in the coastal waters of at least 140 countries. Supplementing its diet of seagrasses and seaweeds with jellyfish and crustaceans, the green turtle is the only sea turtle to consume large quantities of plants. It is also the slowest turtle to mature, presumably because its diet is low in protein. Female green turtles mature at between 26 and 40 years of age, depending on available food sources, and can live for more than 50 years..." Read the complete description: nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/green-sea-turtle
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Charlie, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
World Wildlife Fund/Loggerhead Turtle:
"Loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and sea urchins. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell compared to other sea turtles. Bycatch, the accidental capture of marine animals in fishing gear, is a serious problem for loggerhead turtles because they frequently come in contact with fisheries..." Read the complete description: worldwildlife.org/species/loggerhead-turtle
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Chase, Grade 8, and Chloe and Leo, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Center for Biological Diversity/Diamonback Terrapin:
"Diamondback terrapins are the wild jewels of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. With diamond-patterned shells and speckled skin, these stunning turtles are a keystone species in the salt marshes and mangroves where they live. They help keep these ecosystems healthy by eating marsh snails, which in high numbers can harm marsh grasses. Terrapins struggle against myriad threats, from coastal development destroying their habitat to sea-level rise, which will transform coastal landscapes in the coming decades, wiping out key terrapin nesting sites. Poachers and commercial traders target these turtles for trade as pets — and for their meat..." Read the complete description: biologicaldiversity.org/species/reptiles/diamondback-terrapins
EASTERN BOX TURTLE
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Nicholas and Addison, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School; Abraham, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
National Wildlife Federation/Eastern Box Turtle:
"Eastern box turtles are usually found near ponds, fields, meadows, and woodlands throughout the eastern half of the United States. Although eastern box turtles are native to the eastern United States, they can sometimes be seen in other states. This is because box turtles are very popular pets, and sometimes when people do not want them anymore, or they move, they release the turtles into the wild. This might seem helpful to the turtle, but it’s actually very difficult for a domestic turtle to survive in such a different environment. Instead of releasing pets into the wild, it’s better to drop them off at a local animal shelter or veterinarian. Box turtles like warm weather, but if it gets too hot, they will seek some protection from the sun. In the heat of the day, they will hide under logs or leaves or take a swim in a pond. If it is not too hot, then eastern box turtles can be found searching for their next meal or basking in the sun..." nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Eastern-Box-Turtle
SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Bianca, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Leo, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
National Wildlife Federation/Spiny Softshell Turtle:
"The spiny softshell turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. They can be distinguished from other turtle species by their carapace. Unlike most other turtles, their shell is soft, flat, and rubbery. The edges of the carapace are pliable with small spines (males have more than females)... The spiny softshell turtle is spread throughout most of the United States, from the central-eastern U.S. to Wisconsin and Minnesota, and as far south as Mexico. Its habitat includes rivers, ponds, streams, and lakes with a sandy or muddy bottom and relatively little vegetation... The spiny softshell turtle, in parts of its range, hibernates in mud for about half of the year..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Spiny-Softshell-Turtle
PAINTED TURTLE
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Aura, Grade 4, and Reyna, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
"[The painted turtle is a ] brightly marked North American turtle found from southern Canada to northern Mexico...The painted turtle usually lives in quiet, shallow bodies of fresh water, especially those with thickly planted mud bottoms. It feeds on plants, small animals, and some carrion. It often basks in large groups on logs and other objects, and in many areas it hibernates during the winter..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/painted-turtle
EASTERN COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Illyan, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
IUCN Red List/Agkistrodon contortrix:
"Copperheads are often in or near deciduous forest in hilly situations, usually in the vicinity of rock outcrops; they occur also on floodplains and at the edges of swamps in the south and in mesic situations near water in the arid west. Hibernation generally occurs in dens among rocks, or in caves, animal burrows, under objects, in hollow logs or stumps, or in similar sites. Usually copperheads are in areas with abundant surface cover such as rocks, logs, stumps, or leaf-litter. They are mainly terrestrial but sometimes climb into vegetation up to a few metres above the ground. In the east at least, gravid females select rocky areas that are more open and have warmer soil temperatures than those used by non-gravid individuals (Reinert cited by Ernst 1992)." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/64297/12756101
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Asher, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Britannica/Timber Rattlesnake:
"[The] Timber rattlesnake, [is a] species of venomous North American snakes classified in the family Viperidae that inhabit low mountain ridges and upland woods in the eastern United States. Its range extends from New Hampshire along the Appalachian Mountains to northern Florida and, on its western edge, from southeastern Minnesota to southeastern Texas; the snake’s range once extended into southern Ontario, Canada, but was last observed there in 1941. Bites from a timber rattlesnake result in envenomation of the victim about 50 percent of the time; however, they are rarely fatal... In late summer and fall, large numbers of timber rattlers gather on mountain slopes to hibernate in rock crevices... Although the snake is considered dangerous, it is not aggressive. It rarely bites, unless startled or stepped on, preferring to give prolonged warning rattles instead..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/timber-rattlesnake
EASTERN HOG-NOSED SNAKE
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Willian, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Eastern Hog-nosed Snake:
"Habitats include openly wooded upland hills, forest edges, fields, woodland meadows, prairies, forest-grassland ecotones, sand plains, barrier islands, fire-managed pinelands, river valleys, riparian zones, and various other habitats with loose soils and amphibian prey. This snake crawls on the surface and burrows into soil. It overwinters in burrows (made by mammal or self-dug) or under rocks of talus slopes..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/63820/12718733
EASTERN FENCE LIZARD
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Sarah, Grade 8, Riverdale Country School
National Wildlife Federation/Eastern Fence Lizard:
"Fence lizards are spiny lizards, meaning they have rough, pointed scales on their backs... Eastern fence lizards are found from New York south to northern Florida and as far west as Ohio and Arkansas. Fence lizards live in a number of habitats—including woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands—but they usually stick to areas with trees. They spend most of their days basking on fence posts, trees, stumps, and rocks, and they crawl into rock crevices or go underground at night. Males ward off other males from their territories with displays of head-bobbing and push-ups... Fence lizards are so fond of pine trees that they’ve also gotten the name “pine lizard.”" Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Eastern-Fence-Lizard
FIVE-LINED SKINK
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Shayla and Rose, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
IUCN Red List/Plestiodon fasciatus:
"This species is represented by very many occurrences or subpopulations...The total adult population size is unknown but undoubtedly exceeds 100,000, and is probably in the millions. The species tends to be common in most of the large range. The extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are large and probably relatively stable or slowly declining..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/64227/12756007
AMPHIBIANS
There are 34 species of amphibians that inhabit New York state including the Eastern Tiger Salamander which is listed as endangered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Explore 13 species of amphibians:
NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Ollie, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
National Parks Service/Northern Leopard Frog:
"The northern leopard frog is a smooth-skinned, green, brown, or sometimes yellow-green frog covered with large, oval dark spots, each of which is surrounded by a lighter halo or border... Females are slightly larger than the males... Historically, the northern leopard frog was found throughout most of Canada and the U.S., except the southeastern states.
Since the 1970s, northern leopard frog populations have declined significantly throughout the species’ range... The Northern leopard frog requires a mosaic of aquatic and upland habitats, with linkages between them, to meet the needs of its life stages. Ideally, wetland patches are separated by less than 1 km of upland habitat..." Read the complete description: nps.gov/articles/northern-leopard-frog
GRAY TREEFROG
Dryophytes versicolor
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Princeton, Zhymia and Franky, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
"This species occurs in various kinds of wooded and forested habitats. It is both arboreal and terrestrial. It hides in tree holes, under bark, in rotten logs, under leaves and under tree roots when inactive..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/55687/193371642
SOUTHERN LEOPARD FROG
Lithobates sphenocephalus
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Ariana, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
IUCN Red List/Southern Leopard Frog:
"This species occurs in the vicinity of virtually any freshwater habitat, as well as in slightly brackish marshes. In summer it disperses from water into moist vegetation in the surrounding forest or shrubs. Individuals occupy the bottoms of pools and caves when inactive..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/58723/177496797
EASTERN SPADEFOOT
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Chase, Grade 8, and Harry, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
New York Heritage Program/Eastern Spadefoot:
"The eastern spadefoot is a medium-sized toad with smooth skin and small, scattered warts. Distinguishing characteristics include protruding golden eyes with vertical pupils... Eastern spadefoots are fossorial; that is, they are adapted to digging and can remain underground for weeks or months at a time during dry periods..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/eastern-spadefoot
AMERICAN BULLFROG
Drawing: Edward, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
IUCN Red List/American Bullfrog:
"This species inhabits ponds, swamps, lakes, reservoirs, marshes, brackish ponds (in Hawaii), stream margins and irrigation ditches. It is sometimes found in temporary waters hundreds of metres from permanent water. It winters at the bottom of pools..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/58565/193396825
COPE'S GRAY TREEFROG
Drawing: Kaden, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Cope's Gray Treefrog:
"This species inhabits wooded areas and woodland edges (including woodlots in prairies), usually within a few hundred metres of water. It is often found in recently disturbed areas with abundant shrubs, herbaceous growth and vines. It is arboreal. When inactive, these frogs may hide in tree holes, under bark, under leaves, or under tree roots..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/58713/193381483
MINK FROG
Drawing: Jesse, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Habitats include bogs, cold lakes and ponds, and inlets and outlets of ponds and lakes, it occupies sphagnum mats and emergent vegetation (e.g. lily pads) in open water. It hibernates underwater..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/58713/193381483
EASTERN TIGER SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Carlos, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
National Wildlife Federation/Tiger Salamander:
"[T]iger salamanders can be found along the Atlantic coast south of New York and down to Florida. The majority of tiger salamanders live in the center of the country, from Arizona and Montana east to Ohio and Kentucky. They live near vernal pools (seasonal pools of freshwater), ponds, and slow-moving streams. Tiger salamanders can be difficult to spot because of their secretive nature and ability to spend long periods of time burrowed underground—in fact, they spend most of the year below the surface, which allows them to escape high temperatures. But after heavy rains, tiger salamanders can be seen walking around on wet ground. Their predators include badgers, snakes, bobcats, and owls..." Read the complete description: nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Amphibians/Tiger-Salamander
MARBLED SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Maddie, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Marbled Salamander:
"This species inhabits various wooded habitats, the vicinity of swamps and vernal pools. More tolerant to dry habitats than most salamanders, it can be found on rocky bluffs and slopes and wooded sand dunes. Adults are entirely terrestrial and usually found under surface objects or underground..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/59065/56540581
SPOTTED SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Quinn, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Spotted Salamander:
"This species can be found in hardwood and mixed forests, vicinity of swamps and vernal pools; usually underground or under soil surface objects except during the breeding period. This species prefers lowland forests; they are occasionally found in more open habitats such as meadows, but usually near forest edges...In New York, distribution apparently is influenced by soil pH..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/59064/193224401
BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Xavier, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Garret, Grade 4, and Conor, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey/Blue-spotted Salamander:
"The blue–spotted salamander, Ambystoma laterale, is a member of a family of salamanders referred to as “mole salamanders,” spending most of their lives underground in abandoned small mammal burrows or under rocks or logs. Blue-spotted salamanders average 3 ½ to 5 ½ inches in length..." Read the complete description: conservewildlifenj.org/species/spotlight/bluespottedsalamander
EASTERN RED-BACKED SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Asher, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Mongabay/"Essential ubiquity: How one tiny salamander species has a huge impact":
"Red-backed salamanders are little lungless salamanders that live in the deciduous forests of eastern and central U.S. and up into Canada. They have one of the biggest distributions of any North American salamander. Their secretive nature means they can be hard to find. However, they’re some of the most abundant leaf-litter organisms in the forests within their range. Research indicates that because of their abundance, red-backed salamanders hold pivotal roles in their ecosystems, influencing a forest’s fungal communities. Fungi break down organic matter like fallen leaves, logs, and dead organisms. If nothing were to rot, the forest would soon starve. Red-backed salamanders feed on a wide variety of invertebrates like ants, spiders, centipedes, beetles, snails, and termites — many of which graze on fungus.
But while red-backed salamanders are still relatively common, they are facing a number of threats. Logging in the southern Appalachian Mountains has reduced their numbers an estimated 9 percent (representing a loss of around 250 million individuals). And a salamander-eating fungus may soon invade North America, which researchers are worried could decimate salamander populations across the continent..." Read the complete article: mongabay.com/2018/12/essential-ubiquity-how-one-tiny-salamander-species-has-a-huge-impact
LONGTAIL SALAMANDER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Illyan, Aminah and Zhymia, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Longtail Salamander:
"Lungs are absent in the longtail salamander, as well as in all salamanders of the family Plethodontidae. Respiration is accomplished through the skin and the lining of the mouth (Conant and Collins 1998)... This species was historically located north to Albany, with approximately ten historical locations noted by Bishop (1941) but none of these have recently been confirmed. It is now possibly restricted to the southern tier and southeastern counties west of the Hudson River..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/longtail-salamander
INVERTEBRATES
From the candy-striped leafhopper and rainbow scarab to the high-eyelashed jumping spider, find out more about 17 fascinating species of invertebrates that inhabit New York:
SUCKLEY CUCKOO BUMBLE BEE
Conservation status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: May, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Suckley Cuckoo Bumble Bee:
"Bombus suckleyi is a cuckoo bee, a term used for a specialized lineage of bumble bees (subgenus Psithyrus) that has lost the ability to collect pollen and to rear their brood. As such, these bees do not found their own nests, but instead, usurp the colonies and worker forces of other bumble bee species..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/44937699/46440241
AMERICAN HORSESHOE CRAB
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Vivian, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation/Jamaica Bay Park - Horseshoe Crabs in New York City:
"Every May and June, horseshoe crabs emerge from the sea onto the beaches at Jamaica Bay Park. Female horseshoe crabs arrive on the beaches to lay their eggs, with their male counterparts literally in tow... The horseshoe crab has been around since before the dinosaurs, roughly 1.2 billion years. This prehistoric creature may resemble a crab, but is actually more closely related to the spider and scorpion. While the horseshoe crab has a tough exterior that has helped its survival, it is one of the most harmless creatures on the seashore..." Read the complete article: nycgovparks.org/parks/jamaica-bay-park/highlights/11316
REGAL FRITILLIARY
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Aminah, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
Crane Trust/Regal Fritilliary:
"The Regal Fritillary is a unique butterfly in that it is a specialist (fits into a narrow range of habitat) that is endemic to a specific type of tallgrass prairie... [T]he butterfly requires a good density of its host plant, or the plant it eats as a caterpillar.
The Regal relies on violets, but a single violet cannot provide enough for even a single caterpillar to reach metamorphosis so the caterpillars much explore the prairie floor to find what it needs. To complicate this further eggs are laid in the fall, with no idea where violets may grow in the spring, so after hibernating over winter the caterpillar must meander in search of violets..." Read the complete description: cranetrust.org/who-we-are/what-we-do/conservation/ecological-overview/regal-fritillary-butterfly
COMMON BUCKEYE
Population: 1,000,000, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Wilke, Grade 8 and Emily, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Backyard Ecology/Common Buckeye:
"The common buckeye is a familiar summer and fall butterfly throughout much of the U.S. They are easy to observe because they are found in open fields and gardens, and they tend to fly relatively low. Common buckeyes will also land on patches of bare dirt or mud. Buckeyes get their name from the big eye spots on their wings..." Read the complete description: backyardecology.net/common-buckeye
POLYPHEMUS MOTH
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawing: Annabelle, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
IUCN Red List/Polyphemus Moth:
" Antheraea polyphemus is found in deciduous hardwood forests, urban areas, orchards, and wetlands. Caterpillars are generalist feeders, eating a wide variety of trees and shrubs including Oak (Quercus spp.), Willow (Salix spp.), Maple (Acer spp.), and Birch (Betula spp.). Adults do not feed..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/173004714/173004732
KARNER BLUE
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawing: Olivia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
The Nature Conservancy/Karner Blue:
"A subspecies of the Melissa blue butterfly, the Karner blue is a relatively small butterfly, averaging around one inch in wingspan... Karner blues are found around the Great Lakes and the northeast United States, typically in semi-shaded areas with sandy soil...
Adult karner blue butterflies have a very short lifespan, usually only five days or so. Some females have been recorded living up to two weeks. Larvae feed only on the wild lupine plant. They have a symbiotic relationship with ants. Ants protect the larvae from predators and in return feed on a liquid it secretes..." Read the complete description: nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/karner-blue-butterfly
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Meaghan, Grade 5, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School; Lily and Malia, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
One of our most beloved butterflies, the Eastern tiger swallowtail, is a familiar garden friend between spring and fall. Like their namesake, the regal tiger, these large, majestic butterflies are an icon across Eastern North America, bequeathed as the state butterfly of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Males are black and yellow, and females are either black and yellow with blue tail spots or completely black, making them a dimorphic species. As they flutter gracefully from flower to flower doing their important job of pollination, remember that adults are but short-lived and fade from existence within 3-4 days of escaping their chrysalis.
CHITTENANGO OVATE AMBER SNAIL
Population: UNKNOWN, UNSPECIFIED (pop. trend)
Drawing: Bobby, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
New York State Parks & Historic Sites Blog/Chittenango Ovate Amber snails:
"Since Ice Age glaciers retreated from New York nearly 12,000 years ago, a snail slightly larger than a dime has lived in damp, shaded and rocky terrain at the base of a towering waterfall in Madison County. A moist and mild micro-habitat, the “splash zone” around the namesake 167-foot cascade at Chittenango Falls State Park is the last wild place on earth where the Chittenango Ovate Amber snail is known to exist. The species is named for its home; its ovate, egg-shaped shell; and its amber coloring.
This delicate mollusk leads a precarious existence, as a population now estimated at less than a hundred faces threats from floods, droughts, rockslides, another species of snail, climate change, and even the feet of irresponsible hikers..." Read the complete article: nystateparks.blog/tag/chittenango-ovate-amber-snails
SWAMP DARNER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Shane, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"Epiaeschna heros occurs at swamps and slow streams for breeding, it is more confined to woodland than many other aeshnids. Larvae may develop in very shallow pools, even seasonal ones, and have been found emerging from low areas that had dried up previously. Roams widely away from breeding sites to feed, often in swarms, and has been suspected of migratory movements..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/48790596/65836129
PYGMY SNAKETAIL
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Anya, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Pygmy Snaketail:
"Adult Pygmy Snaketails spend most of their time in the trees that border their breeding habitats which are large, clear rivers surrounded by forest (Paulson 2011).
In New York, Ophiogomphus howei is known from two rivers in a single watershed in northern NY with historical records from an additional watershed (New York Natural Heritage Program 2021). It's current known range is small in the state, found in pristine river habitats with good water quality where threats to habitats could include water contamination, sedimentation, and alteration of natural hydrology (NYS DEC 2005)..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/pygmy-snaketail
NINE-SPOTTED LADYBUG
Coccinella novemnotata (official New York State insect)
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Hayley, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
New York Natural Heritage Program/Nine-spotted Lady Beetle:
"Nine-spotted lady beetle was designated New York state's official insect in 1989. This species was once considered common throughout the state. As of 2013, there is one known occurrence in New York State on an organic farm on Long Island. The decline went largely unnoticed until the 1980s... Historically, this species ranged across the United States and through southern Canada. Recent surveys have found one site in the Northeast. It was last collected in 2006 in Virginia. There are localized populations in the midwest and west. It's also known from Mexico, Guatemala and possibly Cuba (NatureServe 2015)..." Read the complete description: guides.nynhp.org/nine-spotted-lady-beetle
CANDY-STRIPED LEAFHOPPER
Graphocephala coccinea
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Naomi, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
This leafhopper species is aptly name for its bright, candy-like colors. It ranges from through North and South America from Canada to Panama and inhabits meadow and woodland landscapes.
FIERY SEARCHER
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawings: Janisse, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Parker, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
The firey searcher is the largest ground beetle to inhabit North America. Also known as the 'caterpillar hunter' its favourite food is the forest tent caterpillar although it also acts as one of nature's pest controllers eating gypsy moth larvae. It is always better to watch wildlife from a distance as handling animals can cause stress and injury and these beetles certainly champion this ethos as when handled they emit a 'foul-smelling oil'.
GREEN JUNE BEETLE
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawing: Juliana, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
These beautiful green beetles can grow to nearly one inch long and are diurnal. They feast on a variety of fruit and particularly like rotting fruit.
RAINBOW SCARAB
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawings: Jin-Ping, Grade 4, and Hayes, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
This rainbow coloured beetle is aptly named and would indeed look at home in a tropical rainforest - we are fortunate to have such a glorious beetle inhabiting North America! Rainbow scarab beetles are 'true dung beetles' and particularly like to feed on the dung of pigs and cows. Male beetles have a large horn reminiscent of rhino horns, while females have no horn.
HIGH EYE-LASHED JUMPING SPIDER
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawings: Vihan and Kira, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
With its long eyelashes and moustache to rival that of a circus strongman, this tiny arachnid is a species of jumping spider that is found across North American.
BOLD JUMPING SPIDER
Population: UNKNOWN
Drawings: Dylan and Hadley, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School; Jesus, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
This species of jumping spider found in North America, has large eyes and white bands on its legs. Bold in spirit, this little arachnid grows up to 15mm (0.5inches). Its excellent eyesight helps it hunt for prey including caterpillars and dragonflies.
FISH
The Atlantic coast and freshwaters of New York are home to an abundance of fish species including pumpkinseeds and squirrelfish. Explore 12 species of fish:
SAND TIGER SHARK
Carcharias taurus
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Nicholas and Cameron, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
"The sand tiger shark, also known as the gray nurse shark, is a slow-moving coastal predator distinguished by its flattened, conical snout and spiked, protruding teeth similar to the tiger shark. It has small eyes and light brown skin that resembles sand, helping the shark blend into its surroundings when looked at from above... Sand tiger sharks are targeted in some commercial fisheries for their fins, for their meat in Japanese markets, for their oil in Australian markets and for the aquarium trade worldwide. Sand tiger sharks are primarily caught by line fishing. They are also vulnerable to being caught commercially and as bycatch in bottom trawls and gillnets...Because of their coastal habitat, sand tiger sharks are overfished and experienced a 75 percent decline from 1980 to 1990 as a result. Overfishing, paired with the sand tiger shark’s extremely low reproductive rate, has led to the species being listed as vulnerable to extinction. Without ending the shark fin trade and stopping overfishing, the sand tiger shark could become extinct..." Read the complete description: oceana.org/marine-life/sand-tiger-shark
DUSKY SHARK
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Leo, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Dusky sharks are one of the largest species within the Carcharhinus genus, generally measuring 3 metres total length but able to reach up to 4.2 metres...Dusky sharks are highly mobile species, undertaking long migrations to stay in warm waters throughout the winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, they head towards the poles in the summer and return southwards towards the equator in winter. The longest distance recorded was 2000 nautical miles!...The Dusky Shark are both targeted and caught as bycatch globally..." Read the complete description: sharktrust.org/blog/creature-feature-dusky-shark
PORBEAGLE
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Fatima and Edward, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Ryan, Grade 4, Riverdale Country Lower School
"Shaped like a rugby ball, this muscular stocky shark is incredibly hydrodynamic and built for endurance...Porbeagles belong to an elite group of sharks known as the mackerel sharks. These include some of the most powerful and agile sharks in the world, such as the White Shark and Shortfin Mako. This group are endothermic, so can keep themselves nice and warm, due to a remarkable adaptation known as a rete mirabile. This makes them more efficient hunters and able to tolerate colder waters...Found worldwide in cold-temperate waters, Porbeagles are strong swimmers. Travelling thousands of miles in search of food and to give birth...Highly inquisitive, Porbeagles have been seen chasing each other, rolling at the surface, and even pushing around floating objects and kelp. Could they be playing? Currently there are no scientific studies to back this up. But what an interesting study that would be...!" Read the complete description: sharktrust.org/Blog/creature-feature-porbeagle
SPOTTED DARTER
Etheostoma maculatum
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Erik and Ousmahe, Grade 3, P.S.49 The Willis Avenue School
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation/Spotted Darter:
"Like other darter species, the spotted darter is quite colorful. The male has many small bright spots and both sexes have a series of dusky blotches on the sides. The fins are olive to reddish with dark spots and the edges are pale white or occasionally yellow to orange. Its back is dark olive brown with lighter sides. A small fish, the spotted darter only reaches 2-3 inches in length.
The spotted darter is found in southwest New York and western Pennsylvania. Its range in the Mississippi basin includes a small patchwork of areas from western New York to northern Indiana, to southwestern North Carolina and to eastern Tennessee. In New York State, it is only found in French Creek, in the extreme southwest part of the state. The spotted darter prefers fast rocky riffles in small to medium-sized streams. It is easiest to locate in the fastest riffles and it is expert at swimming back under rocks." Read the complete description: dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/spotted-darter
LINED SEAHORSE
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Isabelle and Ryan, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Marine Sanctuary/Lined Seahorse:
The lined seahorse is a small fish covered in bony plates instead of scales that cover its body. The largest observed lined seahorse was a little more than seven inches long... The lined seahorse changes colors to match its surrounding environment and can range from a pale yellow to nearly black coloration... Lined seahorses are common in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, with sightings ranging from Canada, out to the Caribbean, and all the way down to Argentina... They generally call coastal waters home because they aren’t strong swimmers and need the help of anchored objects — seagrass, mangroves, coral, and even human-made objects, for example — for stability..." Read the complete description: marinesanctuary.org/blog/creature-feature-lined-seahorse
STRIPED BASS
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Immy and Dillon, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
The official state fish of New York, striped bass can grow up to nearly 3 feet long and live up to 30 years. They inhabit the Atlantic coast of North America but have been introduced to the Pacific coast.
PUMPKINSEED
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Daniel, Grade 8, and Lily, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
Pumpkinseeds aquired their name from their shape—they do indeed resemble pumpkin seeds! These beautiful freshwater fish are native to North America and can grow up to 280mm (11inches) in length.
RAINBOW DARTER
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Fatima, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Juliana, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
These brightly colored fish grown to only 3 inches in length and inhabit streams and rivers. They are insectivores and feed on insects and crayfish.
FLYING GURNARD
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Skylar, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Lela and Sebastian, Grade 4, and Grace, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
Project Manaia/Flying Gurnard:
"A fish that flies, walks, and of course swims, Dactylopterus volitans is a fish of many talents—and some confusion...The flying gurnard in fact is a bottom dwelling fish that appears somewhat nondescript while foraging or resting. When it is startled however, the flying gurnard seems to turn into another creature altogether. Its small, linear body suddenly transforms into an ethereal, oval shape with large “wings” speckled with tan, white and a brilliant blue which also outlines these fan-like wings...Though the large, rounded portion of their pectoral fins are beautiful to see, the front parts may be even more amazing. The flying gurnard’s pectorals are split into four sections, with three finger-like rays near its head. The flying gurnard can use these “fingers” to “walk” along the sea floor, walking, digging and sensing their prey, usually small mollusks, crustaceans and fish..." Read the complete description: projectmanaia.at/blog/flying-gurnard
HONEYCOMB COWFISH
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Frida, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Max, Grade 4, and Henry, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
Honeycomb cowfish are so named for their hexagonal scales and horns. These shy fish grown up to 50cm long and can change color to camouflage themselves from predators. Due to their alluring physique, honeycomb cowfish are sadly taken from the wild for the aquarium trade.
STRIPED BURRFISH
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawings: Edward, Grade 5, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School; Quinn and Grayson, Grade 7, Riverdale Country School
With its big smile, this jolly fish, measuring up to 10 inches is a member of the porcupine fish family and is covered in short spines. Striped burrfish have a neat trick to defend themselves from predators—they inflate like balloons! Inflating can also help with buoyancy. Although they are found in tropical waters, striped burrfish inhabit the Atlantic coast of New York in late summer and fall.
SQUIRREL FISH
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (pop. trend)
Drawing: Juliana, Grade 4, Riverdale Country School
National Marine Sanctuary/Squirrelfish:
"Squirrelfish (Holocentrus sp.) hardly look like small woodland creatures with bushy tails that live in trees and collect acorns. The 150 known species of squirrelfish that call the world’s ocean home are brightly colored fish that live in rocky habitats or on coral reefs... So how did they get their name? It’s all in the eyes. Squirrelfish have large, squirrel-like eyes that help them see at night..." Read the complete description: marinesanctuary.org/blog/sea-wonder-squirrelfish
THE ARTISTS
Meet some of our amazing New York Wildlife artists from New York, who made beautiful drawings for our project and became advocates for each animal they drew. We would like to thank all participating artists for their substantial contribution to this project.
MEET THE TEAM
Jane and Kaitlyn were fortunate to have Sophia Spector, art lead and Milo Falconi, art teacher, Riverdale Lower School, Narges Anvar, Middle & Upper School Visual Arts & Director of College Arts, Erica Jones, art teacher, P.S. 49 The Willis Avenue School, and Robert Lee, Drawing for the Planet volunteer, as part of the team!
During sixteen workshops between 2024-25 the team encouraged our young artists to love and cherish New York's wildlife, and champion each species through their drawings.
THANK YOU
In deep gratitude to our New York Wildlife benefactor who generously funded the project, and all participating children and staff for helping to raise awareness of New York's precious wildlife.
ABOUT DRAWING FOR THE PLANET
We are a global art and environmental education charity with drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, at its core. Founded by artist Jane Lee McCracken, to share her passions for drawing and wildlife, we partner with international wildlife charity Born Free, conservationists, artists, educators and cultural institutions. Through our art, education, exhibition and conservation fundraising projects we give children, communities and wildlife a voice. Watch our video and visit us at: www.drawingfortheplanet.org
facebook.com/DrawingforthePlanet
instagram.com/drawingfortheplanet_org
Support our global projects, help protect wildlife and give the gift of art and wildlife by donating or becoming a member here:
drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/donate
drawingfortheplanet.org/pages/membership
ABOUT JANE LEE MCCRACKEN
Shh it's a Tiger! 2013 Biro drawing © Jane Lee McCracken
Jane Lee McCracken constructs intricate, multi-layered Biro drawings, sculptures, installations as well as product designs. Her work represents the beauty of life and its brutal realities, exploring the loss to both humans and animals caused by human destructiveness. She is the founder and CEO of Drawing for the Planet global art, environmental education and conservation charity.
Over the last decade, she has raised funds for conservation organisations through her art and delivered drawing and environmental education workshops to thousands of people across the world. In 2019 she founded the Where Did All the Animals Go? project in partnership with Born Free and in 2021 Drawing for the Planet. Explore Jane's art:
ABOUT THE NEW YORK MARINE RESCUE CENTER
The New York Marine Rescue Center is a rescue and rehabilitation organization that promotes marine conservation. Our mission is to preserve and protect the marine environment through conservation efforts including rescue, rehabilitation, education and research. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we are the primary responders for sick or injured seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises and small toothed whales, and maintain the only marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation center in New York State. Many reports of sighted or stranded marine life come through the NY State 24-hour hotline number at (631) 369-9829. The public is encouraged to contact us with information including location, photos, and as many details as possible. Visit the New York Marine Rescue Center here: nymarinerescue.org
ABOUT THE WILD BIRD FUND
The Wild Bird Fund is New York City's only wildlife rehabilitation and education center, providing medical care to injured, sick and orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. The clinic treats more than 10,000 patients a year from 180 species. Patients include red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons, as well as gulls, ducks, geese, songbirds and pigeons. Squirrels, opossums and turtles too. It also provides wildlife education programs to schools and organizations throughout the city. Visit the Wild Bird Fund here: wildbirdfund.org
ABOUT THE BRONX RIVER ALLIANCE
At the Bronx River Alliance, great strides are being made to promote community advocacy and stewardship right here in the Bronx. A major testament to our work was the opening of Starlight Park Phase II in 2023 that created new pedestrian bridges, added to the existing Bronx River Greenway, and incorporated stormwater retention features into the development. This all-new connection brought communities together! In addition, our continued efforts in rain garden maintenance speaks to the prevalent flooding issues NYC experiences during wet weather events.
For a unique experience, you can canoe the Bronx River during programming season, visit the ONLY edible food garden at Concrete Plant Park’s Foodway, and cycle continuously through on the Bronx River Greenway. Find us at bronxriver.org to learn more or @bronx_river on Instagram!