News article on community park spring cleaning event, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Boro’s really for the birds By WARREN WOODBERRY Jr. not only birds but r«pta«, am- tog. Wfeiner said the marshes BWLV NEWS STAJT warm) phibians and mammals,” said are for bird nesting and If New Yorkers had to name an official bird for David Avrin, assistant superin­ breeding. the city, some would probably choose the pigeon. tendent for Gateway. To generate ^^er interest Park officials took Rep. An- in the Gateway park, bathhous­ But why should they settle aries in the world. thony Weiner (D-Brook- es at Kite Park and hangars at for those gray-feathered stat- More than 300 species of lyn/Queens) on a bird-watch­ noyd Bennett Field will be ren­ ue-sitters when they can select birds, including the spotted ing tour Friday. Weiner and ovated to attract more vistas. ■ Iran hundreds of bird species sandpiper and the per^rine fal- park officials are working to Weiner said.* “ ---- at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Ref- con, have been seen there. raise awareness — and money Mildred Penzer, 81, a mem- uge? Under toe roar of passing — to help protect the - refuge ' ber of-the Queens County Bird “If you think you’re going to jets from Kennedy Airport, bird from urban encroachment. Club, said she tries to visit toe see more birds in the Adiron- watchers can watch exotic “1 think people should see refuge at least once a week to dacks, you’re wrong — they’re birds in a natural habitat and this the way they see Redwood escape toe pressures of toe all here in New York City,” said listen to the soothing melodies National Park or Yellowstone city. Don Riepe, refuge manager. songbirds. National Park,"' said Weiner, “This b a quiet phwe for me Many locals who ride along Popular destination who wore a Panama Jack hat to walk and become re- Cross Bay Blvd, have no idea Part of Gateway National and a pair of khakis as he ob- freshed,” Ifenzer said. “This te that the 9,000-acre refuge, be- Recreation Area, toe refuge is a served birds through binocu- one of the prime areas of toe tween Howard Beach and popular site with bird watchers Ians. world. It’s important that we Broad Channel, exists. internationally and, more im- There are a lot of comens of • maintain it tor passive recre- With 40% of toe bird species portantly, a major stopping thep^k we’re trying to provide ation.” in North America represented point for birds that travel toe additional funding for.” 'The city established the wild- by those nesting and feeding in migratory flyway along toe Plans are in the works to pro- life refuge in the early 1950s. Queens, toe refuge is one of East Coast. tert the Jamaica Bay marshes. The National Pmk Service be- the most important bird sanctu- “We have a lot of wildlife — which are mysteriously vanish- came its oversew to 1972.

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