Nature Blog Network

The city that never sleeps seems like an odd place for nature.  But nestled in a metro area of nearly 20 million lie some pretty well-known wild areas that provide the citizens of the self-proclaimed “capital of the world” with access to the wilds, and where there are natural areas, there are people to write about them.

While New York City has a relatively small number of bloggers in the NBN, what they lack in total numbers they make up in quality.  The natural areas of the city are covered by excellent naturalists and great writers with a fine-toothed comb, and we the readers are fortunate to come along for the ride time and time again.

I’ve never been to New York City (I know, right?), but I feel like I’d know where I’d want to go because of these bloggers.  So let’s board one of those open-topped tourist buses and let me show you around the place.

- Great Auk – or Greatest Auk? is one of the best, and most underappreciated, bird blogs in the NBN.  Carrie gets around the city, reporting on what she sees, but it’s her prose that really shines.  She makes even the most banal trip report read like an adventure story, and her book reviews are insightful and interesting.  Well worth your time, this one.

- Up towards the top on the NBN toplist, and for good reason, is Grrlscientist’s Living the Scientific Life.  She covers a lot of ground here, and all of it is fascinating for the science and nature lover.  Especially interesting for the science based naturalist, are her posts on peer-reviewed research.  Grrlscientist has a way of putting intimidating scientific language into layman’s terms, no small feat.

- Blogging is great because it incorporates so many kinds of media in one place.  Notable for this is the official blog of the makers of Opposable Chums, the documentary about the World Series of Birding.  The makers of the film intend to continue their involvement in the birding community, and the NBN is, of course, a great way to do just that.

- As one who’s been birding for some time, it’s fun to be able to tag along with a novice who’s discovering the wonders of nature for the first time.  You can do just that with Leah at Bluebird of Friendliness, a Brooklyn based blog, as she explores that borough and beyond.

- Traditional print media can work dynamically with the internet to meet the needs of its readers.  It’s exciting to see another magazine get involved in the blogging game.  The Local Birding blog is just that, an opportunity for outreach using the archives of a long-time magazine.

- It’s not technically in New York City, but as the home of the two football teams, the Meadowlands is as much a part of the area as any with a real New York address.  It’s reputation is mixed, but the fact that some good birds can be found there redeems it from a naturalist’s point of view.  Find out just what birders are turning up at The Meadowlands Blog.

- Artists are often deeply inspired by nature, and for reasons members of the NBN are certainly aware of.  New York artist Anne Yen is no different, and examples of her work can be found at her blog anne draws animals.  Fans of drawing and painting should definitely check it out.

-  One can’t forget that one-third (previously a full majority) of the 10000 Birds team resides in the Big Apple and covers that beat with aplomb.  But that’s not news to those of you reading this blog, least of all Mike!

Traveling to NYC at any point in the future?  Reading these blogs will give you good reason to pack your binoculars and hiking boots and hit Prospect Park instead of Madison Avenue.