Turkey Vulture (3/10/2003, circling above the copse of trees beside the Physical Plant)

Killdeer (3/12/2003, calling in the night outside the Library)

Gray Catbird (5/12/2003, singing for all he's worth on a street lamp in the parking lot beside 1N)

Four Glossy Ibis (a HERD of them!) grazing for worms among the Starlings in the grass (5/23/2001, Soccer Field between the tennis courts and the running track on the CSI Campus)

Cattle Egret hunting for worms in the Great Lawn (5/18/2001 by 3A on the CSI Campus)

Gray Catbird singing his little heart out, in the tree by the big rock just south of the Performing Arts Center entrance off the Great Lawn (5/18/2001 by 1C on the CSI Campus)

Killdeer standing v-e-r-y still (5/18/2001, by the entrance to the Children's Center on the CSI Campus)

Shelduck drinking cool, clear water (5/1/2001, by the Great Lawn side of 2A on the CSI Campus) -- note to Shelduck fans: The Shelduck family has been carefully relocated to the Willowbrook Woods so that it won't be disturbed by Graduation ceremonies, reportedly after the ring road was closed by security to ensure their safe transit.

Hairy Woodpecker scurrying up the sides of the sweetgum trees (5/7/2001, between 2N and 1N on the CSI Campus)

Red Tailed Hawk looking for prey over the Native Plant Restoration Center (5/5/2001, on Richmond Boulevard)

Glossy Ibis coming in for a landing among the rushes (4/30/2001, The Willowbrook on CSI Campus, near Victory Boulevard Entrance)

Northern Cardinal singing its heart out high in the top of the tallest Sweetgum tree on campus (4/29/2001, near the honeysuckle grove between 2N and 3N on the CSI Campus)

Killdeer flitting and calling (4/26/2001, The Great Lawn on CSI Campus)

Grackle fighting with starlings over McDonald's french fries in the Coral Island Shopping Center parking lot at Victory and Richmond (5/7/2001)

Redbellied Woodpeckers engaging in male mating behaviors (fighting) (5/6/2001, Silver Lakes Park, along Victory Boulevard)

Muskrats stocking up on roots after a long winter's sleep (4/30/2001, The Willowbrook on CSI Campus, near Victory Boulevard Entrance)

Pheasant jogging along beside the Great Kills Landfill (4/29/2001, Richmond Boulevard, opposite the Staten Island Mall)

Red-winged Blackbirds and Bi-colored Blackbirds swooping over the Phragmites grass (4/24/2001, along Victory Boulevard near the CSI campus entrance)

Brant Geese chomping on grass (4/21/2001, by the Observatory on the CSI Campus)

Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage, sitting along the fence of the baseball field (4/20/2001 at Victory and Travis)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT STATEN ISLAND'S ENVIRONMENT:

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods--80 Mann Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314, 718-761-7496.

Mariner's Marsh Conservancy--P.O. Box 40764, Staten Island, NY 10304, MMC President Howard Snyder, 718-447-6374.

Greenbelt Conservancy--The Greenbelt Conservancy, 200 Nevada Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10306, 718-667-2165.

Staten Island Zoo--614 Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310, 718-442-6868.

New York Urban Park Rangers--view the NYC Parks website at www.nycparks.org, or contact the following New York Parks Offices on Staten Island:

High Rock Visitor's Center, High Rock Park (Nevada Avenue), Open 10am-4pm Saturdays and Sundays. 718-667-6042.

Blue Heron Nature Center, Blue Heron Park (Poillon Avenue), 11am-4pm Saturdays and Sundays. 718-967-3542.

SILive's "City's Greenest Borough" provides an overview of Staten Island's Parks and Recreation Areas.

New York City Parks and Recreation, Staten Island--1150 Clove Road, Staten Island, NY 10301, 718-390-8000.

NYC Parks & Recreation Citywide Hotline: (888) NYPARKS or (212) 360-3456.

NYC Parks & Recreation Staten Island Special Events: (718) 390-8023.

Gateway National Recreation Area--Staten Island Unit, Miller Field, Staten Island, NY 10306, 718-351-6970.

Staten Island Gateway Events Calendar: www.nps.gov/gate/programguide/pg-staten.htm