Edmundo Martinez’s patches are Starlight and Concrete Parks in the Bronx. He has seen inland birds including warblers and woodpeckers as well as aquatic birds like herons and egrets. The Bronx River, New York City’s only fresh water river, flows through these parks. Martinez birds big parks like Pelham Bay Park (2,722 acres) and small parks like Hunts Point Riverside Park (1.4 acres). He purposefully birds smaller parks in Black and brown communities to show that you don’t have to leave your neighborhood to observe the species of birds typically associated with Central Park. Martinez found his way to birding while cycling; “I’m a big cycling guy,” he said. Observing birds has become a form of meditation for him, bringing him peace and joy.

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Follow Edmundo Martinez @bxmundo.

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Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans

Producer and Editor: Pod for the People

Vocalizations:

Downy Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/62766

Hairy Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/211304391

Laughing Gull flock call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/97299221

Great Black-backed Gull long call https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/171253471

Pileated Woodpecker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/63086

Northern Flicker drumming https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/534422