As a born and bred New Yorker, Central Park has always been my  (practically) sole source of exposure to the wonders of the natural world. In a city of concrete, bricks, and cement, a little natural greenery is always a welcome relief from the harsh bustle of daily city life. My early morning August 27^th trip to Central Park at 96^th street was no exception.

This time, however, the experience was quite different and infinitely richer because not only was I able to enjoy the natural aesthetics of the park, but I was also able to learn about the complex dynamics of the  various species that co-exist alongside each other and the park’s human visitors. It had never occurred to me previously that not only did Central Park serve a purpose for it’s human visitors but for the many species of fauna and flora that reside there as well.  Before the Bioblitz I had thought that it was the various animals that occupy the park are the visitors and we, as humans, were it’s main inhabitants. Only now do I realize that it is in fact the fauna and flora that are the residents and we the visitors.

My group was responsible for cataloging bird species and for the first time I realized that New York City had a lot more than pigeons to offer to bird watching enthusiasts. We observed different varieties of robins, blue jays, as well as a species that is related to both doves and pigeons. What was particularly interesting to observe was how the birds negotiated their surrounding environments which while at time would consist entirely of secluded trees, most often included a hybrid natural and artificial environment, such as grass in a baseball field or a tree directly adjacent to the bridge.  All birds seemed to be just as comfortable negotiating an artificial terrain as they did a natural one.

This led me to question my previous conception of the idea of a “natural habitat”. What is a natural habitat, what makes it natural? Should it be defined according to a species historical (pre-industrial) affinity for a certain environment in which they had access to an ideal natural habitat or should it defined by what kind of habitat a species survives in today. How does the combination of natural and artificial affect the survival of members within a species and what traits give some members an advantage in an artificial environment over others? While I don’t have any answers to these questions I would be interested to see if any studies that would address them have been done.

The Bioblitz also made me aware of the close relationship between Central Park and the city’s dwindling but valuable biological diversity. After our guide meticulously pointed out the various species that existed, even within the same four foot area, I realized that there is much more to New York City wild life than pigeons and squirrels. I’ve also realized how valuable Central Park and the Bioblitz effort is to maintaining natural diversity.