birds in the park: July 8th, 2010

Dear Bird Watchers,

Some news from New York, where this strange flock landed in three locations.

First they settled on the edge of the Hudson River, at the Peekskill Waterfront. Because of a big article in the paper, lots of people came out.

The Saturday after, the birds found themselves at the beautiful Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Gardens, gazing at lilly pads with big fat frogs.

And last Thursday, they perched outside the UN Headquarters in Manhattan where they rubbed wings with diplomats and city folk. The specific spot they were in was the Ralph Bunche park, New York's designated "Peace Park" named for the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and location of the Isaiah Wall (engraved with the quote "they shall beat their swords into plowshares...")

We are in Germany now, on our way towards Peenemünde on the Baltic Sea. The birds will be landing there this Monday and Tuesday, at the site of the V1 & V2 rocket development during WWII. My grandfather was a rocket scientist there at that time, and my father, who was a child then and has not been back since one hour after his house was bombed, is coming on this trip (together with my Mother). He will be reading from some of his written memories of that time -- and some of that writing as well as other images from Peenemünde, apear on a portion of this flock. Tom Meffert and Dagmar Diebels, the documentary film makers, will be there as well. Here is a link to the Museum site: www.peenemuende.de/index.php?id=135.

we'll keep you posted,

all the best,

christy