RYAN MANDELBAUM: WILD NYC
Think New York City is just skyscrapers and sidewalks? Think again! On this episode of Big Blend Radio, we chat with Ryan Mandelbaum—naturalist, science writer, and author of the beautifully illustrated new book, “Wild NYC: Experience the Amazing Nature In and Around New York City” (art by Chelsea Beck). Watch here in the YouTube player or download the episode on Podbean.
New York City may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, but it’s full of amazing wildlife—you just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild NYC shows readers how to experience another side of the City That Never Sleeps. Highlighting the natural aspects of the city’s landscapes and the wildlife that accompanies it, this colorful, quirky guide takes a leaf out of a famous New Yorker’s book and encourages its readers to “take a walk on the wild side.”
From easy-to-spot squirrels and praying mantids to more elusive humpback whales and purple finches, this delightful handbook profiles over 100 local species, complete with illustrations, fun facts, and information on where to find them. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help tourists and locals alike explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and on street corners.
Exploring the city’s natural history, Ryan Mandelbaum uncovers the factors that shape its ecology and introduces readers to local naturalists who continue to study NYC’s unique flora and fauna. Combining their expertise with a playful approach and Chelsea Beck’s whimsical illustrations, Wild NYC offers a new, hip kind of guidebook that’s as attractive and accessible as it is practical, and information packed. With it as their guide, readers will discover that NYC’s wildlife is just as beautiful, colorful, and diverse as the city itself.
Ryan F. Mandelbaum is a science writer, naturalist, and educator based in New York City. You can find him searching for critters across the five boroughs before returning home to Brooklyn to observe birds and moths from the roof of their apartment. Ryan has written about the natural world of New York City for the New York Times, Scientific American, Gizmodo, Audubon Magazine, Gothamist, and their newsletter eyy, i’m walkin’ here. Ryan volunteers for the New York State Breeding Bird Atlas, the organization formerly known as New York City Audubon, the Finch Research Network, and the Feminist Bird Club. When not thinking about birds, Ryan works full-time at IBM as a physics writer. Keep up with Ryan at http://www.ryanfmandelbaum.com/
Chelsea Beck is an illustrator and art director living with her husband and their weird little dog in Brooklyn, New York. She loves to find the humor in just about everything, up to and including New York’s beautiful wildlife. With two books, three full-time jobs, one billboard, and countless freelance gigs under her professional belt, Chelsea is looking forward to whatever adventure befalls her next. Keep up with Chelsea at https://chelseadrewthis.com/
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