Happy Thursday in NYC, where despite whatever nursery rhymes you’ve been singing, the rain has not gone away, and is in fact becoming more and more disruptive each week.

It’s been the rainiest August in five years. More than eight inches of rain have already fallen on Central Park this month, 4.58 inches above average this far into August. Last year, the city saw just 2.2 inches during the entire month. Another inch or more is expected to fall today, with localized rainfall totalling 2.5 inches in some areas.

Prospect Park is increasingly becoming a part of the city’s answer to all that water. This week, parks officials announced the completion of a new valve in Prospect Park Lake that allows staff to better regulate water levels during heavy rains. The $1.4 million project is a crucial step in managing stormwater and preventing flooding in the area. The valve is expected to reduce sewer overflows by as much as 12 million gallons a year, one of the first pieces in a larger $50 million plan to transform Prospect Park into a giant natural sponge.

Things are looking less optimistic for Brooklyn’s trees. The thunderstorm last Thursday uprooted trees across the borough, including two mature trees in Brooklyn Heights — the latest in a string of weather-related tree fatalities that has plagued the borough all summer. One storm in May generated 188 reports of downed trees in Brooklyn alone, and another in July generated 100 more.

But today’s thunderstorms may just be the most ill-fated of all, at least if you’re an astronomy enthusiast. Tonight, just after midnight, a partial eclipse will block out 96% of the moon, turning nearly the entire lunar surface a deep reddish orange. However, meteorologists warn that thunderclouds may obstruct views of the rare celestial event. Another lunar eclipse of this magnitude is not expected again in New York until June of 2029.

It’s only a matter of time before the next city parade comes along just for Mother Nature to rain on it.

The osprey is a handsome creature, built exquisitely for what it does. It is found on every continent except Antarctica. In the Northeast, they are abundant during warm weather in the Chesapeake Bay area. Like many Marylanders, they head south to Florida for the winter. So what? Well, there’s a reason I’m telling you this. Ospreys are found plentifully in several places dotted around Brooklyn, and they need your help. 

Where to find them in Brooklyn? Bush Terminal Park is an excellent choice. Sunset Park has dedicated osprey nesting structures along the waterfront. Calvert Vaux Park is another site, as is Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. So is the East River. The New York Bird Alliance website provides locations and directions.

In Asian cultures, to peek into the future one resorts to reading the tea leaves. Well, there are tea leaves to be read north of us, along the east coast, particularly in the Nutmeg State, where scientists have begun to notice a diminishing population of ospreys. They are finding fewer eggs, eggs with thinning shells, and eggs that haven’t hatched. Something is amiss. The Audubon Society and other local birding organizations have begun to reach out to their sister agencies and the Bronx Zoo (I know — the Bronx Zoo isn’t in Brooklyn, but its scientific staff is key to figuring out what is going on.) So, what is going on? Let’s start with American agriculture’s love affair with pesticides.

Read on to learn more.

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