April 28, 2025 • 18 mins
Maria chats with science writer and naturalist Ryan Mandelbaum about his book WILD NYC.
As Ryan says everyone thinks of New York City as a concrete jungle, but "it's full of amazing wildlife"!
Between the info, photos, amazing artwork by Chelsea Beck, and the chapter of Field Trips,
YOUR next trip should be to New York City!
More info: ryanmandelbaum.com
As Ryan says everyone thinks of New York City as a concrete jungle, but "it's full of amazing wildlife"!
Between the info, photos, amazing artwork by Chelsea Beck, and the chapter of Field Trips,
YOUR next trip should be to New York City!
More info: ryanmandelbaum.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to Maria's MutS and Stuff and with me is well,
as he calls himself a science writer with a camera,
he's a naturalist and educator. It is Ryan Mandelbaum. So Ryan,
I'm happy to talk to you with your I love
your book. It's just such an adorable, well done book.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the
(00:32):
time out to talk about it today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Of course, we thank you so much for having me Maria.
I'm really excited about talking about it and just talking
about New York City and animals in general exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
So okay, so let's tell the listeners it is called
wild NYC New York City. Experienced the amazing nature in
and around New York City, and you know, living in
New York City and being here my whole life. I
love this city and you do it such justice and
made me so proud because I think people who have
(01:02):
never been here always think New York City is just
a large, dirty, ugly city, and your book proves otherwise.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
I really appreciate you noticing that you know I'm actually
from a I'm from Nascalk County. I hate to say,
but me too, me too.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
No, me too, me too, me too from Nasal County
and my parents came from Brooklyn, just like you.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Amazing well, we know better than anybody. We're all used
to coming to the city and really experiencing it as
a thing that you know, a place of wonder and excitement,
and you know, I feel like we get to we
like New York a little differently, maybe than some of
the folks who might have lived their whole life in Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
But true, it.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Wasn't until recently that I maybe in the past ten years,
that I really started to notice stuff beyond you know,
the colors and ads and the you know, restaurants and stuff.
But then I, you know, I actually saw a great
blue heron in a city park and and I couldn't
believe that this big, giant, dinosaur like bird lived in
a city park. And from there I was just hooked.
(02:07):
I couldn't believe the city had so many amazing things.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Right, And your book just proves it. I mean, first
of all, the photographs are really are just stunning, and
Chelsea Beck, who's your illustrator, is they're just adorable, so
hand in hand between your photographs, right, because you took
all the photographs.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
In this book, I took half the photo for them.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Okay, well that's still pretty impressive.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Of the book. Who took which? But thank you?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
But no, but that's still pretty impressive. So between the
photographs and Chelsea's photos, I mean, I have to be honest.
I had the book today in the studio with me,
and two of my coworkers came in and just seeing
the cover, grabbed your book and they were both flipping
through it each individual and and said, oh my god,
I love this book. And I was like, yes, I'm
interviewing the author today. So it's very it's just it's
(02:53):
very eye catching and it's very impressive. And just so
you know, you did a great job. So when did
the idea come for this book? Was it when you
saw the blue heron?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So Chelsea and I have been friends for a long time.
We know each other from when we wrote for a
website called Gizmoto, and I was a bit of a
rogue what I was there. So most of the folks
who worked there were tech reporters, but I just got
super excited about nature and wildlife, and I guess this
is kind of like your story. I just started to
book the trend a little bit and started writing about
(03:25):
nature and all the animals I would see, and Chelsea
was all in, and so she and I worked together
to put together a little magazine for an event and
collection of art and writing and stuff about nature in
New York City, and it all kind of, you know,
grew out from there.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Right, And how long did it take you to actually
do this book?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well? A long time?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
The idea first started probably in twenty nineteen, when she
and I put the proposed together and then you know,
the photos have been since twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen. The
writing probably started in earnest in twenty twenty one, twenty
twenty two.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Sure, I mean, I'm sure the pandemic kind of got
in the way of everything or were you still going
out and exploring but on your own?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Well, the pandemic, you know, I think a lot of
nature people in New York will tell you the pandemic
was actually really important part. Obviously it was terrible, but
it gave a lot of people an excuse to go
outside and pay attention in ways they might not have before.
And I was no different I was. You know, I
probably was outside every day because it was the only
activity we were surely allowed to do.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
That's true. No, you're absolutely right. So the pandemic, as
bad as it was, in some bizarre way kind of
helped you. I think with this book. Does that make sense?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I would say that, like a large percentage of the
photos and the writing were done kind of in the
depths of not being allowed to go outside or not
being allowed to go inside.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I guess you might say inside right and socialize, so
you're kind of like on your own. No, No, it
makes sense because I feel like, you know, I mean
I was working from home for a few months, but
I just went all over New York City with my
dog because we just kept walking because what else could
you do. You couldn't go to a gym, And I
mean we would walk a lot anyway, but during the pandemic,
we just walked even more. And well, oh, look at that.
(05:11):
But it's really true. I hear that from so many
people that they rediscovered plants, they rediscovered birds, especially bird watching,
all during the pandemic, and especially I just feel like
without people driving and and offices working and everything else,
I feel like nature just really. I mean, this is
like an opposite discussion about the pandemic, but nature really
(05:34):
kind of thrived in a weird way. Does that make sense.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It definitely felt like, you know, at the very least,
people were noticing nature a lot more. And there are
definitely some research studies I've seen of you know, people
noticing birds in places they might not have been prior, singing,
you know, differently because there wasn't all of the background
noise of traffic. So it was definitely definitely different.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yes, it definitely was different. That's that's the diplomatic way.
You're absolutely right, Ryan, it was different, not saying it
was better. It was just different because I know the
pandemic was awful and I hope we never have to
live through that again. But Okay, back to your book.
I love the fact that it's split into three sections. Right,
First we have the history of New York, then we
have details on the species, and then you have guided
(06:18):
field trips. Now, with your guided field trips, did this
come about from trips that you actually took, you and
Chelsea took, or just you decided well, like, did you
write that part by your experience or you decided to
experience it and then write about it.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So at the very least I took all of the
field trips in that book. All of the observations that
are there are you know, and the things that I
call out are things that I saw in those field
trips or in cases that somebody may have said, oh,
did you see this thing there? And then I tried
and maybe I didn't see it, but I know it's there, right,
So all of those field trips are based on my
own experiences combined with stuff that's kind of well known
(07:00):
for being in those parts. And then wherever I could,
there's obviously natural history of what may have been there before,
and if there's indigenous history or any weird quirks to
the park that are worth looking at. So, yeah, I
did a lot of walk in.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You did. I'm sure you got a lot of steps in.
As they say doing the book, it's true, Well do
you have and I'm sure you love every part. Do
you have a favorite part of your book or a
favorite I don't know, a favorite discovery, something that you
weren't really that aware of until you started to do
(07:36):
the research for the book. Is there? I mean, maybe
there might not be an answer to that, but did
you find something that you favored more than something else?
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Well, I think there's two main things. I mean the
first was, you know, I was somewhat aware of the
natural history of New York City, but really diving in
and realizing that this is an actual ecosystem with plants
and animals. And you know, the New York City Parks
Department considers the city as this actual living environment and
when they do forest restoration, it's to make it look
(08:05):
like actual forests. You know, these are real habitats where
real things live. And of course that you know, knowing
that this city has always been really biodiverse animal habitat
and plant habitat, and that's what drew so many indigenous
people here in the first place. And then that's why
Europeans showed up here. So that it was just mind
blowing uncovering all of this sort of amazing natural history
(08:26):
of New York City. So that was the first and
the second and you're gonna laugh too, because as a
fellow New Yorker you'll understand this, uh huh was just
how incredible Staten Island is.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yes, I that's very funny. Pete. David Say would be
very proud of you and Colin Joe's they'd be very
proud to hear this.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Well, I hope they both hear this, or they can
buy the book and see how much I love Satton
Island exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, but let's talk about Staten Island because I know,
I mean, I've been on Staten Island a lot recently
and I see so many turkeys and I never you know,
they were making a big deal recently because there was
a turkey in Manhattan looking for a mate, and I'm like,
why doesn't it just take the ferry back to Staten
Island and they'll find them made there, because there are
so many turkeys just roaming wild in Staten Island, which
(09:14):
you really wouldn't think about.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, it's totally right. I mean, it is the borough
that's got the most parkland in the most green space.
But I was one of the people who I credit
with so much of my Staten Island knowledge is her
name is Heather Lilgingren. She used to work for a
amazing New York City place that kind of keeps the
library of all of the native plants and fiefs for
all these native plants, and she just showed me around
(09:37):
all of these incredible habitats that they're not just rare
in the city, but they're rare kind of beyond New
York City. So Staton Island has this bedrock, like serpentine bedrock,
where only certain kinds of plants can grow, and so
there's this really threatened milkweed species that live there, or
you know, these barrens in the middle of a forest.
I'd never been to where all these uncommon wild flowers
(10:00):
are growing. And you know, I was just blown away
by the enormous diversity of species on Staten Island and
stuff that I just didn't believe I would ever see
in New York City.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well that's pretty cool, though. See that's good. That's like
a big surprise, something that you didn't expect. And it's
really funny because I feel like of the Five boroughs,
Staten Island always gets you know, it kind of gets dissed, right,
it's like the butt of jokes and everything else. But
it really is a beautiful burrow because it doesn't even
I mean, I know people who live on Staten Island,
they don't even think of themselves as living in New
York City that it's not a burrow, but it is
(10:32):
because it's so very suburban. But it's funny because I
thought of you this week because they came out with
a list of around the whole world of the most
walkable cities, and New York City came in in fourth place,
and I thought, oh my god, that's so like time
appropriate to you in this book.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Oh absolutely, I mean, I mean, not only, of course,
the city has its public transit and all of its
parks and things are close together. But you know, one
thing I really tried to get get with this book
is that these field trips that I've picked and these
animals that I've chosen are not things that require a
car or a long drive to you know, distant lands
to try and see. Every one of these field trips.
(11:12):
At the very least, I took public transit to go see,
you know, if there was a bus that I needed
to take or the Stanton Aland railway or you know,
and they were all accessible. I was able to, you know,
to get most of them within you know, an hour
an hour and a half from my apartment at the
very very most others were kind of just in the
middle of the city. And that's what I want to
get across so much. Of this stuff and so many
(11:33):
amazing you know, wildlife, plants, animals, birds, mammals, you name it.
A lot of it is just stuff that is here.
You know, these are parks that are celebrated. Central Park
has incredible things that Prospect Park. Of course, if you
go into the outskirts of the city, you're going to
find more stuff, maybe the less common stuff, but you know,
the entire city is an interesting place to be exploring wildlife.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
It's true. And you know, I really feel like, you know,
back in the day for New York City and also
New York State tourism right the whole. I love New York,
but I feel like your book you should get in
touch with like New York State Tourism, because this book
would be perfect, you know for the like I Love
New York campaign, you know, like you I don't think
you've even thought about that, right, I'm giving you ideas
(12:17):
for not that you need it, but I feel like
this is your book is like beyond a tour guide
for people who want to come into New York City.
They have a reason.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm sure my publicists will be delighted to get you know,
another email this week. I'm so excited about this book,
and I want so many people to read it. I'm
just sending her email after email like what about this?
What about right? Right? You know, I definitely will take
your suggestion, you know. Yeah, I mean, and also not
just New York. I mean one of the things I
also want people to realize is that, first of all,
(12:47):
if you're visiting New York, this is a totally different
way that you could experience the absolute course Broadway restaurant, right,
whatever you want, But why don't you go see if
you could find some you know, migratory birds or some
rare dragonfly. You know, why not?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's true, That's true. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And then if you live in a different city, you know,
I know that you're the show. People are listening all
over the place. You know, your city might be an
interesting place to look at stuff too. And I hope
that looking at New York like nature and wildlife habitat
inspires people around the country and around the world to
look at their cities like that.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, you're inspiring them. Your book inspires them, because it's true.
I mean, anytime I've interviewed anyone, say who is a
bird watcher or somebody about you know, flowers and Their
advice is always go outside, take in nature, and open
your eyes, listen, smell, look, and you are going to
(13:39):
be open to a world that you probably, you know,
you're not always aware of. When you're racing in your car,
you like racing to your car to get to work,
or you know, getting the kids on a bus to
go to school, you're not really paying attention to nature.
But when you do, and your book is a perfect example,
when you pay attention to nature, there's a lot out
there and it's free really because you just right it's free,
(14:02):
you know? Is that all saying? If it's free, it's
for me, And your book kind of supports that. So
it's pretty cool. I think. I know it's recently out
and you're not have you don't have the head to
think about next, But do you have an idea for
your next project? Would it be a book like this
in another city or something completely different?
Speaker 1 (14:22):
You know, New York is my home, yeah, and it's
the place I know the most about, so doing another
project like this, I mean I think that first off,
I have not the credit of somebody who was born
in the Five Boroughs, but at least somebody who has
the credit somebody's lived here for a long time.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
You have the credit. Yeah you do. No take credit.
You have cred because I just said to you, Yeah,
I grew up and live in you know, in New
York and I didn't grow up in New York in Manhattan,
but same with you. But we have the credit because
we've been here, we know better.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
We're real New Yorker, Yes we are. Yes, I you know,
I definitely want to have There's tons of little Easter
eggs that are real New York. Somebody who lives here
will you know, will send some pick up on. But
the next project, really for me, is probably going to
be a lot more just picking out weird stories and
interactions between humans and wildlife. And I also have a newsletter.
(15:11):
It's titled a I'm walkin Here.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I love that, by the way.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Thank you, And so it's it's what I'm really trying
to do is find these places where you know, either
animals or plants are thriving either because of or in
spite of humans, and just really understanding these intricate and
interesting relationships between people and wildlife. You know, I'm taking
a piecemeal. I lead nature tours. I'm a nature educator.
Here in the city, so you know, I want to
(15:40):
be able to build that out. But sure more I
can find these cool nature stories and cool New York
City stories, you know, and even cities beyond New York.
Maybe my next project will be something about that.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
That's pretty cool. Well, I definitely look forward to that.
But in the meantime, I really do. I love this book.
I think it's it. Really it makes me even prouder
to be a New Yorker thanks to you, Ryan so
And you know, it's funny because for people like you said,
who are listening and they're not in this area, and
they think, well, you know, summertime is coming, maybe I
should take a trip because Maria and Ryan are telling
(16:10):
me how beautiful New York City is. But you know,
it goes along with the whole Staten Island thing. I
see tourists all the time. Not that I take the
Staten Island ferry often, but when I do, lots of
tourists go on it because it's free and you can,
you know, you pass the Statue of Liberty, and you know,
they can come into New York City and they can
(16:30):
take the ferry and they can see all the beauty
about Staten Island that you wrote about. So I think
that's I think, I really do think you did a
big thing for tourism with your book. As much as
your book is like a love story to New York City,
it's also it's really very good for tourism.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I hope. So, I mean, first of all, you know,
if st If, the Borough President of Staten Island, wants
to give me a call and have me do some
Staten Island you know, I love Island campaign. I'm free,
I'm here. Hope you're listening. But of course, you know
there's so many you know, people kind of visit New
York City and you know, you go mainly to Midtown
(17:07):
and have court, you go to the Financial District, maybe
you make it across the bridge to Brooklyn, but you know,
mostly New Yorkers, especially these nature loving New Yorkers, pretty friendly.
And you know, if you're a tourist from out of
town and you run into somebody with a pair of
binoculars at a random park in Brooklyn, they're going to
take you around for the day. You know, they would
have no palms, showing you whatever they see and being
(17:29):
excited with you. So it's a really great way to
get to know the city in a different way.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Absolutely, absolutely, And that's that's a perfect that's a perfect
sum up because it's exactly what this represents. So I
thank you for writing it. I thank you for talking
about it's a Wild New York City. Where can people
get it?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Well? So I know that my local bookstore has it,
So I would say if you're in New York, definitely
asked for it wherever books are sold, and if you
can't find them, tell them you want it. And then
of course there's you know, on my website Ryan F.
Mandelball dot com. R Y A N F M A
N D E L B A U M dot com.
You can find it there or ordered online. Bookshop dot
(18:08):
org is my favorite place to order books because it
supports local in bookstores. But yeah, Wild NYC by Ryan F.
Mandelbaum and Chelsea Beck And I hope you all buy
it and enjoy it because it's really what I love it.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
It is and you should love it. I love it too.
It's a great book. Well, Ryan, thank you so much,
and uh, definitely get your publicist to do that tour,
you know, to get in touch with New York tourism.
I see it. I see it in your future, I'm
gonna think I'm going to put it out there in
the universe.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Awesome. Well, thank you so much for having me, Maria
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to Maria's MutS and Stuff and with me is well,
as he calls himself a science writer with a camera,
he's a naturalist and educator. It is Ryan Mandelbaum. So Ryan,
I'm happy to talk to you with your I love
your book. It's just such an adorable, well done book.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the
(00:32):
time out to talk about it today.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Of course, we thank you so much for having me Maria.
I'm really excited about talking about it and just talking
about New York City and animals in general exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
So okay, so let's tell the listeners it is called
wild NYC New York City. Experienced the amazing nature in
and around New York City, and you know, living in
New York City and being here my whole life. I
love this city and you do it such justice and
made me so proud because I think people who have
(01:02):
never been here always think New York City is just
a large, dirty, ugly city, and your book proves otherwise.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
I really appreciate you noticing that you know I'm actually
from a I'm from Nascalk County. I hate to say,
but me too, me too.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
No, me too, me too, me too from Nasal County
and my parents came from Brooklyn, just like you.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Amazing well, we know better than anybody. We're all used
to coming to the city and really experiencing it as
a thing that you know, a place of wonder and excitement,
and you know, I feel like we get to we
like New York a little differently, maybe than some of
the folks who might have lived their whole life in Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
But true, it.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Wasn't until recently that I maybe in the past ten years,
that I really started to notice stuff beyond you know,
the colors and ads and the you know, restaurants and stuff.
But then I, you know, I actually saw a great
blue heron in a city park and and I couldn't
believe that this big, giant, dinosaur like bird lived in
a city park. And from there I was just hooked.
(02:07):
I couldn't believe the city had so many amazing things.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Right, And your book just proves it. I mean, first
of all, the photographs are really are just stunning, and
Chelsea Beck, who's your illustrator, is they're just adorable, so
hand in hand between your photographs, right, because you took
all the photographs.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
In this book, I took half the photo for them.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Okay, well that's still pretty impressive.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Of the book. Who took which? But thank you?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
But no, but that's still pretty impressive. So between the
photographs and Chelsea's photos, I mean, I have to be honest.
I had the book today in the studio with me,
and two of my coworkers came in and just seeing
the cover, grabbed your book and they were both flipping
through it each individual and and said, oh my god,
I love this book. And I was like, yes, I'm
interviewing the author today. So it's very it's just it's
(02:53):
very eye catching and it's very impressive. And just so
you know, you did a great job. So when did
the idea come for this book? Was it when you
saw the blue heron?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So Chelsea and I have been friends for a long time.
We know each other from when we wrote for a
website called Gizmoto, and I was a bit of a
rogue what I was there. So most of the folks
who worked there were tech reporters, but I just got
super excited about nature and wildlife, and I guess this
is kind of like your story. I just started to
book the trend a little bit and started writing about
(03:25):
nature and all the animals I would see, and Chelsea
was all in, and so she and I worked together
to put together a little magazine for an event and
collection of art and writing and stuff about nature in
New York City, and it all kind of, you know,
grew out from there.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Right, And how long did it take you to actually
do this book?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Well? A long time?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
The idea first started probably in twenty nineteen, when she
and I put the proposed together and then you know,
the photos have been since twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen. The
writing probably started in earnest in twenty twenty one, twenty
twenty two.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Sure, I mean, I'm sure the pandemic kind of got
in the way of everything or were you still going
out and exploring but on your own?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Well, the pandemic, you know, I think a lot of
nature people in New York will tell you the pandemic
was actually really important part. Obviously it was terrible, but
it gave a lot of people an excuse to go
outside and pay attention in ways they might not have before.
And I was no different I was. You know, I
probably was outside every day because it was the only
activity we were surely allowed to do.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
That's true. No, you're absolutely right. So the pandemic, as
bad as it was, in some bizarre way kind of
helped you. I think with this book. Does that make sense?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I would say that, like a large percentage of the
photos and the writing were done kind of in the
depths of not being allowed to go outside or not
being allowed to go inside.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I guess you might say inside right and socialize, so
you're kind of like on your own. No, No, it
makes sense because I feel like, you know, I mean
I was working from home for a few months, but
I just went all over New York City with my
dog because we just kept walking because what else could
you do. You couldn't go to a gym, And I
mean we would walk a lot anyway, but during the pandemic,
we just walked even more. And well, oh, look at that.
(05:11):
But it's really true. I hear that from so many
people that they rediscovered plants, they rediscovered birds, especially bird watching,
all during the pandemic, and especially I just feel like
without people driving and and offices working and everything else,
I feel like nature just really. I mean, this is
like an opposite discussion about the pandemic, but nature really
(05:34):
kind of thrived in a weird way. Does that make sense.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It definitely felt like, you know, at the very least,
people were noticing nature a lot more. And there are
definitely some research studies I've seen of you know, people
noticing birds in places they might not have been prior, singing,
you know, differently because there wasn't all of the background
noise of traffic. So it was definitely definitely different.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yes, it definitely was different. That's that's the diplomatic way.
You're absolutely right, Ryan, it was different, not saying it
was better. It was just different because I know the
pandemic was awful and I hope we never have to
live through that again. But Okay, back to your book.
I love the fact that it's split into three sections. Right,
First we have the history of New York, then we
have details on the species, and then you have guided
(06:18):
field trips. Now, with your guided field trips, did this
come about from trips that you actually took, you and
Chelsea took, or just you decided well, like, did you
write that part by your experience or you decided to
experience it and then write about it.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So at the very least I took all of the
field trips in that book. All of the observations that
are there are you know, and the things that I
call out are things that I saw in those field
trips or in cases that somebody may have said, oh,
did you see this thing there? And then I tried
and maybe I didn't see it, but I know it's there, right,
So all of those field trips are based on my
own experiences combined with stuff that's kind of well known
(07:00):
for being in those parts. And then wherever I could,
there's obviously natural history of what may have been there before,
and if there's indigenous history or any weird quirks to
the park that are worth looking at. So, yeah, I
did a lot of walk in.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
You did. I'm sure you got a lot of steps in.
As they say doing the book, it's true, Well do
you have and I'm sure you love every part. Do
you have a favorite part of your book or a
favorite I don't know, a favorite discovery, something that you
weren't really that aware of until you started to do
(07:36):
the research for the book. Is there? I mean, maybe
there might not be an answer to that, but did
you find something that you favored more than something else?
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Well, I think there's two main things. I mean the
first was, you know, I was somewhat aware of the
natural history of New York City, but really diving in
and realizing that this is an actual ecosystem with plants
and animals. And you know, the New York City Parks
Department considers the city as this actual living environment and
when they do forest restoration, it's to make it look
(08:05):
like actual forests. You know, these are real habitats where
real things live. And of course that you know, knowing
that this city has always been really biodiverse animal habitat
and plant habitat, and that's what drew so many indigenous
people here in the first place. And then that's why
Europeans showed up here. So that it was just mind
blowing uncovering all of this sort of amazing natural history
(08:26):
of New York City. So that was the first and
the second and you're gonna laugh too, because as a
fellow New Yorker you'll understand this, uh huh was just
how incredible Staten Island is.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yes, I that's very funny. Pete. David Say would be
very proud of you and Colin Joe's they'd be very
proud to hear this.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Well, I hope they both hear this, or they can
buy the book and see how much I love Satton
Island exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, but let's talk about Staten Island because I know,
I mean, I've been on Staten Island a lot recently
and I see so many turkeys and I never you know,
they were making a big deal recently because there was
a turkey in Manhattan looking for a mate, and I'm like,
why doesn't it just take the ferry back to Staten
Island and they'll find them made there, because there are
so many turkeys just roaming wild in Staten Island, which
(09:14):
you really wouldn't think about.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, it's totally right. I mean, it is the borough
that's got the most parkland in the most green space.
But I was one of the people who I credit
with so much of my Staten Island knowledge is her
name is Heather Lilgingren. She used to work for a
amazing New York City place that kind of keeps the
library of all of the native plants and fiefs for
all these native plants, and she just showed me around
(09:37):
all of these incredible habitats that they're not just rare
in the city, but they're rare kind of beyond New
York City. So Staton Island has this bedrock, like serpentine bedrock,
where only certain kinds of plants can grow, and so
there's this really threatened milkweed species that live there, or
you know, these barrens in the middle of a forest.
I'd never been to where all these uncommon wild flowers
(10:00):
are growing. And you know, I was just blown away
by the enormous diversity of species on Staten Island and
stuff that I just didn't believe I would ever see
in New York City.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well that's pretty cool, though. See that's good. That's like
a big surprise, something that you didn't expect. And it's
really funny because I feel like of the Five boroughs,
Staten Island always gets you know, it kind of gets dissed, right,
it's like the butt of jokes and everything else. But
it really is a beautiful burrow because it doesn't even
I mean, I know people who live on Staten Island,
they don't even think of themselves as living in New
York City that it's not a burrow, but it is
(10:32):
because it's so very suburban. But it's funny because I
thought of you this week because they came out with
a list of around the whole world of the most
walkable cities, and New York City came in in fourth place,
and I thought, oh my god, that's so like time
appropriate to you in this book.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Oh absolutely, I mean, I mean, not only, of course,
the city has its public transit and all of its
parks and things are close together. But you know, one
thing I really tried to get get with this book
is that these field trips that I've picked and these
animals that I've chosen are not things that require a
car or a long drive to you know, distant lands
to try and see. Every one of these field trips.
(11:12):
At the very least, I took public transit to go see,
you know, if there was a bus that I needed
to take or the Stanton Aland railway or you know,
and they were all accessible. I was able to, you know,
to get most of them within you know, an hour
an hour and a half from my apartment at the
very very most others were kind of just in the
middle of the city. And that's what I want to
get across so much. Of this stuff and so many
(11:33):
amazing you know, wildlife, plants, animals, birds, mammals, you name it.
A lot of it is just stuff that is here.
You know, these are parks that are celebrated. Central Park
has incredible things that Prospect Park. Of course, if you
go into the outskirts of the city, you're going to
find more stuff, maybe the less common stuff, but you know,
the entire city is an interesting place to be exploring wildlife.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
It's true. And you know, I really feel like, you know,
back in the day for New York City and also
New York State tourism right the whole. I love New York,
but I feel like your book you should get in
touch with like New York State Tourism, because this book
would be perfect, you know for the like I Love
New York campaign, you know, like you I don't think
you've even thought about that, right, I'm giving you ideas
(12:17):
for not that you need it, but I feel like
this is your book is like beyond a tour guide
for people who want to come into New York City.
They have a reason.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm sure my publicists will be delighted to get you know,
another email this week. I'm so excited about this book,
and I want so many people to read it. I'm
just sending her email after email like what about this?
What about right? Right? You know, I definitely will take
your suggestion, you know. Yeah, I mean, and also not
just New York. I mean one of the things I
also want people to realize is that, first of all,
(12:47):
if you're visiting New York, this is a totally different
way that you could experience the absolute course Broadway restaurant, right,
whatever you want, But why don't you go see if
you could find some you know, migratory birds or some
rare dragonfly. You know, why not?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's true, That's true. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And then if you live in a different city, you know,
I know that you're the show. People are listening all
over the place. You know, your city might be an
interesting place to look at stuff too. And I hope
that looking at New York like nature and wildlife habitat
inspires people around the country and around the world to
look at their cities like that.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, you're inspiring them. Your book inspires them, because it's true.
I mean, anytime I've interviewed anyone, say who is a
bird watcher or somebody about you know, flowers and Their
advice is always go outside, take in nature, and open
your eyes, listen, smell, look, and you are going to
(13:39):
be open to a world that you probably, you know,
you're not always aware of. When you're racing in your car,
you like racing to your car to get to work,
or you know, getting the kids on a bus to
go to school, you're not really paying attention to nature.
But when you do, and your book is a perfect example,
when you pay attention to nature, there's a lot out
there and it's free really because you just right it's free,
(14:02):
you know? Is that all saying? If it's free, it's
for me, And your book kind of supports that. So
it's pretty cool. I think. I know it's recently out
and you're not have you don't have the head to
think about next, But do you have an idea for
your next project? Would it be a book like this
in another city or something completely different?
Speaker 1 (14:22):
You know, New York is my home, yeah, and it's
the place I know the most about, so doing another
project like this, I mean I think that first off,
I have not the credit of somebody who was born
in the Five Boroughs, but at least somebody who has
the credit somebody's lived here for a long time.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
You have the credit. Yeah you do. No take credit.
You have cred because I just said to you, Yeah,
I grew up and live in you know, in New
York and I didn't grow up in New York in Manhattan,
but same with you. But we have the credit because
we've been here, we know better.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
We're real New Yorker, Yes we are. Yes, I you know,
I definitely want to have There's tons of little Easter
eggs that are real New York. Somebody who lives here
will you know, will send some pick up on. But
the next project, really for me, is probably going to
be a lot more just picking out weird stories and
interactions between humans and wildlife. And I also have a newsletter.
(15:11):
It's titled a I'm walkin Here.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I love that, by the way.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Thank you, And so it's it's what I'm really trying
to do is find these places where you know, either
animals or plants are thriving either because of or in
spite of humans, and just really understanding these intricate and
interesting relationships between people and wildlife. You know, I'm taking
a piecemeal. I lead nature tours. I'm a nature educator.
Here in the city, so you know, I want to
(15:40):
be able to build that out. But sure more I
can find these cool nature stories and cool New York
City stories, you know, and even cities beyond New York.
Maybe my next project will be something about that.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
That's pretty cool. Well, I definitely look forward to that.
But in the meantime, I really do. I love this book.
I think it's it. Really it makes me even prouder
to be a New Yorker thanks to you, Ryan so
And you know, it's funny because for people like you said,
who are listening and they're not in this area, and
they think, well, you know, summertime is coming, maybe I
should take a trip because Maria and Ryan are telling
(16:10):
me how beautiful New York City is. But you know,
it goes along with the whole Staten Island thing. I
see tourists all the time. Not that I take the
Staten Island ferry often, but when I do, lots of
tourists go on it because it's free and you can,
you know, you pass the Statue of Liberty, and you know,
they can come into New York City and they can
(16:30):
take the ferry and they can see all the beauty
about Staten Island that you wrote about. So I think
that's I think, I really do think you did a
big thing for tourism with your book. As much as
your book is like a love story to New York City,
it's also it's really very good for tourism.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I hope. So, I mean, first of all, you know,
if st If, the Borough President of Staten Island, wants
to give me a call and have me do some
Staten Island you know, I love Island campaign. I'm free,
I'm here. Hope you're listening. But of course, you know
there's so many you know, people kind of visit New
York City and you know, you go mainly to Midtown
(17:07):
and have court, you go to the Financial District, maybe
you make it across the bridge to Brooklyn, but you know,
mostly New Yorkers, especially these nature loving New Yorkers, pretty friendly.
And you know, if you're a tourist from out of
town and you run into somebody with a pair of
binoculars at a random park in Brooklyn, they're going to
take you around for the day. You know, they would
have no palms, showing you whatever they see and being
(17:29):
excited with you. So it's a really great way to
get to know the city in a different way.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Absolutely, absolutely, And that's that's a perfect that's a perfect
sum up because it's exactly what this represents. So I
thank you for writing it. I thank you for talking
about it's a Wild New York City. Where can people
get it?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Well? So I know that my local bookstore has it,
So I would say if you're in New York, definitely
asked for it wherever books are sold, and if you
can't find them, tell them you want it. And then
of course there's you know, on my website Ryan F.
Mandelball dot com. R Y A N F M A
N D E L B A U M dot com.
You can find it there or ordered online. Bookshop dot
(18:08):
org is my favorite place to order books because it
supports local in bookstores. But yeah, Wild NYC by Ryan F.
Mandelbaum and Chelsea Beck And I hope you all buy
it and enjoy it because it's really what I love it.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
It is and you should love it. I love it too.
It's a great book. Well, Ryan, thank you so much,
and uh, definitely get your publicist to do that tour,
you know, to get in touch with New York tourism.
I see it. I see it in your future, I'm
gonna think I'm going to put it out there in
the universe.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Awesome. Well, thank you so much for having me, Maria
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