The Brian Lehrer Show Wild NYC: Springtime Water Migrations
Apr 2, 2026
Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and founder of NYC Wildflower Week, reconnects city residents with waterways. Chris Bowser, estuary educator with NYS DEC and Cornell Water Resources, studies aquatic migrations and community science. They explore spring migrations of eels and horseshoe crabs. They talk about where and when these movements happen and how listeners can help track them.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Annual Glass Eel Arrival In Spring
- American eels (Anguilla rostrata) migrate as baby "glass eels" from the Sargasso Sea to New York waterways each spring.
- These year-old translucent juveniles transition from ocean saltwater to coastal and freshwater habitats along the East Coast daily.
Horseshoe Crab Spawning Fuels Shorebird Migration
- Horseshoe crabs return to city shores under May and June full moons to spawn, timing their arrival with high tides.
- Their eggs then feed migrating shorebirds like red knots, linking NYC beaches to wider migratory networks.
NYC As A City Of Islands Shapes Its Waterlife
- New York City is fundamentally a collection of islands with over 500 miles of coastline, creating an intimate resident relationship with aquatic species.
- Local DEP and volunteer programs actively monitor glass eels and engage students in community science on Staten Island and elsewhere.