Whether she’s in St. John or Manhattan – her two major stomping grounds — V.I. Source writer Gail Karlsson uses her camera to document birds, trees and other wildlife.
Karlsson has noticed that some types of birds are permanent residents in both places — like Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels. And there are also migratory birds – like Black-and-white Warblers and Ovenbirds — that spend the winter in St. John and then pass through New York on their way to their spring breeding grounds in the northeast U.S. and Canada.
In past years, she’s published a book about the birds of St. John as well as one on birds of the Battery in New York City. This book led to a project in which she posted banners of common birds throughout Battery Park.
Now Karlsson has a new collection of bird photography on display in Manhattan — an official NYC Parks Department “Art in the Parks” exhibit running from April 19 to Earth Day 2027. It consists of 20 small, vinyl banners with photos of birds regularly seen in City Hall Park in lower Manhattan. The banners are attached to a fence running along the north side of City Hall.
Karlsson said the purpose of the show is to call attention to the surprising number of wild birds inhabiting this small, busy urban area surrounded by downtown traffic, frequent loud demonstrations (attracting crowds of protesters), plus a daily flow of pedestrians, bicyclists, tourists, and dog walkers.
“The wild birds remind us of the natural world that was here before any human settlement, connecting us with our own history and evolution, and the greater mysteries of life on earth,” she said.
Official opening events will be held on Earth Day, Wed. April 22 and again on Sat. April 25. Besides educating neighbors and park-users — including local schoolchildren — about the birds in the park, Karlsson hopes to promote bird-friendly park management, including plantings of trees and shrubs that support the birds.
In addition to the exhibit, she has put together a booklet with photos of the banners and some details about the birds included in this latest show. The contents of the booklet and additional information can be viewed online at www.gailkarlsson.com.
