SPECTACLE FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR

This was sent to me by my friend in Grand Prairie, Luisa Lee.  Luisa is Chinese, was raised in the Dominican Republic and was the coordinator for a Spanish Parish Mission we Redemptorists gave in that area a few years ago. Thank you, Luisa

A EUROPEAN STARLING "MURMURATION"

When I began this blog..THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER I had just finished 10 years in the South Bronx.  During those years my Thursdays were largely spent 1st walking from 149th St. in the South Bronx,  Immaculate Conception Parish where I lived, to 110th St and Central Park West.  There, at what is called the Harlem Meere, I entered the North Woods of Central Park to head down through the Park, heading toward Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond where a lot of birders "hang out". My first encounter with European Starlings were precisely that!! That had been brought to Central Park, precisely to the area around Belvedere Castle where the Delacourte Theatre and the Shakespearian Garden are located.  "Someone" (I never found out who) thought that the Shakespearian Garden should have all the various birds that Shakespeare mentions in this play.  (The Starling was one of those birds that we did not "have yet" in the States).  So "that" or "those" "someone" brought us the European Starlings.  Now, as they are such hearty birds, they are one of the most numerous species in the USA.  Anyway you don't have to go out of your way to see a European Starling nor a House Sparrow in the USA...
Anyway, as you'll see in this film the "murmuration" is a humungous flock or flocks of Starlings deciding just where it is best to roost "or "rest" for the night. I's quite impressive. They seem to be a swarm of locusts.
ENJOY

THE OTHER LETTER

I got this from my friend Tom Reynolds who sends me lots of things to read. He got it from Mr. Ed Mechmann who works for the Archdiocese of New York. It is a truly wonderful commercial for done by IKEA that touches strongly on strongly on FAMILY VALUES. It was done in Spain.  (I can tell by the accent in Spanish). But the subtitles are quite clear.   Enjoy

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ESOPUS/ULSTER PARK REDEMPTORISTS

This is a video that Gene, Tom and I did last week. It's just 5 mins,
and it shows a bit of what our mission and apostolate are here.
Most especially it shows our new ST. ALPHONSUS GROTTO OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS that we have built.
ENJOY

SOMETHING ON KATIE´S KROPS---ABOUT KATY STAGLIANO AND KATY CANNON

I am tending to be not the HUDSON RIVER BIRDER, because I don´t take much time to write about birds and nature.  (I may do this occasionally, though)...I think that now I just might call myself
THE HUDSON RIVER EMBEDDER because I love to embed interesting videos.  For instance the one below. It is about a 9 year old girl, Katy Stagliano, (now 12) , who, like another Katy Cannon (10 yrs. old)  began by growing a 250 pound cabbage she´d grown to a food bank. Then she went further and began to grow vegetables for food banks and kitchens. Like her friend, Katy Cannon she has encouraged other youth around the country to grow vegetables to help the hungry. Bless her ...and all like her!

WHY IS CREATION "GROANING"?

The 2nd reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians in this Sunday's Liturgy speaks of..."Creation "groaning" and being in labor like an expectant mother..The Sacred Heart Cathedral website that I use says this about it all:

"The impact of climate change falls heaviest on the world's poor. As Catholics, our faith demands prudent action. Our cars and power plants, more energy consumption and waste---we're leaving a bigger carbon footprint. Scientists tell us that means more climate change. Here and around the world, it is the poor who will be hit hardest. As faithful Catholics, we have a moral obligation to care for both Creation and the poor. Pope Benedict XVI insists, 'Before it is too late, it is necessary to make courageous decisions' to curb climate change.".... 

Let us be loving midwives to all of creation.

Here is the video about it all.  It's called: 

 WHO'S UNDER YOUR HYDROCARBON FOOTPRINT?

OUR LADY OF LOURDES--SHORT FILM

This a short film from Vimeo.  It is from the Awakening Channel which promotes films that are  well done and promote a truly deep devotion to life, love, sacrifice...and to the God that loves all that..ENJOY!

Our Lady Of Lourdes | Short Film from Peter Szewczyk on Vimeo.

SANDHILL CRANES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

About a month ago there were, yes, just 2 Sandhill Cranes in our area.  Unfortunately I, as many others, did not get there in time.  So I, and the rest of you, will just have to be content with this video.

DAMNED-A VIMEO VIDEO ABOUT "BIG DREAMS"

THIS IS ABOUT,AS THE EXPLANATION SAYS.."AN OVER ZEALOUS BEAVER". The idea is that ...SOME DREAMS ARE TOO BIG TO REALIZE. I don't know if I truly agree with this explanation. To me, as THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER, this video speaks with dry humor about nature backfiring on us if we try to control it too much. Anyway, it's a cute video.

Damned from Richard Phelan on Vimeo.

A FRENCH FOLK SONG VIDEO

This is a beatiful French folk song about the process of making wool, and in this case, beautiful colorful socks for a young boy.  He grandmother does the work…It goes, The Wool from the sheep..we
shear it, card it, weave it wear it..
I am not at all sure of all the French words and the story.  But it "seems" that when the boy's grandmother is "gone".  Maybe she has died, the boy goes back over the whole process in which the
Wool from the sheep, with his grandmother's skill and work…became a most loved and prized possession…

Speaking of prized possessions I have not very much "prized" this blog. It was supposed to be about birds and birding.  And yes I do some birding.  I enjoy the many Juncos, Nuthatches, Song Sparrows, White Throated sparrows as well as the ever present winter Downy and Red Bellied Woodpeckers that are always here.
At any rate take this nice video and song as THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER'S

CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU

La Laine Des Moutons (2012) from Kapie Eipak on Vimeo.

A FILM "MORNING HAS BROKEN"...by BEN

I have not read THE BROTHERS KARASIMOV..yet!!!!.  But I always quote what Dorothy Day always quoted from Father Zosimo in it where he says,  THE WORLD WILL BE SAVED BY BEAUTY".  I believe this.  I experience it most every day when something lovely, marvelous, kind and lovely fills me with joy and hope.  This beautiful, untouched up film from VIMEO by BEN is one of those beautiful things that are saving the world.
Enjoy it!....IT'S JUST 2 AND A HALF MINUTES!!

Morning has broken.. from Ben on Vimeo.

SIN PAÍS...(a Spanish Language Film on Immigration Reform

I got this video from a friend, Ericka Castella who works with PathStones...and organization that works with farm workers...

VIDEO ON CHRISTIAN EVANGELICAL'S SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

In this 27 minute interview there is a partipant from the SOJOURNERS magazine and website.  The interview shows how the Bible strongly emphasizes ..."openess and welcome to the stranger and the alien"...I think of the US Bishops theme years ago that interpreted the FEAST OF EPIPHANY (Three Kings of the Magi)...as welcoming ..."those who had come from afar...bearing gifts.." That is precisely what the vast majority of immigrants HAVE and STILL bring to the USA..their GIFTS: of faith, hardwork, family values, humility, joy and goodness.

JIM WALLIS'S VIDEO ON NEW BOOK...ON GOD'S SIDE

HERE IS AN EXCELLENT VIDEO FROM THE SOJOURNERS WEBSITE.  JIM WALLIS, WITH HIS NEW BOOK, ON GOD'S SIDE, ATTEMPTS TO CREATE A HOPEFILLED NATIONAL, MAYBE "INTERNATIONAL" DIALOGUE ON....THE COMMON GOOD.  HE QUOTES ABRAHAM LINCOLNS'  PHRASE..

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT

WHOSE SIDE GOD IN ON,

BUT THAT WE ALL BE ON GOD'S SIDE.

THE BEST EASTER GIFT

This is something like the videos I'd like to continue making. (Don't forget to view BRAZOS ABIERTOS IN HOLY WEEK which is my "last video". this is a true HAPPY EASTER VIDEO.
 

IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG A TIME SINCE I POSTED ANYTHING...BUT HERE IS SOMETHING OF WHICH I AM VERY, VERY PROUD.
THIS 7.5 min. video is about the Hispanic Family Ministry of the Roman Catholic Church in which Fr. Tom Travers, myself and a great team work..

LENT IN A 2 MINUTE EXPLANATION

GET BACK TO NATURE

VIMEO is a great site for films of all kinds.  I have not been "talking" much on my blog.  But I do believe that a picture, or a "video" is worth that thousand words...
ENJOY THIS ONE.
The HUDSON RIVER BIRDER
(after a snowfall in February)

Get Back to Nature from Natural Perspectives on Vimeo.

FINAL CUT PRO---TRIAL VERSION

I have a MAC now.  My main reason for getting one is to be able to "move up a step or two" in creating videos, especially about my work in Hispanic  Ministry.  I work in a ministry to Hispanic people here in Ulster County that my confrere, Fr. Tom, our Brazos Abiertos team and I have created.  The full name of our work which we do in a small building formerly used as part of Cabrini Home  in West Park , NYis called   BRAZOS ABIERTOS-FAMILIAS CAMINANDO CON CRISTO.  We have a double logo which I put here below.  The one on the left is, of course, Jesus with his arms in open welcome.  (This is how Jesus, the Church and anyone who "says" they follow Christ should be.  They should be, as is God with open arms to welcome, respect, aid, accompany others, most especially those who have NOT been respected, aided, welcomed by others.)  The other part of our logo is, of course that group of people, FAMILIES, walking with Christ..

Another thing I'd like to share with you is a video done when FINAL CUT PRO X was introduced last year.  I hope it is a joke.  Because Conan O'Brien said his video people "swore" by this new, controversial video editing program which I think is pretty neat.  They say that it is now, as they say, high end, but I will be satisfied if I can master it.  The videos that I do, for instance, with migrant peoples will not have to be like Steven Spielbert.  But I DO hope I'll be able to graduate from Pinnacle's Studio Ultimate 11 which I've used profitable for six years to FINAL CUT PRO X. So let's have a laugh...and hope the video is "pulling our leg" a bit.

"SILENT NIGHT FOR CHILDREN"

When I was a parish priest in the South Bronx (Immaculate Conception Church/School) I learned a lot about Marilyn Edelman Wright and The Childrens' Defense Fund which she began and spearheads still.  In the 7th grade I used this most wonderful Book Our Day to End Poverty in some social justice projects to end or abate world hunger and sickness...This is a video about urging our lamb duck legislators to avoid, not just the "fiscal cliff", but most especially the "hunger, sickness and poverty cliff" over which our poorest children will fall if budjet cuts adversely affect them.