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New York Post Run The Re-building of Traffic Light Nest

The post ran a picture today of the House Sparrows re-building their traffic light nest

The re-building is featured in today's NY Post

House Sparrows Re-Building Traffic Light Nest

I checked on the progress the little House Sparrows were making re-building their home in the traffic light on East 72nd St today. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the foundations have been laid and the upper tier is starting to take shape. I can’t wait for when the roof goes up! Hopefully the people responsible for the removal of the original nest will cut them some slack and give them some space…..

One excited local said ”I’m over the moon they have returned despite their recent eviction. I hope they are left alone and that we might see chicks soon”

The female surveys the progress © Dan Callister

Deciding where the entrance should go © Dan Callister

The male takes a break © Dan Callister

President Robert Mugabe reported to be suffering from prostate cancer

I photographed Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe back in 2002. He is one scary individual. Apparently his health is failing and reported to be on his deathbed. Reports suggest he is handing power over to his Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa……..The 88-year-old, who is believed to be suffering from prostate cancer, flew to Singapore by private jet on Saturday for treatment. His wife, Grace, and close family members are reported to be at his bedside.

President Robert Mugabe

New York’s oldest cab driver Johnnie ‘Spider’ Footman

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing New York City’s oldest cab driver Johnnie ‘Spider’ Footman . A cigar smoking 92-year-old from Harlem, who’s been picking up fares since Franklin Roosevelt was in the White House!

“I don’t know anything else,” Over his storied career behind the wheel, he’s ferried movie stars such as John Wayne and Rock Hudson, suffered countless bad tippers — and tolerated passengers getting frisky in his back seat. Well, until the new hybrids arrived.

“They had sex in the back in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” he recalled with a twinkle in his eye. “The cabs were a lot bigger then.”

A cigar-munching 92-year-old from Harlem who’s been on the job since Franklin Roosevelt was in the White House.“I don’t know anything else,” Over his storied career behind the wheel, he’s ferried movie stars such as John Wayne and Rock Hudson, suffered countless bad tippers — and tolerated passengers getting frisky in his back seat. Well, until the new hybrids arrived.“They had sex in the back in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” he recalled with a twinkle in his eye. “The cabs were a lot bigger then.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9193066/New-Yorks-oldest-taxi-driver-recalls-a-life-on-Manhattans-streets.html

The online version

Johnnie 'Spider' Footman

NY Sparrows trying to re-build their nest

The homeless House Sparrows whose nest was removed by un-claimed parties illegally according to the Department of Transport (DOT) have returned to the traffic light and are trying to re-build their nest…….

"Where did the nest go?" © Dan Callister

Surveying the damage... © Dan Callister

The pair take a moment © Dan Callister

Missing Traffic light nest

The Village Voice have written about the mysterious nest removal from the traffic light on New York’s Upper East Side

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/sparrows_nest_d.php

Traffic Light nest is removed

I last visited the nest on Thursday of this week (April 5th) and on Friday the nest had mysteriously vanished from the traffic light. The Department of Transport deny removing any nest from this location “DOT does have jurisdiction over traffic signals but did not remove a bird’s nest from that location” and the Parks Department are saying nothing……I think you can draw your own conclusions from that. The male House Sparrow has been seen revisiting his old nest site on Friday. Not a ‘Good Friday’ for the House Sparrows to be evicted from their one light apartment during the Easter weekend. It’s a shame that some department should choose to remove a New York moment, it’s quirky things like this that make New York City the great place that it is and attract tourists from the world over. Could this be more pointless bureaucracy by some inane department or the sparrows couldn’t afford the rent?

The story is in today's NY Post

The male enjoys the view... © Dan Callister

The female does some spring cleaning © Dan Callister

New York City Carriage Horse Protest

I recently covered another carriage horse protest in the vicinity of Central Park. Some of these protesters demonstrate against the use of Carriage Horses in New York City every week. A change though this weekend was that the Carriage drivers were able to voice their opinion with their own supporters in attendance…. made for some interesting banter between pro and anti demonstrators!